Meet the former Soros foundation exec connecting Obama world with Mamdani campaign
A former top executive for liberal billionaire George Soros’ Open Society Foundations (OSF) between 2017 and 2020 is back in the spotlight amid reports highlighting his involvement with Zohran Mamdani’s New York City mayoral campaign and connecting Obama world to the campaign. Patrick Gaspard, who has served in several high-profile political positions, including advising former President Barack Obama’s historic 2008 campaign, serving as the Democratic National Committee’s executive director, and being tapped as the Center for American Progress (CAP) president in 2021, has been informally advising Mamdani on the side and recently introduced Obama campaign architect David Axelrod to him, a recent New York Times article revealed. A New York Times opinion piece that was published on Wednesday explained how Obama world operatives were starting to coalesce around Mamdani and have been in communication with his campaign behind the scenes. Obama reportedly called Mamdani after his Democratic primary victory in June, offering advice about the importance of governing and giving constituents optimism in dark times. Gaspard, who was reportedly at Mamdani’s victory party in late June, has played a growing role advising Mamdani and accompanying him to meetings, the piece noted. He also introduced Axelrod to Mamdani last month when the former Obama advisor visited the campaign headquarters in Manhattan. MAMDANI PREACHES FROM PULPIT OF RADICAL PASTOR PUSHING REPARATIONS, ABOLISHING POLICE: ‘BROTHER AND FRIEND’ “What I found when I went over to that office was a familiar spirit that I hadn’t seen in a while of just determined, upbeat idealism,” Axelrod told the Times. “You may not agree with every answer he’s giving, or every idea he has, but he’s certainly asking the right questions, which is how do we make the country work for working people?” Earlier this year, Fox News Digital reported that the Mamdani campaign has been dishing out millions to a media strategist with ties to the Obama world through Axelrod and David Plouffe. The piece also noted how former Obama speechwriter Jon Favreau and former Obama advisor Dan Pfeiffer, who are often referred to as the “Obama bros” of the “Pod Save America” podcast, were in contact with a top Mamdani advisor and have been keeping close tabs on the race. While Obama world’s influence could play a major role over the next couple of months ahead of the general election, Gaspard’s past ties to the Soros foundations could help Mamdani tap into wealthy donors who support his agenda. Gaspard, who made millions of dollars serving as the OSF president between 2017 and 2020, has been a staunch defender of Soros, saying earlier this year that he was “inspired by the selection of my friend George Soros, who is one of our leading defenders of inclusive and accountable democracy and vibrant civil society,” after then-President Joe Biden announced he would receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom. “His accomplishments, in the face of distortions and threats from extremists, will be lauded well into the future,” he continued. In a long 2023 X thread, Gaspard also attempted to deflect blame away from Soros amid reports that Soros and his network were pouring millions of dollars into the campaign coffers of radical DAs and far-left groups that emphasized social justice programs and gave lenient sentences to violent criminals. “George Soros is as concerned about public safety as anyone else. But he recognizes that our criminal justice system is badly broken, and in need of new ideas and new approaches – a view that enjoyed bipartisan consensus in the before times,” Gaspard claimed. MAMDANI’S FATHER SITS ON COUNCIL OF ANTI-ISRAEL GROUP TIED TO TERROR, LEGITIMIZES ROLE OF SUICIDE BOMBERS “It is also important to note that in Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and all over the country voters keep electing and re-electing reformers,” he continued. “To suggest that the reason they are doing so is because of Soros contributions is an insult to ordinary people.” The Mamdani campaign has already benefited from several far-left groups who have received tens of millions of dollars in funding from OSF over the years, including the democratic socialist-friendly Working Families Party, which has received over $23 million from OSF, the New York Post reported last month. The report went on to say that Gaspard has played a “key role” in guiding Mamdani through the campaign and listed several of the groups that are aligned with or have endorsed Mamdani, which include Jewish Voice for Peace Action, Make The Road Action and Community Voices Heard. Jewish Voice for Peace Action has established itself as one of the most prominent groups in the country speaking out against Israel and Fox News Digital previously reported that the group was active at college campuses in 2024 backing anti-Israel protests. Influence Watch describes the group as “a left-wing, nominally Jewish group that opposes U.S. assistance to the state of Israel and supports allowing Palestinians to live on land within Israel vacated by Arabs during the Israeli War of Independence.” The Center for American Progress, Fox News Digital previously reported, played a significant role in staffing and policymaking in the Biden administration, with at least 70 CAP employees leaving the group to fill key posts within the administration. Fox News Digital reached out to the Mamdani campaign and Gaspard for comment.
