Hochul reveals which election result would make her job ‘a lot easier’ — and it’s not her own
Democratic New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said Tuesday that her job would be “a lot easier” if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu loses his bid to remain in power. “A lot easier. And here’s the challenge: I represent the largest Jewish population in the world outside of Israel,” Hochul told Politico Magazine when asked “How much easier would your job get if [Benjamin] Netanyahu loses?” “And I know they’re suffering,” Hochul continued. “A lot of people are anxious about antisemitism, which is sky-high right now. And I take that personally, because I represent everyone. I went to Israel right after Oct. 7. I saw a lot of pain there. But I actually cautioned the government there, in private conversations, not to overreach.” Israelis cast their ballots on Tuesday in the country’s first general election since the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre. Tuesday’s election in Israel notably came just one week before the U.S. midterm elections – which includes Hochul’s race to retain her position as New York’s top leader. POTENTIAL 2028 DEM CONTENDER UNLOADS ON NETANYAHU, ADMITS US-ISRAEL TIES AT ‘CROSSROADS’ “The world is with you when it comes to the brutal assault by a terrorist organization known as Hamas on innocent Israeli people,” she continued. “An overreach could change that dynamic, and that’s what’s happened.” The Democratic governor went on to say that she does not believe it is currently in Netanyahu’s “interest” to “have a safe Palestinian state.” Hochul is not the only prominent New York Democrat to criticize Netanyahu. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has been even more outspoken, calling the Israeli leader “the architect of horrific genocide against Palestinians” in September. Hochul is also facing voters in November, but a Siena Research Institute poll released Wednesday showed her holding a 14-point lead over Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman, 54% to 40%. RAHM EMANUEL ACCUSES ANTI-ISRAEL DEMS OF HAVING NO MIDDLE EAST PLAN BESIDES CUTTING FUNDING TO JEWISH STATE Hochul notably issued a proclamation on May 11 recognizing the month as Jewish American Heritage Month in her state. “We have to have leadership there that understands the security of Israel is paramount — critically important to me, but also the world — but to have a safe Palestinian state as well, which has been talked about my entire life,” Hochul told Politico Magazine. “I still believe that this can happen. I believe we have to get people of goodwill who can make this happen, and as long as Netanyahu is sitting there, that is not in his interest to do that. It’s just not, and it won’t happen.” When reached for comment, Hochul’s office directed Fox News Digital to the governor’s remarks to Spectrum News NY1 during a Q&A with the press in New York City on Wednesday. “Well, that’s certainly [voters’] prerogative to decide who they want to lead Israel,” Hochul told NY1. “It’s not mine. But I was simply asked a question, if you see how it’s framed. Would your life be a lot easier if Netanyahu was not the leader of Israel? I’m like, yes.” FORMER ISRAELI ARMY CHIEF GADI EISENKOT EMERGES AS NETANYAHU’S LEADING ELECTION CHALLENGER Tuesday’s vote marked a major test for Netanyahu’s political future as Israelis headed to the polls for the first time since the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, massacre. “I am proud of Israel’s democratic process,” Israeli U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon told Fox News Digital. “Yesterday, millions of Israelis exercised their democratic right to vote, with voter turnout reaching one of the highest levels recorded in Israel this century – 77.7%. The Israeli people have made their voices heard, and their democratic choice deserves to be respected.” “I encourage all elected officials in the United States to respect Israel’s democratic process, just as Israel respects the democratic process in the United States,” Danon added. “Our shared commitment to democracy is a fundamental pillar of the strong and enduring partnership between our two countries.” With about 70% of the votes tallied as of Wednesday morning, partial results reported by Israeli media showed Netanyahu’s right-wing and religious bloc leading with 54 of the Knesset’s 120 seats, versus 47 for the main opposition and 19 for Arab parties.
