Mamdani’s taxpayer-funded influencer army accused of plotting pressure campaign against NYC CEOs
Senior officials in New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration are reportedly plotting a coordinated social media pressure campaign against some of the city’s most powerful business leaders, looking to mobilize a 200-plus influencer network run through City Hall. Mamdani’s network of social media creators working for him first drew scrutiny earlier this month after the Columbia Journalism Review revealed that City Hall was communicating with more than 200 influencers through an encrypted Signal group called “NYC Creators Announcements.” Fox News Digital subsequently reported that members receive daily talking points, videos and other updates from the administration, while also being offered access to events and city officials. MAMDANI’S ‘MASS ENGAGEMENT’ OFFICE DRAWS FIRE OVER PLANS TO BUILD INFLUENCE BEYOND CITY HALL: ‘NYC IS DONE’ Now, two sources briefed on the effort told the New York Post that senior City Hall aides have discussed mobilizing the influencer network against New York business executives, including leaders of the Partnership for New York City, an influential nonprofit representing the city’s business leaders and largest employers. Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla and Related Companies CEO Jeff Blau have also been floated as potential targets, according to the Post. The reported strategy centers on “blindsid[ing]” Partnership for New York City President and CEO Steven Fulop, who took over the organization earlier this year, with one source telling the Post that aides viewed the leadership transition as an opportunity to “go at CEOs.” “They want to punch Fulop in the face,” the source told The Post. Fulop, however, told Fox News he personally spoke with Mamdani after the report and that the mayor, his communications director and political director all denied plans to target business executives. Fulop said the Partnership would take Mamdani “at his word” while remaining “vigilant and watchful” but noted if he continued down this path there could be “huge repercussions in a bad way.” Mamdani spokesperson Dora Pekec, meanwhile, called the Post’s report “categorically false” and “a complete lie,” though the Post reported that she declined to identify specific inaccuracies in its account. The Mamdani administration’s use of influencers and Signal had already drawn scrutiny before the latest report this week from the New York Post. Reinvent Albany, a government watchdog focused on transparency and accountability, has said it supports city agencies using paid social media influencers to promote government programs but opposes city officials using instant-messaging apps such as Signal for official communications. MAMDANI SPARKS FEARS OF VIOLENCE AFTER DOXING WEALTHY NYC PROPERTY OWNERS: ‘OUTRIGHT DANGEROUS’ In testimony before the New York City Council earlier this month, the group warned that the city still lacks a practical way for agency Freedom of Information Law officers to archive or retrieve official records created on apps such as Signal. “Even now, in 2026, the City of New York has not developed a practical way for official records created by these apps to be archived or retrieved by agency FOIL officers,” Reinvent Albany testified. The watchdog has called for legislation clarifying that electronic and instant messages constituting public records must be preserved and easily retrievable, while also proposing disclosure requirements for influencers paid to promote city messaging. NYC MAYOR MAMDANI CALLS THREAT OF RICH PEOPLE LEAVING NYC OVER TAXES ‘IMAGINED’ The alleged effort to go after NYC’s CEOs comes as Mamdani continues to push for higher taxes on wealthy New Yorkers and corporations to fund his agenda and address the city’s budget challenges. Mamdani called earlier this year for a 2% personal income tax increase on New Yorkers earning $1 million or more, alongside an increase in the corporate tax rate. While those proposals did not make it into this year’s budget, Mamdani has continued to publicly back both. “I’ve been very open and honest about my vision, whether it be fast and free buses or whether it be higher personal income taxes on the wealthiest New Yorkers or the most profitable corporations,” Mamdani said in May. The mayor did secure a new pied-à-terre tax on luxury second homes owned by non-city residents, which his administration projects will generate roughly $500 million annually. The measure was dealt a legal setback Tuesday, however, when a Staten Island judge ordered the administration to scrap its initial rollout and restart the process after finding the city failed to follow required procedures before sending tax notices. The ruling did not strike down the tax itself, and Mamdani’s administration vowed to continue fighting for the surcharge. Matt Rauschenbach, a Mamdani spokesman, defended the surcharge as a “basic principle of fairness,” arguing that owners of luxury second homes should contribute toward the city services they benefit from.