Supreme Court has ‘good chance’ of hearing Kim Davis’ case urging same-sex marriage be overturned: lawyer
The former Kentucky county clerk who was jailed 10 years ago for refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples is now asking the Supreme Court to review its landmark decision that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide, with her attorney telling Fox News Digital there’s a “good chance” it will end up on their docket. Kim Davis, a devout Christian, made national headlines in 2015 when she refused to sign the marriage licenses of same-sex couples over her religious belief that marriage is between one man and one woman. Davis’ lawyer, Mat Staver, is helping her appeal a ruling that she must pay $360,000 in legal fees and expenses to plaintiffs David Ermold and David Moore. “The First Amendment should be an absolute defense to Kim Davis. And secondly, we’re asking the Supreme Court to overturn Obergefell, the 2015 decision that ultimately caused this problem in the first place,” Staver told Fox News Digital. “For them not to review the matter I think is terrible for Kim Davis and also terrible for the country because they’ve damaged the Constitution and only the court can fix it,” Staver added. DECADE AFTER LANDMARK RULING, REPUBLICAN SUPPORT FOR SAME-SEX MARRIAGE CRATERS Staver also told Fox News Digital, “I think we have a good chance at having the Supreme Court take up this case because you have three of the justices still on the bench that were part of the four dissenters in 2015” in Obergefell v. Hodges, “including the chief justice, who gave a very strong dissent.” “There’s only two justices still on the bench that were on the bench in the majority in 2015, and that would be Kagan and Sotomayor,” Staver added. “This is the case with the most compelling facts that can challenge and overturn Obergefell.” The case, if it reaches the Supreme Court, would be heard by Justices Clarence Thomas, John Roberts and Samuel Alito, who dissented to Obergefell v. Hodges; Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagen, who affirmed the decision; and four newly appointed justices. In March, a three-judge panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit wrote in a ruling that “As Davis sees it, issuing Plaintiffs a marriage license would have violated her own constitutionally protected religious beliefs; thus, she asserts, she cannot be held liable. We disagree.” “Davis cannot raise a Free Exercise Clause defense because she is being held liable for state action, which the First Amendment does not protect,” the ruling added. REVISITING JUSTICE SCALIA’S SAME-SEX MARRIAGE DISSENT: PROPHETIC OR INFLAMMATORY? A petition for writ of certiorari filed last month on behalf of Davis is appealing that decision. “Obergefell was wrong when it was decided and it is wrong today because it was grounded entirely on the legal fiction of substantive due process,” the filing said. “Overturning Obergefell would not undo any marriage licenses in effect at the time. All marriage licenses, including those between same-sex couples, would continue to be recognized. They would be ‘grandfathered.’ Going forward, marriage would return to the states as it was prior to Obergefell. It would be up to each state to define marriage,” it added. William Powell, an attorney representing Ermold and Moore, and a Senior Counsel with the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection, told Fox News Digital that “We are confident the Supreme Court, like the court of appeals, will conclude that Davis’s arguments do not merit further attention. “Marriage equality is settled law,” he added. Fox News Digital’s Maria Lencki contributed to this report.
Democratic governor declares state of emergency in crime-ridden county
Just two days after President Donald Trump seized control of Washington, D.C.’s police force to combat violent crime in the Democrat-run capital, New Mexico’s Democratic governor on Wednesday declared a state of emergency over rampant violence and drug trafficking in a large swath of her state. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced the sweeping emergency declaration in crime-ridden Rio Arriba County, which includes two Native American Pueblo communities. The county, which stretches from the city of Española to the Colorado state line, has long struggled with some of the nation’s highest opioid overdose death rates. Grisham said local leaders have pleaded for assistance in tackling the crises and that public safety threats have “overwhelmed local resources.” NATIONAL GUARD DEPLOYED TO BLUE CITY OVERRUN WITH JUVENILE CRIME, FENTANYL IS ‘NOT ENOUGH,’ STATE GOP SAYS “When our local leaders called for help to protect their communities, we responded immediately with decisive action,” Grisham said in a statement. “We are making every resource available to support our local partners on the ground and restore public safety and stability to these areas that have been hardest hit by this crisis.” The emergency declaration makes $750,000 available to the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management to coordinate response efforts and to provide resources to the communities impacted. Grisham said a surge in criminal activity has contributed to increased homelessness, family instability and fatal drug overdoses, placing extraordinary strain on local governments and police departments that have requested immediate state assistance. She said police calls in Española and surrounding areas have more than doubled in the past two years. Police dispatches to businesses in the area have quadrupled in the same period. Rio Arriba County currently has the highest overdose death rate in the state, with residents struggling with addiction to fentanyl and other illicit substances. THREE STATES SIGN NEW AGREEMENTS WITH ICE FOR EXPANDED IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT OPERATIONS There were no immediate calls for troop deployments in the county, though the new emergency declaration allows for authorities to call up the National Guard. Emergency funds will help local law enforcement agencies spend on overtime, equipment and coordinated police responses, a Grisham spokesperson said. The tribal governor of Santa Clara