Newsom-backed law lets illegal immigrant child rapist seek early release again as DA urges ‘stop the madness’
An illegal immigrant from Mexico serving a 139-year prison sentence for raping and impregnating his underage stepdaughter will be eligible to seek early parole for a second time in the coming months due to a loophole in a law signed by California Gov. Gavin Newsom. Israel Ceja’s early release was blocked Wednesday after a review by an en banc parole board convened by Newsom following pressure from Yolo County District Attorney Jeffrey Reisig. An official with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation confirmed to Fox News Digital that a new hearing has been ordered for Ceja. Reisig is calling on Newsom and California lawmakers to “stop the madness” by closing the loopholes in the state’s Elderly Release Program that allow child rapists to be considered eligible for parole. “Nobody wants this,” Reisig told Fox News Digital. “The general public does not want this, and all they’re doing is victimizing, re-victimizing the victims and the communities. Nobody wants these guys coming back to their community.” NEWSOM BILL COULD SPEND TAX MONEY TO DEFEND ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM TRUMP DEPORTATION PUSH: CA LAWMAKER A jury convicted Ceja, 63, in 2000 for his years-long abuse of his stepdaughter, Roxanne Cruz, which began when she was 11 years old in 1993. With roughly 20% of his sentence served, Ceja was granted early release by a two-commissioner parole board panel in January, which did not consult the victim or notify the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office that prosecuted him more than 20 years ago, according to Reisig. “It’s twisted,” Reisig said. “This is twisted stuff.” In 2020, Newsom signed a law amending the Elderly Release Program by lowering the eligibility age for inmates to 50 years old with 20 years served. The program was established in 2014 with eligibility set at 65 with 25 years served. Democrats advanced the law in a package of criminal justice reforms intended to address overcrowding prisons. While prisoners deemed three-strike offenders, serving life without parole, or facing the death penalty are ineligible for the program, criminals convicted of violent crimes — including sex crimes against children — are eligible. CALIFORNIA ‘MENTAL HEALTH’ LOOPHOLE FREES KILLERS AND CROOKS WITH ‘TERRIBLE LAWS,’ SHERIFF WARNS Fox News Digital reported in February that David Allen Funston, who kidnapped and molested at least eight children in the Sacramento area in the 1990s, was granted parole under the Elderly Release Program. Both Democratic and Republican California lawmakers have introduced legislation in recent months to ensure convicted molesters aren’t eligible for early release. One of those measures introduced by California Republican state Sen. Roger Niello was killed in the Senate Public Safety Committee earlier this week. Niello said in a press release that he was “disheartened” that his measure, which would exclude criminals convicted of rape, sodomy, lewd and lascivious acts and other sex offenses from elderly parole eligibility, was defeated. Last month, Democratic state Assembly member Stephanie Nguyen introduced Assembly Bill 2727, which raises the age for convicted sex offenders to seek parole from 50 to 65 and requires them to undergo a psychological evaluation through the Department of State Hospitals. While the measure passed the Assembly Public Safety Committee earlier this month, the final markup gutted provisions that would ban violent sex offenders sentenced to life from ever seeking early release. ILLEGAL ALIEN YOUTH COACH COULD FACE DEATH PENALTY AFTER ALLEGEDLY MURDERING, RAPING TEEN PLAYER Reisig called on Newsom to issue an executive order that bans child molesters from the program, citing Newsom’s previous order placing a moratorium on the death penalty as evidence that he has the power. “He could issue a moratorium on any elderly parole releases of child rapists with the stroke of a pen,” Reisig said. “He doesn’t want to admit that, but he did it for the death penalty. He could do it here.” “Step up, protect children,” Resig continued. “Stop allowing child rapists to get out early.” An official from Newsom’s office noted that the governor only has the power to reverse a parole grant in murder cases, adding that in all other cases the governor can only refer a decision back to the Board of Parole Hearings for full commissioner review. Less than 12% of scheduled parole hearings result in parole grants by the Board, which the official attributed to commissioners relying on “stringent” and “numerous” steps involving the “use of validated risk assessment tools” in their decision-making. Commissioners seek to ensure grantees “pose no unreasonable risk to public safety.” But during Ceja’s parole hearing, Ceja admitted to the commissioners that he had active sexual fantasies about his victim in prison, and “couldn’t remember” when he had his last one, but that he would pray to find relief, according to a transcript obtained by Fox News Digital. “You don’t understand what he meant when he said he would “pray.” He told you guys right there what he was going to do,” Cruz said of her abuser during a press conference. “That he was going to go out and prey on little kids, not that he was going to be praying to God.” During the hearing, Ceja said he would be returning to Mexico, where he illegally migrated from when he was 15. The commissioners acknowledged that Ceja will likely be deported to Mexico upon being released from prison. Commissioner Neil Schneider said that they were not “unleashing a dangerous man” to Mexico but that Ceja would be an “excellent citizen” there. At a press conference last month, Newsom acknowledged the concerns with the Elderly Release Program, saying that there needs to be “deeper scrutiny” when it comes to the state’s handling of violent sexual predators. Fox News Digital reached out to the Department of Homeland Security for comment.
