Air Force grants full military honors to Ashli Babbitt after military leadership under Biden denied request
The Air Force decided to extend military funeral honors to deceased Senior Airman Ashli Babbitt, who was shot and killed by a police officer during the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021. The decision came after Air Force leadership during the Biden administration previously denied the request in February 2021, shortly after Babbitt was killed. The decision also comes on the heels of a wrongful death settlement reached in July, which resulted in the government paying the Babbitt family nearly $5 million. “On behalf of the Secretary of the Air Force, I write to extend the offer for Military Funeral Honors for SrA Ashli Babbitt,” stated an Aug. 15 letter from the undersecretary of the Air Force, sent to Babbitt’s husband, Aaron, according to the family’s legal representatives. “After reviewing the circumstances of Ashli’s death, and considering the information that has come forward since then, I am persuaded that the previous determination was incorrect.” TRUMP SALUTES SGT. MICHAEL VERARDO, WOUNDED AFGHANISTAN VETERAN WHO INSPIRED INDEPENDENCE FUND’S TRACKCHAIRS “After reviewing the circumstances of SrA Babbitt’s death, the Air Force has offered Military Funeral Honors to SrA Babbitt’s family,” an Air Force spokesperson confirmed in a statement to Fox News Digital. Babbitt was shot and killed by a U.S. Capitol police officer as she was attempting to forcibly gain access to the Capitol chambers during the events of Jan. 6. Roughly three months later the Department of Justice announced it would not be pursuing criminal charges against the officer who shot Babbitt. Both praise and criticism followed the news that the Air Force would be granting Babbitt her military honors, previously denied under Biden. VETERAN BURNS AMERICAN FLAG OUTSIDE WHITE HOUSE AFTER TRUMP SIGNED JAILTIME ORDER “There is no better example of how a leader is supposed to act, than right here in this letter,” said retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, a longtime Trump confidant who spent a short stint as the president’s national security advisor after a long tenure in the military and time leading the Defense Intelligence Agency, in response to the undersecretary’s letter restoring Babbitt’s honors. “May Ashli Babbitt now Rest In Peace and her family gain some measure of solace for the wonderful person she was and the light of truth she brought to each of us,” Flynn concluded. Meanwhile, former Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., who was part of the GOP-maligned Jan. 6 Congressional Committee that investigated the Capitol riot, slammed the move to restore Babbitt’s honors. “[Ashli] Babbit dishonored her service by committing insurrection against her country. While her death is absolutely tragic and I wish it hadn’t happened, the Air Force giving her honors is in itself a dishonor,” Kinzinger said in response to the news. A former Capitol Police officer, Aquilino Gonell, who described Jan. 6 as one of the worst days of his life, suggested the move was a slap in the face to people who got hurt as a result of the attack on the U.S. Capitol. “Not to officers, like Brian Sicknick, who served in the Air National Guard, but the member of the mob who stormed the Capitol and put herself and other’s lives in danger,” the former Capitol Police officer said of the restored honors. “Wtf.”
Blue states deflect blame in Trump probe after illegal immigrant trucker crash kills 3 in Florida
A Florida crash that killed three people sparked an ultimatum from Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy over states’ commercial driver licensing rules. But two out of the three states named by the secretary say they’re in compliance. Duffy’s push came after an illegal immigrant from India, Harjinder Singh, allegedly struck and killed three people in a tractor-trailer while making an illegal U-turn on a Florida turnpike on Aug. 12. Singh’s current commercial driver’s license was issued in California; he previously had one in Washington state, and Duffy said there was a traffic stop in New Mexico where his rig was not taken “out of service.” Duffy is giving the states 30 days to follow the law, or risk losing federal funding through the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program. “We are not going to tolerate states that don’t comply with the rules that come from this department,” Duffy said at a press conference on Tuesday. BLUE STATE INVESTIGATES HOW ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT TRUCKER GOT LICENSE BEFORE DEADLY FLORIDA CRASH Following the crash earlier this month, federal investigators said Singh failed English proficiency and road sign tests. California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office maintains that they were following federal law when Singh’s license was doled out and placed the blame on the Trump administration. “This is rich. The Trump administration approved the federal work permit for the man who killed 3 people — and now they’re scrambling to shift blame after getting caught. Sean’s nonsense announcement is as big a joke as the Trump Administration itself. SAD!” a spokesperson for Newsom’s office told Fox News Digital in a statement. EXPERT REVEALS HOW ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT TRUCKER MAY HAVE GOTTEN COMMERCIAL LICENSE BEFORE FATAL FLORIDA CRASH Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin previously disputed Newsom’s timeline that says he was given a work permit under Trump. CLICK HERE FOR MORE IMMIGRATION COVERAGE “False. Harjinder Singh is in the United States illegally and his work authorization was rejected under the Trump Administration on September 14, 2020. It was later approved under the Biden Administration June 9, 2021,” McLaughlin said on Aug. 18 in response to Newsom’s press office’s X account. Michael Coleman, spokesman for Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, of New Mexico, said they are “confident” that a “full review of these incidents” will show that the state is following the law. ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT TRUCKER ACCUSED OF KILLING THREE PEOPLE FAILED ENGLISH, ROAD SIGN TESTS: DOT “New Mexico’s top priority is the safety of its residents and visitors, and we are confident that our state laws for commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) are fully compliant with federal regulations,” he said, adding that the state requires an English test to make sure drivers know road signs. “We are aware of recent claims regarding the enforcement of these regulations and are actively seeking more information from the relevant federal and state partners. Initial reports suggest that these claims relate to a small number of roadside incidents over a three-month period. It’s important to note that these incidents may have involved out-of-state drivers due to the cross-country nature of our trucking industry,” he continued. The Washington Department of Licensing said last week that an investigation is underway into how Singh was able to obtain a commercial driver’s license in the state. Fox News Digital reached out to Gov. Bob Ferguson’s office for comment on Wednesday regarding Duffy’s announcement. “This is about keeping people safe on the road. Your families, your kids, your spouses, your loved ones, your friends,” Duffy said. “We all use the roadway, and we need to make sure that those who are driving big rigs — semis — can understand the road signs, that they’ve been well-trained.”
Noem hits back at FEMA critics, reveals vision for disaster relief agency
FIRST ON FOX: Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem slammed a group of former and current Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) employees who wrote a letter criticizing the Trump administration’s handling of the agency as she outlined her vision for FEMA’s role in the U.S. More than 190 former and current FEMA employees joined an open letter on Monday “in response to the Trump administration’s dismantling cuts and devastating attacks on FEMA programs and missions.” On Wednesday morning, the agency’s current employees who signed on to the letter were placed on administrative leave. “I am not surprised that some of the same bureaucrats who presided over decades of inefficiency are now objecting to reform; including many who worked under the Biden Administration to turn FEMA into the bureaucratic nightmare it is today,” Noem told Fox News Digital on Thursday. “I refuse to accept that FEMA red tape should stand between an American citizen suffering and the aid they desperately need.” DHS JUGGLES ‘MASS DEPORTATION’ PUSH WITH HELENE RELIEF, ADDS $124M AFTER BIDEN BACKLASH “That’s why I am working so hard to eliminate FEMA as it exists today, and streamline this bloated organization into a tool that actually benefits Americans in crisis,” Noem added. President Donald Trump, who has been critical of the disaster agency since his presidential campaign, told reporters in June that FEMA “has not worked out well.” “It’s extremely expensive and, again, when you have a tornado or a hurricane or you have a problem of any kind, in a state, that’s what you have governors for,” Trump added. “They’re supposed to fix those problems, and it’s much more local and they’ll develop a system, and it will be a great system.” KRISTI NOEM: DC RESIDENTS ARE REMEMBERING WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO ‘BE FREE’ AMID TRUMP’S CRIME CRACKDOWN The basis of the letter, which was published by nonprofit Stand Up for Science, focuses on Hurricane Katrina and relays concerns that unpreparedness played a large role in the aftermath that shook the gulf and devastated New Orleans, Louisiana. Signees argue that Noem and the agency’s leaders “hinder the swift execution of [FEMA’s] mission, and dismiss experienced staff whose institutional knowledge and relationships are vital to ensure effective emergency management.” Noem told Fox News Digital that these criticisms are remnants of the Biden administration’s wasteful spending, and that the agency “has a history of failing Americans in real emergencies for decades.” SEN. CHUCK GRASSLEY SAYS HE WAS ‘NAIVE’ IN HOW HE LOOKED AT BIDEN AS PRESIDENT, CALLS HIM INEFFECTIVE “The Biden administration spent hundreds of millions of dollars resettling illegal aliens in our country on American taxpayers’ dime, while FEMA still hasn’t even finished payouts from Hurricane Katrina,” Noem explained to Fox. “We don’t want to just fix a broken system, we want to build something better.” “As our successes in Texas make clear, the Trump administration has created a deployable disaster force that cuts through the bureaucratic noise, and delivers real results in record time,” Noem added. KENTUCKY GOVERNOR PRAISES FEMA UNDER TRUMP, SAYS ITS A ‘CREDIT TO HIS ADMINISTRATION’ Despite the partisan back-and-forth, some Democrats have recognized the positive direction the disaster agency is heading under Noem and Trump’s leadership. Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear told “At Our Table” podcast host Jaime Harrison earlier this month that “Trump’s FEMA on the ground has done a good job in Kentucky” and that the federal government’s handling of the agency is “actually a credit to [Trump’s] administration.” While the immediate future of FEMA and how Congress may go about funding the agency remains unclear, Noem is optimistic that much of the wasteful spending that came from previous leadership will be put to rest. “These [FEMA] career bureaucrats had Support Service contracts for everything they do, from finance to management support to staffing reviews,” a Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) spokesperson told Fox News Digital. “They hardly did anything themselves.” “Instead, they hid their egregious misuse of taxpayer funds under the veneer of ’emergency management,’” the DOGE office explained to Fox. “No wonder they have the time to write letters to the Hill – they certainly weren’t spending their time working.”