Pueblo on the edge of Española urged the state to address a growing public safety crisis stemming from the use and abuse of fentanyl and alcohol in the community at large. “The Pueblo has expended thousands of dollars trying to address this crisis… and to protect Pueblo children who are directly and negatively affected by a parent’s or guardian’s addiction,” said Santa Clara Gov. James Naranjo in a July letter to Lujan Grisham. “But we are not an isolated community and the causes and effects of fentanyl/alcohol abuse, increased crime and increased homelessness extend to the wider community.” Grisham’s emergency declaration comes after she sent the National Guard to Albuquerque in April to address a spike in juvenile crime and fentanyl. The National Guard were tasked with scene security and traffic control, prisoner transport assistance and other roles that don’t involve arrests in order to free up Albuquerque Police Department resources. Wednesday’s state of emergency was welcomed by New Mexico Republicans, including Española City Councilor Sam LeDoux. “I am pleased that the governor is addressing the out-of-control crime in our community,” LeDoux said. It has long been overrun and not addressed. Fentanyl has overwhelmed our law enforcement, and this seems to be a step in the right direction to protecting our citizens.” New Mexico Republican Party Chairwoman Amy Barela also welcomed the announcement but urged the governor to ensure the deployment results in real change. “This community is long overdue in receiving help to combat the out-of-control crime caused by the failed policies of our state leadership,” Barela said in a statement. “While I hope the deployment of the National Guard will provide real assistance, the people of Española deserve more than just street counselors — they deserve action that addresses the root of the problem.” “Thanks to President Trump’s America First policies and his decisive action to secure the border, we have already begun to see crime rates decrease nationally. Now, it’s time to put New Mexicans first by ensuring those who commit crimes are caught and held accountable.” The Associated Press contributed to this report.
EXCLUSIVE: Trump touts ‘zero tax’ benefits for majority of seniors on social security’s 90th anniversary
Donald Trump will issue a presidential proclamation Thursday honoring the 90th anniversary of the Social Security Act, which will tout his administration’s achievements in improving the program, including legislative provisions that will help the vast majority of seniors pay “zero tax” on their social security benefits. The Social Security Act was signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1935, during the Great Depression. The bill was aimed at creating a federal safety net to help Americans with unemployment, illness, disability, death and old-age. The president’s Thursday proclamation, obtained and reviewed in advance by Fox News Digital, proclaimed the Act as “a monumental legislative achievement.” SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION PHISHING SCAM TARGETS RETIREES “To this day, Social Security is rooted in a simple promise: those who gave their careers to building our Nation will always have the support, stability, and relief they deserve,” the proclamation states. “Thanks to my Administration’s efforts, Social Security now stands stronger and more resilient than ever before.” During Trump’s second term, Democrats have slammed his approach to helping improve the program, arguing cuts to the Social Security Administration’s workforce and provisions in the Republican’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act will negatively impact the critical program. However, the administration is fighting back at those notions, pointing to technological improvements, lower customer service wait times, and disability claim backlogs that have been cleared. “While Democrats flail and peddle lies about Social Security, President Trump is demonstrating his unbreakable commitment to protecting and strengthening this vital program for the nearly 72 million Americans who benefit from it,” White House spokesperson Liz Huston said. “By massively improving the customer service experience through technological improvements, preventing illegal aliens from accessing benefits, and delivering no taxes on Social Security through the One Big Beautiful Bill – President Trump has Made Social Security Great Again.” Trump’s critics have suggested he is damaging the program, but according to the administration, things have drastically improved. A source in the administration told Fox News Digital that the administration completed over 3.1 million payments ahead of schedule thus far, totaling $17 billion, to eligible beneficiaries. Additionally, the wait time for social security’s service delivery has been dramatically reduced under Trump, with the average telephone response time reduced from 30-minutes last year, to six minutes as it stands currently. That amounts to an 80% reduction in wait times. TOP DEM DEMANDS ANSWERS FROM SOCIAL SECURITY, CLAIMING WAIT TIMES SPIKED DURING DOGE CUTS Meanwhile, the president touts in his proclamation that provisions in the Republican spending package, signed into law last month, will allow “the vast majority of seniors who receive social security” to pay absolutely nothing in taxes on their benefits. “The largest tax break for seniors in the history of our country,” as the president described it in his proclamation. Trump also expressed that his administration is actively working to root out fraud, waste and abuse in the system, including the longstanding issue of improper and fraudulent payments to deceased individuals. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “On this 90th Anniversary of the Social Security Act, we recognize the countless contributions of every American senior who has invested their time, talent, and resources into our Nation’s future,” Trump writes in his proclamation. “On this momentous milestone, we recommit to strengthening our retirement system, protecting programs like Social Security and Medicare against fraud and abuse, and ensuring that every future generation of American citizens has the income security they need and earned.”