DOJ fires back at Dem AG over Election Day guidance telling officials when to call cops on federal agents
The Justice Department blasted Virginia Democratic Attorney General Jay Jones’ Election Day guidance as “bluster and political posturing,” pushing back against his 10-page directive advising local election officials to call police when federal agents approach polling places and to document their activities. The Oct. 15 bulletin, jointly issued by Jones’ office and the Virginia Department of Elections, outlines how officials should respond to federal agents, scrutinize requests from DOJ election monitors and prepare for potential federal demands for ballots and voting equipment. The dispute comes as conservative litigation firm America First Legal pursues records concerning the state’s warnings about potential federal election interference, which Fox News Digital has learned. “The Virginia Attorney General’s performative actions attack a strawman,” a DOJ spokesperson told Fox News Digital. “DOJ’s election monitors will be engaging in the same routine monitoring we’ve done for decades.” SPANBERGER AG DRAWS FIRE OVER TWO-FRONT FIGHT AGAINST TRUMP ENFORCEMENT AGENDA “We’re hopeful local election officials in Virginia continue their longstanding practice of allowing DOJ election monitors into polling places to evaluate for compliance with federal law,” the spokesperson continued. “The Virginia AG’s statement reads as nothing more than bluster and political posturing for his own self-interested purposes.” DOJ has already announced it plans to send election monitors to Democratic-heavy Fairfax and Prince William Counties. Del. Wren Williams, R-Stuart, an attorney who battled Jones over Democrats’ failed redistricting-related litigation, said Jones has his election-security priorities backward. “Jay Jones wants poll workers collecting ICE agents’ badge numbers, but God forbid they verify a voter’s ID,” Williams said. “Plus, I thought Democrats said illegals weren’t voting, so who exactly is Jones trying to protect?” MAP IT: DOJ ILLEGAL VOTING CRACKDOWN SWEEPS 17 STATES AS RAZOR-THIN ELECTIONS FACE SCRUTINY Virginia still requires voters to present identification or sign an identity confirmation statement, although legislation enacted this year eliminated Election Day challenges to individual voters’ qualifications at polling places. The blueprint noted that ELECT — the Virginia elections agency — received multiple inquiries about how to respond to federal representatives showing up at polls. It instructed election officials to consult with lawyers and establish communications with local prosecutors and police: “Having these discussions prior to Election Day ensures that election officials can provide their perspective to local law enforcement about what counts as intimidation and interference during elections, including issues related to the presence of unauthorized individuals.” “If, for example, an armed individual attempts to gain access to a polling location, officials should call local law enforcement immediately,” it added in a section addressing unauthorized individuals and prohibited conduct. The bulletin separately advises officials to consider contacting police and counsel if federal agents approach or enter polls, while cautioning against physically obstructing them. Virginia State Sen. Danny Diggs, R-Poquoson — the former sheriff of York County — told Fox News Digital that in his 45 years in law enforcement he never saw an officer or official observer “make a polling place less safe.” “I routinely visited every polling place, inside and outside, while armed and in uniform and was always welcomed by election officials and voters. The Attorney General apparently thinks otherwise,” Diggs said. He also called it “reckless” for the attorney general’s game plan to urge election officials to confront federal observers. On Page 4, the plan says ordinary DOJ monitors must obtain local authorization to enter polling locations, under rules similar to those for neutral observers. If a DOJ monitor requests access, the plan prescribes that local registrars discuss the scope of the monitoring with the agency before consenting, and “consider asking whether DOJ is assessing compliance with civil or criminal federal laws.” The bulletin also advises election officials to consult attorneys and prepare to respond to federal subpoenas seeking ballots or voting equipment. Fox News Digital reached out to Jones and ELECT for comment and a response to critics. Jones, however, spoke out days earlier after launching a related new Voter Protection Section within his office. “I was raised by people who understood that the right to vote was never simply given. Generations of Americans had to sacrifice, organize, and show extraordinary courage to claim that right,” Jones said in a statement obtained by Fox News Digital. “That history is personal to me, and it reminds us that the work of civil rights and voting rights is never finished. “That is why we created a dedicated Voter Protection Section within the Office of the Attorney General. This work now has a permanent home, and a team focused every day on defending voting rights and enforcing Virginia law. Virginia votes every year, and protecting the franchise must be a year-round responsibility. In Virginia, the right to vote will be defended.” Virginia Beach attorney Tim Anderson also analyzed Jones’ gameplan, calling it a “remarkable directive to election officials.” “While all this is happening, Virginia has eliminated the ability to challenge a voter’s qualifications at the polling place,” Anderson said. “Think about what we’re witnessing: The attorney general is preparing election officials to scrutinize federal law enforcement while Virginia has eliminated a longstanding Election Day safeguard for questioning voter eligibility,” he said in a statement. “The bulletin identifies no specific planned unlawful federal operation in Virginia.” SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER America First Legal (AFL) exclusively told Fox News Digital on Tuesday it filed a public-records request Monday seeking legal analyses and communications behind the bulletin, records concerning Jones’ newly launched Voter Protection Section and inquiries about federal election monitoring. The dispute now turns on what evidence, if any, prompted Jones’ office to prepare for potential federal interference at Virginia polling places, and whether the records sought by America First Legal will shed light on the attorney general’s concerns ahead of Election Day.