Biden Afghan migrant program hit with 40% vetting failure rate: ‘Alarming’
Federal inspectors identified one or more documentation or vetting errors in 40% of asylum applications they reviewed for Afghan nationals admitted under the Biden administration’s Operation Allies Welcome program, concluding the deficiencies increased the risk U. S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) could miss information that may have made some applicants ineligible for asylum. The Sept. 23 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Inspector General report reviewed a sample of 678 asylum applications filed by Afghan nationals admitted through Operation Allies Welcome, the Biden administration initiative launched after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. Inspectors identified 303 missing aliases, 23 missing security checks and more than 150 additional documentation deficiencies, including two cases involving applicants who may have been inadmissible on terrorism-related grounds. FORMER USCIS OFFICIAL, ACCOMPLICE CHARGED IN ALLEGED $960K CITIZENSHIP BRIBERY SCHEME The findings come as Operation Allies Welcome has faced renewed scrutiny following several high-profile arrests of Afghan nationals admitted under the program. Fox News Digital has previously reported on the arrests of an alleged ISIS-K supporter, an Afghan national charged with making terroristic threats and another Afghan national admitted under Operation Allies Welcome who was later arrested after being convicted of indecent exposure to a minor. In a press release, DHS argued the report demonstrated the Biden administration “dangerously mismanaged” Operation Allies Welcome, saying a lawsuit settlement that required USCIS to adjudicate 90% of asylum applications within 150 days forced the agency to prioritize speed over more thorough reviews. The DHS inspector general report, which noted hundreds of aliases had not been recorded for applicants, underscored the importance of accurate record keeping, pointing out one applicant had 124 known aliases. The report said that “missed FBI name checks” accounted for nearly 60% of the absent security checks that the report identified. The report also flagged two asylum applications involving applicants with potential terrorism-related concerns. In one case, required paperwork documenting the government’s review was missing entirely. In another, supervisors began the approval process but never completed the final step, leaving no clear record that the review had been finished. ARMY VET LAWMAKER MARKS ABBEY GATE ANNIVERSARY WITH BLISTERING MESSAGE FOR BIDEN-HARRIS: ‘ABJECT FAILURE’ Mark Krikorian, executive director of the conservative Center for Immigration Studies, said the inspector general’s findings reinforce concerns critics have raised since the chaotic Kabul evacuation in 2021. “The fact that 40% of these applications have errors is alarming,” Krikorian told Fox News Digital. “This IG report just underlines how superficial and even frivolous the vetting that we were assured was going on was.” Krikorian said many evacuees were first flown to temporary processing hubs, sometimes referred to as “lily pads,” in third countries before ultimately being admitted to the United States. While those locations allowed U.S. officials to conduct additional processing, he argued the practical reality was that partner countries were not going to permanently accept the evacuees, leaving the United States effectively committed to resettling them. HOMELAND SECURITY OFFICIAL’S KILLING LEAVES AGENCY ‘DEVASTATED’ AS VETTING BREAKDOWN EXPOSED “As soon as that cargo bay door closed, we’re stuck with those people,” Krikorian said, noting how the United States effectively committed itself to resettling evacuees once they boarded evacuation flights during the chaotic Kabul withdrawal. Krikorian argued the inspector general’s report likely understated the scope of the problem because inspectors could only identify documentation deficiencies visible in the files they reviewed, not determine whether every applicant had been thoroughly vetted. The inspector general ultimately made five recommendations aimed at strengthening USCIS’ review of Operation Allies Welcome asylum applications, including improving documentation of applicant aliases, ensuring required security checks are properly recorded and enhancing oversight of adjudication files. USCIS agreed with all five recommendations, according to the report.
Fox News Poll: Michigan voters split between El-Sayed and Rogers
Michigan voters have concerns about both candidates in the U.S. Senate race and that leads to a tight contest, according to a new Fox News poll. Democrat Abdul El-Sayed has a slim 1-point edge against Republican Mike Rogers, 50-49%, among Michigan likely voters. The survey, released on Wednesday, is the first Fox News Poll this season among likely voters, so a direct comparison can’t be made to previous polls. Yet among registered voters, the preference is almost identical, 51% El-Sayed vs. 48% Rogers. That’s a reversal since August, when Rogers was ahead by 4 points among registered voters, 51% to El-Sayed’s 47%. FOX NEWS POLL: VOTERS QUESTION WHETHER AI’S PROMISE OUTWEIGHS ITS RISKS The analysis below is among likely voters, unless otherwise noted. More of El-Sayed’s backers feel certain of their choice (87%) than Rogers’ (80%). Overall, 15% say they could switch their pick before voting, including 18% of Rogers’ supporters and 12% of El-Sayed’s. FOX NEWS POLL: SQUEEZED BY COSTS, FRUSTRATED VOTERS TURN TO THE DEMOCRATS Here’s why the race is tight. Roughly equal numbers of Michiganders say they are extremely concerned Rogers is too close to President Donald Trump (39%) as say El-Sayed’s views are too liberal (36%). And their favorable ratings are also close: 47% view El-Sayed positively compared to 44% for Rogers. Among registered voters, positive views of El-Sayed increased by 5 points since August while Rogers’ declined by four points. El-Sayed’s best groups include those who traditionally go Democratic: women, Black voters and those with a college degree. He’s also ahead with voters under age 45 and the small subgroup of union households. The groups giving Rogers some of his strongest support include men, rural voters, White evangelical Christians, married