400 National Guard members descend upon DC; expanded crime crackdown expected Wednesday night
Around 400 D.C. National Guard members have reported for duty in the nation’s capital as of Wednesday afternoon in response to President Donald Trump’s directive to help make Washington “safe, clean and beautiful,” a U.S. Army official told Fox News. Hundreds more D.C. National Guard troops are expected to report for duty later Wednesday and Thursday, with a significantly higher presence on the ground Wednesday evening. By the end of the week, it is expected all 800 who have been activated will have reported for duty. Law enforcement officials have made 103 arrests since Aug. 7, when Trump’s order to “federalize” D.C. and crack down on crime was announced and more law enforcement officers took to the streets. INSIDE THE WASHINGTON, DC HOMELESS HOT SPOTS TRUMP HAS VOWED TO CLEAN UP Guardsmen were spotted rolling in on military vehicles near the National Mall Wednesday evening. Troops gathered at the D.C. armory before deploying near monuments and near a U.S. Park building in the crime-ridden neighborhood of Anacostia in southeast D.C. In addition to sending in the Guard, Trump placed D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department under federal control, using the Home Rule Act that allows him to do so for up to 30 days. On Monday, federal and local authorities made 23 arrests, including suspects wanted for murder, gun offenses and other crimes. On Tuesday, they made 43 arrests, and 24 guns were seized. While only 30 National Guard troops were on the ground Tuesday night, more than 1,450 participated in the operations, including 750 Metropolitan Police Department officers and federal law enforcement officers. Beginning Wednesday night, the operations will be active around the clock rather than just evening hours. TRUMP ACTIVATES NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS TO ADDRESS ‘TOTALLY OUT OF CONTROL’ CRIME IN WASHINGTON The White House-led operation will not only tackle crime but also homelessness within the district. For those camping in D.C. federal parks under the National Park Service’s jurisdiction, the options are to leave, go to a homeless shelter or go to jail. Trump has described the federalization of the police as “Liberation Day in D.C.,” declaring, “We’re going to take our capital back.” Fox News’ David Spunt and Fox News Digital’s Emma Colton contributed to this report.
Dems accuse JD Vance of ‘congressional level shoplifting,’ call for more to join AWOL lawmakers
Democratic lawmakers from the Texas and Indiana legislatures slammed Republican redistricting efforts before the 2026 Midterm Elections, with one Indiana lawmaker accusing Vice President JD Vance of being “engaged in congressional-level shoplifting.” The lawmakers held a press conference in Chicago on Wednesday to protest an ongoing effort in Texas to pass a redistricting bill that would likely hand the GOP five additional congressional seats. During the event, Texas state Rep. Gene Wu, who is chair of the Texas House Democratic Caucus, said that by fleeing the state to deny a voting quorum in the Texas House, his caucus is “blocking a racist, unconstitutional and illegal gerrymandering effort.” He said the AWOL Democrats are also “stopping the DC swamp from dictating who we get to vote for.” GOV. ABBOT STILL BEAT NEWSOM IN DISASTER RELIEF DESPITE TEXAS DEMOCRATS STALLING, HIDING OUT This comes as Texas Governor Greg Abbott and other state authorities have called for the arrest and removal of Democratic lawmakers who disappeared from the state and brought legislative progress in the state House of Representatives to a grinding halt. Because of the missing Democrats, the Texas House has not been able to pass the redistricting bill though it passed in the Texas Senate on Tuesday. In an interview with Fox News Digital, Abbott said that, in addition to political backlash, Democratic lawmakers who accepted money to assist with their exodus could face felony bribery charges. Now, several Democrats are reportedly planning to return to the state as Abbott calls for a second special legislative session to pass the redistricting bill. Despite this, the Democrats are asserting that their efforts have been a success. Speaking on Wednesday, Wu said, “I’m so happy to be here today because in the past week we have heard from California, we have heard from New York, we have heard from Illinois, that people are ready to stand up. People are ready to fight back.” DEMS FACE SCRUTINY OVER CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATION GAPS IN BLUE STATES: ‘DON’T HAVE CLEAN HANDS’ Wu called on more people to join in the efforts and to take “more aggressive actions” to fight the GOP. “We cannot do this alone; that this is not a fight that we can sustain and win on our own,” said Wu. “What we need is we need more people to join us. We need more states to come to our aid, and we need more people to say we will start taking more aggressive actions, we will defend against this.” Wu went on to say that if Texas and other red states are “determined to do this,” then “other states will make sure that it does not matter what they do, that we will nullify their actions.” “We will make it pointless for them to attack our democracy,” he said. In response, Andrew Mahaleris, a spokesperson for Abbott, told Fox News Digital that “Democrats fundamentally misunderstand Texans.” “Texans expect their elected leaders to show up to work, and the Democrats refuse to do so,” said Mahaleris. “Voters, especially Hispanic Texans, are