Biden hires veteran Democrat communicator as former president aims to defend tarnished reputation
As former President Joe Biden faces incoming fire not only from President Donald Trump but also fellow Democrats, the former president is bringing on board a veteran strategist and communicator to help refurbish his reputation and legacy. The former president has hired Chris Maegher, a Biden administration veteran, to help him now that the first 100 days of Trump’s second tour of duty in the White House has passed, sources confirm to Fox News. Former presidents have traditionally refrained from criticizing their successors during the first 100-day period of the new administration. However, in a sign that Biden is looking to re-engage publicly, he will make a live appearance on “The View” talk show on Thursday, and sources confirm that Meagher had a hand in arranging the segment. HEAD HERE FOR THE LATEST FOX NEWS COVERAGE OF FORMER PRESIDENT BIDEN Earlier this week, in his first interview since Trump’s inauguration three and a half months ago, Biden sat down with the BBC. Biden’s re-entering into the political and media spotlight may not sit well with many Democrats, who thank the former president for the plethora of policies passed during his single term in the White House but who continue to blame him for last November’s election setbacks and who want fresh faces to lead the party as it aims to exit the political wilderness. The media appearances by Biden come as his White House successor continues to blast and belittle the former president over several issues. TRUMP’S APPROVAL RATINGS SLIDE, BUT DEMOCRATS POLL NUMBERS HIT ALL-TIME LOWS It comes as the Trump administration, according to a Politico report, is working to release audio of Biden’s interview with then-special counsel Robert Hur, who investigated Biden’s handling of classified documents and raised questions about Biden’s mental acuity in a February 2024 report. Biden made history in his 2020 White House defeat of Trump as the oldest person ever elected U.S. president. Hur’s report amplified questions about whether the then-81-year-old, who at the time was running for re-election, had the physical and mental stamina to serve another four years in the White House. Biden’s disastrous debate performance against Trump last June further exacerbated his problems and fueled a chorus of calls from fellow Democrats for him to step down as the Democrats’ 2024 standard-bearer. Biden eventually succumbed to the pressure and dropped his re-election bid in late July, with then-Vice President Kamala Harris succeeding him as the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee. Biden continues to face criticism from fellow Democrats for staying too long in the 2024 White House race. When asked in the BBC interview if he should have dropped his re-election bid earlier than he did, the former president said, “I don’t think it would have mattered.” “It was a hard decision,” Biden said. “I think it was the right decision.” The former president also used the interview to blast Trump for single-handily renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America, for his repeated comments about acquiring Greenland or taking control of the Panama Canal, and for continuously saying Canada should become America’s 51st state. “What the hell’s going on here? What president ever talks like that? That’s not who we are,” Biden said. “We’re about freedom, democracy, opportunity, not about confiscation.” He also pilloried Trump’s efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war as “modern-day appeasement.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Meagher is a longtime operative and strategist with both political and private sector experience on his resume. He’s a veteran of the Democratic National Committee, former Sen. John Tester of Montana’s successful 2018 reflection, and Pete Buttigieg’s 2020 presidential campaign, when the long shot for the Democratic nomination soared to major contender status. During the Biden administration, Meagher briefly served under then-Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg before moving to the White House as a deputy press secretary and later to the Pentagon as Defense Department spokesperson.
