Speaker Johnson ekes out healthcare bill victory after House GOP Obamacare rebellion
House Republicans passed a bill they say will lower healthcare costs for a broad swath of Americans by roughly 11%. It’s a victory for Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., who has been managing deep divisions within the House GOP on the topic of healthcare as insurance premiums are set to spike across the country in a matter of weeks. One glaring issue that remains unresolved is Obamacare subsidies, which were enhanced during the COVID-19 pandemic but are set to expire at the end of this year. The legislation passed 216 to 211. Just one Republican, Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., voted against it along with all House Democrats. THE SPEAKER’S LOBBY: WHAT CONGRESS’ DECEMBER SCRIPT MEANS FOR HEALTHCARE NEXT YEAR The bill’s passage comes hours after a group of moderate Republicans joined a Democrat-led discharge petition to force a vote on extending the subsidies for another three years. A discharge petition is a mechanism for overriding the will of House leaders to get a chamberwide vote on specific legislation, provided it has support from a majority of lawmakers. It sets up the legislation for a vote sometime in the new year. Each of the four House Republicans made clear that backing Democrats’ bill was not their first choice, but they felt they were left with few options after Johnson made clear this week that there would not be a separate vote on extending the subsidies before the end of this year. But the majority of House Republicans are against extending the subsidies, at least without significant reforms. Conservatives have argued the subsidies amount to throwing more money at a long-broken system that does little to tackle the actual cost of healthcare. “Obamacare has been an unmitigated disaster for 15 years, crushing families with high premiums and rampant fraud while enriching insurance companies. It’s time for conservatives to get serious about advancing policies that can become law and therefore actually reduce costs,” Republican Study Committee Chairman August Pfluger, R-Texas, who called the House bill a “solid first step,” told Fox News Digital. MODERATE REPUBLICAN ERUPTS ON HOUSE GOP LEADERS, SAYS NOT HOLDING OBAMACARE VOTE IS ‘ABSOLUTE BULLS—‘ Republicans who are for extending them have also conceded that reforms are needed, but have positioned a short-term extension as the best course of action to buy more time to work on an off-ramp. The House GOP bill, the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act, includes provisions to codify association health plans, which allow small businesses and people who are self-employed to band together to purchase healthcare coverage plans, giving them access to greater bargaining power. Republicans also plan to appropriate funding for cost-sharing reductions beginning in 2027, which are designed to lower out-of-pocket medical costs in the individual healthcare market. House GOP leadership aides said it would bring down the cost of premiums by 12%. SENATE MULLS NEXT STEPS AFTER DUELING OBAMACARE FIXES GO UP IN FLAMES New transparency requirements for pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) are also in the legislation, aimed at forcing PBMs to be more upfront about costs to employers. PBMs are third parties that act as intermediaries between pharmaceutical companies and those responsible for insurance coverage, often responsible for administrative tasks and negotiating drug prices. PBMs have also been the subject of bipartisan ire in Congress, with both Republicans and Democrats accusing them of being part of a broken system to inflate health costs. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated that enacting the bill would reduce the federal deficit by $35.6 billion for a 10-year period through 2035. If the bill became law, it would also decrease the number of people with health insurance by an average of 100,000 per year between 2027-2035 and lower gross benchmark premium costs by an average 11% through 2035, CBO said. However, it’s not immediately clear whether it will be taken up by the Senate. Republicans in the upper chamber failed to advance their own healthcare plan last week after also rejecting Democrats’ plan to extend the Obamacare subsidies.