Manhunt underway for violent illegal immigrant who was released under NYC sanctuary policies
FIRST ON FOX: New York City’s sanctuary policy is again coming under fire after authorities released an illegal immigrant accused of assaulting a police officer with a deadly weapon without notifying or cooperating with federal immigration authorities. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) sent repeated requests for federal officials to detain Alpha Bah, an illegal immigrant from Guinea, after he was arrested on charges of aggravated assault on a police officer with a deadly weapon, resisting arrest, obstructing governmental administration and intent to obtain transportation without paying, Fox News Digital has learned. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) lodged a detainer request with Queens Central Booking on Oct. 7, 2026. The New York City Police Department (NYPD) ignored the detainer and released Bah without notifying ICE. “This is the vision of sanctuary politicians in a nutshell: the open-border policies of the Biden Administration let this criminal into our country, and then sanctuary politicians in New York released him after arresting him without notifying ICE,” DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin told Fox News Digital. Bah’s release is just one of many examples of sanctuary cities in the U.S. allowing illegal immigrants back into the U.S. following their arrest, and it flies in the face of the Trump administration’s crackdown on allowing people without legal status to remain in the country. HOUSE REPORT SAYS NYC PROSECUTORS TAILORED PLEA DEALS TO SHIELD ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM DEPORTATION “This illegal alien from Guinea was arrested for assaulting a police officer with a deadly weapon. Despite these violent charges, New York City sanctuary politicians refused to honor ICE’s detainer and RELEASED him back onto the streets, and he remains at large,” Mullin said in a statement. He added, “DHS is calling on Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani to knock it off with these evil sanctuary policies before another American gets hurt, or worse.” ICE has now twice requested that Bah be held in custody. He was previously charged with intent to obtain transportation without paying in June 2026. ICE lodged a detainer with Manhattan Central Booking, but the NYPD also released him following that arrest. Bah entered the United States illegally in November 2023. He resided in Arizona before being arrested by the U.S. Border Patrol. He was also arrested in January 2025 for criminal trespassing but was released before ICE was able to request a detainer on him under Biden-era policies, according to DHS. HOCHUL REMAINS DEFIANT AFTER SHERIFFS SUE OVER LAW BANNING COOPERATION WITH ICE: ‘BRING IT ON’ Bah’s release has prompted DHS to call on all pro-sanctuary politicians, not just Hochul and Mamdani, to reconsider policies that restrict cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Gov. Kathy Hochul, D-N.Y., has been a large proponent of implementing policies that place restrictions on state and local law enforcement cooperating with federal immigration authorities. In May, she signed legislation that imposed laws blocking New York’s law enforcement agencies from entering into official agreements with ICE. New York City’s socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani has similarly supported sanctuary policies in the city, signing an executive order to “reaffirm the city’s commitment to being a sanctuary for all New Yorkers.” The order made it more difficult to access data of illegal immigrants, restricted federal immigration enforcement on city property and put in place an audit to check that city agencies are complying with sanctuary policies. MAMDANI MESSAGE TO RESIDENTS ON HOW TO DEAL WITH ICE RESULTS IN VIRAL INTERNET BACKLASH: ‘TREASON’ “The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) partnerships with local law enforcement are key to removing criminal illegal aliens including murderers, rapists, pedophiles, gang members, and terrorists from American communities,” DHS said in a statement responding to the introduced policies. “7 of the 10 safest cities in the U.S. cooperate with ICE.” Neither Hochul’s nor Mamdani’s offices immediately replied to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Federal judge who oversaw Maduro, Trump cases dead at 92