Trump pick for UN aviation office has long history donating to Dems, Nikki Haley
The nominee President Donald Trump tapped to serve as ambassador to a United Nations office charged with overseeing global aviation standards has a checkered tax history and background donating to Democrats and political opponents of the president, a Fox News Digital review of the nominee’s public records found. The White House and Trump allies, however, have doubled down in support of the nominee, saying he will assist the administration in “ushering in the Golden Age of aviation.” Jeffrey Anderson was tapped to lead the International Civil Aviation Organization in July, when the White House published a list of nominations to fill various roles, from the International Civil Aviation Organization ambassadorship to director of the Mint to membership with the National Labor Relations Board. Anderson is a U.S. Navy veteran who worked as a commercial airline captain for more than 34 years, retiring from that role earlier in 2025, according to his LinkedIn. The International Civil Aviation Organization is a U.N. office based in Montreal that is charged with overseeing international aviation standards, including issues related to safety, navigation and environmental protection. The role has sat vacant for the past three years, when the former ambassador, pilot Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, stepped down in 2022. Sullenberger gained widespread applause in 2009, when the US Airways pilot landed Flight 1549 on the Hudson River after a bird strike disabled both engines — an event known as the “Miracle on the Hudson.” TRUMP TAPS SEAN DUFFY TO SERVE AS INTERIM NASA CHIEF Anderson is a former Delta Air Lines pilot whose nomination drew ire from the Air Line Pilots Association, a union that represents nearly 80,000 pilots across the U.S. and Canada, arguing his “only” qualification was supporting an effort to raise the mandatory pilot retirement age. The union opposes increasing the mandatory retirement from 65 years of age to age 67, arguing it “would leave the United States as an outlier in the global aviation space and create chaos on pilot labor, and international and domestic flight operations,” the group’s statement in July read. Fox News Digital took a look back at Anderson’s political campaign contributions and found he donated to a handful of Democratic candidates often hostile to Trump and his policies. He also made a handful of small-dollar donations to Republican Nikki Haley during the 2024 campaign cycle, when the former U.S. ambassador to the U.N. ran against Trump, whom she slammed as “unhinged” while on the campaign trail before dropping out of the race and endorsing Trump as the GOP nominee for president. TRUMP NOMINATES SEASONED MILITARY LEADERS TO HEAD VITAL GLOBAL COMMANDS Anderson contributed at least $200 to Haley during the month of February 2024, when Haley and Trump were the only GOP candidates left in the primary race, according to four small-dollar donations recorded by the Federal Election Commission. The former pilot also donated to Shawn Harris, the former Democratic opponent who tried to unseat Republican Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene in the 2024 cycle. The $100 donation was made in September 2024 through ActBlue, the Democratic Party’s massive fundraising arm, and earmarked for the Democratic candidate who ultimately failed to oust Greene. Harris’ campaign included slamming Trump and characterizing him as a politician who acts as a “king” and threatens democracy. Anderson’s political donations to Democrats stretch back years, including in 2017 when he donated to Democrats, such as former House candidate Dan Ward in Virginia and former Rep. Peter DeFazio of Oregon — both of whom received $250 contributions from Anderson that year, according to election records. Both Democrats had slammed Trump and his policies across his first administration, including DeFazio declaring after the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the Capitol that: “Donald Trump is a threat to our democracy, national security and the safety of all Americans. He must be removed from office immediately.” The former Delta pilot also has landed in hot water over unpaid taxes, Fox News Digital found. IRS records show Anderson and his wife had more than $426,000 in unpaid federal taxes across seven years from 2013 to 2019, raising concerns that his financial responsibility. The taxes were related to a “small business,” according to the forms. “Jeffrey Anderson isn’t a Trump Republican at all; he’s a liberal sleeper who slipped through the cracks of PPO (Presidential Personnel Office),” a former Trump official told