Senate hopeful says US should be ‘far more cooperative’ with China to fight climate change
Maine Democrat Graham Platner is vowing to pursue closer ties with China if elected to the Senate, arguing that the U.S. should be “far more cooperative” with the communist state on issues like climate change. “I think our position towards China should be one of cooperation instead of one of opposition,” Platner said during a livestream in February, arguing it would be “absurd” to have an aggressive approach toward Beijing, citing its trade relationship with the United States. “I am not a China hawk, not by any stretch of the imagination,” he continued. “I think we need to be figuring out how to integrate, or at least be far more cooperative, especially to fight challenges like climate change.” Platner, a staunch progressive, is running to unseat Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, in November’s midterm elections. His views on China appear to be well outside the political mainstream and place him to the left of many Democratic lawmakers, who see the country as the United States’ most formidable strategic competitor or a geopolitical threat. LEFT-WING DEM HIT WITH HOMETOWN CHURCH BLOWBACK OVER 30-SECOND AD The Senate hopeful has also argued that fascism followed by climate change is the top two challenges facing the United States on the world stage. “Before the rise of fascism, I would have said that the biggest challenge we have … globally is climate change,” Platner, an oyster farmer and combat veteran, said during the livestream. Platner referred to federal immigration officers as “armed thugs,” accusing them of murdering American citizens, an apparent reference to two fatal shootings during an immigration enforcement surge in Minneapolis earlier this year. He has previously advocated for abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and dragging agents in front of Congress to testify about their work. Platner’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment. The Republican National Committee (RNC) sharply criticized Platner’s remarks in a statement to Fox News Digital. “Graham Platner’s soft-on-communism radical ideology would lift up dictators, threaten America’s national security, and cost American lives,” RNC spokeswoman Kristen Cianci said in a statement. “He has no business in the Senate or any position of power.” WARREN CONFRONTED ON CALLING CONTROVERSIAL SENATE CANDIDATE GRAHAM PLATNER HER ‘KIND OF MAN’ Platner is facing Maine Gov. Janet Mills, D-Maine, in an increasingly nasty primary that has split factions of the Democratic Party. Leading progressives, including Sens. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., have endorsed him while Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., who leads the party’s establishment wing, is supporting Mills. Sanders and Warren have doubled down on their embrace of Platner despite the political newcomer’s bevy of controversial online posts and scrutiny over a Nazi-linked tattoo that he has had removed. Platner called for deposing Schumer as Democratic leader, weakening the filibuster to ease the passage of left-wing legislation and adding seats to the Supreme Court to dilute the power of the conservative majority, in an interview with NBC News this week. The Sanders-backed oyster farmer has carved out a dominant lead in recent polling ahead of the June primary, despite Mills serving as the most senior-ranking Democrat in the state. Collins is running for a sixth Senate term in the blue-leaning state. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates the contest as a “toss-up.”