voters and Whites without a college degree. Both candidates receive near-universal backing from their party. Rogers receives 95% among Republicans, while it’s 93% for El-Sayed among Democrats. In addition, Rogers gets 99% of MAGA Republicans and 88% of non-MAGA Republicans, while El-Sayed garners 98% of DSA Democrats and 90% of non-DSA Democrats. The small number of independents narrowly favor El-Sayed. This year’s political landscape favors El-Sayed. The Democrats hold a 5-point advantage when voters are asked which party they want to control the Senate, 52% to 47%. But to capitalize on that, he’ll need to consolidate Democratic support after a contentious primary because 11% of likely voters who backed his primary opponent Haley Stevens say they plan to vote for Rogers. CLICK HERE FOR CROSSTABS AND TOPLINE “The Michigan Senate race is unique in that short-term political forces favoring the Democrats are somewhat offset by concerns about the Democratic candidate,” says Republican pollster Daron Shaw, who conducts the Fox News Poll with Democrat Chris Anderson. “The bad news for Rogers is El-Sayed has made progress shoring up Democratic support and has room to grow given voter concerns about the economy.” Four in ten Michiganders say they are falling behind financially, and they back El-Sayed by 25 points. But the largest share, nearly half, describe their family as holding steady, and they favor Rogers by 13 points, while the small number who are getting ahead prefer Rogers by 36 points. Still, for 7 in 10 voters, the cost of living will be extremely important to their Senate vote, and they back El-Sayed by 13 points. He also has advantages among the 4 in 10 focused on U.S. policy toward Israel (+8 points) and AI technology (+17 points). Conversely, Rogers is favored by 26 points among the 44% focused on immigration. Half of Michigan voters consider Trump extremely important to their Senate vote, and they favor El-Sayed by 22 points. In 2024, Trump won Michigan by less than two percentage points, while Rogers lost to Democrat Elissa Slotkin by less than half a point. Voter frustration with the administration is a drag on Rogers, as nearly 6 in 10 disapprove of the president’s performance. While 40% approve, not all support Rogers (93%). He remains competitive with support from 19% of Trump disapprovers overall, even as 28% who only “somewhat” disapprove of Trump prefer El-Sayed. In the gubernatorial race to replace term-limited Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Democrat Jocelyn Benson leads Republican John James 54% to 45% among likely voters. Twelve percent of those backing Rogers in the Senate race cross-party lines to favor Benson. Conducted September 24-28, 2026, under the joint direction of Beacon Research (D) and Shaw & Company Research (R), this Fox News Poll includes interviews with a sample of 1,203 Michigan registered voters randomly selected from a statewide voter file. Respondents spoke with live interviewers on landlines (114) and cellphones (794) or completed the survey online after receiving a text message (295). Results based on the registered voter sample have a margin of sampling error of ±2.5 percentage points and for the subsample of 1,028 likely voters it is ±3 percentage points. Sampling error for results among subgroups is higher. In addition to sampling error, question wording and order can influence results. Sources for developing weight targets include the most recent American Community Survey, Fox News Voter Analysis and voter file data. Weights are generally applied to age, race, education and area variables to ensure the demographics of respondents are representative of the registered voter population. Likely voters are based on a probabilistic statistical model that relies on past vote history, interest in the current election, intention to vote, age, education, race, ethnicity and marital status. Results among subgroups are only shown when the sample size is at least N=100. Fox News’ Victoria Balara contributed to this report.
Pentagon data breach exposes Social Security numbers, personal info of 2.76M US military, civilian personnel
A Pentagon personnel database breach exposed sensitive personal information belonging to 2.76 million living U.S. military and civilian personnel, and 294,000 deceased individuals, a Pentagon official confirmed to Fox News. Unauthorized users accessed unencrypted files containing Social Security numbers and military or civilian employment information between October 2025 and July 2026. The Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) discovered the vulnerability in a file-sharing system on July 16 and notified affected individuals Sept. 18. FBI STRIKES BACK AT HACKING GROUP WITH OVERSEAS ARREST OF ALLEGED LEADER A Pentagon official said a few unauthorized users accessed personally identifiable information through the DMDC system during the roughly nine-month period. Upon discovering the vulnerability, the DMDC immediately remediated it, according to the official. The Pentagon said it has no indication the information was misused. PENTAGON REVEALS SECRET SPACE WEAPONS ARE ALREADY IN ORBIT — BUT WON’T SAY WHAT THEY DO Affected individuals are being notified by postal mail through Identity Theft Guard Solutions, or IDX, a provider contracted by the Department of Defense. IDX will provide credit monitoring and identity restoration support to affected individuals based on the types of personal information impacted in each case, according to the Pentagon. The Pentagon directed individuals with questions about the breach to contact IDX through its website or by calling 1-855-744-4556. The DMDC maintains personnel and workforce information for the Defense Department and provides data and services supporting military personnel, their families and other Defense Department operations. FORMER SECRET SERVICE CYBERCRIME EXPERT WEIGHS IN ON PRIVACY AFTER HACKERS BREACH STOLEN FLOCK CAMERA The breach exposed information belonging to more than 3 million living and deceased individuals overall, though the Pentagon said it has not identified evidence that the accessed information has been misused. The Pentagon did not identify the unauthorized users in its statement or provide additional details about how they gained access to the file-sharing system.