Nearly two-thirds of American voters back social media ban for kids under 16, Fox News poll shows
Nearly two-thirds of voters and parents support banning social media for children under 16 and removing cellphones from K-12 classrooms, with Republicans showing the strongest backing, according to a new Fox News poll. The survey is based on interviews with 1,001 registered voters randomly drawn from a national voter file. Respondents participated by landline, cellphone or through an online questionnaire sent by text. When asked about banning social media for children under 16, 64% favored the measure, while 35% opposed it. The numbers did not waver among parents, with 64% in favor of banning social media for children under 16 – 36% were opposed. FOX NEWS POLL: AS PRICES PINCH, VOTERS SEE TRUMP FOCUSED ELSEWHERE Among party groups, 73% of Republicans supported the ban compared with 56% of Democrats. Participants were also asked about banning cellphones in K-12 classrooms, and 69% supported the idea while 31% opposed it. Among parents, 63% supported the ban and 37% opposed it. Support was even higher among Republicans at 81%, compared with 59% of Democrats. AFTER AUSTRALIA PASSES SOCIAL MEDIA BAN LAWMAKERS PROBED ON WHY CONGRESS HASN’T DONE MORE TO PROTECT KIDS The results were released a week after Australia’s landmark new social media age requirement took effect, barring anyone under 16 from holding an account. The measure is now among the world’s strictest online safety rules. The Australian government’s Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act passed in November 2024 and began being enforced on Dec. 10, 2025. “From Dec. 10, if you’re under 16, you’re no longer allowed to have a social media account,” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a video statement played in classrooms ahead of the restrictions, according to 9 News Australia. “You’ll know better than anyone what it’s like growing up with algorithms, endless feeds and the pressure that can come with that.” USHA VANCE BACKS BOOKS OVER PHONES AS MORE SCHOOLS IMPLEMENT NO-CELL POLICIES Platforms banned for youth in Australia include Facebook, Instagram, Kick, Reddit, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, Twitch, X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube. Australia’s eSafety commissioner, the country’s independent online safety regulator, says the new minimum-age rule requires platforms to take “reasonable steps” to stop anyone under 16 from holding an account. That includes deploying age-assurance tools, removing existing underage users and blocking attempts to re-register through methods such as VPN detection. Companies that fail to comply face penalties of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars, or roughly $32 million. AUSTRALIAN MOTHER CALLS FOR SOCIAL MEDIA AGE RESTRICTIONS AFTER DAUGHTER’S SUICIDE In the U.S., concerns about youth social media use have grown, with lawmakers in both parties warning about its impact on children’s mental health. At a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing last week, lawmakers argued that tech companies have not done enough to protect children from online exploitation. Senators pressed experts on whether stronger age restrictions, tougher accountability rules for social media platforms and changes to Section 230 are needed to better protect young people online. LAWMAKERS UNVEIL BIPARTISAN GUARD ACT AFTER PARENTS BLAME AI CHATBOTS FOR TEEN SUICIDES, VIOLENCE An April 2025 Pew Research Center report found growing concern among parents and teenagers about social media’s impact on youth well-being, with nearly half of teens saying it has a mostly negative effect on people their age. A separate 2023 Gallup survey of more than 1,500 adolescents found that 51% of U.S. teens spend at least four hours a day on social media, with the average teen logging 4.8 hours across seven major platforms. “Across age groups, average daily social media use runs from 4.1 hours for 13-year-olds to 5.8 hours for 17-year-olds. Girls spend nearly an hour more on social media than boys (5.3 vs. 4.4 hours),” the survey said. The latest Fox News poll was conducted from Dec. 12-15, 2025, under the direction of Beacon Research (D) and Shaw & Company Research (R). Results are based on the full sample and have a margin of sampling error of ±3 percentage points, with higher error margins for subgroups. Beyond sampling error, question wording and order can influence results. Fox News Digital’s Ashley Carnahan contributed to this report.