Steak ‘n Shake’s new ‘Chief MAHA Officer’ teases RFK Jr-inspired menu shift
FIRST ON FOX — Steak ‘n Shake will switch to grass-fed beef at all of its locations by June 1, the fast food chain’s newly-appointed “Chief MAHA Officer” Michael Boes exclusively told Fox News Digital. The move comes after Steak ‘n Shake sought to align with the “Make America Healthy Again” priorities of the Trump administration last year by switching to beef tallow instead of seed oils in their fryers. “There are a lot of health benefits that I could get into in regard to grass-fed beef and non-grass-fed beef, but the reality is we think it tastes better,” Boes said in an interview just days after his new role was announced. “We tested it out in local markets and the customers reiterated that desire to go that route.” It’s unclear whether the switch to grass-fed beef might result in an increase in the chain’s pricing amid soaring beef prices. RFK JR CLAIMS HE LOST 20 POUNDS IN 20 DAYS, GAINED MENTAL CLARITY ON EXTREME DIET The move further bolsters the company’s previous efforts to align itself with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s MAGA agenda. At the outset of President Donald Trump’s second term, Steak ‘n Shake announced it would start cooking its french fries in beef tallow — raising alarm among health advocates and praise from those who denounce seed-based oils. Kennedy praised the switch at the time, saying he hoped more companies would follow suit. He confirmed HHS under his leadership would not ban use of seed oils but would allow companies to respond to consumer priorities. “I have a libertarian outlook. People should be able to make their own choices. If you want to eat a donut or seed oils, you should be able to,” Kennedy told Fox News during a visit to a Florida Steak ‘n Shake location in March 2025. “We want to do everything that we can to incentivize these companies to be transparent, to switch over from ultra-processed food and to be part of this movement to make America healthier,” Kennedy added. MIKE TYSON IN THE ‘FIGHT OF MY LIFE’ AS HE PARTNERS WITH TRUMP ADMIN IN HEALTH INITIATIVE TO TACKLE OBESITY Boes’ new position, which the company says is “dedicated to advancing nutritional integrity, ingredient transparency and the healthiness of our products,” furthers the company’s alignment with RFK Jr.’s aims. Before making history as the world’s first “Chief MAHA Officer,” Boes worked as a senior advisor at HHS. When speaking with Fox News Digital, Boes said he got sign-off from Kennedy before using the MAHA moniker for his new role. SEN RAND PAUL: KENNEDY IS CONFRONTING ‘CORRUPT’ HEALTH AGENCIES TO MAKE AMERICA HEALTHY AGAIN “During my time serving Sec. Kennedy, I had countless conversations with industry partners about returning to real food,” Boes said in a post to LinkedIn on Tuesday. “Time and again, I heard the same hesitation: ‘Our customers aren’t demanding this.’ Steak ‘n Shake challenged that narrative and growth followed. Fast food doesn’t have to mean processed, complicated or artificial. It used to mean real, simple and delicious — and it can again.” Boes did not say when asked by Fox News Digital whether the change to all grass-fed and grass-finished beef on June 1 could result in an uptick in pricing for Steak ‘n Shake. The conflict in Iran — and specifically the closure of the Strait of Hormuz shipping route — is resulting in a bottleneck in getting oil and other fuels out of the Middle East, which is driving up the costs of beef and a myriad of other products. Fox News Digital’s Katelyn Caralle contributed to this report.
Trump Cabinet member scraps Obama-era gender identity housing rule, cites ‘biological reality’
Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner has ordered an immediate halt to enforcement of a key Obama-era housing rule tied to gender identity, directing the agency to operate programs based on biological sex. The directive stops any pending or future enforcement of HUD’s 2016 Equal Access Rule, which expanded gender identity as formally recognized in federally-funded housing programs and shelters. The move marks a significant shift in how shelters and HUD-funded providers operate, particularly those serving women fleeing domestic violence, and implements President Donald Trump’s executive order to restore what the administration calls “biological truth” across the federal government. “I am directing HUD staff to halt any pending or future enforcement actions related to HUD’s 2016 Equal Access Rule, which, in essence, tied housing programs, shelters and other facilities funded by HUD to far-left gender ideology,” Turner said. TRUMP STOPPED BIDEN’S PLAN TO FORCE DEI ON LOCAL COMMUNITIES “We, at this agency, are carrying out the mission laid out by President Trump on Jan. 20 … to restore biological truth to the federal government,” he added. “This means recognizing there are only two sexes: male and female. It means getting government out of the way of what the Lord established from the beginning when he created man in His own image.” The 2016 rule allowed people to self-identify for gender when accessing certain housing services, limiting the ability of shelters to challenge that identification. Critics of the rule argued it restricted the rights of shelters, particularly those serving women impacted by trauma, domestic abuse and violence, by requiring them to admit individuals based on gender identity rather than biological sex. JUDGE FORCES CA HOSPITAL TO KEEP TRANS TREATMENTS FOR MINORS DESPITE TRUMP FUNDING THREAT Turner framed the move as part of a broader overhaul of HUD policy and spending. “Moreover, this is just the first of many examples of how, starting on day one, HUD is going back to work for the American people and being a good steward of taxpayer dollars,” he said. “There will be more where this came from.” The Equal Access Rule was first introduced in 2012, prohibiting discrimination in HUD-funded programs based on sexual orientation, gender identity and marital status. A 2016 update expanded those protections by requiring programs to recognize gender identity as well. Turner’s order does not repeal the rule but halts enforcement tied to the 2016 expansion. “As I have said before, we are going to take inventory of HUD’s programs and ensure every dollar that goes out the door is advancing HUD’s mission, which is to provide quality, affordable homes for communities across the country — urban, rural and tribal — and promote economic investment to build stronger communities and a brighter future for all Americans,” Turner said.