Elon Musk lands new Trump administration role shaping future of American warfare
Elon Musk is taking on a new role in the Trump administration, this time helping the Pentagon determine which weapons and technology American troops will need to fight the wars of the future. War Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Wednesday that Musk will co-lead Project Meridian, a new Pentagon initiative tasked with looking years and even decades ahead to identify emerging domains of warfare and the capabilities the U.S. military will need to dominate them. Musk, the former leader of the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), will lead the effort alongside defense tech billionaire Palmer Luckey and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich under the direction of War Department Chief Technology Officer Emil Michael. EXCLUSIVE: HEGSETH TO DOUBLE CUTS TO GENERALS, ADMIRALS IN MAJOR PENTAGON SHAKEUP “The best forecasters of future conflict do not solely reside inside the Pentagon,” Hegseth said during his State of the Force address at Marine Corps Base Quantico. “There are obvious biases and risks to asking ourselves to both ask the questions and answer them.” Hegseth said the initiative would begin immediately, and he would meet with Musk, Luckey and Gingrich in a secure site just 200 yards from the stage after his speech. Project Meridian will have 120 days to “ruthlessly map the trajectory of wars, domains and technologies,” culminating in a public rollout of its findings and a classified annex. Hegseth described a sweeping mandate that stretches “from under the Earth to beyond the moon.” Rather than developing new military strategies or policies, the group will seek to identify “the domains that we must conquer and capabilities we must master” and focus on “discovering, developing and fielding” weapons and systems that could be needed by future generations of American troops. Musk and Luckey enter the effort with firsthand experience developing technology for the U.S. military. Musk’s SpaceX is a major Pentagon contractor, while Luckey founded Anduril Industries, a defense technology company specializing in autonomous weapons and other advanced military systems. Their industry experience positions both men to bring an unusually close view of emerging technology and the modern battlefield to the Pentagon’s long-range planning. It could also raise potential conflict-of-interest questions as executives whose companies compete for defense business help identify the capabilities and technologies the military should pursue. BATTLEFIELD ROBOTS OPEN NEW FRONT IN INNOVATION WAR WITH MAJOR US ADVERSARY Meridian was one piece of a broader push announced by Hegseth Wednesday to remake the military around autonomous warfare and rapidly emerging technology. Hegseth announced the creation of Autonomous Warfare Command, or AUTOWARCOM, a new four-star combatant command with what he described as “service-like authorities” to scale autonomous and robotic capabilities across the joint force. The War Department will also begin phasing in new occupational frameworks across the military departments to create dedicated career paths for what Hegseth called a new generation of “autonomous warfighters.” “We should have been thinking about Autonomous Warfare Command ten years ago,” Hegseth said, explaining that Meridian is intended to look far enough ahead to anticipate the next technological transformation before the military falls behind. The announcements came during the second iteration of what the War Department has dubbed Hegseth’s annual State of the Force address at Marine Corps Base Quantico. The setting was the same as last year, but the audience was markedly different. Hegseth summoned generals, admirals and other senior military leaders from around the world to Quantico for his first address, where he laid out sweeping changes to military standards, personnel and what he called the “warrior ethos.” This time, Hegseth addressed a younger generation of military leaders, including top-performing E-6 enlisted service members and O-3 officers from across the force. He called them the military’s “current and future leaders on the front lines” and said the address would become an annual opportunity to assess the state of the force and lay out his vision for its future. Hegseth used Wednesday’s speech to unveil six new initiatives, ranging from the military’s embrace of autonomous warfare to an effort to make U.S. bases and defense supply chains less vulnerable to foreign disruption. The secretary also used the address to deliver some of his most pointed rhetoric yet about his effort to reshape the culture of the military and about the news media. “We are no longer the woke department or the weak department,” Hegseth said. “No fatties, no trainees, no weirdos, no beardos, no wimps, no radicals. Just warriors.” Hegseth later accused some journalists of engaging in “partisan activism” that jeopardizes military operations and service members, calling such reporting “fundamentally anti-American.” “It’s sick. It’s a national betrayal. It’s treason, actually,” Hegseth said.