increasingly deserting the Democrats and deserve to be able to vote for candidates who better align with their values. At the end of the day, candidates win on the merits, not the map. If Democrats have any hope of winning elections, they need to change their platform. Running away from a fight is not a solution and is the antithesis of being a Texan.” Amidst this controversy, Vance has also called for red states to counter what he called “aggressive” Democratic gerrymandering in blue states like California, New York and Illinois. Speaking with Maria Bartiromo on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures” this past weekend, Vance said, “We’re just trying to rebalance the scales and frankly push back against a very unfair system created by the Democrats.” JD VANCE CALLS ON REPUBLICANS TO TAKE ‘DECISIVE ACTION’ TO COUNTER DEMOCRATIC GERRYMANDERING Vance said Democrats have had the upper hand in the game for many years and, under President Donald Trump‘s leadership, Republicans are finally playing offense. “It’s ridiculously unfair,” he said of illegal immigrants being included in the total population used to determine how many seats each state receives in the U.S. House of Representatives. “The only real way to fight back against it is for us to redistrict, in some ways, as aggressively as these hard blue states have done,” he added. On Wednesday, Indiana state Rep. Ed DeLaney, a Democrat serving in a majority Republican legislature, accused Vance of engaging in “congressional-level shoplifting.” “JD Vance, in my view, and I’m being serious about this, the man is engaged in congressional-level shoplifting, and I say that again. That’s what he’s doing,” said DeLaney. “Never in my life did I think that the Vice President of the United States would come to my state to ask our legislators to shoplift a congressional district like this, steal them off the shelf, run outside and wave them in front of the country. We cannot have this kind of conduct,” he said. O’ROURKE, SOROS-LINKED GROUPS FACE CALL FOR DOJ PROBE OVER ALLEGED FUNDING OF TEXAS DEM WALKOUT DeLaney asserted that “this game of, you know, ritual gerrymandering” puts at risk “the mutual respect of the legislature of our state and of Texas and of other states.” He went on to say, “If these idiots get their wishes, what happens if they lose one of those five congressional races? Oh my God, let’s have another redistricting next year. This has got to be put to a stop.” He went on to say that the Texas Democrats “are the people who are going to try to put it to a stop,” adding, “I know how hard it is, but we need to support them and stand with them. Otherwise, our people will be subjected to ever-changing districts, none of which are representative.” Fox News Digital also reached out to Vance’s office for comment, but did not immediately hear back.
Federal oversight in Washington – a special case as old as America itself
The District of Columbia is a special case in American governance. Which is why President Trump has distinctive authority to dispatch federal agents and National Guard troops to patrol the city’s streets for at least a month. It’s in the Constitution. Article I, Section 8 grants Congress the power “To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular states, and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the government of the United States.” That’s a reference to what would become the District of Columbia. REPUBLICANS READY TO SUPPORT TRUMP’S MOVE TO SKIRT CONGRESS IN DC CRIME CRACKDOWN The Founders wanted the home of the federal government somewhat cloistered – and protected – from local whims and danger. The precursor to the present Congress convened in Philadelphia. But Continental Army soldiers staged what was known as the Pennsylvania Mutiny of 1783, claiming the “Congress of the Confederation” owed them back pay. The incident prompted Alexander Hamilton to suggest that the Congress vacate Philadelphia. It wasn’t clear that local authorities could protect the incipient Congress from the mutineers. So they abandoned Philadelphia for Princeton, New Jersey. Scarred by what happened in Philadelphia, the Founders etched out a quirky “federal district” which didn’t exist in a state. The Founders felt Pennsylvania was lax at guarding the original Congress. So developing their own “capital city” for Congress – with the government in control – would grant them security. The 1st Congress adopted the “Residence Act.” It established what became Washington, DC. There was a compromise that the new nation would initiate the seat of government anywhere from what is now Hagerstown, Md., to its present location. But the law gave President George Washington authority to determine the exact location. Washington’s residence was along the Potomac at Mount Vernon. So they carved out a “District of Columbia” from territory which was otherwise part of Maryland and Virginia – on opposite sides of the Potomac River. Congress forked over the parcel of land on the “western” shore of the Potomac to Virginia in the 1840s. Stone markers still mark the old District of Columbia boundaries in and around Alexandria, Va. So Congress was in charge of the District of Columbia until 1973. That’s when lawmakers approved the Home Rule Act for DC. DC gained a non-voting delegate to the House (similar to those from U.S. territories) a few years earlier. But now Washington, DC would feature a mayor and a city council. But under Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution, Congress would maintain ultimate authority over