Top automaker unleashes 250 limited-edition Corvettes inspired by America’s founding
General Motors’ Chevrolet announced a new America250 “Stars and Steel” collection celebrating the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary, which will include a “one of one” Corvette auctioned off in January and a set of 250 “limited-edition” Corvettes. The “Stars and Steel” collection will include cars across five Chevrolet vehicle models from its 2026 lineup — the Corvette, Silverado EV, Silverado LD, Silverado HD and Colorado, which are all manufactured in the U.S. with globally sourced components. The collection’s modernized design features will entail dark, metallic finishes meant to embody American craftsmanship and patriotism. The “one of one” 2026 Corvette ZR1X with a special “Stars and Steel” inspired design will be auctioned at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Winter Auction Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, with 100% of the final hammer cost going to the veterans’ advocacy group Tunnel to Towers Foundation. NFL TO HONOR AMERICA’S 250TH BIRTHDAY WITH SPECIAL TRIBUTES ONCE CALENDAR FLIPS TO 2026 The collection will make its first public, in-person appearance at this weekend’s Army-Navy football game in Baltimore Saturday. In advance of the game, Fox News Digital obtained photos of the wide-ranging fleet. The “one of one” Corvette is still in the final stages of production, but it will be a ZR1X model pictured below. The “Stars and Steel” collection will also include an exclusive “limited-edition” series run of 250 Corvette units, which will be available in all models from the Stingray to the ZR1X, and will be offered in both coupe or convertible styles on 3LT/3LZ trims only. Only the Corvette will be limited to 250 units. Buyers of one of these 250 exclusive units can choose between Arctic White with a Santorini Blue interior and black with an Adrenaline Red interior. Each limited edition includes American flag-inspired, full-length stripes in satin silver or satin black, “250” flag graphics on doors and spoiler ends, unique sill plates and an interior plaque featuring build sequence number, black gloss, carbon-flash or carbon fiber wheels. OUSTED DIRECTOR SAYS AMERICA250 LEADERS ‘HATE TRUMP MORE THAN THEY LOVE AMERICA’ AFTER FIRING FOR KIRK POST “The Stars & Steel Collection celebrates a key milestone for the country that not only served as the birthplace of our brand but has also been its home for nearly 115 years,” Scott Bell, vice president of Global Chevrolet, said. “Each vehicle in this collection is proudly assembled in the United States and honors the rich legacy of our nation.” Production is expected to begin in early spring 2026 with package pricing to be announced at a later date. In addition to giving the final auction cost of the “one of one” Corvette to Tunnels To Towers, a nonprofit group that helps build homes for the families of first responders and military troops lost in the line of duty, Chevy will also donate $250 to nonprofits that support the veteran community for every vehicle from the “Stars and Steel” collection that gets sold. The “Stars and Steel” collection follows an executive order signed by President Donald Trump in January establishing a White House task force to lead planning and execution of celebrations for America’s 250th anniversary. The White House told Fox News Digital it would be engaging with the entire federal government, state and local governments, the private sector, nonprofits and educational institutions to put on various events and other initiatives honoring the nation’s heritage leading up to the official anniversary in 2026. The 250th anniversary celebrations will include, among other events, a UFC fight on the White House South Lawn June 14, President Trump’s 80th birthday.