Trump Pentagon launches competition for America’s next great military base
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on Wednesday announced plans to build a modern, self-sustaining military fortress, saying the site will be selected through a merit-based competition among governors pitching their states as potential locations. The megaproject, dubbed the “Next Great American Base,” was unveiled during an address at Marine Corps Base Quantico as part of Hegseth’s six strategies to modernize the military. The initiative rejects what Hegseth described as the legacy approach to spend heavily on advanced weapons systems while service members live on aging bases with outdated barracks. “For too long, our military has been bogged down by the same old tired Washington playbook: spending trillions on exquisite weapons systems, while our troops live in aging bases, outdated barracks, and with inadequate infrastructure. That era is over,” Hegseth said. EXCLUSIVE: HEGSETH TO DOUBLE CUTS TO GENERALS, ADMIRALS IN MAJOR PENTAGON SHAKEUP “To back up our warfighters, when we bring the troops home, we won’t just reshuffle troops onto legacy posts. We are going to build them beautiful new bases from the ground up,” he added. The ambitious undertaking will feature a brand-new military installation spanning hundreds of thousands of acres and housing up to 25,000 service members. “We are talking hundreds of thousands of acres with organic power generation, modern air defenses, and cutting edge technology — a fortress,” he said. The installation is expected to provide first-class living conditions, high-end training grounds and essential services such as health care and child care, while operating entirely off the commercial grid with independent power sources. Hegseth added that the base will support President Donald Trump’s executive order on “Beautiful Civic Architecture,” which calls for federal public buildings and military installations to be designed in timeless and classical styles. “We owe our warriors nothing less than the gold standard,” Hegseth said. SENATE REPUBLICAN PUSHES MERIT-BASED MILITARY PROMOTIONS, TARGETS BIDEN-ERA DEI POLICIES To determine the site location, the Department of War said it is launching a transparent, merit-based competition in which state governors can pitch their proposals directly to top military leadership at the Pentagon. The winning state will be chosen based on its ability to remove regulatory hurdles and bureaucracy to speed up construction, while offering the best package of land, community support, top-tier housing, schools and other services. “The state that cuts the most red tape and offers the best package of land and support will win the historic honor of hosting the most lethal, modern, and beautiful military installation on the planet,” a press release stated. Pitch deliberations will be recorded and made public to eliminate “political favoritism,” according to the Pentagon. “No backroom Washington deals. No political favoritism – just a straight-up, merit-based contest to see which state will partner with us to build the most modern, beautiful, and lethal military installation on the planet,” Hegseth said. The project is the fourth announcement among six major strategic initiatives unveiled by the secretary. According to the Department of War, the other initiatives focus on restoring male physical standards and combat roles, improving the comprehensive review of military standards, overhauling complaint processes, reforming senior leadership and focusing on core training and maintenance.
Unearthed clip exposes the Talarico comment that triggered backlash from parents
James Talarico, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Texas, once dismissed public outcry about explicit material in Texas public schools as a kind of “conspiracy theory” at a July 2022 hearing on education. “We’re going to spend hours hearing bills that are just kind of conspiracy theory-driven and kind of kooky stuff. And we’re going to hear some of that today, I think, in the public testimony — not the invited testimony, but the public testimony,” Talarico said then as a member of the Texas House of Representatives. The resurfaced moment adds to the pile of past statements dealing with gender, immigration and law enforcement, complicating the political calculus for Talarico as he aims to convince voters in Texas that, even as a Democrat, he could represent a Republican-leaning constituency in the Lone Star State. TED CRUZ, CONSERVATIVES RESPOND AFTER TALARICO CRITICIZES BIBLE-RELATED EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS AS ‘PROPAGANDA’ At the time of the 2022 hearing, many parents were raising concerns about news that schools and libraries across the country were featuring explicit materials that bordered on pornography. In particular, an Ashland, Ohio, board meeting made news after a group of angry parents highlighted graphic illustrations from books like “It’s Perfectly Normal,” “Making a Baby,” “Own Your Period” and “Puberty is Gross but Also Really Awesome,” all titles featuring some level of sexual references. Similar outcries emerged in Kentucky, Oregon and North Carolina. In Texas, state Rep. Matt Krause, a Republican, sparked similar backlash when he circulated a list of roughly 800 titles he believed were inappropriate for students. He expressed his alarm in a letter to Texas school districts. “I am writing to you as the Chairman of the Texas House Committee on General Investigation,” Krause wrote. “The committee may initiate inquiries concerning any ‘matter the committee considers necessary for the information of the legislature or for the welfare and protection of state citizens.’ “Please identify any other books or content in your district, specifying the campus location and funds spent on acquisition that address or contain … sexually explicit images, graphic presentations of sexual behavior that is in violation of the law or contain material that might make students feel discomfort, guilt, anguish or any other form of psychological distress because of their race or sex or convey that a student, by virtue of their race or sex is inherently racist sexist or oppressive whether consciously or unconsciously.” CONTROVERSIAL TEACHER TRAINING TARGETS PARENTAL AUTHORITY AS OPPRESSION, EDUCATION EXPERT WARNS In January 2022, several counties began evaluating their own books, leading some, like Granbury Independent School District, to pull 130 titles from shelves. By July, the issue had made its way before the Texas Legislature in the form of an “interim charge,” made by Republican Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan. It was a kind of exhortation for lawmakers to examine the issue, charging them to “monitor and analyze the state policy on curriculum and instructional materials used in public schools.” As a part of the Committee on Public Education, Talarico received the charge but expressed reservations about its substance, making his “conspiracy theory” comment. He went on to ask Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath about the issue. “I want to ask you about curriculum in Texas, of course, critical race theory, pornography; these are the things we see bubbling up on social media that’s going to be discussed here,” Talarico said. “Are you aware of any curriculum in the state of Texas that, one, bullies students based on their race or, two, grooms students with pornography?” Morath, after noting that Texas is a very big state and the issue is “very complex,” gave his blunt assessment. “The answer is yes,” Morath said. “We have complaints that would appear to substantiate periodic problems in those areas, arguably. I can’t tell you it’s widespread. We’ve reviewed, in some cases, materials that were made available to students that I think the common citizen would agree would be inappropriate.” CARVILLE ADVISES TALARICO ‘TO DEAL WITH’ PAST CULTURE WAR COMMENTS IF HE WANTS TO WIN TEXAS Even after the testimony, Talarico challenged the idea that explicit materials in schools were widespread. “I would characterize as a conspiracy theory that’s being raised is that these are systemic policy problems in the state of Texas,” Talarico said. Following Talarico’s remarks, parents spoke out against his characterization. “I actually drove in last night, so I’ve been here a very long time. And hopefully my comments and testimony today aren’t gonna be as ‘kooky’ as Representative Talarico had stated it was gonna be,” one parent quipped. Talarico’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
GOP challenger tears into Dem’s ‘moderate’ image: ‘Votes with the squad 90% of the time’
Republican congressional candidate Scott Singer is making the case that party, not just policy, will be decisive in his closely watched South Florida showdown with Democrat Rep. Jared Moskowitz, arguing that the incumbent’s moderate, pro-Israel image is at odds with his voting record and the direction of the Democrat Party. Singer, the former mayor of Boca Raton, told Fox News Digital that he believes his record of cutting taxes and reducing crime at the local level, combined with unwavering support for Israel, gives voters a clear contrast in Florida’s newly redrawn 25th Congressional District. “Well, it is a tough cycle, but people understand the real Jared Moskowitz, one who votes with the squad 90% of the time, voted to put [Rep.] Ilhan Omar [D-Minn.] on the Foreign Affairs Committee, has passed no bills in Congress, but traded $4.5 million worth of stocks since he’s been there. This district, after redistricting, is now a Republican plus five district,” Singer told Fox News Digital. GOP’S SINGER ‘VERY PREPARED’ TO OUST DEM MOSKOWITZ IN TOSS-UP FLORIDA RACE THAT COULD DETERMINE HOUSE MAJORITY “It takes in all of Boca Raton, where I was mayor for eight years, cut taxes, red tape, and crime, and goes down to Miami Beach, where I was born, and Fort Lauderdale, where I was raised,” he continued. “Moskowitz doesn’t live in the district, he’s not from the district. “But beyond that, the Republican plus five, a trend in Jewish voters, of which we have 25% … in our district, moving more conservatively, and people who are opposed to socialism and communism, which he will not denounce, understand that this is a critical race for House leadership, and they want someone like me, a local leader with a record of results.” Singer’s business-friendly fiscal conservatism is the cornerstone of his campaign, and provides the policy framework for his priorities on Capitol Hill. “Well, it gives me the record of results one would need. As mayor of Boca Raton, not only did we have the lowest property tax rate of any full-service city in Florida, I cut the tax rate seven times. I cut red tape, 21 streamlining initiatives,” he said. “I cut crime by more than 25% from what were 40-year lows. Those are a record of results that people can relate to, because we improved the quality of life, improved the job base, lowered taxes, and made our streets safer.” UNEARTHED AUDIT EXPOSES VULNERABLE DEM’S HANDLING OF COVID RELIEF FUNDS: ‘GROSS OVERSIGHT’ Singer continued: “That’s what we want right now in America. We want secure borders, not like the porous borders that Jared Moskowitz supported under [former] President [Joe] Biden that have increased crime and ravaged communities. They want tax relief, not the tax hike that he voted for. $4 trillion, including taxes on Social Security, tipped workers, small businesses and families that are hurting. Now he’s trying to come around with a modest talk of the gas tax reduction. “He had the chance to vote on taxes and repeatedly has voted for higher taxes. People want a leader with a record of results. That’s what I bring.” While Moskowitz has carefully cultivated a moderate image during his tenure in Congress, Singer disputes that characterization. “No, he’s not. He’s been voting in lockstep. He’s already said he’ll vote for whoever the Democratic leadership is. And you can see that we’ll have committee chairs like [Rep.] Rashida Tlaib [D-Mich.] and AOC [Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y.], if heaven forbid, the Democrats win Congress,” Singer said. “He already voted for Ilhan Omar on Foreign Affairs, despite his talking about her statements being bad, he voted to keep her in charge of foreign affairs in our country.” FLORIDA GOP NOMINEE BLASTS 20-YEAR DEM INCUMBENT AS A ‘SOCIALIST’ RUBBER-STAMP WITH ‘PRECIOUS LITTLE TO SHOW’ Added Singer: “He’s voted for tax hikes again … He says he’s strong on Israel, but he voted against US-Israeli cooperation, when other Democrats were willing to cross the aisle. And then just a few weeks ago, he would not denounce socialism, even though other Democrats would. He’s trying to have it out both ways, but his record is really Democratic, really liberal, 90% with the squad.” Both Moskowitz and Singer both position themselves as strong supporters of Israel, but Singer argues that membership in today’s Democrat Party makes effective advocacy for Israel difficult. “I’m a stronger supporter for Israel. I would never have put Ilhan Omar on the Foreign Affairs Committee. I would not have, like he did, voted against U.S.