Fox Digital of Anderson’s political donations and tax history. When approached for comment on the previous donations and tax issues, Anderson told Fox News Digital that at “the very least, some of your information is factually incorrect or tendered well out of context.” Anderson did not respond when asked for additional details on what was “factually incorrect.” “I am fully supportive of President Trump and his America First agenda. I have been fully vetted by the White House and appreciate the approval of the President, House Aviation Chair Troy Nehls and House T&I Chair Sam Graves, among others. I look forward to advancing American interests as the next Permanent Representative to ICAO,” he wrote in a direct message on LinkedIn to Fox Digital in August, while adding that Trump is seeking to “move effectively forward in a space negligently left vacant by Biden.” When asked about Anderson’s tax history and donations to Democrats and Trump opponents, a White House official told Fox Digital: “Jeffrey (Anderson) is highly qualified to serve as America’s ambassador to the ICAO, and he is a great choice to represent the President’s America First foreign policy agenda in the international aviation community.” Fox News Digital additionally reached out to the State Department, which helps manage the vetting of potential ambassador nominees, for comment and was directed to the White House’s statement. TRUMP ADMIN PULLS JARED ISAACMAN’S NOMINATION FOR NASA ADMINISTRATOR, REPLACEMENT TO BE ANNOUNCED ‘SOON’ The former pilot himself also floated a run for political office more than a decade ago in Georgia as a Democrat, according to a local Georgia news report that called him “prospective Democratic Congressional candidate Jeff Anderson.”
Trump floats holding Republican National Convention before midterm elections
President Donald Trump is considering holding a Republican National Convention ahead of the midterm elections, he announced Thursday. Trump did not offer any details about where the convention would take place, or what would happen there, but he touted various statistics that have been beneficial for the Republican Party this year. The GOP is fighting to maintain control of both the House and Senate in 2026. “The Republican Party is doing really well. Millions of people have joined us in our quest to MAKE AMERICA, GREAT AGAIN. We won every aspect of the Presidential Election and, based on the great success we are having, are poised to WIN BIG IN THE MIDTERMS,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “We have raised far more money than the Democrats, and are having a great time fixing all of the Country Destroying mistakes made by the Biden Administration, and watching the USA heal and prosper. The results are incredible, a record pace!!! In that light, I am thinking of recommending a National Convention to the Republican Party, just prior to the Midterms. It has never been done before. STAY TUNED!” he added. 4 KEY SENATE SEATS REPUBLICANS AIM TO FLIP IN 2026 MIDTERMS TO EXPAND THEIR MAJORITY Historically, midterms have been tough elections for the party controlling the White House, typically losing roughly 25 seats in the House. Trump and the Republicans lost 41 House seats in the 2018 midterms. POLITICAL ANALYST SAYS DEMOCRATS ARE ALREADY WORRIED ABOUT THE ‘BIG PROBLEM’ OF WINNING BACK VOTERS FOR 2028 Trump’s talk of a national convention comes amid a war over redistricting across the country. Texas passed a new congressional map eliminating five Democratic seats earlier this month. Blue states exploded in response, however, and California Gov. Gavin Newsom is working to adopt a map that eliminates five Republican seats in his state. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and other Democratic state leaders have also vowed to pick up the redistricting war, further confusing predictions for where 2026 could land. Trump has also argued that crime will be a major focus in the midterm cycle, a theme he has hit heavily in recent days to drum up support for his controversial “federalization” push in Washington, D.C. “The Republicans are the party that wants to stop crime,” Trump said. “We’re against crime.” “The Democrats like crime,” he continued. The president touted the success of his efforts in the nation’s capital on Tuesday, telling reporters, “If I were a Democrat — governor or mayor or anybody — I’d call up President Trump and say, ‘President Trump, we need your help. We saw what you’ve done in D.C. in a period of 12 days.’” “This is 12 days. We haven’t even started. This is going to be so safe. It’ll be the safest place on Earth,” he added. Fox News’ Chad Pergram and Breanne Deppisch contributed to this report.