Trump set to address the nation in primetime White House speech as Americans report economic squeeze
President Donald Trump is set to deliver a primetime speech from the White House Wednesday that’s expected to reflect on his administration’s accomplishments in the past year, while simultaneously looking toward the next three years. “My Fellow Americans: I will be giving an ADDRESS TO THE NATION tomorrow night, LIVE FROM THE WHITE HOUSE, at 9 P.M. EST. I look forward to ‘seeing’ you then. It has been a great year for our Country, and THE BEST IS YET TO COME!” Trump wrote. Trump did not specify exactly what he will discuss during the address. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, however, said on Fox News’ “American Reports” Tuesday that he will address his accomplishments since reclaiming the Oval Office in January, adding that he might “tease some policy that will be coming in the new year, as well.” “I was just in the Oval Office with the president discussing it,” she said. “He’s going to talk a lot about the accomplishments over the past 11 months, all that he’s done to bring our country back to greatness and all he continues to plan to do, to continue delivering for the American people over the next three years.” TRUMP ANNOUNCES PRIMETIME ADDRESS TO THE NATION Trump previously held a White House address in November, when two members of the National Guard were shot, killing one and seriously injuring the other in the attack. He also held another White House address in June, flanked by Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, when the U.S. military carried out strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. The speech comes after Trump traveled to Pennsylvania earlier in December as part of an anticipated tour promoting his economic policies. The administration has come under scrutiny for its messaging on the economy, most notably since the November off-year elections that handed left-wing Democrats ballot box wins after they ran on platforms of “affordability.” TRUMP ASKS WHEN HE’LL BE CREDITED WITH CREATING ‘PERHAPS THE GREATEST ECONOMY’ EVER IN US HISTORY “They caused the high prices, and we’re bringing them down,” Trump told the crowd in attendance at a casino resort in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania, in December. “Lower prices, bigger paychecks — you’re getting lower prices, bigger paychecks, we’re getting inflation — we’re crushing it — and you’re getting much higher wages. The only thing that is really going up big – it’s called the stock market and your 401(k)s.” The president has celebrated that tariffs leveled on foreign nations, massive deals attracting businesses to open shop in the U.S., unleashing American energy by cutting red tape surrounding oil and other resources, tax cuts under the “big, beautiful bill,” among other initiatives are already lowering prices or will in the coming weeks. Voters, however, have reported that they are feeling an economic squeeze. Some 76% of voters reported that they view the economy negatively, up from the 67% who reported the same in July and the 70% who said the same at the end of former President Joe Biden’s term, a November Fox News national survey found. The survey found that voters overwhelmingly blamed Trump over Biden for the economic anxiety. About twice as many voters polled reported that Trump, rather than Biden, is responsible for the current economy, with three times as many voters reporting that Trump’s economic policies have hurt them, on par with their feelings during Biden’s final year in office. In the fall, a handful of elections — most notably the Virginia gubernatorial, New Jersey gubernatorial and New York City mayoral races — handed Democrats sweeping wins. Each Democrat campaigned on the platform of affordability, vowing to address the housing crisis woes and prices at checkout lines while slamming Trump and other Republicans as promoting policies that hurt the average family’s pocketbook. TRUMP COMPARES REAL WAGES UNDER HIS ADMIN VERSUS BIDEN’S DURING SPEECH CALLING OUT DEM AFFORDABILITY ‘HOAX’ Following the Democrat wins, the president and his administration increasingly have leaned into pinning blame for economic concerns on policies from the Biden administration that have affected the economy in the long run. WHITE HOUSE TURNS UP HEAT ON BIDEN’S ECONOMIC RECORD AS VOTERS SOUR ON ‘AFFORDABILITY’ “The word affordability … I inherited a mess,” Trump told Politico in December. “I inherited a total mess. Prices were at an all-time high when I came in. Prices are coming down substantially. Look at energy. You and I discussed before the interview, energy … energy has come down incredibly. When energy comes down, everything… ’cause it’s so much bigger than any other subject. But energy has come down incredibly. Prices are all coming down. It’s been 10 months. It’s amazing what we’ve done.” Trump has floated sending payments of $2,000 from tariff revenues to Americans as he touts the nation’s economic outlook, while administration officials have said that households will feel tax breaks from the “big, beautiful bill” in 2026. “The bill was passed in July,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said earlier in December. “Working Americans didn’t change their withholding, so they’re going to be getting very large refunds in the first quarter,” Bessent told NBC10. “I think we’re going to see $100 (billion)-$150 billion of refunds, which could be between $1,000 and $2,000 per household. “Then they’ll change their withholding, and they’ll get a real increase in their wages. So, I think 2026 can be a very good year.” Fox News Digital’s Alec Schemmel and Anders Hagstrom contributed to this report.