Senator says Dems ‘eat their own’ as Fetterman faces renewed scrutiny
A Republican senator who entered Congress’ upper chamber in the same cycle as Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., said the former Braddock mayor’s cognitive issues seem to be subsiding and that the hubbub in the press is likely due to the onetime progressive star breaking with the left wing of his party on key issues. Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., told Fox News Digital that, while he is not a doctor, his own run-ins with the hulking, outspoken Democrat have been constructive, and that some of the issues he was facing during his 2022 contest against now-Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) chief, Dr. Mehmet Oz, has improved. “I can’t speak to his health as far as, you know, I’m not a doctor, and I’m definitely not going to break any HIPAA rules. But it is kind of funny because the way the Democrats act is if you don’t agree with them on all their points, they want to wipe you off the face of the earth,” Mullin said. Mullin alluded to how Fetterman, who, as lieutenant governor, amassed a progressive following and support from democratic socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and then later lost much of that bloc of left-wing populist support when he came out in support of Israel and against Iran. JOHN FETTERMAN FACES NEW SPOTLIGHT ON HEALTH, FAMILY DRAMA, SPARKING ONLINE UPROAR “A few short years ago, Fetterman was like this godsend in Pennsylvania. And he came here, and they realized that Fetterman’s his own man. He’s gonna speak his mind, and he’s gonna say it the way that it is or the way he feels like it is anyways, and they can’t control him,” Mullin said. “And the Democrats are all about controlling the party. And so, if you’re speaking away from them, it’s doomsday for you.” Mullin remarked that Fetterman’s health “sure wasn’t an issue” when he was running against Oz – as Democrats continued supporting him despite cognitive issues. At one Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, debate, Fetterman opened by saying “Hi – good night, everybody,” and was criticized for the apparent oxymoron. “His health seemed like it was worse than it is now. But it seems interesting to me. I don’t really, when you really start thinking about John, here’s a guy that is going against the norm, and I commend him for it,” Mullin explained. FETTERMAN SPOKESWOMAN REAMED FOR REPORTEDLY CONTRADICTING BOSS ON ISRAEL: ‘UNPARALLELED HUBRIS’ “That’s why him and I talk, because I think it’s pretty neat that he’s still who he is. He has an interesting story with the reason why he dresses the way he does, and the reason why he is who he is, and I respect him for doing that.” Mullin suggested Democrats are “planting stories like this” and that “we shouldn’t be surprised… they eat their own.” As for staffers who have publicly and privately broken with Fetterman, Mullin added that it is his name on the Senate office door and not theirs, going on to lament those who objected to decisions as simple as meeting with President Donald Trump. “So they can go pound sand. If they don’t like working for him, go find another member, because he’s the member,” he said. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., added that Fetterman “comes to play every day,” when Fox News Digital caught up with him near Constitution Avenue. “I can tell you I work with him constantly. We work particularly in terms of hunger programs, making sure that there’s technologies available that protect the hungry and taxpayers,” he said. When encountered outside the Capitol getting into a car, Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., paused momentarily while working on his phone, before saying he had to go when Fox News Digital mentioned the Fetterman story. New York Magazine did not return Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Deportation flights to Libya would violate court order without prior notice, federal judge says
A federal judge said Wednesday that any potential deportation flights to Libya or Saudi Arabia would violate a court order if the Trump administration does not provide advanced notification to the impacted illegal immigrants and their attorneys first. The administration has not confirmed planned deportation flights to either country, but a group of attorneys representing illegal immigrants from nations including Vietnam, Laos and the Philippines claimed in court documents that their clients were told by immigration enforcement agents that they would soon be sent to Libya or Saudi Arabia. Immigration lawyers asked U.S. District Judge Brian E. Murphy – who was nominated by former President Joe Biden – for a temporary restraining order Wednesday “to prevent non-citizen removals to third countries, including but not limited to Libya and Saudia Arabia, without prior written notice and a meaningful opportunity to raise fear-based claims.” TRUMP TO RENAME PERSIAN GULF THE ARABIAN GULF AHEAD OF US-IRAN NUCLEAR TALKS, MIDDLE EAST TRIP: REPORT Murphy agreed with the immigration lawyers that the motion should not be required because deporting the illegal immigrants to Libya without a chance to claim convention against torture (CAT) protection would violate his prior court order. “The April 18, 2025 Preliminary Injunction requires all third-country removals to be preceded, inter alia, by written notice to both the non-citizen and the non-citizen’s counsel in a language the non-citizen can understand as well as a meaningful opportunity for the non-citizen to raise a fear-based claim for CAT protection,” Murphy wrote Wednesday. “The April 30, 2025 Amendment to the Preliminary Injunction further clarifies that the Department of Homeland Security may not evade this injunction by ceding control over non-citizens or the enforcement of its immigration responsibilities to any other agency, including but not limited to the Department of Defense.” “If there is any doubt—the Court sees none—the