Walz urges Noem to ‘reassess’ immigration enforcement strategy in Minnesota after alleged citizen arrests
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is urging Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to “reassess” her enforcement strategy after he said multiple U.S. citizens have been arrested during federal immigration operations across the state amid the Trump administration’s aggressive mass deportation campaign. In a letter to Noem, Walz said he was writing with “serious concern” regarding arrests made by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Minneapolis. “Reports indicate that some citizens were documenting federal activity, while others were going about their daily lives,” he wrote. “This troubling pattern raised serious questions, not only about due process and the rights of U.S. citizens, but also about trust between Minnesota communities and federal authorities.” MINNESOTA COLLEGE ADMINISTRATOR ACCUSED OF IMPEDING ICE ARREST TO PROTECT STUDENT SEXUAL PREDATOR “This series of incidents raises serious concerns about civil liberties and trust between Minnesota communities and federal authorities,” Walz said in a statement regarding his letter. “Minnesotans have long valued civic engagement, and detaining citizens for lawfully exercising those rights or going about their daily lives sends a deeply disturbing message. I am urging Secretary Noem to respect the constitution and for her administration to ensure that federal operations are conducted lawfully and with respect for the rights of all individuals.” He stated that the “forcefulness, lack of communication and unlawful practices” displayed by federal agents won’t be tolerated in Minnesota. He urged Noem to reassess the broader enforcement strategy. Fox News Digital has reached out to the Department of Homeland Security and ICE. Walz cited one alleged incident in which someone named “Sue” was physically pushed, handcuffed and taken to a federal facility after she refused to move back from a scene after being asked to do so while documenting a law enforcement operation. She was told she would be charged with obstruction, Walz said. BORDER CZAR TOM HOMAN FIRES BACK AT CNN HOST IN DEFENSE OF ICE TACTICS: ‘THEY’VE BEEN SHOT AT’ Another person named “Mubashir” was chased, tackled and handcuffed before being detained despite stating his citizenship status, he said. The governor said those who document law enforcement activity “play an essential role in transparency, accountability and safeguarding civil liberties in Minnesota.” Immigration officials have said that individuals are free to watch and film law enforcement operations, but anyone obstructing authorities from doing their jobs could face arrest. In his letter, Walz urged Noem to review recent arrests made by federal agents to ensure they have a judicial warrant authorizing detention or seizure and to clarify the legal standard under which a citizen may exercise his rights to document and witness “aggressive law enforcement actions.” He also asked that she ensure ICE agents operating in Minnesota receive guidance and training on respecting the civil rights of U.S. citizens and residents.
Obama surprises Chicago students in Santa hat for holiday library story time reading session
A group of Chicago elementary school students had an unexpected visitor Tuesday when former President Barack Obama walked in wearing a Santa hat and sat down to read to them. The Burke Elementary School students were at the Bessie Coleman branch of the Chicago Public Library, where they were learning about leadership qualities. As the students were learning, Obama walked into the library and asked, “How you guys doing?” After making introductions, Obama began to read “Flying Free: How Bessie Coleman’s Dreams Took Flight.” TAXPAYERS ON THE HOOK FOR LAWN CARE, FIXING HINGES AT PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARIES. TRUMP-LED REFORMS AIM TO STOP IT The book recounts how Coleman, for whom the library branch is named, broke barriers to become the first Black female pilot. Obama shared a video of his visit on X, saying he had a good time. “I had fun reading to some Burke Elementary students at the Chicago Public Library today,” he wrote. “When the Obama Presidential Center opens next year, we’ll have a new branch of the library for the community to enjoy.” FOX 32 in Chicago reported that Obama’s appearance was a sneak peek into the story time programming that will be offered at the library branch coming to the Obama Presidential Center next June. The center’s opening comes after years of delays and protests and more than a decade of planning. “We’re going to open in June so that y’all don’t have to bring your coats up,” Obama said during a visit to the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Arkansas last week, without revealing a firm opening date, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. CHICAGO RESIDENTS CALL OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL CENTER A ‘MONSTROSITY,’ FEAR THEY’LL BE DISPLACED: REPORT The presidential center’s site on Chicago’s South Side was announced in May 2015. The center, which will include the presidential library, was projected to open in 2021 but has been tied up in lawsuits and federal reviews that have pushed the timeline back years. The center will be home to the presidential library, a museum, an auditorium, a Chicago Public Library branch, a garden, an athletic facility and other attractions on its 20-acre campus. “We want to create a campus, a place where the public gathers for a range of things that puts them face to face with each other and get them to meet and be in dialogue and conversation and exposed to new ideas with each other,” Obama said last week, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. PROTESTERS RAGED, CRITICS MOCKED – NOW OBAMA SAYS HIS LIBRARY’S ACTUALLY OPENING The $850 million project in Jackson Park was first hit with a yearslong lawsuit in 2018 when a group called Protect Our Parks alleged that Chicago illegally transferred parkland to the private Obama Foundation. That court battle persisted until 2022, when a federal judge terminated a revised version of the suit. The planned construction also sparked federal reviews because the project required an overhaul of roads in the area and because Jackson Park is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Those reviews did not wrap up until late 2020, local media reported at the time. The Obama Foundation has celebrated the center as “a lively community hub, economic anchor and beacon of democracy right here on the South Side of Chicago.” A groundbreaking ceremony for the project was not held until 2021, with construction picking up in earnest in the last year. Fox News Digital’s Emma Colton contributed to this report.
