HHS halts work at high-risk infectious disease lab following repeated safety violations
FIRST ON FOX: The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) implemented a pause on research at one of the nation’s most highly secure research labs, following repeated safety incidents that a source familiar told Fox News Digital have been occurring since the Biden administration. An HHS official confirmed the pause at Fort Detrick’s Integrated Research Facility, which conducts risky research on deadly infectious diseases like SARS-COV-2 and the Ebola virus, began Tuesday at 5 p.m. The facility, which is one of only a handful across North America, is part of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and is located at the U.S. Army base Fort Detrick, outside Washington, D.C. The research there studies treatment and prevention of deadly, “high-consequence” diseases such as Lassa Fever and Eastern equine encephalitis. CHINA BLAMES US FOR ORIGIN OF COVID-19 AND TURNING ‘DEAF EAR TO THE NUMEROUS QUESTIONS OVER ITS CONDUCT’ According to the HHS official who was willing to speak on the matter under the condition of anonymity, the pause stemmed from a lover’s spat between researchers at the facility, which resulted in one of the individuals poking holes in the other’s personal protective equipment (PPE). That individual has since been fired, the official indicated. The HHS official added that the incident is just the latest example of safety incidents at the high-risk laboratory, which they blamed on a poor safety culture at the lab enabled by the previous Biden administration. “NIH and HHS take the safety of our facilities and research very seriously,” HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon said. “As soon as we found out about this incident, we took immediate action to issue the safety pause until we can correct the safety culture at this facility.” COVID VACCINE BOOSTERS CALLED INTO QUESTION BY FDA CHIEF: ‘VOID OF DATA’ The latest incident, according to HHS, was preceded by a separate incident that occurred as recently as November. The facility’s director, Connie Schmaljohn, was placed on administrative leave following the incident. The HHS official familiar with the matter indicated Schmaljohn did not report the incident up the chain of command immediately, causing a delay in remedying the matter. During this temporary pause, all research at the facility will come to a halt and access will be limited to essential personnel. It is unclear how long the pause will remain in effect.
Angel moms whose kids were killed by illegal immigrants celebrate Trump’s White House lawn ‘justice’ crusade
FIRST ON FOX: Angel moms and dads whose children were killed at the hands of illegal immigrants and the previous immigration crisis traveled to the White House this week, where they celebrated President Donald Trump ushering “justice back” to the U.S. in an emotional video. “My name is Angie Morfin Vargas, and I’m the mother to Ruben Morfin,” Morfin-Vargas said in a video published by the White House Thursday. “He was executed in the streets of Salinas in 1990. Thirty-four years later, I could still cry for him like if it was yesterday.” “This right here is what should be living here in America, not criminals that are coming in,” another mom, whose son Javier Vega Jr. was shot to death in 2014, said while pointing to a photo of her son. The White House installed a massive poster campaign on the White House lawn on Sunday evening showcasing 100 of the “worst illegal immigrant criminals” arrested in the first 100 days of Trump’s second term. WHITE HOUSE DISPLAYS LAWN SIGNS HIGHLIGHTING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT CRIME “We will hunt you down. You will face justice. You will be deported – and you will never set foot on American soil again,” the White House wrote in X post early Monday morning. “Oh, and your mugshot may just end up on a yard sign at the White House.” The poster showcased mugshots of illegal immigrant criminals arrested for crimes such as fentanyl distrubution, murder, rape of a child, lewd acts in front of a child, and distribution of guns. OVER 100 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ARRESTED IN COLORADO SPRINGS MASSIVE UNDERGROUND NIGHTCLUB RAID Angel moms and dads are parents whose children have been killed by illegal immigrants, and is a title Trump popularized for the grieving parents under his first administration. The angel moms and dads held photos of their children in the video published by the White House Thursday, and were seen standing in front of the posters on the White House lawn. “My name is Chris Odette. I’m an angel father,” the dad said, while holding his phone to show a photo of his daughter, who was 13 years old when she was killed in a hit-and-run while crossing a street. “My daughter, Chrishia, was killed Sept. 12, 2014 by an illegal alien in Rockwall, Texas.” NEARLY 800 ILLEGAL ALIENS ARRESTED IN MASSIVE FLORIDA ICE OPERATION: ‘TIDAL WAVE’ The driver, Ramiro Guevara, was an illegal migrant from Mexico. He was arrested by the Rockwall, Texas, Police Department for driving without a license and for not having an operator’s license, but records showed he spent roughly 35 minutes behind bars before he posted a cash bond, Fox News Digital previously reported. ICE arrested Guevara in 2025 under the Trump administration. “Without them, there would be no justice for my daughter,” Odette said. TRUMP FLAUNTS ARRESTS OF VIOLENT ILLEGALS WITH MUGSHOT POSTERS ON WHITE HOUSE LAWN AND MORE TOP HEADLINES “This is my son, Ryan, and his girlfriend, both poisoned to death by illicit fentanyl,” another angel mom said in the video. “I can’t bring my son back, but we are doing all of this to save the future Americans from being poisoned to death by fentanyl.” The angel parents celebrated in the solemn video that the Trump administration was ushering back “justice” for the families suffering and all Americans. “We’re finally getting some justice in this country for our children,” one angel mom said in the video. Fox News Digital’s Brooke Taylor contributed to this report.