allegedly imminent removals, as reported by news agencies and as Plaintiffs seek to corroborate with class-member accounts and public information, would clearly violate this Court’s Order.” Fox News Digital reached out to the Department of Homeland Security for comment on Thursday morning. In their request seeking Murphy’s intervention, the immigration attorneys cited “alarming reports” late Tuesday and Wednesday morning from “class members’ counsel and from the press” announcing “the imminent removal” of Laotian, Vietnamese, and Philippine illegal immigrants “being prepared for removal to Libya, a [country] notorious for its human rights violations, especially with respect to migrant residents.” “Class members were being scheduled for removal despite not receiving the required notice and opportunity to apply for CAT protection,” they wrote. FEDERAL JUDGE OPENS DOOR TO ALIEN ENEMIES ACT TARGETS SUING TRUMP ADMINISTRATION The attorneys also cited a CNN report claiming that publicly available information “indicates that a C-17 flight is scheduled to fly on Wednesday from Kelly Field in San Antonio, Texas, to Misrata Airport in Libya.” The Associated Press cited a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity Wednesday about alleged plans to fly migrants to Libya on a military plane. The official reportedly did not have details on the timing of the C-17 flight. Libya has denied reports of a deportation deal with the U.S. The Tripoli-based government of Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah said in a statement Wednesday that there was “no deal or coordination” with the U.S. to receive migrants. However, it said “some parallel parties” could have agreed to receive them. That appears to refer to its rival administration in east Libya, which is controlled by powerful military commander Khalifa Hifter. Libya has been split for years between rival administrations in the east and west, each backed by armed groups and foreign governments. The Hifter-led Libya National Army, which controls eastern and southern Libya, also released a statement, denying any deal or understanding to receive migrants from the U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday directed questions to the Department of Homeland Security(DHS), according to the AP. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said during a news conference in Illinois that she “can’t confirm” media reports of plans to send people to Libya. The State Department told the AP it does not “discuss the details of our diplomatic communications with other governments.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The Trump administration has said it’s exploring other third countries for deportations. In addition to the Venezuelans sent to El Salvador, the administration has deported people to Panama and Costa Rica who were not citizens of those countries. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
REAL ID deadline comes and goes – airports report business as usual
Despite fears of first-day chaos over the new REAL ID requirement, airports reported smooth sailing Wednesday, with no major disruptions tied to the rollout, according to security officials. “We didn’t see long lines,” one passenger arriving at South Carolina’s Greeneville-Spartanburg Airport from Washington-Dulles told a local reporter. “It was a walk in the park.” TSA spokesperson Lorie Dankers said in April that about 20% of the public still lacks REAL ID compliance. When asked whether this could affect travel times starting Wednesday, she said it’s “reasonable” to expect travelers may need to arrive early. DO WE EVEN NEED THIS? LAWMAKERS GET REAL ABOUT REAL ID MANDATE STARTING TODAY “I am extremely concerned there will be long lines and a lot of confusion,” Henry Harteveldt, a travel industry analyst and president of Atmosphere Research Group, added in comments to travel website The Points Guy ahead of the rollout. Meanwhile, Philadelphia International Airport urged passengers to arrive two-and-a-half hours early for domestic flights Wednesday. However, reporters at various airports across the country found that the delays some feared never came to fruition, and wait times were minimal. Airport and security officials confirmed their reports. “We are pleased to share that the TSA lines are moving efficiently,” Nashville International Airport said Wednesday. “Smooth operations this morning,” Baltimore-Washington International Airport reported. “Smooth” operations were reported by airports and security officials alike. There was an increased presence of Homeland Security officials at Hartsfield-Jackson in Atlanta, but no complaints were reported to Fox News reporters on the ground there from passengers. Travelers on social media and in news reports shared stories of getting through airport security without a REAL ID, or its compliant equivalent such as a passport, which federal officials indicated would be possible with additional screening ahead of Wednesday’s rollout. Several passengers without compliant identification were given a notice indicating their IDs were not REAL ID compliant, and they should expect delays the next time they travel if they don’t have one. FLIGHT PASSENGERS WARN OF ‘REAL ID APOCALYPSE’ WHILE OTHERS ACKNOWLEDGE AMERICANS CAN STILL FLY The federal government’s REAL ID requirement is two decades in the making and has faced several delays over the years. The law stemmed from long-held concerns from federal officials about false identification, but gained momentum and was enacted following the 9/11 attacks. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “REAL ID will keep us more secure. It gives us more information so that we know who is traveling on our federal transportation systems and our airlines,” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Wednesday in a video from Washington-Reagan International Airport. “Thank you everybody for all of your cooperation, and we’re looking to make America more secure in following our federal law.”