Elon Musk accuses Ilhan Omar of treason over Somalia comments in viral social media post
Elon Musk accused Rep. Ilhan Omar of committing treason over past comments in which she vowed to safeguard Somali interests in the U.S. while assuring her constituents the administration would “do what we ask it to do.” “This sounds like treason,” Musk wrote on X, reposting a clip of Omar speaking to Somali constituents in Minnesota in 2024. The video circulated widely online and was highlighted further by the Tesla and SpaceX CEO’s retweet Wednesday. Omar originally made the remarks in January 2024, when she told supporters in the Twin Cities she would fight to prevent the breakaway Republic of Somaliland from allowing Ethiopia to create a naval base on its coastline. ILHAN OMAR PRESSED TO EXPLAIN HOW FRAUD IN MINNESOTA GOT ‘SO OUT OF CONTROL’ Minnesota is home to the largest Somali refugee community in the U.S., with most members of that community living in Omar’s district. “The U.S. government will do what we ask it to do,” a translation of Omar’s speech said. “We should have this kind of confidence in ourselves as Somalis. We live in this country. We are taxpayers in this country. This country is one where one of your daughters sits in Congress. While I am in Congress, no one will take Somalia’s sea, and the U.S. government won’t support others to rob us. Don’t stress over it, Minnesotans.” DAVID MARCUS: SOMALI POWER SURGE RAISES THE QUESTION MINNESOTA AVOIDS — WHERE’S ASSIMILATION? Omar’s resurfaced video gained traction shortly after President Trump spoke at a rally in Pennsylvania on Tuesday, where he said she prioritized Somalia over the U.S. “I love this Ilhan Omar, whatever the hell her name is, with the little turban,” Trump said. “She comes in, does nothing but b—-. She comes from her country, where, I mean, it’s considered about the worst country in the world, right? “We ought to get her the hell out.” And the crowd chanted, “Send her back!” TIM WALZ FIRES BACK AT TRUMP ACCUSATION OF ‘INCOMPETENCE,’ DODGES ON RESPONSIBILITY FOR FRAUD IN MINNESOTA Trump also criticized Omar and the Somali population more broadly, referencing the fact that dozens of Somali immigrants in Minnesota have been arrested or charged with fraud schemes. He also targeted Gov. Tim Walz since the alleged fraud schemes, which cost the state around $1 billion, happened under his watch. On Tuesday night, Omar responded to Trump’s comments, writing on X: “Trump’s obsession with me is beyond weird. He needs serious help… He continues to be a national embarrassment.” Fox News Digital has reached out to Elon Musk and Ilhan Omar for comment.
Bondi shares heart-pounding footage of US seizing Venezuelan oil tanker in rare action last seen in 2014
Attorney General Pam Bondi released video footage Wednesday of U.S. forces seizing a Venezuelan crude oil tanker, a bold move last ordered more than a decade ago. Video footage showed FBI and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents, along with U.S. Coast Guard members, with support from the Department of War, executing a precise seizure of the tanker, which was being used to move sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran. Armed personnel in tactical gear rappelled from a helicopter above the vessel off the Venezuelan coast Wednesday, landing on the deck of the ship and entering with weapons drawn. DEMOCRATS ESCALATE WAR CRIME ACCUSATIONS AS WHITE HOUSE CALLS ‘INNOCENT FISHERMAN’ THE NEW ‘MARYLAND MAN’ HOAX “For multiple years, the oil tanker has been sanctioned by the United States due to its involvement in an illicit oil shipping network supporting foreign terrorist organizations,” Bondi wrote in a statement on X. “This seizure, completed off the coast of Venezuela, was conducted safely and securely—and our investigation alongside the Department of Homeland Security to prevent the transport of sanctioned oil continues.” FBI Director Kash Patel said in an X post the administration’s “efforts to crush FTO’s” and cut off their resources will “continue day and night.” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem added, “If you threaten our nation or break the law, there is no place on land or sea where we won’t find you. Thank you to our brave service members. America FIRST.” President Donald Trump noted at the White House Wednesday that the tanker was the “largest one ever seized action,” adding “other things are happening.” “You’ll be seeing that later,” Trump said. “And you’ll be talking about that later with some other people.” The Navy confirmed to Fox News Wednesday that 15% of U.S.-deployed Navy ships are in the Caribbean region. It is unclear what percentage of U.S. Naval assets are in the region. The Venezuelan government condemned Wednesday’s U.S. action, calling it “a blatant theft and an act of international piracy,” in a statement. MARCO RUBIO SAYS TRUMP WILL NOT BE ‘SUCKERED’ BY MADURO LIKE BIDEN The last time the public was made aware of the U.S. military seizing a foreign oil tanker was in 2014, when Navy SEALs boarded and took over a ship previously seized by three armed men at a Libyan port who were attempting to sell the nationalized Libyan oil on the black market, Fox News Digital previously reported. About 30 men from Navy SEAL team 2 embarked from the USS Roosevelt, using inflatable boats and ladders to get on board the MV Morning Glory oil tanker and detained the rebels. There were no casualties during the 2014 mission, which was carried out on orders from former President Barack Obama in international waters southeast of Cyprus at the request of the Libyan and Cypriot governments. The administration’s latest action is expected to further strain ties with Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro’s government, which is already under sweeping U.S. oil sanctions, and follows 22 U.S. strikes on alleged narco-traffickers near Venezuela that have killed 87 people. The Trump administration is also weighing land strikes to increase pressure on Maduro, whom the administration deems Venezuela’s illegitimate leader, after recent talks between the two countries failed to produce a deal for his exit. The White House could not immediately be reached for comment. Fox News’ Morgan Phillips and Justin Fishel, Reuters and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
Democrat John Fetterman decries ‘dehumanizing’ attack against Charlie Kirk’s widow Erika
Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania condemned an attack against Erika Kirk, the widow of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, whose assassination shocked the world earlier this year. “It’s gross and dehumanizing to attack a widow with young children after just witnessing his public assassination,” the senator noted in a post on X. “It shouldn’t be controversial to put our political views aside and extend the grace for a deeply traumatized family to grieve,” he added. ERIKA KIRK OPENS UP ABOUT ‘GUT-WRENCHING’ GRIEF AFTER HER HUSBAND’S KILLING AND HOW FAITH SUSTAINED HER He made the comments when sharing a screenshot of a Fox News Digital article headline that read, “Liberal podcaster labels widow Erika Kirk a ‘grifter’ who should be ‘kicked to the curb.’” “This woman should be kicked to the curb,” Jennifer Welch said on her “I’ve Had It” podcast. “She is an absolute grifter, just like Donald Trump, and just like her unrepentant, racist, homophobic husband was,” she said of Erika Kirk. ERIKA KIRK SAYS LATE HUSBAND’S FINAL BOOK NOW FEELS LIKE HIS ‘LAST WORDS’ TO HER GOP Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina, who is running for governor, responded to Fetterman’s post by thanking the senator. Fox News Channel political analyst Gianno Caldwell expressed full agreement with Fetterman’s comments. NANCY MACE VOWS TO ‘FIGHT LIKE HELL’ TO RENAME OLD BLACK LIVES MATTER PLAZA FOR CHARLIE KIRK Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot during an event at Utah Valley University in September. He and his wife Erika had two children.