Fox News Poll: As prices pinch, voters see Trump focused elsewhere
Even as more voters are happy with how things are going in the country, they’re worried. An overwhelming majority expresses concern about high prices. Four times as many say they’re losing financial ground as feel they’re getting ahead, and most think the economy is in bad shape. That’s according to the latest Fox News national survey released Wednesday. Seventy-two percent rate economic conditions negatively (only fair or poor). That’s an improvement from 76% who said the same last month and the 77% who held that view a year ago, but it’s worse than the 67% who rated it negatively this summer (July 2025). FOX NEWS POLL: HOW DO VOTERS FEEL ABOUT AI? IT’S COMPLICATED Meanwhile, 44% say they are falling behind financially, up from 36% in June and about where things stood in October 2024. In polling going back to 2018, that number has only been worse twice: 45% said they were falling behind in June 2023 and 47% in June 2022. FOX NEWS POLL: HOLIDAY TOGETHERNESS TOPS POLITICAL DIFFERENCES A lot of the negative sentiment is driven by 9 in 10 Democrats and independents giving the economy bad marks and more than half of each saying they are falling behind. At the same time, nearly half of Republicans give the economy negative marks and about 3 in 10 say they’re slipping financially. Those most likely to say they’re losing ground include women under age 45 (57%), households with income below $50,000 (56%), independents (53%), urban voters (49%), and those without a college degree (49%). Women are 12 percentage points more likely than men to say they are falling behind (50% vs. 38%). All this might shed light on why only 39% of voters approve of how President Donald Trump is handling the economy — one point above last month’s low of 38% — and why 58% think he is focused on the wrong things. That’s about the same response voters gave former President Joe Biden four years ago, when 54% said he was prioritizing the wrong issues. Approval of Trump’s performance is also below 40% on healthcare (37%), government spending (37%) and tariffs (36%). He received better marks on foreign policy (42%), immigration (45%) and crime (47%). His best job numbers are on border security, where a slim 51% majority approves. Trump’s overall job rating is upside-down by 12 points — 44% approve and 56% disapprove. That’s a bit of an improvement since a dip last month when it was 41–58% (his second-term low). His highest this term, 49–51%, came in March, while his best over both terms was 49-49% in April 2020. Views on the direction of the country are on a similar track, with 59% saying they are dissatisfied. That’s a 9-point improvement from a year ago, when 68% were unhappy at the end of Biden’s term. Meanwhile, 41% say they’re satisfied, up from 31% in December 2024. The improvement is driven more by Republicans, whose satisfaction jumped 53 points, than by Democrats, whose satisfaction fell 32 points. Among independents, there is also an uptick (+8). Despite the current inflation rate being lower than the long-term average, fully 90% of voters are extremely or very concerned about inflation and high prices. That’s the most in more than two years, and 61% are extremely concerned, up from 48% in June and the largest number in more than two years. About the same share is worried about healthcare prices (86% concerned, including 55% extremely concerned). That explains why the top three issues voters say the president should be paying more attention to right now are high prices (42%), healthcare (19%) and jobs (12%). And they think he should be paying less attention to immigration (30%), tariffs (28%) and foreign policy (17%). NEARLY TWO-THIRDS OF AMERICAN VOTERS BACK SOCIAL MEDIA BAN FOR KIDS UNDER 16, FOX NEWS POLL SHOWS The issue both Democrats and Republicans say should be Trump’s priority is high prices, and they also agree the next two issues should be healthcare (to varying degrees) and jobs. “Trump’s position is better than Biden’s a year ago, but worse than his own in late 2017,” said Republican pollster Daron Shaw, who conducts the Fox News Poll with Democrat Chris Anderson. “The problem is voters haven’t gotten used to a six-dollar box of cereal, and they don’t think the president’s policy initiatives — the One Big Beautiful Bill, and on tariffs and immigration — are addressing prices.” Majorities are concerned about the country’s political