‘Obey the law’: Conservative firebrand torches blue state immigration policies amid major lawsuit
Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., criticized Colorado leaders, as the state and the city of Denver are currently being sued by the Department of Justice over their immigration policies, and shared how Congress can step in. “[Denver] Mayor Mike Johnston was unwilling to change policies that don’t even allow his city employees to coordinate with ICE agents. And that also is a coupling with Colorado state laws as well. And unfortunately, Gov. Jared Polis has not budged on those either. In fact, the Democrats who run our state legislature have gone even further. They want to expedite and make driver’s licenses immediately available for those who are in our state illegally,” Boebert told Fox News Digital in an interview on Tuesday. The lawsuit, filed Friday in Colorado District Court, accuses the state and its most populous city of implementing “sanctuary laws” in violation of the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution. Colorado has become a national focal point, as it was revealed to be a hotbed for the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. CONSERVATIVE FIREBRAND FLIPS SCRIPT ON HOUSE DEM’S ‘GOTCHA’ RESPONSE TO NONCITIZEN VOTING CRACKDOWN “The United States has well-established, preeminent, and preemptive authority to regulate immigration matters,” the lawsuit reads. ICE enforces federal immigration laws across the country but regularly needs additional support from state and local officials, particularly for large-scale deportations. The agency also asks police departments and sheriff’s offices to flag migrants it wants to deport and hold them until federal agents can take custody. The Department of Justice has filed similar lawsuits challenging “sanctuary policies” in Rochester, New York, and Chicago. COLORADO GOV. JARED POLIS POKES FUN AT TRUMP WITH OFFICIAL ‘SOUTH PARK’ PORTRAIT IN APRIL FOOLS’ DAY POST “At a congressional level, other than codifying what President Trump is doing with his Executive Orders, we do have the power of the purse here in the House,” the Republican said. CLICK HERE FOR MORE IMMIGRATION COVERAGE “And so we need to begin to withhold funding from these sanctuary cities and really empower those who are obeying federal laws to do that more, incentivizing them with those federal dollars and with programs that benefit their areas,” she continued. President Donald Trump recently put forth an executive order threatening to cut federal funding to “sanctuary jurisdictions” if those governments do not make serious changes. TRUMP ADMIN SUES COLORADO, DENVER OVER ‘SANCTUARY LAWS,’ ALLEGED INTERFERENCE IN IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT However, Boebert had a straightforward message for Colorado leaders as the federal government continues its immigration crackdown. As the Trump administration marked its first 100 days last month, ICE noted the arrest and deportation of more than 65,000 illegal immigrants, thousands of whom had criminal charges or were already found guilty of a crime. “Obey federal law. If you want these federal dollars to come back and bless Colorado, Colorado is a beautiful state, and they know that. And we want to encourage people to come to Colorado to be there, to be with us, and to have a safe community.” “Colorado is not a sanctuary state. The State of Colorado works with local, state and federal law enforcement regularly and we value our partnerships with federal law enforcement agencies to make Colorado safer,” a spokesperson for Polis’ office said. Fox News Digital reached out to Denver Mayor Mike Johnston’s office for comment. Fox News’ Landon Mion contributed to this report.