‘Lame duck’: Jeffries rips DeSantis after Florida invitation as redistricting fight heats up
Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries ripped Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in a Fox News Digital interview Thursday, calling him a “lame duck” after the governor offered to pay for Jeffries’ trip to Florida amid a redistricting push. Jeffries warned DeSantis he could put Republican seats at risk as the Sunshine State remains in the spotlight of a nationwide gerrymandering battle, with parties reshuffling congressional districts for partisan advantages. “Ron DeSantis is putting his own congressional delegation in jeopardy, which probably shouldn’t be surprising because all of them, as I understand it, can’t stand the charismatically challenged lame-duck governor of Florida,” Jeffries said. CALIFORNIA REPUBLICANS SUE TO STOP NEWSOM, DEMOCRATS FROM PUSHING REDISTRICTING PLAN DeSantis extended the invitation to Jeffries at a news conference in Kissimmee, Florida, Wednesday after Jeffries’ “F around and find out” warning on redistricting. “Please. Be my guest. I will pay for you to come down to Florida to campaign,” DeSantis told the crowd. “I’ll put you up in the Florida governor’s mansion. We will take you fishing. “We’ll do all this stuff. There’s nothing that could be better for Republicans in Florida than to see Jeffries, Hakeem Jeffries, everywhere around this state.” Jeffries warned DeSantis earlier this week not to follow the lead of Texas, where Republicans pushed a redistricting map to flip up to five Democratic-held seats. “Our message to Florida Republicans is F around and find out,” Jeffries said. “If they go down the road of a DeSantis dummymander, the Florida Republicans are gonna find themselves in the same situation as Texas Republicans, who are on the run right now. “Under no circumstances are Texas Republicans picking up five seats. They’ll be fortunate if they get two or three. While in California, we are going to get all five.” BATTLE FOR THE HOUSE RUNS THROUGH VIRGINIA AS COURT OKS HIGH-STAKES REDISTRICTING VOTE Multiple states have moved forward with similar redistricting efforts after a push initiated by President Donald Trump. Jeffries added that the redistricting war is not over yet. “The Republicans are dummymandering their way into the minority before a single voter casts a ballot because they started this war, and we’re going to finish it,” he said. With the 2026 midterms approaching, both parties hope to win the House by leveraging gerrymandering. President Trump urged Virginia voters this week to reject the “blatant partisan power grab” in Virginia before voters headed to the polls to vote on the congressional redistricting referendum led by Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger. The referendum passed Tuesday night, securing Virginia Democrats a major win and increasing the party’s chances in the midterms. FIRST ELECTION TEST FOR TRUMP’S TERM SURPRISINGLY CLOSE IN FL, GOP LOOKS TO INCREASE RAZOR-THIN HOUSE MAJORITY DeSantis called a special session this week to focus on congressional maps he says will “accurately reflect the population of our state.” Florida’s state constitution bans favoring parties in redistricting. Eight Democratic-held districts are up for redrawing. Republicans hold 20 of Florida’s seats while Democrats hold eight. A redistricting plan has not been revealed. Fox News Digital’s Leo Briceno contributed to this report.