Iran talks in Rome not happening this weekend and were never confirmed, State Department says
The U.S. has not committed to participating in a fourth round of denuclearization talks with Iran this weekend despite reports to the contrary, according to the State Department. “The United States was never confirmed to be participating in a fourth round of talks with Iran, which people had believed were Saturday in Rome,” spokesperson Tammy Bruce said at a news conference Thursday. “We expect another round of talks will take place in the near future.” The U.S. participated in talks with Iranian officials once in Rome and twice in Oman. Envoy Steve Witkoff is the lead negotiator for President Donald Trump’s desired deal that stops Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. IRAN, US BEGIN NEGOTIATIONS OVER TEHRAN’S ADVANCING NUCLEAR PROGRAM Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad al-Busaidi, whose nation is trying to help broker a deal, posted on X that the talks had been postponed for “logistical reasons.” Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmail Baghaei, said Tehran is still committed to getting to a “fair and lasting agreement.” Iran seeks to have U.S. sanctions lifted, while the Trump team has insisted it will need verifiable proof Iran has stopped enriching uranium to lift any financial penalties. HEGSETH SENDS STRONG MESSAGE TO IRAN AND HOUTHIS: ‘YOU WILL PAY’ Trump has threatened to launch strikes on Iran if talks go sideways. On Wednesday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued an ominous threat to Iran over its backing of the Houthis. “Message to IRAN: We see your LETHAL support to The Houthis. We know exactly what you are doing,” Hegseth wrote on X. “You know very well what the U.S. Military is capable of — and you were warned. You will pay the CONSEQUENCE at the time and place of our choosing.” A U.S. official described last week’s talks as “positive and productive.” “There is still much to do, but further progress was made on getting to a deal,” the official said. “We agreed to meet again soon, in Europe, and we thank our Omani partners for facilitating these talks.” “This time, the negotiations were much more serious than in the past, and we gradually entered into deeper and more detailed discussions,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said. “We have moved somewhat away from broader, general discussions, though it is not the case that all disagreements have been resolved. Differences still exist both on major issues and on the details.” The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Fox News Politics Newsletter: Waltz-ing Up to Turtle Bay
Welcome to the Fox News Politics newsletter, with the latest updates on the Trump administration, Capitol Hill and more Fox News politics content. Here’s what’s happening… -Kamala Harris comes knives out against Trump in first speech since leaving office: ‘Absolute chaos’ -JD Vance explains why meeting Pope Francis hours before his death was ‘a sign from God’ -35 GOP lawmakers say not repealing Biden’s green agenda in Trump tax bill is ‘hypocrisy’ President Donald Trump tapped former national security advisor Mike Waltz for his administration’s ambassador to the United Nations after Waltz was ousted from the National Security Council office earlier Thursday. “I am pleased to announce that I will be nominating Mike Waltz to be the next United States Ambassador to the United Nations,” Trump posted to Truth Social Thursday. “From his time in uniform on the battlefield, in Congress and, as my National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz has worked hard to put our Nation’s Interests first. I know he will do the same in his new role. In the interim, Secretary of State Marco Rubio will serve as National Security Advisor, while continuing his strong leadership at the State Department. Together, we will continue to fight tirelessly to Make America, and the World, SAFE AGAIN. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” …READ MORE STAND STRONG: Parents of Hamas hostages urge Trump to be ‘tough with enemies and friends’ as Israel continues military operations in Gaza ‘DEI STRANGULATION’: White House vows to implement ‘system of merit’ in US, dismantle DEI ‘strangulation’ ‘SIGNAL GATE’: Dems say Trump ‘firing the wrong guy’ as Waltz ousted as national security advisor ‘BRINGING RELIGION BACK’: Trump jokes his admin will ‘forget about’ separation of church and state LEADERS OF FAITH: Trump executive order will stand up presidential religious liberty commission ‘YOUR FATE’: CIA videos aim to turn Chinese officials and ‘steal secrets’ SHIFTING BLAME: China blames US for origin of COVID-19 and turning ‘deaf ear to the numerous questions over its conduct’ ‘SHAKEN’: Israel cancels Independence Day celebrations as wildfires rage through country OFF THE ROAD: Trucking vet lawmaker sounds off on illegal immigrant drivers as REAL ID deadline looms TAX TIME: Republicans discuss