US Chamber of Commerce accused of leading ‘woke corporate America’ as Trump dismantles DEI agenda
FIRST ON FOX: The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is coming under fire for allegedly becoming “one of the biggest engines driving woke corporate America” amid the Trump administration’s battle to strip diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives from the fabric of industry and government, a conservative watchdog alleges. “Once a voice for small businesses and Main Street, the Chamber now advocates for DEI mandates, (environmental, social and governance) investment schemes, and radical climate policies that punish consumers,” said Will Hild, the executive director of Consumers’ Research, a free-market-oriented nonprofit focused on consumer advocacy. ESG is an investing framework focused on prioritizing environmental, social and governance investments. “They have strayed far from their original mission of advocating for free markets in favor of a political agenda,” he continued. “Now, that the Chamber has made itself a leader in pushing woke policies in corporate boardrooms, it should come as no surprise that they are also supporting legislation to cripple litigation finance, one of the few tools consumers have to hold woke corporations accountable for pushing political ideology. Consumers’ Research will continue to call out organizations like the Chamber for pushing a woke agenda.” WATCH: HIDDEN CAMERA CATCHES RED-STATE UNIVERSITY ADMINS ADMITTING HOW THEY ‘CLEVERLY’ DISGUISED DEI AGENDA Hild’s comments come as Consumers’ Research published a “Woke Alert” this week accusing the U.S. Chamber of Commerce of being “totally woke, pushing DEI and a left-wing climate agenda.” The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is a business association that represents and lobbies for the interests of local and national companies in Washington, D.C., and operates in a nonpartisan manner. The chamber has received praise and criticism from both Republicans and Democrats across the years for its various politically focused initiatives. Consumers’ Research, as part of its mission to strip “woke” ideology from the fabric of American businesses, publishes “Woke Alerts” sounding the alarm on practices the group views as harmful to consumers or serving “woke politicians.” The latest alert focuses on the Chamber of Commerce’s promotion of DEI initiatives, as well as prioritizing “a radical climate agenda.” The alert pointed to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s website stating that “diversity is America’s strength” in its mission to remove DEI initiatives, which conservatives argue promotes group-based preferences and ideological conformity over individual merit, free speech and equal treatment. “Diversity is America’s strength, spurring the innovation and creativity that have made the U.S. economy the most vibrant and dynamic in history,” the Chamber’s website declares. “When businesses recognize and embrace different perspectives, they are better able to create value, serve customers, support employees, and solve problems. By providing opportunities for everyone, businesses help lift communities and strengthen the health, prosperity, and competitiveness of our nation and our society.” The Chamber’s push on DEI came as such race-based workplace initiatives were promoted from the highest echelons of industry down to grade school classrooms in the 2020 era, especially after the police-involved killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, when “defund the police” and Black Lives Matter dominated the news cycle with protests and riots. UNIVERSITY DROPS JOB POSTING AFTER DEI REQUIREMENT EXPOSED, PROFESSOR SAYS ‘I WOULD NOT BE HIRED’ TODAY The U.S. Chamber of Commerce was among the flood of industries that heightened their promotion DEI policies, including the Chamber reporting in a 2021 video that Floyd’s death helped spark its launch of the “Equality of Opportunity Initiative.” Fox News Digital reviewed archived links to the Chamber of Commerce’s “Equality of Opportunity Initiative” and found that it focused on efforts to “develop real, sustainable solutions to help close race-based opportunity gaps in six key areas: education, employment, entrepreneurship, criminal justice, health, and wealth.” The link to the former website page redirects users to the chamber’s website homepage, with archived links showing the race-based URL was still active in January. The chamber launched the effort in June 2020, just days after Floyd’s death. “This work is a priority for the chamber and our members because as we all know its not just a moral imperative, it’s an economic imperative,” U.S. Chamber President Suzanne Clark said in 2021 during the 2nd Annual National Summit on Equality of Opportunity of DEI practices. Consumers’ Research also flagged the chamber’s 2022 impact report, which said it helped deliver $8.1 million in race-based grants to 1,414 Black-owned small businesses across 42 states. The alert also noted that the chamber has promoted reading materials such as a 2021 guide on DEI, and publicly supported the “Equality Act” in 2021 — legislation Consumers’ Research described as “radical” and claimed would “enshrine in federal law a right for males to participate in women’s