Dems jockeying for Newsom endorsement give passing grades on issue that ignited ‘poop map’ crisis
None of the Democratic candidates running to replace outgoing California Governor Gavin Newsom gave him below a B-minus grade on combating homelessness, a moment that Republicans sharing the debate stage on Wednesday evening called a laughable evaluation of the state’s problem. “My goodness, of course it’s an F,” Republican candidate Steve Hilton, a former Fox News host, said. “It shames our state, the situation with homelessness. We have about 10% of the U.S. population, around 50% of the country’s homeless.” The moment forced the four Democratic candidates to weigh in on efforts to unwind a crisis that has only worsened in recent years despite billions in funding. It also highlighted a reluctance among Democrats to critique Newsom, who has yet to make an endorsement in the race. TRUMP BACKS HILTON AHEAD OF CALIFORNIA GOP VOTE, TESTING BIANCO’S GRIP ON PARTY ENDORSEMENT “I’m a notoriously tough grader, but I would probably give him a B on homelessness,” Katie Porter, a former Democratic congresswoman, said. “I don’t think this has been an easy problem to solve, but I do give him a lot of credit for calling attention to the problem.” Tom Steyer, a billionaire businessman-turned candidate, put Newsom’s performance in the same ballpark. NEWSOM STILL BACKING $114M ‘BRIDGE TO NOWHERE’ FOR MOUNTAIN LIONS AND BUTTERFLIES “So, I’d give the governor a B-minus on this,” Steyer said. But one other Democrat, former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra, made the case that the grade was too low, citing Newsom’s “effort.” “I would say that the governor has made efforts. We’ve seen him come down to Los Angeles, actually go out and try to clean some of these streets. On effort, I would give him an A,” Becerra said. California reported 161,400 people had experienced homelessness on any given night in 2024, according to the California State Senate Housing Committee. The numbers are higher than when Newsom took office in January 2019. That year, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development put California’s homeless population at 108,400 — 32% less than levels in 2024. The persistently high rates have thwarted billions in funding to bring the numbers down. California has spent roughly $20 billion on homeless initiatives from 2019 to 2025, according to the California Budget and Policy Center, a left-leaning think tank. In a 2023 debate with Newsom on Fox News’ “Hannity,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis illustrated the acuteness of the homelessness problem by holding up a map of San Francisco, detailing over 270,000 reported instances of feces found on the streets of the city, which was dubbed the “poop map” on social media. To Republican candidate Chad Bianco, Riverside County’s sheriff, it’s clear the problem has nothing to do with money. “It is an absolute dismal failure, and anyone that says it’s not is fooling themselves — or trying to fool voters,” Bianco said. CALIFORNIA SHERIFF USES ‘TO CATCH A PREDATOR’ PLAYBOOK TO SQUASH BLUE STATE CRIME “We are not dealing with homeless, so stop calling it homeless. It has nothing to do with homes. These people are suffering from drug and alcohol abuse and mental illness.” California will hold its gubernatorial primary June 2. The top two candidates will advance to the general election Nov. 3, according to the California Secretary of State.
Conservative nonprofit investigates Virginia redistricting vote after court blocks certification
FIRST ON FOX: A conservative policy group is launching an investigation into Virginia’s redistricting amendment vote after a court blocked certification of the results, raising new questions from critics about how the referendum was conducted and whether election procedures were properly followed. The America First Policy Institute (AFPI) is initiating a multipart probe focused on mail-in ballot handling and alleged classroom political influence, Fox News Digital has learned. The move comes as the legal fight over the amendment intensifies, with multiple lawsuits pending and the Virginia Supreme Court set to hear oral arguments Monday. VOTER ROLL SCRUTINY ESCALATES IN MINNESOTA AS BIGGEST COUNTIES FACE SWEEPING RECORDS DEMANDS AFPI’s legal team said the first phase of its investigation will involve records requests to several Virginia counties seeking communications and documentation related to how mail-in and absentee ballots were handled during the election. The requests target how applications were processed, how ballots were distributed and accepted, how they were stored and what guidance election officials were operating under. The group argues those materials are public records required under Virginia law and should clarify whether proper procedures were followed. “The