defunding ‘big abortion’ like Planned Parenthood in Trump agenda bill REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK: Where we stand with Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ EDUCATION FREEDOM: School choice supporters protest exclusion of religious charter in Supreme Court case GRACE UNDER FIRE: Former Air Force Major who defied Biden vaccine mandate speaks out, applauds Hegseth HUNTER BACKS OFF: Hunter Biden drops lawsuit against IRS, which whistleblowers say ‘shows you everything you need to know’ ‘POWERFUL METAPHOR’: Harris draws social media scorn for digression about elephants during an earthquake ‘MISSION-MINDED FOCUS’: HUD Secretary Scott Turner lays out agency wins during first 100 days, shares priorities for next 100 HISTORY OF VIOLENCE: Columbia student activist interviewed by FBI for allegedly saying ‘I like to kill Jews’: court docs ‘RESIDENT ALIENS’: DOGE says it’s referred dozens of potential voter fraud cases to DOJ WAR MODE: Hegseth orders sweeping Army overhaul and consolidation aimed at countering China and Golden Dome capabilities Get the latest updates on the Trump administration and Congress, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.
Top GOP nominee in Virginia race defiant after Youngkin advisor denies ‘extortion’ claims
The campaign for Virginia’s Republican nominee for lieutenant governor is pushing back amid a firestorm of controversy and Republican infighting in Virginia, which has pitted the nominee against Gov. Glenn Youngkin. A source familiar with the conversations told Fox News Digital that a Youngkin advisor attempted to solicit business from the lieutenant governor nominee just days before allegedly attempting to extort him. John Reid, the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor, is refusing to drop out of the race after being pressured to do so by the governor because of lewd photos he allegedly posted on a Tumblr account. In a video posted on Sunday, Reid, who is gay, denied that the Tumblr account with lewd photos belonged to him. He said he would not back down from the race and accused the Youngkin-linked Spirit of Virginia political action committee, which is run by Matt Moran, of attempted “extortion.” Reid also said Spirit of Virginia offered to purchase the negative research against him gathered by Republican-aligned America Rising PAC and to bring an end to the negative coverage. AFTER HURRICANE HELENE, VIRGINIA COUPLE WELCOMES NEW HOME BUILT BY VOLUNTEERS Reid’s team filed a cease-and-desist letter against Moran on Monday. Moran has since filed an affidavit in which he denied attempting to extort Reid’s team, saying, “I never attacked John and did not threaten or coerce him” and “I communicated what I truly believed was in his best interests in my judgement.” Moran said he was “clear in the meeting that I had acted on the information as a friend and colleague of John Reid, and adamantly deny the characterization of the meeting.” However, audio of an April 25 conversation with Moran and Reid’s team, which was obtained and reviewed by Fox News Digital, casts doubt on Moran’s characterization of the conversation. During the conversation, Moran stated that “if John were to step aside … I would go buy it all from America Rising, if that’s what you want. The campaign could go buy it all from America Rising.” At another point in the conversation, Moran states that “it is in no one’s best interest for any of this to continue” and that if Reid “stays in the race, it is going to continue.” FORMER CONGRESSWOMAN TURNED VA GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE ABIGAIL SPANBERGER ACCUSED OF ETHICS VIOLATION “That hurts our candidates up and down the ticket,” said Moran, adding, “Him getting out of the race is the only way it stops, and then, yeah, it absolutely would have to stop forevermore after that.” Additionally, a source familiar with the conversations told Fox News Digital that Moran pitched the Reid campaign services from his advertising company, Creative Direct, in a conversation on April 21. Youngkin has explained his decision to ask Reid to step down by saying that “explicit social media content like this is a distraction” and “it’s a distraction for campaigns, and it’s a distraction from people paying attention to the most important issues.” He noted, however, that “the decision is John’s and up to John.” WINSOME EARLE-SEARS KNOCKS GUBERNATORIAL OPPONENT FOR HIDING BIDEN’S HEALTH: SHE CANNOT BE TRUSTED A spokesperson for Reid’s campaign claimed in a statement to Fox News Digital that “the threat was clear” in the April 25 conversation and that “Moran’s affidavit denying it is not accurate.” The spokesperson added that “it’s deeply unfortunate he chose to create this distraction for the party after failing to secure business for himself from the campaign.” In response to these accusations, Moran referred Fox News Digital to Wednesday’s X post in which he said, “I’ve known John Reid for years and consider him a friend” and that “over the last nine days, I was actively supporting and assisting John as the Lt. Governor nominee of the Republican Party.” “Let me be clear, facts matter, and they will demonstrate the accusations against me are unfounded,” Moran said. The X post Moran shared included a letter from his attorney, George Terwilliger, in which the attorney stated that “the facts, evidence, and witnesses would demonstrate that Mr. Moran never attempted to extort, coerce, or pressure Mr. Reid directly or indirectly, but rather as a seasoned professional endeavored to provide sound advice regarding the viability of Mr. Reid’s candidacy to someone he counted as a friend.”