-Israel cooperation in the NDAA [National Defense Authorization Act],” Singer said. “I would have not voted to undercut President [Donald] Trump’s efforts and our military’s efforts with the War Powers Act vote months ago when the U.S. and Israel were fighting against a common enemy. “He’s done all of those things because Democratic leadership requires him. And he admitted three weeks ago to Jewish Insider that he’s being ostracized in his own party. He doesn’t have any more chits to give in. He has to go with the way the majority is going, and that expanded squad is going to tamp out any voice he has. “In my party, support for Israel is a feature, not a bug, and I don’t have to moderate my views or vote in accordance with the majority…I can be a strong supporter for Israel without reservation. Jared’s admitted he can’t be and won’t be.” Finally, while Singer said he is a strong supporter of the Trump administration’s military engagement in Iran, he would like to see an end to the conflict soon. “I think we need to have a resolution of this. I think we need to emerge victoriously. We have to remember that nuclear Iran is an existential threat,” he said. “We have seen how dastardly, vicious, murderous this regime has been over 47 years. Their foreign policy is death to America. They’ve killed Americans, they’ll kill more. “And even since this conflict started, they’ve started attacking other nations who weren’t
GOP fortress is under threat in one key red state, and these voters could decide whether it falls
DALLAS — A competitive Senate race is testing whether Texas is still safely red, with Black and Hispanic voters at the center of Democrat James Talarico’s path to victory. Talarico is seeking to become the first Democrat in more than 30 years to win a statewide race in the Lone Star State. “I definitely do think, if there’s any time for Texas to get a Democrat elected, this is the time to strike,” Mike, a military veteran from Dallas, told Fox News Digital. “I think it depends on whether the Black and Brown voters come out for Talarico.” POLL: TALARICO TIES PAXTON IN TEXAS SENATE RACE, THREATENING GOP STRONGHOLD “Everyone says, ‘Hey, we are Texas and we want change here, we want change there,’” Mike added. “Well, this is an opportunity for you guys to get change. Are you going to come out and show up at the polls? He’s got all the momentum in the world. He’s got everything going for him.” Mike’s comments reflect the challenge facing Talarico as he works to build support among Black and Hispanic voters and motivate them to turn out in November. Texas has more Black eligible voters than any other state, with roughly 2.7 million. That puts voters in Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth and East Texas in a potentially decisive position in any Democrat’s bid to win statewide. Former President Barack Obama’s appearance with Talarico at a May campaign stop in Austin underscored the stakes for Democrats to leverage a massive voting bloc in Texas. The party’s effort to win over Black voters could help determine whether Texas remains reliably red or becomes more competitive for Democrats in future elections. TEXAS VOTERS HAVE PLENTY TO SAY ABOUT WHETHER LONE STAR STATE COULD TURN BLUE But Talarico faces an uphill battle in uniting Democrats behind his campaign after a divisive primary against Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas. Talarico defeated Crockett in the Democratic primary earlier this year, and the outgoing congresswoman has not endorsed his Senate campaign. Crockett has said she supports the Democratic ticket in Texas, but her political action committee has not endorsed Talarico or campaigned for him. Rashaun, of Forney, Texas, said the primary loss may have left some Black voters frustrated. “Everyone was behind Jasmine,” Rashaun said. “So that’s what’s blocking, I’m going to say for my people, that was blocking their minds.” Still, Rashaun said she plans to vote for Talarico and hopes Texas will turn blue in November. “Yes, we are voting in November and it’s going to be Talarico,” she said. “We need Texas to flip. We can wish and hope and pray. But we need to get out and vote.” TEXAS VOTERS HAVE PLENTY TO SAY ABOUT WHETHER LONE STAR STATE COULD TURN BLUE Mike said the election may ultimately come down to whether voters are willing to act. “Right now it is on the Texas voters to get out and support James Talarico or sit at home if you don’t want to see that change,” he said. Bryant, of Coppell, Texas, likewise pointed to frustration with Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton, both Republicans, as a potential motivator for people to support Talarico’s candidacy. “This is a critical election,” Bryant said. “I think we all can feel it in Texas, the need to get Greg Abbott out.” REPUBLICANS JUST GOT A POWERFUL NEW PLAYBOOK FOR THE BATTLE FOR CONGRESS. HERE’S WHAT’S INSIDE “It’s time for a change,” he added. “Plus, on the other side, you see how bad Ken Paxton is and his track record and just some of the things that he’s done. It’s no longer working and we need to do something different.” Ava, a college student from Denton, said Talarico’s outreach to younger voters has helped him connect with a generation that often feels overlooked. “I do think he’s going to pull through,” she said. “He engages with the younger community, which is important because we feel like we’re not represented.” She added that his social media presence has also helped younger voters connect with his campaign. She first learned about Talarico after meeting him at the Texas State Fair last year and later followed him online. “I think he’s going to flip the state.” While Ava focused on Talarico’s appeal among younger voters, Kiara, of Dallas, said supporters must turn that enthusiasm into votes. “I live in Texas, and I’ve been here for a really long time, and it’s time for a change, a positive change,” she said. “And I think Talarico is definitely going to bring that.” “We just have to vote,” Kiara added. “We can’t complain about the problems if you don’t want to vote to fix them.”