questions we’re asking aren’t complicated,” said Leigh Ann O’Neill, AFPI’s chief legal affairs officer. “Was the election conducted according to state and federal law? Did teachers improperly turn students into a private grassroots army? “And, if so, what will the school district do about it? These are basic questions that demand answers no matter how you voted on Tuesday.” A second component of the investigation focuses on Fairfax County Public Schools, where AFPI is seeking records related to civics class materials and instruction. CARVILLE AND CO-HOST LAMENT THAT TRUMP SPARKED A REDISTRICTING WAR, MAKING BOTH PARTIES LOOK CYNICAL According to the group, some parents have alleged that teachers commented on parents’ political beliefs and encouraged students to persuade their parents how to vote on the referendum. AFPI argues that, if confirmed, such conduct could violate state law, federal law and school district policy governing political activity in publicly funded classrooms. The group said it is also sending a letter to the Fairfax County superintendent urging an internal investigation into what it described as “highly concerning reports of partisan voter influence.” The investigation lands amid a growing legal fight over the amendment. A Virginia court has already moved to block certification of the vote, and the dispute is now moving toward the state’s highest court. VIRGINIA JUDGE VOIDS REDISTRICTING PUSH, RULES LAWMAKERS OVERSTEPPED AUTHORITY There are three legal challenges pending in Virginia courts, including an original lawsuit brought by state Republicans, which the Virginia Supreme Court is scheduled to hear Monday. There is also a separate case filed in Richmond by GOP Reps. John McGuire and Rob Wittman and a challenge in Tazewell County, where Circuit Court Judge Jack Hurley ruled the referendum unconstitutional. An appeal from Virginia Democrat Attorney General Jay Jones is expected. A ruling in the primary case could come within weeks, with courts under pressure to act before Virginia’s August primary and late July deadlines for voter registration and mail-in ballots. AFPI said its investigation is intended to ensure transparency as the legal process unfolds, arguing that if election procedures were properly followed, the records will confirm it, and, if not, Virginia voters deserve answers. The Virginia Supreme Court hearing will be livestreamed, allowing the public to follow arguments as the case moves forward. AFPI said its probe will continue in phases, with additional findings and requests expected in the coming weeks. The Virginia Department of Elections and Fairfax County Public Schools did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. Fox News’ Bill Mears and Mark Meredith contributed to this reporting.
Sen Hawley warns it would be ‘unconscionable’ if billions of taxpayer funds flow to trans kids’ sex changes
FIRST ON FOX: Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., is calling on House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., to immediately block taxpayer funding for sex change treatment for minors, warning that billions of federal dollars could soon flow to providers like Planned Parenthood. In a letter penned to Johnson on Thursday afternoon, Hawley emphasized that “time is of the essence,” noting a current federal ban on taxpayer payments to abortion and “trans-treatment” providers is set to expire July 4. Hawley’s recent attempt to pass a similar ban in the Senate was rejected Wednesday night, putting the responsibility squarely on the House. TEXAS LAWMAKER PROPOSES BILL TO BAN GENDER TRANSITION TREATMENT FOR EVERYONE, INCLUDING ADULTS “If the House fails to act immediately as part of reconciliation, billions of Federal dollars will go to Planned Parenthood and other medical ‘providers’ for hormones, puberty blockers, and irreversible treatments for minor children,” Hawley wrote, calling the prospect “unconscionable.” Hawley warned that billions of dollars will potentially be diverted from Medicaid. Citing a Government Accountability Office (GAO) estimate, the senator pointed out that Planned Parenthood alone received more than $1.5 billion in Medicare and Medicaid funds between 2019 and 2021. Hawley also referenced a new study from Concerned Women for America, which found a more than 40% increase in sex change treatment and related services at Planned Parenthood clinics. He argued that the organization is “positioned to supercharge its transgender agenda with taxpayer funding taken from the elderly and those in need,” demanding Johnson take action “without delay or hesitation.” Had it passed, the budget amendment presented by Hawley on Wednesday would have been added to the Congressional budget resolution for fiscal year 2026 and created a pathway to defund abortion providers — provided it did not increase the national debt.