Federal judge opens door to Alien Enemies Act targets suing Trump administration
A federal judge has allowed Venezuelans targeted for deportation under the Alien Enemies Act in the Southern District of Texas to proceed with a class-action lawsuit against President Donald Trump’s administration. U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr., who was appointed by Trump during his first term, issued a 12-page order Thursday granting a group of petitioners “class certification.” “The unusual circumstances of this case present a compelling justification to utilize a procedure equivalent to a class action authorized by Rule 23,” Rodriguez wrote. The Trump administration has argued the petitioners have “no basis” to establish a protected legal class “to resolve whether an alien has been properly included in the category of alien enemies–necessarily individual determinations.” TRUMP TO NAME HAITIAN GANGS FOREIGN TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS: REPORT The judge considered whether individual “habeas corpus hearings” would be required for every Venezuelan national targeted under the Alien Enemies Act in the Southern District of Texas to determine whether they are members of Tren de Aragua, the Venezuelan gang the State Department designated as a foreign terrorist organization in March. Rodriguez said “requiring individualized habeas corpus proceedings to repeatedly address the common legal issues unduly wastes judicial resources.” Trump issued an executive order March 14, “Invocation of the Alien Enemies Act Regarding the Invasion of the United States by Tren De Aragua.” About 100 people have been detained in the Southern District of Texas and “designated as alien enemies under the Proclamation,” Rodriguez noted. “The present matter raises many common questions of law, but also indisputably raises some questions of fact that would require individualized hearings to resolve,” Rodriguez wrote Thursday. “As to the former, Petitioners challenge the lawfulness of the President’s invocation of the AEA through the Proclamation. “They argue, primarily, that the preconditions required to apply the AEA do not exist, that the intended application of the Proclamation and the AEA violate the designated alien enemies’ due process rights under the Constitution, and that the procedures that Respondents seek to follow violate the Immigration and Nationality Act and the Convention Against Torture. TRUMP ADMIN REVOKES 4K FOREIGN STUDENTS’ VISAS IN FIRST 100 DAYS, NEARLY ALL WITH SERIOUS CRIMINAL RECORDS “These issues hold true for any individual that Respondents designate as an alien enemy under the Proclamation and subject to removal under the AEA,” the order said. “A favorable result on any of these legal theories as to one individual will prove equally applicable to other Venezuelan aliens designated as alien enemies under the Proclamation. As a result, the Court finds that Petitioners identify at least one contention that is central to the validity of each class member’s claims.” The judge acknowledged that, at the same time, “petitioners cannot deny that whether any particular individual is a member of TdA would require a fact-specific, individualized determination.” “It is true that the Court would have to determine the applicable legal standard, and this analysis would apply to every class member. But the hearings themselves would proceed individually, as the relevant facts for each person differ,” he said. According to Reuters, the Trump administration deported at least 137 Venezuelans from the El Valle Detention Center in Raymondville, Texas, under the Alien Enemies Act March 15, but relatives of dozens of the men say they are not TdA members. In a separate 36-page opinion, Rodriguez also said Thursday the Trump administration could not rely on the Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelan nationals who are TdA member anyway because the gang’s presence in the U.S. cannot be classified as an “invasion” or “predatory incursion” under federal law. “Neither the Court nor the parties question that the Executive Branch can direct the detention and removal of aliens who engage in criminal activity in the United States,” Rodriguez, nominated by Trump in 2018, wrote. “The President’s invocation of the AEA through