the city. The House and Senate presided as a sort of “super city council.” SUMMERTIME AND THE LIVING IS UNEASY ON CAPITOL HILL Lawmakers periodically infused themselves into Washington’s local affairs beginning in the late 1980s – and mostly at the behest of Republicans. Congress blocked the legalization of medical marijuana in DC in 1998. The House and Senate also bigfooted a new criminal justice system for the city in 2022. That’s because the local law diminished punishments for serious crimes like carjacking. Republicans won control of the House in 1994 and promptly discussed dialing back home rule for Washington, DC. Republicans made their mark by blocking a needle exchange program for drug abusers. The U.S. ratified the 23rd Amendment in 1961. That granted the city three electoral votes. However, Washington lacks a vote on the floor of the House or two votes in the Senate – even though its citizens pay federal income taxes, serve in the military and are subject to the draft. That’s why the city festooned license plates with the moniker “Taxation Without Representation” in the 1990s. Democrats have largely championed the plight of DC. A bill to make DC a state failed in 1993, 277-153. However, the House passed a statehood bill for DC in 2020, 232-180. The bill would convert most of the present city into “Douglass Commonwealth,” named after abolitionist Frederick Douglass. So the city wouldn’t be a state, but a “commonwealth” like Pennsylvania, Virginia, Kentucky and Massachusetts. That bill would chisel out a swath of land, encompassing the Capitol, the White House, the Supreme Court, the National Mall and many federal buildings. Supporters of the legislation argued that this would be the new “seat” of government as prescribed by the Constitution. SCHIFF BLASTS ‘TINPOT DICTATOR’ TRUMP’S NATIONAL GUARD MOBILIZATION, WARNS OTHER CITIES ARE NEXT But the measure never got a vote in the GOP-controlled Senate. And statehood is unlikely any time soon for DC. The city is overwhelmingly Democratic. The new state or commonwealth would likely elect a Democratic U.S. Representative and two Democratic senators. Republicans would never abide that as it would tip the balance of power in Congress. Note that Alaska and Hawaii entered the union virtually together as part of a compromise. One would be the “Democratic” state. The other would be the “Republican” state. Therefore, the admissions created political balance in Congress. Ironically, Alaska was supposed to be the “Democratic” state and Hawaii the “Republican” state. However, the prevailing politics of both of those states mostly flipped over the years. Moreover, it’s hard to see how any plan for statehood could overcome a Senate filibuster requiring 60 yeas. That’s why some progressives pushed Senate Democratic leaders to abolish the filibuster several years ago. But it was unclear if DC even had the votes to become a state when Democrats controlled a slim Senate majority. DC VIOLENCE HAS GROWN FAR MORE DEADLY, DESPITE DEMS CLAIMING 30-YEAR LOW So this brings us to present day and President Trump’s use of the 1973 Home Rule Act to take over the local police department in Washington. The law says Congress must approve such action within a month. One can bet that the GOP-controlled House and Senate will consider such a measure in September. Prospective passage is always tight in the House because of the narrow majority. However, such a plan is likely subject to a filibuster
Bill Clinton ‘prime suspect’ in oversight probe into Epstein case, GOP lawmaker says
Former President Bill Clinton is the “prime suspect” in the House Oversight Committee’s probe looking at the late financier Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking case, according to the committee’s chairman Rep. James Comer. “Everybody in America wants to know what went on in Epstein Island, and we’ve all heard reports that Bill Clinton was a frequent visitor there, so he’s a prime suspect to be deposed by the House Oversight Committee,” Comer, a Republican from Kentucky, said in a Monday interview with Newsmax. Fox News Digital reached out to Comer’s office and received confirmation of his comments to the outlet. The House Oversight Committee issued a large batch of deposition subpoenas to those with ties to Epstein Aug. 5 — including the former president and his wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton — to testify before lawmakers. COMER SUBPOENAS THE CLINTONS, TRUMP’S DOJ IN HOUSE OVERSIGHT’S EPSTEIN PROBE Democrats joined Republicans in voting to move forward issuing the subpoenas. The committee requested Hillary Clinton appear Oct. 9, and Bill Clinton Oct. 14. “So, hopefully we’ll win that court battle with that subpoena and see President Clinton in October,” Comer told Newsmax. Clinton has said he has never visited Epstein’s island. Clinton wrote in his 2024 memoir “Citizen” that he’d never gone to the island and that he wished he’d never even met Epstein in the first place. A spokesperson for Clinton did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital. Meanwhile, the case has attracted additional attention after the Department of Justice and the FBI announced in July the agencies would not release new documents from the Epstein sex trafficking case and that their review into Epstein was closed. HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE VOTED IN FAVOR OF SUBPOENAING BILL AND HILLARY CLINTON OVER GHISLAINE MAXWELL CONNECTION The agencies said at the time that they did not track down a list of sexual predators with connections to Epstein, and