FIRST ON FOX: SPLC’s legal woes grow as Jim Jordan fires latest salvo at left-wing group
FIRST ON FOX: The House Judiciary Committee escalated scrutiny of the Southern Poverty Law Center on Thursday, demanding documents from the nonprofit after a federal indictment alleged the group funneled millions in donor funds to extremist organizations. Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, wrote in a letter first obtained by Fox News Digital to SPLC President Bryan Fair that the GOP-led committee was investigating any coordination between the SPLC and the Biden Department of Justice and FBI, both of which had used the left-wing nonprofit as a resource. Jordan demanded a slate of documents from the SPLC by April 30, a request that comes after his Republican counterparts in the Senate also ramped up scrutiny of the SPLC and after acting Attorney General Todd Blanche hinted at more possible indictments related to the group. The intensifying investigations into the SPLC, expanding from the DOJ to Congress, come after Jordan’s committee previously investigated the group, saying it was known for “maligning several mainstream conservative and religious organizations as ‘hate groups,’” such as Moms for Liberty and Turning Point USA, and that the Biden DOJ improperly used it for civil rights enforcement. SPLC SAW REVENUE SURGE AFTER CHARLOTTESVILLE RALLY AS DOJ ALLEGES INFORMANT TIES “Publicly available documents revealed how the Justice Department partnered closely with the SPLC during the Biden-Harris Administration, including scheduling regular meetings, giving the SPLC early access to federal law-enforcement data, and allowing SPLC employees to train federal prosecutors,” Jordan wrote. “The new information about the SPLC alleged in the indictment only raises further questions.” Jordan also noted that a controversial internal memo originating from the FBI Richmond Field Office during Director Christopher Wray’s tenure, which framed so-called radical-traditionalist Catholics as a group of people more prone to violent crime, used the SPLC as a source for its findings. The memo surfaced in 2023, with Wray later retracting it and saying it was an “appalling” breach of religious freedom. Jordan’s letter pointed out that the Richmond memo was among more than a dozen FBI documents that used the SPLC as a resource. The DOJ on Tuesday charged the SPLC with several counts of wire fraud, false statements to a federally insured bank and conspiracy to commit money laundering, alleging the group defrauded donors for more than a decade. RADICAL HOUSE DEM APPOINTED TO GOP-LED COMMITTEE INVESTIGATING JANUARY 6: ‘WE WILL EXPOSE THE LIES’ Prosecutors said the nonprofit, which promotes its efforts to fight White supremacy, misled donors by using shell companies to mask how donor funds were used. More than $3 million was paid through the shell companies to informants who participated in activities involving the Ku Klux Klan and the neo-Nazi National Socialist Movement, among others, prosecutors alleged. “The SPLC’s paid informants … engaged in the active promotion of racist groups at the same time that the SPLC was denouncing the same groups on its website,” prosecutors wrote, noting one informant allegedly went so far as to help plan the 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. “Congress has an important interest in protecting Americans from extremist violence and criminal activity,” Jordan wrote in his letter. “The Committee on the Judiciary has been conducting oversight of the Biden-Harris Administration’s close coordination with the SPLC on federal civil rights matters.” BIDEN DOJ SUBPOENAED JIM JORDAN’S PHONE RECORDS COVERING MORE THAN TWO YEARS The Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday set its sights on a woman previously affiliated with the SPLC who was a federal judge and Biden appointee serving a lifetime appointment on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit. “Every individual associated with SPLC should have to answer for what they knew about the organization’s extremist ties, and when,” committee Republicans wrote in a statement on X. “That includes Nancy Abudu, SPLC’s former litigation director who Biden appointed as a lifetime judge on the 11th Circuit.” Just before the DOJ announced charges, Fair said in a public statement that the federal investigation was political rather than sincere. “They have made no secret of who they want to protect and who they want to destroy,” Fair said, noting the group no longer works with paid informants but adding they had “risked their lives” to infiltrate extremist groups. Fox News Digital reached out to the SPLC and Abudu’s chambers for comment.