the Proclamation exceeds the scope of the statute and is contrary to the plain, ordinary meaning of the statute’s terms. “The Court concludes that the President’s invocation of the AEA through the Proclamation exceeds the scope of the statute and, as a result, is unlawful,” Rodriguez wrote. In mid-April, Rodriguez granted a temporary restraining order preventing the Trump administration from removing Venezuelans held at the Raymondville detention center. The judge later broadened his ruling to protect all Venezuelans detained in his judicial district, which includes the cities of Houston, Galveston, Laredo, McAllen, Brownsville, Corpus Christi and Victoria, from deportation. Rodriguez’s ruling Thursday is significant because it is the first formal permanent injunction against the administration using the AEA and contends the president is misusing the law. The Trump administration claims that TdA is acting at the behest of the Venezuelan government. “The Proclamation makes no reference to and in no manner suggests that a threat exists of an organized, armed group of individuals entering the United States at the direction of Venezuela to conquer the country or assume control over a portion of the nation,” Rodriguez wrote. “Thus, the Proclamation’s language cannot be read as describing conduct that falls within the meaning of ‘invasion’ for purposes of the AEA.” The judge also noted that the provision has only been used during the two World Wars and the War of 1812. If the administration appeals, it would go first to the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. That is among the nation’s most conservative appellate courts, and it also has ruled against what it saw as overreach on immigration matters by both the Obama and Biden administrations. The Supreme Court already has weighed in once on the issue of deportations under the AEA. The justices held that migrants alleged to be gang members must be given “reasonable time” to contest their removal from the country. The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
Trump nominates Waltz for high-level post after ousting him as national security advisor
President Donald Trump tapped former national security advisor Mike Waltz for his administration’s ambassador to the United Nations after Waltz was ousted from the National Security Council office earlier Thursday. “I am pleased to announce that I will be nominating Mike Waltz to be the next United States Ambassador to the United Nations,” Trump posted to Truth Social Thursday. “From his time in uniform on the battlefield, in Congress and, as my National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz has worked hard to put our Nation’s Interests first. I know he will do the same in his new role. In the interim, Secretary of State Marco Rubio will serve as National Security Advisor, while continuing his strong leadership at the State Department. Together, we will continue to fight tirelessly to Make America, and the World, SAFE AGAIN. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” UN WATCHDOG PROJECT CALLS ON DOGE CAUCUS TO ‘AUDIT’ THE INTERNATIONAL ORG Waltz posted to X shortly after Trump’s announcement that he was “deeply honored to continue my service to President Trump and our great nation.” Trump added in his post that Rubio will simultaneously serve as his interim national security advisor after Waltz left the role on Thursday. In 1973, then-President Richard Nixon made a similar move when he named national security advisor Henry Kissinger to also serve as secretary of state, State Department records show. Waltz and other National Security Council staffers were ousted from their office Thursday, in the most high-profile executive office exits of the second Trump administration. Trump’s announcement on naming Waltz as U.N. ambassador unfolded just hours after the news began circulating. The former national security advisor had been at the heart of the Signal chat leak debacle that unfolded in March, when the editor-in-chief of the Atlantic magazine was inadvertently added to a group chat with high-profile Trump officials such as Waltz, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and CIA Director John Ratcliffe discussing military strikes on Houthi rebels in Yemen. Speculation had mounted for weeks that Waltz would be removed from his position amid the fallout of the chat leak, though the administration has maintained that no classified material was shared in the group chat and that the president had confidence in his National Security Council team. Ahead of Trump tapping Waltz for the new administration role, a handful of names had been floated for U.N. ambassador after Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., withdrew her nomination in March, including David Friedman, former U.S. ambassador to Israel; Ellie Cohanim, former deputy special envoy to monitor and combat antisemitism at the State Department under the first Trump administration; and special