divisions (82%), the decline of moral values (75%), crime (74%), the federal deficit (71%), AI technology (63%) and climate change (58%). Concern about illegal immigration decreased from 67% in June to 57% in the new survey, while 66% say they are worried about ICE detentions and deportations. Democrats are nearly five times as likely as Republicans to say Trump should pay less attention to immigration, while three times as many Republicans as Democrats say foreign policy should be a lower priority. Roughly equal numbers in both parties think he should turn his attention away from tariffs. Tariffs are the issue on which Trump receives his lowest approval among all voters (36%) and among Republicans (72%). – In 2017, during Trump’s first term, 62% of voters felt he was keeping his “America First” promise. Today, that’s down to 49% who feel that way (51% say “he abandoned that pledge”). Most of the decline comes from a 20-point drop among Democrats and a 26-point drop among independents. Among Republicans, 91% said Trump was keeping his “America First” pledge in 2017 and 87% feel he is today. – While all administration members included in the survey have a net negative job rating, some fared better than others. Secretary of State Marco Rubio received the best marks, with a net negative score of -5 points. Next, it’s Vice President JD Vance, at -8, Trump and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. at -12 each, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem at -13, and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth at -19.
Fox News Politics Newsletter: Senate sends $901B defense bill to Trump
Welcome to the Fox News Politics newsletter, with the latest updates on the Trump administration, Capitol Hill and more Fox News politics content. Here’s what’s happening… -Jack Smith denies politics played any role in Trump prosecutions at House hearing –Four Republicans buck Mike Johnson to join Hakeem Jeffries’ Obamacare push -EXCLUSIVE: First look at ‘MELANIA’ film The Senate sent a colossal defense package to President Donald Trump’s desk on Wednesday, checking off one of the last remaining items of the year in the process. Lawmakers banded together to pass the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), a roughly $901 billion package crammed to the brim with defense policy that unlocks funding for several of the Trump administration’s national defense priorities. The measure passed through the upper chamber on a 77-20 bipartisan vote. It’s a perennial legislative exercise lawmakers undertake, and one that normally comes and goes with little fuss, given that Congress typically bookends the year with it…READ MORE. LAWYERS IN TROUBLE: Firm behind climate lawsuits faces DOJ referral after court finds misconduct ‘bordering on criminal’ BABY BOOST: Billionaire investor Ray Dalio backs Trump admin investment accounts for kids, joining Michael Dell SILENT TREATMENT: Trump stays on sidelines as GOP falters in push to unite on healthcare plan VICTORY LAP: Trump to tout accomplishments since taking office in primetime address MAJORITY MATH: Trump’s push to ‘knock out’ filibuster gains new GOP traction as funding deadline nears ‘HEED OUR WARNINGS’: Israel’s Netanyahu demands Western governments act to battle antisemitism: ‘Heed our warnings’ UNEASE DEEPENS: Wave of terror plots across the globe raise alarms over the West’s growing vulnerability OBAMA WALLET TRAP: WATCH: Doctor-lawmaker blames Obamacare for driving health costs higher WHAT ARE THEY HIDING: Senate Republicans block Schiff’s push for controversial Caribbean strike footage release ENDANGERED SPECIES: House Republican who voted to impeach Trump in 2021 won’t seek re-election ‘OH, HELL NO’: AOC dismisses boat strike briefing as ‘a joke’ ‘LANDMARK ACTION’: Maryland to study slavery reparations after lawmakers override Dem governor’s veto ‘HONEST ANSWER’: Air traffic control towers will ‘never’ reach full staffing levels under current system, FAA chief says ‘I’M BLUE COLLAR’: Blue-collar businessman jumps into race to replace MTG, casting himself as the opposite of the GOP firebrand KAMALA DODGING: Harris sidesteps 2028 question after report saying she’s ‘stepping toward’ run CRACKDOWN ESCALATES: Border Patrol commander returns to Chicago as agents deploy pepper balls in immigrant neighborhood Get the latest updates on the Trump administration and Congress, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.