Melania Trump calls for ‘pre-emptive intervention in identifying potential school shooters’
First lady Melania Trump called for more “pre-emptive intervention” to identify potential school shooters late Wednesday night. Her call came hours after a shooter opened fire on schoolchildren and teachers at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis on Wednesday. The first lady argued that there are often warning signs before mass shooters commit their crimes. “The tragic mass killing in Minnesota illuminates the need for pre-emptive intervention in identifying potential school shooters. Early warning signs are often evident, with many individuals exhibiting concerning behaviors and making violent threats online prior to their actions,” Melania wrote. “To prevent future tragedies, it is crucial we look into behavioral threat assessments across all levels of society—beginning in our homes, extending through school districts and of course, social media platforms. Being aware of these warning signs and acting quickly can save lives and make American communities safer,” she added. MINNESOTA SCHOOL SHOOTING GUNMAN KILLS 2 CHILDREN, INJURES 17 OTHERS DURING CATHOLIC MASS “My heart is shattered for the families and friends of the victims of today’s senseless and depraved violent act,” she added in a follow-up post. “There is nothing that anyone can say to make your grief go away, but please know that you are not alone. My thoughts, love, and deepest sympathy are with you during this dreadful time.” The now-deceased shooter of a group of Minneapolis Catholic school students at morning Mass Wednesday has been identified as Robert or Robin Westman, according to law enforcement sources. Westman was carrying three weapons, according to authorities – a rifle, a pistol and a shotgun. MELANIA TRUMP, AMAZON PARTNER TO RELEASE NEW FILM ABOUT HER LIFE IN THEATERS WORLDWIDE Disturbing videos posted by a person using the name Robin Westman were deleted from YouTube after the shooting, showing handwritten pages of a notebook, weapons with messages painted on them and commentary from whoever filmed them. The attack took place at Annunciation Catholic School on Wednesday morning, but police have not identified any of the victims. They said two children were killed. Authorities said the shooter committed suicide after the act. The shooter’s relationship to the school is also unknown, and it has not been confirmed whether Westman had any connection to any students or staff.
Winsome Earle-Sears rebukes Spanberger plan to undo Virginia’s ICE pact: ‘This is not hard’
EXCLUSIVE: Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears rebuked a plan announced Wednesday by her 2025 gubernatorial opponent Abigail Spanberger to rescind an executive order that gives law enforcement and jailers authority to work with ICE in particular circumstances. “Well, we know she won’t be able to do that because she’s not going to win,” Earle-Sears quipped in a Wednesday interview. “The people of Virginia are going to vote for me because [Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s order is] common sense and is keeping them safe. They have been safe since we’ve been in office,” she said. Earle-Sears said she and Youngkin have overseen a one-third drop in statewide crime, and she dismissed Spanberger’s remarks — first made in a Virginia Mercury interview — as “dangerous ideas” that are “all theory; no practical usage.” VIRGINIA LEADERS REBUKE RACIST SIGN TARGETING GOP GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE WINSOME EARLE-SEARS: ‘REPULSIVE’ Youngkin’s order sought to “maximize collaboration” with DHS and “us[e] all available methods to facilitate the arrest and deportation of inadmissible and removable criminal illegal immigrants.” To that end, Earle-Sears said Spanberger’s pledge ignores major developments in the battle against illegal immigrant gangs and the like. “The No. 3 MS-13 [was captured] right here in Manassas under her nose in her former neck of the woods,” Earle-Sears said of Salvadoran national Henrry Josue Villatoro-Santos, who is alleged to be a top-ranking member of the transnational gang. Villatoro-Santos, 24, was arrested in March in Dale City – a middle-class suburb along I-95 between Fredericksburg and Washington – in an operation overseen by the FBI’s Manassas Field Office from the other side of Prince William County. Spanberger previously represented the area in Congress – in a seat now held by Democrat Yevgeny “Eugene” Vindman, the twin brother of high-profile Trump impeachment figure Alexander Vindman. In breaking the news earlier Wednesday, Spanberger said, “I would rescind [Youngkin’s] executive order, yes.” Spanberger said the Youngkin-Sears effort pulls local law enforcement away from their regular duties and wrongly encourages the state to dabble in federal roles. DNC HIRES NEW TOP EXEC WITH LONG HISTORY OF PUSHING RACIAL GRIEVANCES, LEFTIST IDEOLOGY The Democrat called the U.S. immigration system “absolutely broken” and said allowing cops to help “tear families apart [is] a misuse of … resources.” Earle-Sears said officials in Richmond cannot focus on economic development and other top concerns of Virginians unless those constituents live in a safe environment. Therefore, she said, separating themselves from DHS is counterproductive and “dangerous” to both the citizenry and the federal agents conducting the immigration operations. The Republican nominee emphasized that she, too, is an immigrant — stressing that she came to the U.S. legally — and contrasted her story with that of many illegal immigrants arrested with criminal records, noting that her family came from Jamaica in search of opportunity and a better life. “These criminal illegal immigrants, they come here for an opportunity to prey on us, and they prey on the very population that they’re a part of,” she said. “We don’t want that.” Youngkin also responded to the news, asking rhetorically if November’s “choice could be any more clear.” “In her very first act as governor, [Abigail Spanberger] promises to turn Virginia into a sanctuary state for dangerous illegal immigrants,” Youngkin said on X. “[Earle-Sears] promises to keep dangerous criminals off our streets,” the term-limited governor said.