presidential envoy Richard Grenell. Grenell said he was a “hard no” on serving in the U.N. ambassador role ahead of Trump’s announcement. Trump announced Stefanik as his original choice for the role in November 2024, just days after his successful election against former Vice President Kamala Harris. The New York congresswoman, however, pulled her nomination last month as concerns mounted in Trump’s orbit that the GOP’s slim majority in the House would grow smaller in her absence. TRUMP URGED TO REVIEW UN IMMUNITY, LAX VISA RULES AMID NATIONAL SECURITY CONCERNS Concerns grew ahead of two special House elections in Florida on April 2, which ultimately saw both Republican victorious, but with significantly slimmer margins than their GOP predecessors in their previous elections. Stefank told Fox News’ Sean Hannity in March that she bowed out of the confirmation process to serve as U.N. ambassador due to both the GOP’s margin in the House combined with the need for her to help combat Democratic “corruption” in her home state of New York. “It was a combination of the New York corruption that we’re seeing under Kathy Hochul, special elections and the House margin,” Stefanik said on “Hannity” in March. “I’ve been in the House. It’s tough to count these votes every day. And we are going to continue to defy the political prognosticators and deliver, deliver victory on behalf of President Trump and, importantly, the voters across this country.” “The president knows that. He and I had multiple conversations today, and we are committed to delivering results on behalf of the American people. And as always, I’m committed to delivering results on behalf of my constituents,” she added. Trump announced on Truth Social that Stefanik withdrew her nomination to “remain in Congress to help me deliver Historic Tax Cuts, GREAT Jobs, Record Economic Growth, a Secure Border, Energy Dominance, Peace Through Strength.” REPUBLICANS SEEK TO BLOCK THE REAPPOINTMENT OF UN OFFICIAL ACCUSED OF ANTISEMITISM “With a very tight Majority, I don’t want to take a chance on anyone else running for Elise’s seat. The people love Elise and, with her, we have nothing to worry about come Election Day. There are others that can do a good job at the United Nations,” he added. During Trump’s first administration, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and former diplomat Kelly Craft served as U.N. ambassadors. ‘BLINDSIDED’: HOW STEFANIK’S TRUMP NOMINATION AS UN AMBASSADOR IMPLODED Upon taking office, the 47th president made cuts to U.S. involvement with programs under U.N.’s umbrella, including ending U.S. engagement with the U.N. Human Rights Council and banning funding for the U.N. relief agency for Gaza. “I’ve always felt that the U.N. has tremendous potential,” Trump said in February while signing the executive order that made cuts to U.S. involvement with U.N. groups. “It’s not being well-run.” “A lot of these conflicts that we’re working on should be settled, or at least we should have some help in settling them. But we never seem to get help. That should be the primary purpose of the U.N.,” Trump continued. Fox News Digital’s Julia Johnson and Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report.
Republican gov slams city for considering ‘antisemitic’ resolution, threatens to pull funding
A city in Texas could lose its state funding over a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and an arms embargo against Israel. Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas, wrote a letter to San Marcos Mayor Jane Hughson admonishing the City Council, which voted to bring the resolution to a formal vote on May 6. In his letter, Abbott pointed out that while the council was considering a resolution for a “permanent ceasefire in occupied Palestine,” it had not done the same to condemn Hamas following the Oct. 7 massacre. UT AUSTIN ANTI-ISRAEL AGITATORS FREED AFTER GOVERNOR SAID THEY ‘BELONG IN JAIL’ “Israel is a stalwart ally of the United States and a friend to Texas. I have repeatedly made clear that Texas will not tolerate antisemitism. Anti-Israel policies are anti-Texas policies,” Abbott wrote. The governor said he was “proud” to have signed a law banning Texas government entities from supporting efforts to boycott, divest from and sanction (BDS) Israel. The BDS movement argues that Israel should not receive financial support due to its actions in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. ABBOTT SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDER TO CURB ANTISEMITISM ON TEXAS CAMPUSES, DEMANDS ‘APPROPRIATE PUNISHMENTS’ Texas law, specifically Code § 2271.002, states that government entities are prohibited from entering into a contract worth $100,000 or more without a written guarantee that the contracting entity does not boycott Israel. Under the law, “boycott Israel” is defined as “refusing to deal with, terminating business activities with, or otherwise taking any action that is intended to penalize, inflict economic harm on, or limit commercial relations specifically with Israel…” Government entities that violate the law put their funding at risk. Abbott wrote in his letter that his office had already begun “reviewing active grants with San Marcos to determine whether the city has breached terms by falsely certifying compliance with Texas law.” Additionally, he said that if the city moves to pass the resolution, his office would not enter into future grant agreements with the city and would terminate active grants. UT AUSTIN PROTESTS DESCEND INTO CHAOS, ANTI-ISRAEL STUDENTS YELL AT POLICE: ‘PIGS GO HOME!’ The City Council agenda description of the April 15 discussion read: “Hold a discussion regarding a possible resolution calling for the immediate and permanent ceasefire in occupied Palestine, an arms embargo on Israel, recognition of Palestinian sovereignty, and the protection of constitutional rights for all people under national and international law.” San Marcos City Council member Alyssa Garza, who apparently put the resolution on the agenda, spoke at the April 15 meeting, framing the resolution as a way to fight big government. Garza listed the ways in which she believes larger government entities are threatening smaller ones and insisted that Texans could not rely on the same government “to stop a genocide.” “[It’s] clear to me that when they fund bombs, but cut aid for housing and education and so on here, that’s connected. When they silence protests here and crush dissent abroad, that’s connected. When they defund local governments and nonprofits and they call us ‘distractive’ for standing up, that’s absolutely connected,” Garza said. GAZA CEASEFIRE NEGOTIATIONS SEEING ‘SIGNIFICANT BREAKTHROUGH’ IN CAIRO: SOURCES Another council member, Amanda Rodriguez, said the resolution wasn’t political, but rather a “moral litmus test.” She also described the war in Gaza as a “genocide.” Additionally, Rodriguez made a plea to Jews who did not attend the meeting because “there has been such a conflation with this resolution being compared to antisemitism.” As part of the plea, she then said, “You cannot tell me that Judaism as a religion supports this.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP In just five days, the San Marcos City Council is set to vote on the resolution and if it passes, Abbott’s office is expected to evaluate its grants to the city. Hughson, Garza and Rodriguez have yet to respond to a Fox News Digital request for comment.
Next US national security advisor? Here’s who Trump might pick to replace Waltz
National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and other National Security Council staffers were ousted from their office on Thursday, in the most high-profile executive office exits of the second Trump administration. Fox News confirmed on Thursday morning that Waltz and his deputy, Alex Wong, were ousted following a Signal chat leak debacle that unfolded in March, when the editor-in-chief of the Atlantic magazine was inadvertently added to a group chat with high-profile Trump officials such as Waltz, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and CIA Director John Ratcliffe discussing military strikes on Houthi rebels in Yemen. Speculation had mounted for weeks that Waltz would be removed from his position amid the fallout of the chat leak, though the administration has maintained that no classified material was shared in the group chat and that the president had confidence in his National Security Council team. Fox News Digital took a look at who President Donald Trump could select to replace Waltz now that the position is open. MIKE WALTZ, OTHER NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL STAFFERS OUT IN LATEST TRUMP PURGE FOLLOWING SIGNAL CHAT LEAK Trump’s Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, who has been a top U.S. negotiator with Russia amid its war against Ukraine, could be tapped for the open national security advisor position. Witkoff is a former real estate tycoon and longtime ally of Trump’s whose focus under the Trump administration has been on negotiating with Russia for a peace deal in Ukraine, and negotiating with Iran regarding its nuclear program. Witkoff was notably credited with helping secure the reality of U.S. school teacher Marc Fogel from a Russian prison in February. Witkoff traveled to Moscow on April 25 as the White House reportedly extended its final offer to Russia as it continues waging a war against Ukraine that has raged since February 2022. RUBIO REVEALS OBSCURE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION OFFICE KEPT ‘DISINFORMATION’ DOSSIER ON TRUMP OFFICIAL “Ambassador Witkoff is in Russia to meet with President Putin as part of President Trump’s efforts to make peace,” an official with knowledge of the talks and visit told Fox News Digital at the end of April. “It’s long past time for the death and destruction to stop, to move past the failed strategies of the past and for an end