Judge Alvin Hellerstein, who was overseeing the case against former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, died at the age of 92 on Tuesday. Hellerstein had served as a U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of New York since 1998, after being appointed by then-President Bill Clinton. He had also presided over President Donald Trump’s attempts to move his New York criminal case from state courts to federal courts. The court said Hellerstein died of natural causes just short of his 93rd birthday. TRUMP PICKS JAMES MCDONALD TO LEAD POWERFUL SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK AFTER JAY CLAYTON’S DEPARTURE Hellerstein earned his J.D. and bachelor’s degree from Columbia University, according to the Federal Judicial Center. He served in the U.S. Army, JAG Corps from 1957-1960 before 38 years of private practice prior to his judicial appointment. DENVER MAN’S ESCAPE EXPOSES CHILLING TREN DE ARAGUA KIDNAPPING PLOT THAT LANDS TRIO IN PRISON A new judge is set to be randomly assigned to handle the Maduro case following Hellerstein’s passing. Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, are both charged with conspiracy to commit torture against Americans and others to stay in power, according to a superseding indictment filed in early October. Maduro’s government, according to the indictment, “presided over a system of repression that relied on violence against political opposition, arbitrary detention, and the torture of detainees, including United States citizens.” The torture included “electric shock, asphyxiation, rape, forced nudity, prolonged isolation, starvation, punishment cells, and psychological torture, such as threats to harm and kill victims’ families, including children,” the indictment read. MADURO ALLY DEPORTED TO US OVER ALLEGED BILLION-DOLLAR CORRUPTION SCHEME TIED TO OIL, FOOD PROGRAM The charge carries a maximum of life imprisonment if any of the alleged torture resulted in death, and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison if not. The indictment alleges Maduro and Flores “inflicted severe physical and mental pain and suffering to repress and punish political opposition, silence dissent and perceived dissent, preserve and protect the power and authority of the members of the conspiracy, and intimidate, harass, and neutralize their opponents, including through kidnappings.” MADURO’S ALLEGED ‘BAG MAN’ ALEX SAAB ARRESTED LESS THAN 3 YEARS AFTER BIDEN PARDON: REPORT The pair, who face numerous other charges, were arrested in Venezuela in January during Operation Absolute Resolve. Maduro was originally charged with narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices in a 2011 indictment that President Donald Trump’s Department of Justice unsealed in 2020. Flores was then charged in a superseding indictment in January with cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices. They have pleaded not guilty, and a trial is scheduled for June 2027. Flores appeared in court earlier this month for a bond hearing on her motion for release from jail. Her lawyers were requesting home confinement with GPS tracking, citing a heart condition and arguing she does not pose a danger to the community. Hellerstein denied the request. Fox News’ Robert McGreevy contributed to this report.
GOP senator takes aim at blue-city mayor for move promoting foreign workers in key industry: ‘Lit on fire’
FIRST ON FOX: Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH) is taking aim at the Democratic mayor of Columbus, Ohio, over a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that was signed with the African nation of Ghana promoting a joint nursing program. “Instead of investing in Ohio’s domestic workforce, you and the Columbus City Council chose to direct $225,000 in public dollars towards recruiting nurses from overseas,” Moreno wrote to Mayor Andrew Ginther on Wednesday morning, expressing “disappointment” over the MOU in Columbus, the state capital of Ohio. “But this figure is only a fraction of the approximately $8.3 million in taxpayer dollars you have lit on fire to benefit noncitizens and foreign governments since you were elected as mayor.” Moreno’s criticism comes after the city and Ghanaian officials signed a memorandum of understanding in September establishing the Ghana-Columbus Nursing Partnership Programme. The agreement is intended to strengthen nursing education, expand workforce development, and create legal pathways for qualified Ghanaian nurses to enter Ohio’s health care workforce. RED-STATE SENATOR DROPS HAMMER ON DEM MAYOR OVER NEW ‘WOKE’ DEI ORDINANCE WHILE VIOLENT CRIME SURGES Moreno argued that the agreement could result in American nurses being replaced by lower-cost foreign labor and said public funds should instead be used to expand enrollment and training capacity at Ohio colleges and universities. “You were elected to serve the citizens of Columbus, not the citizens of Ghana,” Moreno wrote. “Increasing