Chicago restaurant owner slams city leadership over crime: ‘We want law and order’
A local Chicago resident blasted Democrat leaders in the city as President Donald Trump considers federal intervention to clean up rampant crime that has plagued the windy city. Sam Sanchez, owner of the local restaurant and late-night club Moe’s Cantina, Third Coast Hospitality Group, and a member of the Illinois Restaurant Association, told Fox he has “been a Democrat for so many years,” and that “this is not what Chicago used to be.” “The city is not safe,” Sanchez told Fox News Digital in an interview. “For the mayor and the governor to go on TV and use us as statistics, as numbers, I mean, we’re human beings, we’re talking about real time.” DC ARRESTS SURPASS 1,000 AS TRUMP-BACKED CRACKDOWN ENTERS 12TH HOMICIDE-FREE DAY “What’s happening right now, real time, the mom who lost a five-year-old child doesn’t care how many murders were done ten years ago, what we care about right now,” Sanchez added. Last weekend, Chicago saw its unfortunate routine crime cycle, leaving 6 dead and nearly 30 injured as a result of violence, including a 5-year-old boy who was shot in the head. President Trump indicated he was considering the same type of federal intervention he recently deployed in Washington, D.C., to the city of Chicago at a press conference last Friday, saying the city could be “our next one after [D.C.], and it won’t even be tough.” PRITZKER RAILS AGAINST ‘UN-AMERICAN’ POSSIBLE NATIONAL GUARD DEPLOYMENT BY TRUMP Democratic Illinois Governor JB Pritzker slammed the president at a presser outside Trump Tower on Tuesday, telling reporters that “what President Trump is doing is unprecedented and unwarranted. It is illegal. It is unconstitutional. It is un-American.” Sanchez blamed the consistent crime on weak prosecution, telling Fox that the Safety, Accountability, Fairness and Equity‑Today (SAFE-T) Act signed into law by Pritzker in 2021 has kept dangerous criminals on the streets. The law allows judges to decide pretrial release based on risk rather than a criminally charged individual’s ability to pay cash bail. It also places limitations on the use of police force and bans chokeholds by officers. OPINION: CHICAGO’S CRIME CRISIS IS A NATIONAL DISGRACE — TRUMP MUST STEP IN NOW The SAFE-T Act also enables incarcerated criminals to reduce their sentence by participating in various programs, drug treatment, or for exhibiting good behavior. “The request for detention to keep [criminals incarcerated], they keep ignoring it, they’re released, so, we’re headed in the wrong direction, and we’ve been heading in the wrong direction for years,” Sanchez told Fox. It does have to be curved. If they cannot amend the SAFE-T Act, then it should be removed from the books.” The White House released a lengthy fact sheet detailing Chicago crimes committed as well as testimony from residents on Monday as President Trump weighs whether to intervene in the city, despite criticism from Democrats and Illinois leaders. “We’re tired of the crime,” Sanchez explained. “We want law and order.” “If President Trump could help us prosecute these violent repeat offenders, any gun crime should be prosecuted by the federal government.”
What did Obama know about the Trump–Russia probe? And when did he know it?