sports and lead to the punishment of small business owners based on their religious beliefs.” When asked about the Woke Alert, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce took issue with Hild arguing that the business group is “supporting legislation to cripple litigation finance,” which Hild said “is one of the few tools consumers have to hold woke corporations accountable for pushing political ideology.” “It is sad this organization has become a mouthpiece for trial lawyers whose tactics have imposed a stealth tax on American families who are paying up to $4,200 extra a year for insurance, food, clothing and other items as a result of sham lawsuits that only line the pockets of trial lawyers,” Stephen Waguespack, the president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Legal Reform, said. “These lawyers, who donate overwhelmingly to progressive causes and candidates, and those who align with them, are undermining President Trump’s efforts to lower costs for American families.” The U.S. Chamber of Commerce supports a Republican-introduced bill, the Litigation Transparency Act of 2025, which aims to ensure greater transparency in litigation by requiring parties receiving payment in lawsuits to disclose their identities. Consumers’ Research has used litigation finance in recent years to push back against “woke capitalism” to counter ESG and DEI policies, Fox News Digital previously reported, with Hild saying that he views the legislation as an “attack” on one of the “few tools Americans
Congressional Democrats widen 2026 battlefield, zero in on new House Republican targets
Emboldened congressional Democrats are expanding their battleground map for next year’s midterm elections, when Republicans will be defending their razor-thin majority in the House. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) on Wednesday added five more offensive opportunities in California, Texas, Florida and North Carolina to their list of what they consider are vulnerable Republican-held House districts. The DCCC’s move comes in the wake of Democrats’ decisive ballot box victories in last month’s 2025 elections and their overperformance in last week’s special congressional showdown in a solidly red district in Tennessee, where a progressive Democratic nominee lost by nine percentage points, shaving 13 points off the margin that President Donald Trump carried the district in the 2024 election. Four of the new districts the DCCC is adding to their list of “offensive targets” were carried by Trump by 13 points or fewer in last year’s elections. The president lost the fifth district added to the Democrats’ map. SHOWDOWN FOR THE HOUSE: DEMOCRATS, REPUBLICANS, BRACE FOR HIGH-STAKES MIDTERM CLASH “The DCCC is confident we can win anywhere, and we are full speed ahead while Republicans are running scared,” Rep. Suzan DelBene of Washington state, the DCCC chair, touted. DelBene emphasized, “In election after election this year, voters have sent a simple message: they are ready for change. The American people are souring on Republicans’ broken promises to lower costs and their reckless policies that are making everything more expensive from groceries to health care, housing, and utilities.” DEMOCRATS OVER PERFORM BUT TRUMP-BACKED REPUBLICAN KEEPS CRUICAL CONGRESSIONAL SEAT IN GOP HANDS The change in the DCCC’s map is also due to the ongoing high-stakes congressional redistricting battle between Republicans and Democrats, including Texas and North Carolina, where Republicans have created more right-leaning districts, but that Democrats still see as competitive, and California, where Democrats have redrawn maps to create more left-leaning seats. The House members added to the list due to redistricting are Republican Reps. Darrell Issa of California, and Chuck Edwards and Greg Murphy of North Carolina. In Texas, the heavily redistricted 35th Congressional District in the San Antonio area was also added to the list. HOUSE GOP CAMPAIGN CHAIR WANTS TRUMP ‘OUT THERE ON THE TRAIL’ IN MIDTERM BATTLE FOR MAJORITY The new list also includes the seat held by GOP Rep. Laurel Lee of Florida, and Maine’s 2nd Congressional District, a large mostly rural district carried by Trump in his three presidential elections where incumbent Democratic Rep. Jared Golden is retiring rather than seek re-election next year. Former two-term GOP Gov. Paul LePage of Maine is running for the seat. The additions bring to 39 the number of House seats the DCCC considers to be “in play” next year. HEAD HERE FOR THE LATEST FOX NEWS 2025 ELECTION COVERAGE The rival National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) scoffed at the move by the DCCC. “Democrats can daydream about ‘expanding’ the House map all they want, but reality keeps smacking them in the face. The Democrat Party is in a fight for its soul, dominated by far-left chaos and radical policies that don’t reflect the issues important to working families.” NRCC spokesman Mike Marinella argued in a statement to Fox News Digital. Republicans, pointing to four GOP-held seats added to the DCCC’s map, noted their party’s electoral success in those districts over the past decade. The NRCC is currently targeting what it considers are 29 vulnerable House Democrats in next year’s midterm elections.