AOC’s constituents weigh in on presidential run, recall her stunning 2018 political upset
Constituents in Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s New York district are warning Republicans not to underestimate the firebrand progressive lawmaker who caused a sensational political upset in 2018 – as rumors swirl about the four-term congresswoman running for president in 2028. Ocasio-Cortez hosted a town hall in New York City on Friday in the same neighborhood where she unseated longtime Democratic Rep. Joe Crowley to become the nation’s youngest congresswoman. Against all odds and with little money, her spectacular win sent shockwaves through the Democratic Party as she effectively ended the political career of Crowley, who at that point was a 10-term incumbent and eyeing being the next House speaker. ‘COME FOR ME’ AOC TAUNTS TOM HOMAN AFTER BORDER CZAR THREATENED TO REFER HER TO JUSTICE DEPARTMENT Some political observers say Crowley took Ocasio-Cortez for granted, while her constituents believe attaining the nation’s highest office is not beyond her grasp. Fast-forward to 2025 and Ocasio-Cortez has become one of the biggest voices in a party yearning for political leadership. The huge turnouts for her “Fight Oligarchy” tour events alongside Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., has fueled speculation she has enough momentum to launch a presidential bid, while she has also raked in $9.6 million in the first three months of the year, beating her own record fundraising haul. Mark LaVergne, who’s an independent and was outside Ocasio-Cortez’s town hall but did not attend, told Fox News Digital that he believes she has a winning personality. “Don’t underestimate her. I mean, that was the mistake Joe Crowley and his people made seven years ago,” LaVergne said. “They underestimated her. That was a fatal mistake.” Andrew Sokolof Diaz said Ocasio-Cortez’s popularity appears to be growing and said it would be an honor to vote for her. “Absolutely, we stand with her. I think she absolutely has the support, not only here in her district, but she has the support nationally, maybe even internationally, to run for president.” Sokolof Diaz said. Aleks Itskovich, who traveled from Brooklyn and moved to the U.S. from Russia when he was three years old, said he was inspired by the “Fight Oligarchy” tour and said it proves she connects with the ordinary person. “It goes back to the authenticity,” Itskovich said. “I think that she’s able to come across as a genuine individual that is able to channel people’s concerns directly and feel relatable, honest, that she’s not coming from the 1%. She’s one of the most successful politicians of this generation, so I want to keep seeing how that goes.” HYSTERICAL TOWN HALL ATTENDEE INTERRUPTS AOC, YELLS ABOUT ‘GENOCIDE’ IN GAZA: ‘YOU’RE A LIAR!’ However, not all were keen on the potential move, with Woodside resident Mary Madden saying she felt Ocasio-Cortez is too young, while John Szewczuk, who has lived in Jackson Heights for 44 years, said she may be too left wing to win the presidency outright, but he would still back her. About 450 people packed into a local school auditorium to hear Ocasio-Cortez talk about a host of issues ranging from local concerns about a major casino to national issues like Medicaid and the Trump administration’s mass deportation efforts. Long lines outside the location caused the event to be delayed for nearly 20 minutes while those who couldn’t get in were shuffled into an overflow room across the hall. Inside, attendees gave Ocasio-Cortez a rousingly warm reception and appeared fully supportive of her legislative agenda and her representation of the district to date. Many questions from the audience centered around local issues, calls for a minimum wage hike, how to improve air quality, as well as asking her how she plans on tackling the Trump administration. The loudest applause came when Ocasio-Cortez voiced her opposition to a proposed new casino in Queens, which would be part of new sports and entertainment park. The $8 billion project is being spearheaded by New York Mets’ billionaire owner Steve Cohen and has gotten approval from the New York City Council. The congresswoman admitted, however, she doesn’t have a say in the matter since it’s a state issue and not in her district. Applause also rang out when Ocasio-Cortez dared border czar Tom Homan to arrest her after he previously threatened to refer her to the Justice Department for giving advice to migrants on how to avoid being deported. The town hall went off without a hitch except for an early disruption by a protester who heckled at Ocasio-Cortez about the war in Israel. She was then removed. The town hall took place in a leafy section of Jackson Heights, known for its strong progressive leanings. A major avenue adjacent to the school was recently transformed into an “open street,” where traffic was substantially reduced to create more public space for pedestrians, cyclists and community use. “I love it, it’s a great neighborhood, it is very diverse, probably one of the most diverse in the world,” Szewczuk said. Conversely, the school is about three blocks away from the Roosevelt Avenue commercial strip, which has become notorious for its open-air sex workers, trash-filled