Newly declassified documents have stated that former President Barack Obama was present for key meetings with his top intelligence and national security officials that led to critical steps in the opening of the Trump–Russia investigation. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe have declassified new documents related to the origins of the original Trump–Russia probe at the FBI — known inside the bureau as “Crossfire Hurricane.” Trump has accused Obama of being the “ringleader” of the Russiagate narrative — an allegation vehemently denied by the former president. PATEL FOUND THOUSANDS OF SENSITIVE TRUMP–RUSSIA PROBE DOCS INSIDE ‘BURN BAGS’ IN SECRET ROOM AT FBI “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 spokesman Patrick Rodenbush said in a July statement. “But these claims are outrageous enough to merit one.” “These bizarre allegations are ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction,” Obama’s spokesman continued. “Nothing in the document issued last week undercuts the widely accepted conclusion that Russia worked to influence the 2016 presidential election but did not successfully manipulate any votes.” OBAMA DENIES TRUMP’S ‘BIZARRE ALLEGATIONS’ THAT HE WAS RUSSIAGATE ‘RINGLEADER’ IN RARE STATEMENT He added: “These findings were affirmed in a 2020 report by the bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee, led by then-Chairman Marco Rubio.” Here’s a look at the known key meetings the former president attended and was reportedly made aware of: On Aug. 3, 2016, then-CIA Director John Brennan reportedly briefed then-President Obama on intelligence that then-Democratic nominee former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton allegedly was stirring up a plan to tie Trump to Russia. Then-Vice President Joe Biden, then-FBI Director James Comey, then-Attorney General Loretta Lynch and then-Director of National Intelligence James Clapper also were reportedly present for the briefing. Brennan’s notes from that briefing were declassified in 2020 by John Ratcliffe, who, at the time, was serving as director of National Intelligence. Ratcliffe is now the director of the CIA. Fox News Digital, at the time, exclusively reported on those notes. SOROS’ ALLEGED TIES TO RUSSIAGATE EXPOSED IN DECLASSIFIED ANNEX OF DURHAM REPORT “We’re getting additional insight into Russian activities from (REDACTED),” Brennan notes read. “CITE (summarizing) alleged approved by Hillary Clinton a proposal from one of her foreign policy advisers to vilify Donald Trump by stirring up a scandal claiming interference by the Russian security service.” The notes state “on 28 of July.” In the margin, Brennan writes “POTUS,” but that section of the notes is redacted. “Any evidence of collaboration between Trump campaign + Russia,” the notes read. The remainder of the notes are redacted, except in the margins, which reads: “JC,” “Denis,” and “Susan.” The notes don’t spell out the full names but “JC” could be referring to then-FBI Director James Comey or former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper. “Susan” could refer to National Security Adviser Susan Rice. And “Denis” could possibly refer to then-Obama chief of staff Denis McDonough. The meeting came just days after the FBI, July 31, 2016, opened a counterintelligence investigation into whether candidate Trump and members of his campaign were colluding or coordinating with Russia to influence the 2016 campaign. It was opened by then-Deputy Assistant Director for Counterintelligence Peter Strzok. Days after that briefing, the CIA properly forwarded that information through a Counterintelligence Operational Lead (CIOL) to Comey and Strzok, with the subject line: “Crossfire Hurricane.” Fox News Digital exclusively obtained and reported on the CIOL in October 2020, which stated: “The following information is provided for the exclusive use of your bureau for background investigative action or lead purposes as appropriate.” FLASHBACK:DNI DECLASSIFIES BRENNAN NOTES, CIA MEMO ON HILLARY CLINTON ‘STIRRING UP’ SCANDAL BETWEEN TRUMP, RUSSIA “Per FBI verbal request, CIA provides the below examples of information the CROSSFIRE HURRICANE fusion cell has gleaned to date,” the memo continued. “An exchange (REDACTED) discussing US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton’s approval of a plan concerning US presidential candidate Donald Trump and Russian hackers hampering US elections as a means of distracting the public from her use of a private email server.” But days before the Aug. 3, 2016, briefing, and before the July 31, 2016, opening of the Crossfire Hurricane probe, foreign sources allegedly connected to left-wing billionaire George Soros were emailing about the FBI opening a probe into the salacious Trump–Russia narrative. That information came from emails dated July 25, 2016, to July 27, 2016, contained in the newly declassified appendix of Special Counsel John Durham’s report. The appendix reveals that the foreign sources were allegedly tied to George Soros’ Open Society Foundations. The appendix said that Russian government actors in 2016 reportedly hacked emails from the Open Society Foundations, formerly known as the Soros Foundation. “Two of the apparently hacked emails appear to have originated from the Open Society Foundations,” the appendix states, noting that the purported author of these emails was Leonard Benardo, who was the regional director for Eurasia at the Open Society Foundations. “During the first stage of the campaign, due to lack of direct evidence, it was decided to disseminate the necessary information through the FBI-affiliated…technical structures… in particular, the Crowdstrike and ThreatConnect companies, from where the information would then be disseminated through leading U.S. publications,” Benardo reportedly wrote in an email, per the appendix. FBI’S CONTROVERSIAL TRUMP-RUSSIA ACTIONS PREDICTED WITH ‘ALARMING SPECIFICITY’ BY FOREIGN ACTORS: SOURCES “The media analysis on the DNC hacking appears solid …. Julie (Clinton Campaign Advisor) says it will be a long-term affair to demonize Putin and Trump. Now it is good for a post-convention bounce,” Benardo allegedly wrote, per the appendix. “Later the FBI will put more oil into the fire.” Another email reportedly from Benardo on July 27, 2016, states: “HRC (Hillary Rodham Clinton) approved Julie’s idea about Trump and Russian hackers hampering U.S. elections.” “This should distract people from her own missing email, especially if the affair goes to the Olympic level,” Benardo reportedly continued, per the annex. “The point is making the