Dan Bongino to resign from FBI deputy director role in January
FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino is leaving the bureau in January after speculation rose this week concerning his departure. “I will be leaving my position with the FBI in January,” Bongino wrote in an X post Wednesday. “I want to thank President [Donald] Trump, AG [Pam] Bondi, and Director [Kash] Patel for the opportunity to serve with purpose. Most importantly, I want to thank you, my fellow Americans, for the privilege to serve you. God bless America, and all those who defend Her.” President Donald Trump hinted at the news on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews earlier in the afternoon, saying, “Dan did a great job. I think he wants to go back to his show.” INSIDE DAN BONGINO’S TENSE MEETING WITH WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS OVER JEFFREY EPSTEIN FALLOUT Bongino, a former Secret Service agent, had no FBI experience before Trump tapped him to serve in the No. 2 position there. Prior to Bongino, the role had for more than a century been filled by someone who worked at the bureau, according to the FBI Agents Association. The position does not require Senate confirmation. Fox News confirmed Andrew Bailey, co-deputy director, has been on the job since September and will stay on for now in the deputy role reporting to Patel. The White House and the FBI did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s requests for comment.
Global wave of terror plots sparks new alarms over the West’s growing vulnerability
A terrorist assault on a Hanukkah celebration in Sydney, combined with Germany’s arrest of five suspected Islamist militants accused of plotting a Christmas-market attack, is renewing fears that Western democracies are entering a more volatile era marked by ideologically driven violence. The incidents, striking symbolic holiday gatherings on opposite sides of the world, have intensified debate across the United States and Europe over whether open societies are prepared for a resurgence of extremist threats. The sense of unease deepened further after an ISIS-affiliated gunman in Syria killed two U.S. service members and wounded an American civilian working alongside American forces. While the attack took place overseas, national security analysts say it reflects a pattern troubling Western governments: individuals able to inflict harm quickly with minimal planning, animated by broader ideological movements rather than directed by terrorist networks. TRUMP ENCOURAGES JEWISH AMERICANS TO ‘CELEBRATE PROUDLY’ DURING HANUKKAH AFTER DEADLY BONDI BEACH SHOOTING In Australia, the Bondi Beach shooting shocked a nation unaccustomed to mass-casualty attacks. Two gunmen opened fire at a public Hanukkah event known as “Chanukah by the Sea,” killing at least 15 people and injuring dozens. Police said the younger of the two attackers had previously drawn scrutiny for potential extremist ties but was not considered a current threat. Authorities recovered improvised explosive devices that failed to detonate, prompting Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to condemn the shooting as “pure evil” and declare it an antisemitic terrorist attack. Hours later, German authorities announced the arrest of five suspected militants accused of planning an attack on a Christmas market in Bavaria — a soft target with deep cultural resonance and a painful history of extremist violence. Investigators said the suspects were inspired by global jihadist movements and had progressed to advanced planning stages. And over the same weekend, federal authorities in the United States said they disrupted a credible terrorist plot of their own. The FBI arrested four alleged members of a radical pro-Palestinian extremist group accused of planning coordinated New Year’s Eve bombings across Los Angeles using improvised explosive devices. A fifth suspect was arrested in New Orleans in what officials described as a separate but ideologically aligned plot. Together with the killing of American troops in Syria, the incidents have revived a central question: Is the West prepared for a new era of diffuse extremist violence capable of erupting in multiple theaters at once — from major cities to remote patrol bases? Political pressure is mounting. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., said the Sydney attack underscored the consequences of permissive migration policies. “The mass migration of Islamic extremists destroyed Europe. Now, we are witnessing it destroy Australia,” he warned. “We CANNOT allow it to destroy America.” President Donald Trump has long argued that unrestricted immigration from countries with values he says conflict with the West poses a homeland security risk. During his first term, he designated chapters of the Muslim Brotherhood a foreign terrorist organization. Secretary of State Marco Rubio framed the threat as ideological rather than geographic, saying last week on Fox News: “Radical Islam has shown that their desire is not simply to occupy one part of the world … they want to expand.” Elon Musk amplified the debate further, writing: “Either the suicidal empathy of Western civilization ends or Western civilization will end.” ISRAELI KNESSET MEMBER SAYS AUSTRALIAN OFFICIALS ‘DID NOTHING’ AMID RISE OF ANTISEMITISM BEFORE SYDNEY ATTACK Extremism researchers note that the recent incidents reflect a familiar model of modern Islamist violence: attackers exploiting soft targets, acting with limited preparation, and drawing inspiration from global ideological movements even when they lack direct operational ties. The shootings in Sydney, the foiled plots in Germany and the U.S., and the gunman in Syria each demonstrated how quickly such violence can surface, even in countries with strong counterterrorism systems. Michael Makovsky, president of the Jewish Institute for National Security of America, said the Sydney, Germany and Syria incidents reflect a broader trend Western leaders have been slow to confront. “Clearly, the threat hasn’t diminished,” Makovsky said, adding that extremist networks appear more energized in the wake of recent Middle Eastern conflicts. He criticized governments that he believes underestimated the risks. “People have been warning the Australian government … there’s a spike in Islamic extremism, and they just didn’t do anything,” he said of the Sydney attack, questioning how such a large public Jewish event lacked stronger security. “I don’t know where the security was in all this and why it took the police so long to respond.” Makovsky praised the Trump administration’s efforts to confront a rise in antisemitism but warned that the U.S. may be overlooking risks inherent in its partnership with Syria’s new leader Ahmed al-Shaara, a former wanted terrorist. “The administration is very invested right now in Shaara, and seems to want to minimize that the killer was from Shaara’s security forces,” he said. “There are a lot of bad people still around Shaara.” As investigators in three countries piece together motives and networks, policymakers are confronting a possibility many had hoped was receding: that extremist violence, driven by global ideological currents rather than coordinated plots, may be entering a new phase — one that challenges assumptions Western nations have relied on to keep their citizens safe.
Jack Smith denies politics played any role in Trump prosecutions during House hearing
Former special counsel Jack Smith told House lawmakers during a closed-door deposition Wednesday that politics played no role in his investigations and prosecutions of President Donald Trump, directly countering accusations leveled at him by Republicans. Smith, speaking to House Judiciary Committee members on Capitol Hill during the deposition, also took full ownership of the two criminal cases he brought against Trump regarding the 2020 election and alleged retention of classified documents, according to portions of his opening statement obtained by Fox News Digital. “The decision to bring charges against President Trump was mine, but the basis for those charges rests entirely with President Trump and his actions, as alleged in the indictments returned by grand juries in two different districts,” Smith said. JACK SMITH SUBPOENAED FOR DEPOSITION WITH HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE He added: “If asked whether to prosecute a former President based on the same facts today, I would do so regardless of whether the President was a Republican or Democrat.” Smith’s closed-door confrontation with lawmakers could stretch for hours. He is expected to face heated questions from Republicans about seeking gag orders against Trump during his presidential campaign, attempting to fast-track court proceedings and subpoenaing phone data of some GOP members of Congress. Upon exiting the committee room, Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fl., however, told reporters the deposition was “boring” so far. This is a developing story. Check back for updates. Jessica Sonkin contributed to this report.