publicly subsidized foreign nursing recruitment programs will likely negatively impact American nurses’ wages. These funds should be invested directly in Ohio nursing students and utilized to expand Ohio’s universities and colleges nursing programs’ capacity. I recommend you implement policies that invest public funds in American nurses.” AMERICA’S BROKEN LEGAL IMMIGRATION SYSTEM IS REPLACING US WORKERS BY DESIGN The partnership between Ghana and Columbus has been widely blasted by conservatives on social media in recent weeks, with many arguing that American citizens should fill those jobs. “Why aren’t our tax dollars funding nursing scholarships and careers for Ohioans instead?” Attorney and GOP strategist Mehek Cooke posted on X in response to reporting from journalist Natalie Winters. “Stop sidelining Americans with OUR money.” “It’s worth noting that earlier this year a homecare nurse from Ghana named Roberta Achampong fled the country back to Ghana after allegedly stealing millions from Medicaid and buying a swanky house and a Porsche,” policy analyst Parker Thayer posted on X. “And now the mayor of Columbus wants more nurses from Ghana.’ The $225,000 referenced in Moreno’s letter was approved by Columbus City Council as a 2026 general fund grant to Greater Columbus Sister Cities International. The ordinance says the money is intended to support business, government, cultural, educational, and environmental exchanges among Columbus’ 10 sister cities, including Accra, Ghana, as well as the organization’s staffing and administrative costs. Fox News Digital reached out to Ginther’s office for comment. “Ghana has made significant investment in training nursing professionals who can migrate legally to enter a ready market in Columbus,” Ginther said during the signing ceremony, according to a press release from the government of Ghana. The press release added that Ghanaian officials “emphasized that the agreement extends far beyond simple labor migration and stated that the MoU serves as a strategic platform for: mutual skills transfer between medical professionals, institutional strengthening for healthcare facilities, joint research collaborations and health innovations and global improvement of patient health outcomes.” Moreno wrote that he hopes the mayor will “reallocate public dollars toward expanding enrollment and training capacity at area colleges and universities, which would generate additional high-earning job opportunities for younger generations in our community and improve patient care.”
Murkowski snubs Trump-backed Alaska candidate, endorses Democrat for governor
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, has thrown her support behind Democratic Alaska gubernatorial candidate Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins as well as his nonpartisan running mate for lieutenant governor Zac Johnson. “I am announcing my endorsement of Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins,” Murkowski told KTUU, describing the candidate as “a common-sense guy who has a known ability to be working together.” “Our future is too important to be hamstrung by partisan divisions,” Murkowski said, according to a press release from the Kreiss-Tomkins campaign 6 DAYS UNTIL MIDTERMS, TRUMP RETURNS TO OHIO AS REPUBLICANS FIGHT TO HOLD ONCE-SAFE STATE “Jonathan understands that governing requires listening to people with different perspectives and finding common ground to solve the problems all of us face. Alaska needs a serious conversation about our fiscal future, as well as a focus on the cost of energy and growing our economy. I believe Jonathan is committed to working toward solutions that serve all Alaskans, regardless of party,” she added. “I encourage Alaskans of every political stripe, whether Republicans, independents, or Democrats, to take a close look at Jonathan and Zac. Alaska needs leaders who will put our state first, and I’m proud to support them.” SCHIFF ACCUSES DOJ OF TRYING TO ‘SUBVERT’ ELECTIONS AS GOP ALLEGES SAME-NAME CANDIDATE MEANT TO CONFUSE VOTERS While there are multiple Republicans running in the ranked-choice voting contest, President Donald Trump has endorsed Bernadette Wilson. “I’m honored to have Senator Murkowski’s support,” Kreiss-Tomkins noted, according his campaign’s release. FOX NEWS POWER RANKINGS: AS IRAN LOOMS LARGE, CAN THE GOP KEEP THE FAITHFUL? “Alaskans deserve a government that can work through disagreements and make progress on the issues that matter. I am committed to working with our congressional delegation, the legislature, industry, and communities across the state to move Alaska forward. That work requires cooperation, not political conflict,” he added.