streets, crime, drugs and anti-social behavior. Roosevelt Avenue runs along the southern border of Ocasio-Cortez’s 14th District, and the strip is shared by Rep. Grace Meng. Fox News Digital observed at least 30 prostitutes soliciting sex along one block of Roosevelt Avenue about an hour after the town hall finished. Some sidewalks along the squalid strip are hard to navigate given the sheer number of people – many of whom are migrants – selling hot food, fruit and vegetables, counterfeit goods and what appeared to be stolen goods. Ocasio-Cortez never mentioned the strip, nor did any attendee ask about it in the question and answers section. While all questions were submitted in advance and Ocasio-Cortez left out a side door the moment the event ended, it appeared it was way down in the list of priorities for those in attendance. Sokolof Diaz and Szewczuk said it’s on local politicians to do more, while LaVergne said that Ocasio-Cortez has
Federal judge blocks Trump admin from dismantling 3 agencies
A federal judge is blocking President Donald Trump from shuttering three federal agencies that assist public resources, minority businesses and mediation services. Nearly two dozen Democratic-led states sued to stop Trump from closing the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) and the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS). U.S. District Judge John McConnell, an appointee of former President Barack Obama, sided with the states on Tuesday, affirming their arguments that the closings violated the separation of powers. “It … disregards the fundamental constitutional role of each of the branches of our federal government; specifically, it ignores the unshakable principles that Congress makes the law and appropriates funds, and the Executive implements the law Congress enacted and spends the funds Congress appropriated,” McConnell wrote. Attorneys for the Trump administration had sought to argue that the states had no standing to bring a lawsuit in the case, but McConnell rejected that. HOCHUL SPURS BIPARTISAN OUTRAGE OVER MASSIVE TOLL REBOOT AS DEMS WORRY TRUMP WILL BLOCK IT “The States have presented compelling evidence illustrating that the harms stemming from the dismantling of IMLS, MBDA, and FMCS are already unfolding or are certain to occur,” McConnell stated, pointing to “the significant reduction in personnel available and competent to administer these agencies’ funds and services and the elimination of certain programs that served the States.” LEAVITT PUSHES BACK ON MEDIA’S ‘UNCERTAINTY’ ABOUT FEDERAL FUNDING FREEZE Earlier this year, McConnell also blocked the Trump administration from implementing a nationwide freeze on federal grants. McConnell sided with 22 states and the District of Columbia in that case on Jan. 31. McConnell ruled that the Trump administration must “immediately restore frozen funding” until the case could be further litigated. “The broad categorical and sweeping freeze of federal funds is, as the Court found, likely unconstitutional and has caused and continues to cause irreparable harm to a vast portion of this country,” the judge wrote.
Illegal immigrant murderers could face death penalty under new GOP bill
FIRST ON FOX: A House Republican is seeking to ensure illegal immigrants who commit murder in the U.S. are eligible for the death penalty in all 50 states. Rep. Morgan Luttrell, R-Texas, is introducing a bill on Thursday called the Justice for Victims of Illegal Alien Murder Act, which would establish a new class of federal criminal offenses specifically directed at convicted murderers who are in the country illegally. It would make those criminals eligible for life in prison or the death penalty if convicted of first-degree murder. MEET THE TRUMP-PICKED LAWMAKERS GIVING SPEAKER JOHNSON A FULL HOUSE GOP CONFERENCE Such a bill would strengthen federal prosecutors’ claims of jurisdiction over such crimes, even in states where the death penalty is abolished. “We can hold those individuals accountable at the federal level because they’re here illegally. And here we are with that legislation,” Luttrell told Fox News Digital on Wednesday. He said part of the impetus for the legislation was a case in his home state of Texas in 2023 when a man who had been deported multiple times was arrested for killing five people in the U.S. “That guy shouldn’t have been here as well. He had been deported a couple times, snuck back across the border, and now this happened. It’s time for us to step in and do this,” Luttrell said. It’s also spurred partially by President Donald Trump, who signed an executive order in January mandating the death penalty for illegal immigrants who commit “all crimes of a severity demanding its use” and for people who murder police officers. BROWN UNIVERSITY IN GOP CROSSHAIRS AFTER STUDENT’S DOGE-LIKE EMAIL KICKS OFF FRENZY Luttrell said he’s hopeful at least some Democrats will support the bill as well. “I do not run away from those conversations at all, because I think it’s necessary. That shows the American people that we’re working together on this. The American public voted for this administration because of the border,” he said. Luttrell’s bill is backed by seven House Republican co-sponsors, including Republican Study Committee Chair August Pfluger, R-Texas.