House Republican who voted to impeach Trump in 2021 won’t seek re-election
Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Wash., one of the few Republicans who voted to impeach President Donald Trump in 2021, announced on Wednesday that he will not seek re-election in 2026. “This decision comes with no reservations or remorse, only gratitude for the tremendous opportunity to have represented my home state in Congress,” Newhouse wrote in a statement. “After over 25 years of public service, including more than a decade in the House, I am grateful to the Washingtonians who put their faith in me, as well as the colleagues I have served with on both sides of the aisle,” he added. Newhouse’s upcoming departure means that Rep. David Valadao, R-Calif., could be the only remaining House Republican who voted in favor of Trump’s impeachment in 2021, if Valadao wins re-election. US–VENEZUELA SHOWDOWN THREATENS TO JOLT GAS PRICES — WHAT COULD SPARK A SURGE Newhouse was one of 10 House Republicans who supported the impeachment effort. In addition to Valadao, the others were Reps. Liz Cheney of Wyoming; Anthony Gonzalez of Ohio; Jaime Herrera-Beutler of Washington; John Katko of New York; Adam Kinzinger of Illinois; Peter Meijer of Michigan; Tom Rice of South Carolina, and Fred Upton of Michigan. The latter eight have since left Congress. Newhouse won re-election in 2024 despite Trump making an effort to oust him. “Newhouse has to go! He wished he didn’t do what he did, but it’s too late,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform just a week before Election Day. MODERATE REPUBLICAN ERUPTS ON HOUSE GOP LEADERS, SAYS NOT HOLDING OBAMACARE VOTE IS ‘ABSOLUTE BULLS—‘ Trump also emphasized his support for Newhouse’s rival. “Jerrod Sessler is a fantastic Candidate and will be a GREAT Congressman for Washington State’s 4th Congressional District.” “He is running against a Weak and Pathetic RINO named Newhouse, who voted to, for no reason, Impeach me,” Trump wrote at the time. HOUSE GOP TENSIONS ERUPT AS REPUBLICANS TURN ON EACH OTHER HEADING INTO YEAR’S END Sessler, a Navy veteran, unsuccessfully challenged Newhouse for Washington’s 4th Congressional District. In addition to Trump, he was also backed by the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus. At the time, Newhouse argued his vote to impeach Trump wouldn’t be a problem. “I worked very closely and successfully with President Trump and his first administration and I feel very confident that I can do that again,” he told the Yakima Herald-Republic. Fox News’ Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report.
AOC dismisses boat strike briefing as ‘a joke’
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., was not satisfied by the classified briefing lawmakers received on Tuesday regarding the Trump administration’s boat strikes. “Oh, hell no. That was a joke,” she told Migrant Insider editor Pablo Manríquez. MeidasTouch Network senior digital editor Acyn Torabi shared video on X showing the congresswoman respond to questions from Manríquez outside the Capitol after leaving the briefing. “There was not a single piece of intelligence that was shared that even rises to the level of any other briefing that we’ve seen on Ukraine, China, anything,” Ocasio-Cortez said, adding that it “was not a serious intelligence briefing. This was a communication of opinion.” PENTAGON WON’T RELEASE ‘TOP SECRET, FULL, UNEDITED’ VIDEO OF SEPTEMBER DRUG BOAT STRIKE, HEGSETH SAYS She said if President Donald Trump’s “administration wants to go to war… they need to go get it from Congress. And if Republicans want to defend this argument that cocaine is a weapon, they can go vote on that. But… this is just conjecture at this point.” Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment. TRUMP DECLARES ‘VENEZUELAN REGIME’ A FOREIGN TERRORIST ORGANIZATION, ORDERS OIL TANKER BLOCKADE The administration’s policy of blowing up vessels of alleged narcoterrorists trafficking drugs has been controversial. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth were involved in providing briefings to Senate and House members on Tuesday. AOC’S LUXURY SPENDING BINGE IN PUERTO RICO REIGNITES QUESTIONS ABOUT ‘SOCIALIST’ BRAND: ‘PEAK HYPOCRISY’ Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., said during a Tuesday appearance on the Fox News Channel that his takeaways from the briefing included that the strikes “are legal” and “effective,” that they are based on “exquisitely good” intelligence, and that “checks and balances” are in place to ensure “innocent people who just happen to be in a boat are not hurt.”