House GOP recruits candidates in Ohio, Michigan Trump districts held by Democrats
EXCLUSIVE: From Toledo to Flint, Republicans are targeting two Democratic-held congressional seats in the industrial Midwest that President Donald Trump won last year. With a razor-thin 219-212 majority in the U.S. House, Republicans are eyeing crossover districts – the 13 congressional districts where Trump won at the top of the ticket, but Democrats held on down-ballot. Top of mind for Republicans ahead of the midterm elections is Ohio’s 9th Congressional District, held by the longest-serving woman in Congress, Rep. Marcy Kaptur, and Michigan’s 8th Congressional District, represented by freshman Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet. Freshman GOP Rep. Brian Jack of Georgia, Trump’s former political director who is now leading candidate recruitment for House Republicans as deputy chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), visited those crossover districts this week. 4 KEY SENATE SEATS REPUBLICANS AIM TO FLIP IN 2026 MIDTERMS TO EXPAND THEIR MAJORITY In a phone interview with Fox News Digital from Toledo, Ohio, while “looking out on the Maumee River,” Jack said Kaptur and McDonald Rivet are out of step with the constituents they represent. TRUMP, REPUBLICANS RACE TO REDRAW TEXAS CONGRESSIONAL MAP AS DEMOCRATS THREATEN LEGAL WAR “Kaptur has represented Toledo for 42 years, which is longer than some of our candidates have been alive,” Jack said. Jack described how Kaptur has seen a “significant decline in her vote percentages.” In 2016, Kaptur won with 68% of the vote. Last year, in 2024, the Democratic congresswoman received just 48% of the vote. “I believe that’s because, over the past seven, eight years, voters have become familiar with her posture toward President Trump,” Jack said. “President Trump carried this district with 53%, a clear majority, and yet she still voted twice to subvert the will of her voters, by voting to twice impeach President Trump and remove him from office against the will her own constituents.” While Kaptur remains in line with the Democratic Party on key issues, like rejecting Trump’s “big, beautiful bill,” his marquee legislation – which includes tax cuts, green energy reform and border security – Ohio has shifted red in recent election cycles. “This used to be the perennial bellwether swing state,” Jack said. “As we have seen from 2016 through 2024, it has increasingly aligned with President Trump and voted overwhelmingly to send President Trump to the White House three separate times. That accurately reflects the will of the people of this incredible state.” Candidates for Ohio’s 9th Congressional District include former GOP nominee and four-term state Rep. Derek Merrin, Ohio state Rep. Josh Williams, Air National Guard Lt. Col. Alea Nadeem, and retired Air Force Lt. Col. Wayne Kinsel. State Senate President Sen. Rob McColley is also considered a potential candidate. Jack met with local party officials, the four declared candidates and the potential candidate in the race while visiting the Buckeye State. Jack said Republicans are excited and inspired by these candidates, telling Fox News Digital, “When you look at the districts that are seeking a change in elected office, Ohio’s 9th is one of the first districts that comes to mind.” In McDonald Rivet’s crossover district, Jack also met with U.S. Navy veteran Amir Hassan, who is the only declared Republican candidate. “As voters continue to learn about the Rep. McDonald Rivet’s voting record, I suspect that they’re going to raise questions about why she’s voting against the president, who the district overwhelmingly elected,” Jack said. Jack said when he hosted Vice President JD Vance in his hometown of Peachtree City, Georgia, more than a thousand voters showed up in 90-degree heat, drawing a sharp contrast to the fewer than 50 people who were protesting in the swing state. And as Democrats campaign against Trump’s “big, beautiful bill,” and Medicaid cuts take center stage for Democrats ahead of the midterms, Jack told Fox News Digital, “It’s incumbent upon us to continue to promote, not just the victories of the bill, but the details within it, because it is an encapsulation of everything on which Trump campaigned.” When reached for comment, McDonald Rivet’s campaign spokesperson, Tom Grandon, told Fox News Digital that she is “working every day to make life more affordable for working families.” “She has proven countless times throughout her career that she will work with anyone, regardless of party, to accomplish that, and she has bipartisan bills that will lower key costs, like medicine, taxes, and eggs. However, she will also fight tirelessly against any agenda that prioritizes billionaires over lower costs for working people,” the campaign added. Kaptur and the Democratic National Congressional Committee (DCCC) did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.