GOP Senate majority faces fresh uncertainty as 2 key races tighten days before midterms
Two of the country’s most watched Senate races in Ohio and South Carolina remain neck and neck with under a week to go until the Nov. 3 midterm elections, polling results released on Wednesday show. In both states, the tight margins are a welcome sign for Democrats as they try to unseat a pair of Republican incumbents: Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, and Sen. Darline Graham, R-S.C. Should both races go their way, Democrats would find themselves within striking distance of eliminating the current 53-seat Republican majority in the Senate. FOX NEWS POLL: GENDER GAP AND POCKETBOOK PAIN SHAPE OHIO SENATE RACE In Ohio, findings from Suffolk University show Democratic nominee Sherrod Brown leading Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, 47% to 44%. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.4 percentage points, putting the race within the margin of error. Four percent of voters were undecided, while 3% backed another candidate. Brown, a former senator who lost his seat in 2024, is trying to make a political comeback, pitching himself as a familiar face amid public frustration with the cost of living. Throughout his campaign, he has highlighted his career as a policymaker, promising to bring that expertise to issues like affordability and data center expansion. Before losing his seat to Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, Brown represented Ohio from 2007 to 2025, chairing the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee. DARLINE GRAHAM FOCUSES ON KITCHEN-TABLE ISSUES AS SHE ANNOUNCES FULL-TERM SENATE BID In South Carolina, polling from the Siena Research Institute in partnership with the New York Times has found Sen. Darline Graham, R-S.C., in a tie with Annie Andrews, the Democrat in the race, at an even 48% apiece. In that race, 3% of respondents said they were still undecided while less than 1% said they planned to vote for some third candidate. Graham, the sister of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who was appointed to the seat in July, is looking to secure a full six-year term after beating out a crowded field of Republican challengers in the primary. Although new to the political scene, Graham has the backing of President Donald Trump and is running in a state that went the president’s way by a 17.8% margin in 2024. Andrews, Graham’s opponent, has framed her as inexperienced and an extension of Lindsey Graham — one of Trump’s key allies in the Senate. For her own part, Andrews has championed policy positions like enshrining access to abortion, increased requirements for gun ownership and expanding access to healthcare.
Democrat’s 2-word answer on a possible presidential run draws cheers from Maine crowd
Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., appeared to leave the door open for a presidential run in 2028 while giving a stump speech on Tuesday for Troy Jackson, the Democratic nominee for Senate in Maine. Kelly was in the middle of an argument about how the economy no longer works for young Americans when an audience member interrupted him with a suggestion about his political future. “I’m the son of two cops who went to public schools and went on to become a Navy pilot and then an astronaut and now a U.S. senator. I was fortunate,” he said. Just as Kelly mentioned becoming a senator, someone in the crowd shouted “president,” prompting a two-word response from the Arizona Democrat. WATCH: DEM SENATORS DODGE BACKING KAMALA HARRIS IN POTENTIAL 2028 RUN: ‘VERY MESSY’ “We’ll see,” said Kelly, whose short response drew cheers from the crowd. Kelly, who is up for re-election in 2028, is routinely featured in 2028 Democratic presidential primary surveys and often polls below more established contenders like former Vice President Kamala Harris and California Gov. Gavin Newsom. Still, Kelly has begun gaining support as his national profile rises. He drew widespread attention in Nov. 2025 after appearing in a video alongside other Democratic lawmakers telling U.S. service members that it is their duty to disobey illegal orders, including those issued by the executive branch. The video prompted a criminal investigation into Kelly and the five other Democratic lawmakers, although a federal grand jury declined to indict them in February. HARRIS KEEPS 2028 DOOR OPEN AS SHE HITS MIDTERM CAMPAIGN TRAIL, WARNS ‘28 WON’T MATTER’ WITHOUT 2026 Axios reported last week that Kelly is eyeing a run for the White House. He told the outlet that he will decide whether he is running for president or another term in the Senate after the midterms. However, Kelly would not necessarily have to choose between the two. Under Arizona law, presidential and vice presidential candidates are permitted to simultaneously seek election to one additional federal office, meaning Kelly could run for both president and Senate in 2028. The provision in Arizona law could make a presidential bid less of a political gamble for Kelly, allowing him to pursue the highest office in the land without necessarily jeopardizing his Senate career. If Kelly secures the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028, he could appear on Arizona ballots as a candidate for both president and the Senate, though he wouldn’t be able to occupy both offices if he won both races.