determined there were no new people who would face charges. But that’s at odds with efforts by the Oversight Committee, which also issued a subpoena for all Justice Department documents pertaining to Epstein. The committee also issued subpoenas to former FBI Director James Comey, former Attorneys General Eric Holder, Jeff Sessions and Merrick Garland, among others. The Justice Department faces a Tuesday deadline to submit documents related to Epstein, Fox News Digital previously reported. ‘NOT GOING AWAY’: INSIDE THE EPSTEIN DRAMA THAT’S THROWN HOUSE GOP INTO CHAOS While Comer acknowledged it would prove challenging to actually get the former president to testify before Congress, he remained optimistic about the odds — given his track record. “I’ve never lost a subpoena battle,” Comer said Monday. “I’ve been chairman of that committee for a year and a half — this is the most challenging subpoena I’ve ever issued, but what makes this subpoena different is that the Democrats voted with Republicans.” Fox News’ Liz Elkind contributed to this report.
‘Get out of town!’: Staten Island crowd confronts Zohran Mamdani at anti-Trump rally
Not everyone was eager to welcome New York City’s Democratic mayoral nominee, Zohran Mamdani, to Staten Island on Wednesday afternoon. “Go back to where you came from. We don’t want you on Staten Island,” a protester wearing a “Trump girl” t-shirt and holding an American flag shouted at the 33-year-old self-described socialist as he exited the backdoor of the Istanbul Bay Authentic Mediterranean Restaurant. Inside the event, as Mamdani kicked off his third anti-Trump event of the week, protesters outside the restaurant drowned out the introductory speeches with their cowbells, sirens and megaphones. Despite the heat in the crowded restaurant and his detractors outside, Mamdani maintained a smile throughout the event and told reporters, “It saddens me to hear language of being told to go back to where I came from, and yet, it is not surprising because it is so much of what characterizes President Trump’s politics.” MAMDANI TAKES AIM AT TRUMP’S IMMIGRATION POLICIES IN FIERY STATEN ISLAND SPEECH: ‘WE ARE FIGHTING TO KEEP NYC A SANCTUARY CITY’ Mamdani was hosting his third “Five Boroughs Against Trump” event of the week on Wednesday, reaffirming his commitment to protecting New Yorkers from Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration if he’s elected mayor of New York City this November. MAMDANI ZINGS CUOMO IN RENT-STABILIZED HOUSING SPAT DURING ANTI-TRUMP TOUR STOP “I will not let it dissuade me from continuing to come to Staten Island, from continuing to speak to New Yorkers, no matter where they live, no matter what politics they have,” Mamdani said in response to the protesters. “Because I know that just as there are Republicans who feel that way, there are others who are sincere in their questions.” Several protesters outside the restaurant told Fox News Digital that they planned to vote for Curtis Sliwa, CEO of the Guardian Angels, this November. “He’s the only one that could save our city,” Ed, a Staten Islander carrying a large American flag, said. Ed told Fox News Digital that he wanted to give Mamdani “a little surprise party” and let the socialist candidate know that his values do not represent those of Staten Island. “This is Trump country,” said Manny, another protester and Wall Street retiree who said Mamdani’s policies are “anti-Wall Street.” Trump won Staten Island by 30 points in the 2024 presidential election, according to The New York Times’ data. Meanwhile, in neighboring Brooklyn, former Vice President Kamala Harris carried the borough by 44 points. Tommy Banks, a native Staten Islander, said his message to Mamdani on Wednesday was simple: “Get out of town.” “He wants to make everything free. He can’t afford that. He’s a socialist. He don’t live that. We’re not socialist,” Banks said. Banks agreed with the other protesters outside the restaurant, telling Fox News Digital that “nobody else” could be mayor but Sliwa. “He’s a true New Yorker. He’s been fighting for New York all his life. Give him a chance to get in there,” Banks said. Another protester, Liz, shouted, “Mamdani’s a commie!” as the Democratic nominee departed in his SUV. Liz said she doesn’t like Mamdani because “he’s not a Democrat, he’s a communist.” She said Mamdani is trying to tempt New Yorkers with campaign promises like free childcare, free bus fare and government-run grocery stores, but Liz said it would be a “disaster” if he became mayor. When Mamdani declared victory in the Democratic primary, incumbent mayor Eric Adams, who is running as an independent, called Mamdani a “snake-oil salesman” that would “say and do anything to get elected.” Trump has often criticized Mamdani and his policies, calling him a “100% communist lunatic.” Staten Islanders who spoke to Fox News Digital outside Mamdani’s anti-Trump event on Wednesday seemed to agree with those sentiments, calling him a “commie” and criticizing his socialist policies, which include freezing the rent, raising corporate taxes and increasing the minimum wage. But Shahana Masum, who sported a “Zohran for Staten Island” sticker on her purse and attended the event, told Fox News Digital that Mamdani is the person who is representing “me and my community.” Masum said she has also been told to go back to her country. And to that she said, “You didn’t go back to your country, and I came here with dignity and with my visa, so don’t tell me to leave.” Fox News’ Bryan Llenas and Marly Carroll contributed to this report.