to this devastating conflict,” the official added, without commenting on the “substance of negotiations.” TRUMP’S GOODWILL TESTED AS PUTIN IGNORES PEACE EFFORTS DURING WITKOFF’S VISIT The war has continued, with the U.S. making strides with Ukraine, however, Wednesday, as Trump works to secure a peace deal. Ukraine signed a deal with the U.S., allowing America access to the country’s rare minerals as it continues to hash out a peace agreement. Trump could potentially tap former ambassador to Germany and former acting Director of National Intelligence under the first Trump administration, Richard Grenell, to take the national security role. The former ambassador currently serves as the president of the Kennedy Center, the national cultural center of the U.S., under the second Trump administration. GRENELL LIGHTS UP SUSAN RICE FOR YEARS OF FAILED DEM FOREIGN POLICES THAT LED TO WAR: ‘WE SEE YOU’ Grenell’s name has been floated for other high-profile roles under the second Trump administration, such as a potential replacement for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations after Republican New York Rep. Elise Stefanik withdrew her name in March to retain her seat in the House. Grenell, however, said he was a “hard no” on serving in the U.N. ambassador role. Trump previously named Stefanik as his pick for ambassador to the U.N. but announced March 27 that she withdrew her nomination to “remain in Congress to help me deliver Historic Tax Cuts, GREAT Jobs, Record Economic Growth, a Secure Border, Energy Dominance, Peace Through Strength.” STEFANIK UNDERCUTS SPEAKER JOHNSON IN STUNNING PUBLIC HOUSE GOP SPAT “With a very tight Majority, I don’t want to take a chance on anyone else running for Elise’s seat,” he added. “The people love Elise and, with her, we have nothing to worry about come Election Day. There are others that can do a good job at the United Nations.” Stefanik is a fierce Trump ally, who notably grilled Ivy League college administrators from Penn and Harvard, her alma mater, in December 2023 regarding whether “calling for the genocide of Jews” violates the respective school’s codes of conduct. Trump potentially selecting Stefanik as a replacement for Waltz, however, would leave the Republican House majority vulnerable to an even tighter margin if Stefanik left her New York seat.
Former Russian president calls Ukraine ‘a disappearing country’ and notes ‘Trump’s ratings have gone down’
Russian Security Council Deputy Chair Dmitry Medvedev, a former Russian president, referred to Ukraine as “a disappearing country” in a post on Telegram. “But Trump has finally broken the Kiev regime into paying for American aid with minerals. Now they will have to pay for military supplies with the national wealth of a disappearing country,” Medvedev said, according to a Google translation of part of his post. The Russian official also noted President Donald Trump‘s ratings have declined. “And the US Senate, led by Republicans, is preparing to introduce more ‘crushing sanctions’ against us. Let’s see how the new administration responds. Trump’s ratings have gone down, the ‘deep state’ is putting up fierce resistance to him,” Medvedev declared. FOX NEWS POLL: THE FIRST 100 DAYS OF PRESIDENT TRUMP’S SECOND TERM A Fox News Poll of registered voters last month indicated that Trump’s job approval rating had slipped to 44% from the 49% it had been in a March poll – both polls had a margin of sampling error of plus or minus three percentage points. The U.S. has doled out billions of dollars worth of aid to support Ukraine as that Eastern European nation has been at war with Russia, but Trump has been aiming to help broker a peace deal between the two nations. The U.S. and Ukraine struck an agreement this week that both sides describe as mutually beneficial. “This partnership between the United States and Ukraine establishes a fund that will receive 50% of royalties, license fees, and other similar payments from natural resource projects in Ukraine,” the White House noted. “That money will be invested in new projects in Ukraine, which will generate long term returns for both the American and Ukrainian peoples.” UKRAINE SIGNS DEAL TO GIVE US ACCESS TO RARE MINERALS WITH TRUMP ADMIN ‘COMMITTED TO A PEACE PROCESS’: BESSENT Yulia Svyrydenko, Ukraine’s first deputy prime minister and minister of economy, discussed the deal in a thread on X. “The United States will contribute to the Fund. In addition to direct financial contributions, it may also provide NEW assistance – for example, air defense systems for Ukraine,” she noted in one of the posts comprising the thread. FOR PUTIN, ‘US IS THE MAIN ENEMY,’ ESTONIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS “Ukraine will contribute 50% of state budget revenues from NEW rent on NEW licenses for NEW areas. Ukraine may also make additional contributions beyond this baseline if it chooses. This is cooperation designed to last for decades,” she added in another tweet.