Long-running embassy fight comes back to haunt Trump as State Dept hit with $461M lawsuit
FIRST ON FOX — The latest lawsuit launched against the Trump administration seeks to recover more than $461 million after the State Department directed a longtime embassy builder to continue construction projects worldwide through the COVID-19 pandemic. B.L. Harbert International, which has built dozens of U.S. embassies and consulates over more than two decades, reached a $370 million settlement with the State Department to handle resulting claims — but the compnay claims the deal was reversed after current political leadership intervened. The builders are now seeking to recover lost funding through suing the Trump administration, and filed a lawsuit on Wednesday in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, Fox News Digital first learned. The complaint covers 12 diplomatic construction projects across four continents, including facilities in Turkey, Iraq, Thailand, Morocco, Mexico and Central America. The company alleges career State Department officials reached the $370 million agreement in September 2025, but the government paid just $501,636 before backing out. Harbert claims political leadership “inserted themselves into the process after a settlement was reached” and that the decision to abandon it “came from the top.” “We did not want to take this step. The U.S. Government is an important partner, and we are proud of the work we do together to advance America’s interests and protect Americans serving overseas,” Charles Bohn, president of BL Harbert’s International Group, said in a statement. TRUMP ADMINISTRATION UNCOVERS $1.2B IN SUSPECTED COVID CONTRACT FRAUD TIED TO BIDEN-ERA SPENDING “But we have a responsibility to our employees and to the future of that mission. We kept our commitment under extraordinarily difficult conditions. We are asking the government to keep its commitment to us.” Harbert is one of a small pool of U.S. contractors capable of building highly secure diplomatic facilities overseas — work that requires specialized security clearances, vetted workforces and the ability to manage complex construction and supply chains abroad. According to the company, some State Department embassy projects now draw just two or three qualified bidders. The dispute stretches across three presidential administrations, beginning with State Department directives issued during Trump’s first term in 2020, continuing as Harbert pursued compensation during the Biden administration and culminating in the alleged settlement and its collapse during Trump’s second term. At the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, Harbert was working on 17 embassy and consulate construction projects around the world, representing nearly two-thirds of State’s embassy construction program at the time, according to the lawsuit. As countries shut down and global supply chains seized up in early 2020, Harbert says it sought guidance from State on whether to pause construction. The company argues the pandemic constituted an “excusable delay” under its contracts that would have allowed it to send personnel home, secure construction sites and resume work once conditions stabilized. Instead, Harbert alleges State decided to keep its overseas construction program moving. The company says State directed it to remain ready to mobilize, continue procuring and shipping materials and work through the disruptions, while instructing Harbert to document the resulting costs and submit requests for reimbursement. In one March 2020 communication cited in the complaint, Harbert warned State that it could not afford to continue paying workers to remain on standby without assurances of reimbursement. Labor costs on the new U.S. Embassy in Guatemala City alone were running roughly $1.3 million per month, according to the filing. Weeks later, State directed Harbert to “continue to procure and ship materials” so projects would not end up at the “back of the line” when global construction activity resumed, the complaint alleges. State recognized that doing so could generate additional storage, shipping and other costs and directed the company to submit requests for equitable adjustments as those costs arose, according to the filing. The projects ultimately moved forward under pandemic restrictions that Harbert says increased costs and reduced productivity as the company dealt with workforce limitations, supply-chain disruptions and new operating requirements. The government has since taken possession of all 12 diplomatic facilities at issue in the lawsuit and has been using some of them for more than three years, according to Harbert. Harbert ultimately submitted more than $500 million in requests for equitable adjustments and other claims stemming from the pandemic directives and separate project disputes, including alleged design changes and government-caused delays. OBAMA CENTER SUBCONTRACTOR SHUTS DOWN AMID $4M FIGHT, LAYS OFF 25 Harbert alleges members of State