Fox News Poll: Modest boost in support for Iran conflict, but concerns persist
As the war in Iran nears the two-month mark, a new Fox News Poll shows a modest uptick in support, though voters remain divided on key aspects of the conflict – especially over its long-term consequences and U.S. safety. The survey, released Thursday, shows support for the current military action in Iran at 45%, up from 42% support last month. A majority of 55% oppose it. FOX NEWS POLL: 56% DOUBT WHITE HOUSE’S COMPETENCE AT MANAGING GOVERNMENT Still, a slim majority thinks things are going well in Iran (51% well vs. 49% not well), a flip from March when voters said the action was not going well (47% vs. 52%). FOX NEWS POLL: ECONOMIC GLOOM, TRUMP RATINGS SIGNAL TOUGH GOP MIDTERM PATH The bump in support for the war can be mostly attributed to non-MAGA Republicans (+11 points in support), Hispanic voters (+10), men over age 45 (+8), and independents (+5). Looking at the likely effect on security, voters still narrowly say the action will make the U.S. less safe (36% safer, 39% less safe, 25% no difference). However, this gap has narrowed since March (33%, 44%, 23% respectively). Voters are also not convinced the costs of the war are worth it. A 57% majority believes the action will not improve U.S. safety enough to justify the problems it has created, while 43% say the short-term problems will be worth it in the long run. Although voters across the board express skepticism, partisan differences are stark. Roughly 3 in 10 Republicans, 7 in 10 independents, and 8 in 10 Democrats, think improved safety does not justify the challenges. The most important objectives for voters are avoiding a prolonged conflict and keeping the Strait of Hormuz open (80% say it is extremely or very important for each). Majorities also think it’s extremely or very important to end Iran’s nuclear weapons program (72%), support the people of Iran (65%) and bring about changes to Iran’s government (55%). The top objective for Democrats and independents is avoiding a prolonged conflict, while for Republicans it’s ending Iran’s nuclear program. Six in 10 (59%) rate the performance of the U.S. military in the conflict as excellent (32%) or good (27%), about where sentiment was last month (58% excellent/good). More than 5 in 10 independents (53%) and 8 in 10 Republicans (81%) rate the military positively, while just 4 in 10 Democrats agree (40%). “One of the more remarkable statistics attesting to the country’s intense polarization is that when asked about the U.S. military’s performance in Iran, by 20 percentage points Democrats rate it negatively, and it’s difficult to proffer an explanation other than those who dislike President Trump are unwilling to say anything positive about anything he touches,” says Republican pollster Daron Shaw, who works on Fox News polls with Democrat Chris Anderson. Among those who have served in the military, support for the current action in Iran has dipped slightly (down 4 points since March), but a majority still supports it (57%), thinks things are going well (65%), rates the military positively (78% excellent/good) and half think the military action will make the U.S. safer (50%). Trump said Tuesday the U.S. will extend its ceasefire with Iran, a day before it was set to end and amid a U.S. blockade on Iranian ports. This comes as peace talks in Pakistan involving Vice President JD Vance were delayed as Iran has not committed to participating yet. The survey was conducted April 17-20. When asked to rate how tough Trump has been on Iran, more voters say he’s been too tough (40%), rather than not tough enough (28%) or about right (30%). The 40% saying Trump is too tough is up from 18% in May 2019 (the last time the question was asked) – mainly driven by Democrats and independents thinking he’s too tough now. When it comes to the president’s approach to China, however, results are reversed: 21% say he’s too tough, 40% not tough enough, and 38% about right. More broadly, Trump’s job performance on foreign policy is underwater by 20 points (40% approve, 60% disapprove). He does slightly better on his handling of China (42%, 57%) but worse on Iran (37%, 63%). His overall job rating sits at 42% approve and 58% disapprove, about where it was last month (41%-59%). Some Cabinet officials are also facing headwinds in their job performance. Vance’s net approval rating is -11 points (44% approve – 55% disapprove) and down from -8 in December. Sec. of State Rubio’s net approval rating is -12, down from -5, which is the steepest decline in the Cabinet (44% approve, 56% disapprove). Sec. of War Hegseth’s rating ticked up 2 points to -17, but he remains the lowest rated of the three (41% approve, 58% disapprove). Iran is not the only foreign policy issue where voters are divided. They are split on U.S. support of Israel, as 40% say it’s too supportive, another 40% about right, and 19% say not supportive enough. At 40%, the share saying the U.S. is too supportive is the highest since 2023, up from 35% the last time the question was asked in September 2025. Democrats under age 45 (+9 points saying too supportive since 2025) and Republicans under age 45 (+7), are increasingly more likely to feel the U.S. is too supportive of Israel. Republicans ages 45+ have the highest share of those who think support is about right (70%) while Democrats ages 45+ say too supportive (57%). The largest share of Protestants (45%), Catholics (44%), and White Catholics (48%) say support is about right. On Ukraine, 39% of voters say the U.S. should be doing more to support them against Russia, 26% say less and 34% feel the U.S. is doing the right amount. This is close to where sentiment has been since last summer. One more thing… Trump is a frequent poster on social media, and a majority of voters see these posts as instant reactions to current events (65%) rather than strategic efforts to accomplish goals