Blue cities adopt Pride flags as official symbols in bid to skirt red-state laws
Two Democrat-run cities in the Rockies are skirting state laws dictating which flags can be flown on government property, according to The Associated Press – and are granting particular attention to the LGBTQ Pride flag. Utah and Idaho both have laws on the books barring government buildings from flying most flags, save for a select few – like the American flag and military flags. Utah’s law went into effect Wednesday. UTAH BANS LGBTQ+ PRIDE FLAGS, MAGA FLAGS, OTHER UNAPPROVED FLAGS IN GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS, SCHOOLS In an eleventh-hour bid to circumvent the coming restrictions, Salt Lake City adopted four flags Tuesday: its existing flag, as well as modified versions of the Progress Pride, Transgender Pride and Juneteenth flags – each including the city’s signature sego lily. They were presented by Mayor Erin Mendenhall for adoption via ordinance, explained her spokesperson, Andrew Wittenberg, to Fox News Digital. “My sincere intent is not to provoke or cause division,” Mendenhall said, according to The AP. “My intent is to represent our city’s values and honor our dear diverse residents who make up this beautiful city and the legacy of pain and progress that they have endured,” she continued. Violators of the Utah law, which Republican Gov. Spencer Cox, allowed to pass without his signature, can be fined $500 per day. The law’s supporters maintain that it’s a matter of institutions maintaining political neutrality. STATE DEPARTMENT BLOCKS PRIDE, BLM FLAGS FROM EMBASSIES, OUTPOSTS WITH ‘ONE FLAG POLICY’ “This law is about keeping government spaces neutral and welcoming to all,” Republican House Speaker Mike Schultz said. “Salt Lake City should focus on real issues, not political theatrics.” Meanwhile, in Boise, Idaho, Mayor Lauren McLean issued a proclamation last week retroactively designating the pride flag as an official city flag. McLean has maintained that the Idaho law is not sound – and has even flown the pride flag over City Hall after it was enacted. McLean has yet to respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. McLean and Mendenhall spoke Monday night to discuss their cities’ respective plans, though Wittenberg stressed to Fox News Digital that there was “no prior or additional coordination” between the cities’ officials. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Lone Republican becomes only lawmaker to vote against crackdown on human organ trafficking
A bill aimed at cracking down on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its practice of forced organ harvesting passed with overwhelming support on Wednesday – though one House lawmaker voted against it. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., was the lone Republican to oppose the Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act, which passed 406-1. “It’s just another example of us trying to stick our nose in another country’s business and write their laws,” Massie told Fox News Digital after the vote. “And at the end of the day, they’re gonna do what they’re gonna do, and it’s just sort of a virtue signal over here.” Massie, a conservative libertarian, often votes against House bills that weigh in on another country’s affairs. SCOOP: REPUBLICANS DISCUSS DEFUNDING ‘BIG ABORTION’ LIKE PLANNED PARENTHOOD IN TRUMP AGENDA BILL The Kentucky Republican pointed out that he opposed the legislation when it was up for a vote during a previous Congress. MEET THE TRUMP-PICKED LAWMAKERS GIVING SPEAKER JOHNSON A FULL HOUSE GOP CONFERENCE But his pushback is also notable now given his status as an open critic of Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and at times, of President Donald Trump. The bill was introduced by Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., and would authorize the Secretary of State to deny U.S. passports and visitor visas to people involved in organ trafficking circles. It would also call for sanctions on entities and individuals found to have participated in the gruesome illicit industry. U.S. lawmakers have accused China of forced organ harvesting of its ideological opponents, including Falun Gong practitioners and Uyghur Muslims.