Department political leadership “inserted themselves into the process after a settlement was reached” and that, “on information and belief,” the decision to abandon the agreement “came from the top.” Fox News Digital has reached out to the State Department for comment. With deadlines approaching to preserve its claims, Harbert says it formally certified them in March 2026. The complaint alleges State’s chief of staff encouraged the company to do so, representing that certification would make it easier for the government to implement the settlement. Instead, State contracting officers began denying the claims in July. By Oct. 13, 2026, all 13 certified claims now at issue in the lawsuit had received final decisions. Harbert is now seeking at least $461,097,380 in damages, along with interest and other relief. The lawsuit does not currently ask the court to enforce the alleged $370 million settlement itself. Harbert says its settlement-related claims remain in the administrative process and that it reserves the right to add them to the lawsuit later. The dispute could carry consequences beyond the hundreds of millions of dollars at stake. Harbert has been awarded roughly 60 U.S. embassy and consulate construction projects since 1999. The company says the number of American contractors willing and qualified to undertake such work has dwindled significantly, in some cases leaving just two or three qualified bidders for projects. Embassy construction requires contractors to meet stringent security and workforce-vetting requirements while managing highly specialized construction, secure facilities and international logistics, creating significant barriers for companies seeking to enter the field. Harbert argues that if contractors lose confidence that State will honor its obligations, fewer could
Trump revisits 10-year warning to Macron as protests sweep France: ‘You have to get them out’
President Donald Trump revisited his longstanding warning to French President Emmanuel Macron that France could “lose” its country if it doesn’t address immigration troubles. “It’s not a school problem. It’s an immigration problem,” Trump told Fox News Digital Tuesday night after rallying in Texas in a final push for Republicans ahead of next week’s midterms. “I’ve been saying that to President Macron for a long time, who I like a lot, by the way. But I said, ‘You’re going to end up losing your country if you don’t do something.’” Trump’s call for France to close its borders follows student demonstrations that have devolved into widespread protests over local grievances, packing streets, sparking clashes and ricocheting across Europe. TRUMP REVEALS DIRE WARNING TO MACRON AS VIOLENT UNREST SPREADS ACROSS EUROPE During a conversation with U.S. Ambassador to France Charles Kushner earlier this week, Trump told Fox News Digital they discussed France’s immigration problems, which he believes were behind the protests. “You have people that hate France,” he said. “They hate the buildings, hate the art, they hate the people. And they’re in there, and you have to get them out.” Trump called the situation in France and across Europe “very sad,” saying his warnings to Macron have spanned a decade. “Something has to happen, and they better do something,” he said. “I’ve been saying it for 10 years, too.” Trump has raised concerns about immigration in Europe for roughly a decade, dating back to his first presidential campaign in 2016. Macron became France’s president in 2017. VIOLENT FAR-LEFT RIOTS IN FRANCE ARE ‘CHILLING WARNING’ FOR AMERICANS AT HOME, MIKE JOHNSON SAYS Trump has previously credited his own immigration policies with preventing similar unrest in the U.S. Macron accused foreign leaders last week of making “unacceptable and even stupid” comments, calling them false claims for political gain. He did not mention Trump or Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by name — both the U.S. and Israel are in the midst of high-stakes election cycles. In France, French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said “nearly 1,000 people” were arrested Saturday as nationwide protests resumed. Macron said “ultra-left groups whose aim is to bring down the Republic” are leading the protests and that those organized by “individuals or groups with no legitimate authority” would be banned. FRANCE’S MACRON BLAMES PROTESTS ON ‘ULTRA-LEFT GROUPS WHOSE AIM IS TO BRING DOWN THE REPUBLIC’ Remaining on high alert, Macron said anyone who loots or damages property will be forced to pay, as tens of thousands of police were deployed. A Fox News Digital investigation identified 50 Antifa groups among nearly 300 groups mobilizing around the protests, as well as a sprawling network of communist, socialist, far-left and anti-Israel groups. Protests also spiraled in other parts of Europe this month, with violence breaking out in Rome and Albania’s capital, Tirana, where demonstrators set government buildings on fire. Fox News Digital reached out to Macron’s office for comment.