Democrats split on AOC as some battleground candidates distance themselves from ‘Squad’ lawmaker
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., is fast becoming a central figurehead in the 2026 midterm election cycle, and a polarizing one at that. Some moderate candidates are shunning the progressive rising star’s endorsement, Axios reported this week, while others in tight races are welcoming her with open arms. Several Democratic strategists who spoke with Fox News Digital said they were not shocked that some on the left are keeping her at arm’s length. “It wasn’t especially surprising, like, her numbers with independent voters aren’t always great, and it’s very circumstantial depending upon where you would want to deploy somebody with that type of background and somebody who, you know, a lot of Americans have an impression of already — sometimes positive, sometimes negative,” Mike Nellis, a former political advisor for former Vice President Kamala Harris, told Fox News Digital. “I always just encourage people, like, you do what you gotta do, cause it’s hard to play coalition politics.” DEMOCRAT CHALLENGING MIKE LAWLER WON’T COMMIT ON CAMPAIGNING WITH AOC, MAMDANI OR REJECTING DSA And there are at least two candidates who appear to think the original “Squad” member is more of a liability. HASAN PIKER SAYS HE’D ‘ABSOLUTELY’ CAMPAIGN FOR AOC IN 2028 AS EL-SAYED DISTANCES HIMSELF Cait Conley, who is running to unseat Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., in a district near Ocasio-Cortez’s, told CNN’s “State of the Union,” “I’m good” when asked if she would campaign with Democratic socialists like her or New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Conley’s campaign did not return a request for comment by Fox News Digital by publication time. And Sam Forstag in Montana reportedly removed all mention of Ocasio-Cortez’s endorsement from his campaign website. He told Axios, “I don’t intend to be having a lot of folks from out of state campaigning with me over these next 40 days.” Forstag’s campaign did not return multiple emailed requests for comment by Fox News Digital. JAMES CARVILLE PREDICTS 2028 DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY WILL TEST TRUE STRENGTH OF PARTY’S SOCIALIST WING “In the final days leading up to an election, you want to make your message specific and local and repeatable and national celebrities just don’t help with that,” a veteran Democratic strategist who works on House and Senate campaigns told Fox News Digital. The strategist, who asked to remain anonymous to speak more freely, said “AOC is more of a celebrity” than most of the other potential 2028 Democratic presidential contenders. “I think AOC is one of the few Democrats who has transcended to just culture generally, which makes her visits heavier in the discourse.” And that celebrity status is being used in other key races. Ocasio-Cortez joined forces with fellow progressive champion Sen. Bernie Sanders to headline a trio of rallies for left-wing candidate Abdul El-Sayed in July, a couple of weeks before the Democratic Senate primary in the key battleground state of Michigan. El-Sayed ended up narrowly edging more moderate Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., in a nomination battle that highlighted the ongoing battle between the left and the center for the ideological future of the Democratic Party. While Ocasio-Cortez has yet to return to Michigan since the early August primary, El-Sayed’s campaign says they’d welcome her return to the campaign trail. “There are a lot of Michiganders who can’t wait to have AOC back in town,” El-Sayed campaign communications director Roxie Richner told Fox News Digital. AOC BACKS FLORIDA DEM ANGIE NIXON FOR US SENATE: ‘I’M PROUD TO ENDORSE HER’ El-Sayed and former House Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich., are facing off in the race to succeed Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich. The midterm showdown is a must-hold for the Democrats as they try to win back the Senate majority from the Republicans. Ocasio-Cortez also appeared in Florida recently alongside far-left Senate candidate Angie Nixon, who is running an underdog campaign against Sen. Ashley Moody, R-Fla. A Democratic victory there is a long shot, but Ocasio-Cortez’s campaign trail travels come as speculation mounts about her own future political plans. The Democratic socialist is widely seen as a potential successor to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., when he is through in the upper chamber. But there’s also buzz about a potential 2028 presidential campaign — something Ocasio-Cortez has not confirmed nor denied. “I think she’s a unique political talent. She’s clearly got, like, a large group of people in the country who would get behind her, and those are the beginnings of what you need to build an operation to run for president. So I think she’d be stupid not to think about it,” Nellis said. “At the same time, you know, do you take a 5% chance of being the Democratic nominee… or do you take like a much better than 50-50 chance of being the next United States senator from New York? If it were me advising her, I’d probably tell her to run for Senate.” Fox News Digital reached out to Ocasio-Cortez’s campaign for comment on the Axios report.