Republicans ready to support Trump’s move to skirt Congress in DC crime crackdown
President Donald Trump signaled he may skirt Congress to extend his takeover of the Washington, D.C., police, and some congressional Republicans are heeding the call. Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., said he would vote for extending Trump’s authority but didn’t believe that Senate Democrats would budge and support giving the president more time. “I’m absolutely in favor of President Trump doing whatever he needs to do,” Marshall told Fox News Digital. “Of course, we want to follow the Constitution, and I need to go back and read what he can do and not do, but I think it’ll take a 60-vote threshold in the Senate to pass this resolution.” TRUMP PREDICTS LITTLE PROGRESS IN POTENTIAL SHUTDOWN TALKS WITH ‘CRAZY’ SCHUMER, JEFFRIES The provision allows for the president to effectively federalize the local police force for up to 30 days, unless Congress, through a joint resolution, grants him an extension. But questions remain over whether that kind of resolution would hit the Senate’s typical 60-vote threshold or if it could pass through a simple majority. Trump on Monday invoked a section of the Home Rule Act that governs the district to give himself the authority to take control of the Metropolitan Police Department and has since sent in National Guard troops, alongside FBI and DEA agents, to patrol the streets. TOP HOUSE REPUBLICAN SAYS TRUMP ‘RIGHTLY’ TOOK OVER DC POLICE, DEMANDS BOWSER, OTHERS TESTIFY ON CRIME Republicans control 53 seats in the upper chamber, meaning Democrats may be needed to grant Trump an extension beyond the 30-day window. But Trump, during a press conference Wednesday announcing new Kennedy Center honorees, said that he would be asking for “long-term extensions” and believed Democrats would not “do anything to stop crime.” Trump also noted he may not need Congress. “Well, if it’s a national emergency, we can do it without Congress,” Trump said. “But we expect to be … before Congress, very quickly. TRUMP ACTIVATES NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS TO ADDRESS ‘TOTALLY OUT OF CONTROL’ CRIME IN WASHINGTON “We’re going to do this very quickly, but we’re going to want extensions,” he added. “I don’t want to call a national emergency. If I have to, I will, but I think the Republicans in Congress will approve this pretty much unanimously.” House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer, whose committee oversees the district, enthusiastically backed Trump’s move to take control of D.C.’s police force Monday. When asked by Fox News Digital if he would back Trump leapfrogging Congress to continue his hold on the local police, a spokesman said, “We support the president’s actions to complete the mission.” Both Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., and House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., initially supported the president’s move to crack down on crime in the district, which was spurred by a recent attack on a former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staffer. When asked for comment on Trump’s latest remarks regarding an extension, Thune’s office referred Fox News Digital to his previous statement on social media in which the GOP leader lauded the administration’s move. “Washington, D.C., should be a place where people can safely live, visit, work, and raise a family, and [Monday’s] announcement is a positive step in that direction,” he said. Fox News Digital reached out to Johnson’s office for comment but did not hear back. A clearer picture of where lawmakers stand will likely have to wait, given that they are out of town in their respective states and districts for much of the 30-day window. But the issue will likely be front of mind when they return after Labor Day. Still, Trump already has some public support from Republicans for extending his timeframe. Sen. Jim Banks, R-Ind., told Fox News Digital in a statement he fully supported “President Trump’s plan to make D.C. safe again, and will back up his efforts in the Senate.” And Sen. Mike Lee, who has a bill that would repeal the Home Rule Act and federalize the district, similarly would support extending the 30-day window, “with the ultimate goal of working with him to pass the BOWSER Act and restore full Congressional oversight of the city.” “The safety and sanity of our nation’s capital should not depend upon having good presidents in the Oval Office, but I’m glad we have one now,” the Utah Republican told Fox News Digital in a statement.