DOJ cleared to release secret Jeffrey Epstein case grand jury materials
A federal judge has cleared the Justice Department to release secret grand jury transcripts from Jeffrey Epstein’s 2019 sex trafficking case on Wednesday. U.S. District Judge Richard Berman reversed his earlier decision to keep the transcripts under wraps, citing Congress’ recent action on the Epstein files. Berman had previously warned that the contents of the roughly 70 pages of grand jury materials contain little new information. The move comes just one day after Judge Paul Engelmayer granted the DOJ’s motion to unseal separate grand jury transcripts and exhibits in Ghislaine Maxwell’s criminal case. Last week, Judge Rodney Smith also moved to allow the DOJ to release transcripts from an abandoned federal grand jury probe from the 2000s. Maxwell, who was convicted of sex trafficking charges in December 2021, is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence. Her attorney said she took no position on the requested unsealing of records but noted that the release could harm Maxwell’s plan to file a habeas petition, according to The Associated Press. FEDERAL JUDGE ORDERS UNSEALING OF EPSTEIN CASE GRAND JURY RECORDS The Epstein Files Transparency Act requires the DOJ “to publish (in a searchable and downloadable format) all unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials in DOJ’s possession that relate to the investigation and prosecution of Jeffrey Epstein.” HOUSE VOTES OVERWHELMINGLY TO FORCE DOJ TO RELEASE JEFFREY EPSTEIN FILES The act was passed in November and paves the way for the public to have more insight into the infamous cases against the late disgraced financier. The law places a deadline for releasing files on Dec. 19. The DOJ is reportedly working with survivors and their attorneys to redact records to protect survivors’ identities and prevent the dissemination of sexualized images, according to the AP. Fox News’ Rachel Wolf contributed to this report.
Judge blocks Trump National Guard deployment in Los Angeles
A federal judge on Wednesday blocked President Donald Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops to Los Angeles and ordered them returned to the control of California Gov. Gavin Newsom. The order, handed down by U.S. District Court Judge Charles Breyer, is a blow to the Trump administration, and comes six months after the president in June deployed thousands of federalized National Guard troops to the city in response to a wave of immigration protests. Breyer on Wednesday rejected the Trump administration’s claim that the demonstrations in Los Angeles amount to a “rebellion” sufficient to justify the president’s continued deployment of National Guard troops in the city under U.S.C. Section 12406, which allows a sitting president to call up or federalize National Guard troops during instances of a foreign invasion or in instances when the president is “unable to execute the law.” Breyer said in the 35-page order that the deployment runs “contrary to law” and risks “creating a national police force made up of state troops.” “The founders designed our government to be a system of checks and balance,” Breyer said Wednesday. “Defendants, however, make clear that the only check they want is a blank one.” White House officials told Fox News Digital on Wednesday that they looked forward to “ultimate victory” on the issue, suggesting they are likely to appeal the order to a higher court for review. 9TH CIRCUIT COURT RULES ON TRUMP’S NATIONAL GUARD DEPLOYMENT IN PORTLAND “President Trump exercised his lawful authority to deploy National Guard troops to support federal officers and assets following violent riots that local leaders like ‘Newscum’ refused to stop,” White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson told Fox News Digital in response to the ruling. “We look forward to ultimate victory on the issue.” Breyer, the brother of retired Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, had issued a temporary restraining order in June blocking Trump’s National Guard deployment from immediately taking effect in California. That order was quickly stayed by the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, and Trump ultimately deployed roughly 5,000 troops in Los Angeles over the summer, as the protests continued, including 4,000 California National Guard troops and roughly 700 U.S. Marines. “Six months after they first federalized the California National Guard, Defendants still retain control of approximately 300 Guardsmen, despite no evidence that execution of federal law is impeded in any way—let alone significantly,” Breyer said Wednesday. In anticipation of another appeal, Breyer stayed the new preliminary injunction from taking force through Dec. 15. TRUMP IS THREATENING TO ‘FEDERALIZE’ DC WITH NATIONAL GUARD AND MORE. HERE’S HOW THAT COULD PLAY OUT The new order comes as Trump’s National Guard deployment has sparked fierce backlash from officials from California and other Democratic-led states where Trump launched similar federalization efforts this year, including Oregon and Illinois. Newsom, who immediately sued to block the effort in his state, has continued to assail the effort as both unprecedented and illegal. Senior Trump administration officials have argued that the deployment is a necessary step to crack down on what they say is an uptick in violent crime and protect against threats from protesters, including anti-ICE demonstrations in many downtown areas, including Los Angeles.