‘Christ is King’ under siege: Evangelicals warn phrase is being weaponized by hate groups
Leaders of a prominent research institute focused on identifying and predicting trends in misinformation said evangelical leaders are united in reclaiming the phrase “Christ is King” from far-right and far-left entities seeking to twist its meaning. The Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI) at Rutgers, which recently published studies showing how DEI training can fuel hostility and how political assassinations are gaining support online, was early in scientifically measuring the trend of online extremists hijacking the phrase, “Christ is King.” “We were looking at a lot of different kinds of heated languages and arguments and this sort of look online for threat-actors in general,” the authors of a new March report told Fox News Digital. “We noted that prevalence of the use of the term and a mismatch of the actors that were using it, that just didn’t make any sense. And we want to understand, like, what is the origin of this? Where did it come from?” VANCE SAYS ‘JESUS IS KING’ AT WISCONSIN RALLY Actors like Nick Fuentes, a far-right Holocaust denier and podcaster, were co-opting “Christ the King” to unify behind what they considered their righteous political mission, authors of the report said. The institute said “Christ the King” resurged with Pope Pius XI’s 1925 institution of The Feast of Christ the King in response to nationalist and Communist ideologies undermining Christianity’s role in the West. Instead of being the “spiritual guide,” the phrase has been co-opted by both human and “bot” actors to rally behind ideals counter to Judeo-Christianity. “What was really fascinating is that the NCRI folks were in real-time tracking the bot activity,” said Rev. Johnnie Moore, a former commissioner for the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. “The question was how much of this vicious, virulent antisemitism that emerged when we published the report were these bot-nets – It was north of 30% of all the activity … were these antisemitic bot-networks latching onto [Christ is King.]” Canadian psychologist-commentator Dr. Jordan Peterson, who co-authored the report, said after the study was released in March, “the narcissists, hedonists and psychopaths occupy the fringes wherever they obtain power.” “[A]nd using God’s name, attempt to subvert the power of the divine to their own devices. A warning – not everyone who says “Lord, Lord,” will enter the Kingdom of Heaven.” FEAST OF CHRIST THE KING SERVES AS INVITATION TO OPEN WIDE THE DOORS TO OUR HEART TO GOD, SAYS PRIEST The report found evidence of mass “manipulation tactics” and, beginning in 2021, more than 50% of engagements were driven by “extremist influencers” like Fuentes and kickboxer-turned-commentator Andrew Tate. Moore noted Thursday that in addition to NCRI’s findings, evidence also surfaced after antisemitic protests exploded in New York and Los Angeles that there were reported social engagement connections to the Chinese Communist Party. “It’s quite clear that people are trying to steal this phrase from us, and we’re saying no, it’s a Christian phrase,” Moore said. “You sure as anything can’t use it to spread hate against Jews.” Moore, who had just left the White House’s Easter Dinner, where he said the administration also welcomed religion back to the sociopolitical fore, added that no matter how hard fringe elements try to co-opt Judeo-Christian slogans, the bloc is a force to be reckoned with. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP He added that those on the far-right who believe their antisemitic tenets with a Christian-like righteousness often forget “there’s no Christianity without Judaism.” “They’re losing their battle to Christianize antisemitism, because there’s just a sheer amount of Evangelicals in every country… we’re all pro-Israel. Evangelical leader Robert Stearns said that Christians must not let “extremists hijack what belongs to God – ‘Christ is King’ is a cry of worship, not war.” Meanwhile, Princeton jurisprudence professor Robby George told Fox News Digital that when you hear the phrase as a Christian, the proper response is, “Amen.” “But if you hear someone say the same words as an antisemitic taunt, the correct reply is, ‘I stand with our Jewish brothers and sisters.’ Don’t be played,” the Catholic influencer said. “What will happen at Easter is there will be countless millions of Christians all around the world that will be saying these words, and they only mean one thing, and it will drown out all of these people trying to steal our words to spread their hate,” Moore added.
California career politician Barbara Lee wins mayor race in embattled Oakland
Former Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., defeated former Oakland City Council member Loren Taylor in Oakland’s special election for mayor, following months of uncertainty for the struggling city. While Taylor made inroads as a relative political outsider with campaign finance reports revealing he outraised the career California politician, Lee was ultimately triumphant following Friday’s ranked choice tallies. The race for mayor had been too close to call on Tuesday night following Oakland’s April 15 special election as Taylor maintained a slight lead over Lee, with just over a thousand more votes in his favor. Oakland follows a ranked choice voting system, where candidates with the least votes are eliminated as voters’ backup choices get a boost in the tally. The liberal-run city has had four different mayors in a four-month period after Mayor Sheng Thao was recalled this November and subsequently indicted on eight counts of bribery. Oakland has been without a clear leader this year as the city continues to grapple with ongoing crises. ‘FED UP’: EMBATTLED BLUE CITY’S FUTURE HANGS IN THE BALANCE AHEAD OF MAYORAL SPECIAL ELECTION Taylor’s campaign to finish out Thao’s term was aimed at shaking up the political “status quo” and restoring Oaklanders’ faith in their politicians after months of uncertainty. Taylor’s policy platform highlighted public safety initiatives, budget stabilization to avoid bankruptcy, anti-corruption and increased efficiency at City Hall, tackling homelessness and boosting the local economy. CALIFORNIA CITY’S MASSIVE $130M DEFICIT THREATENS DANGEROUS CUTS TO ITS FIREFIGHTING CAPACITY There were 5,490 homeless individuals in Oakland in 2024, a 9% increase since 2022, according to Alameda County Health’s January 2024 Point-in-Time (PIT) report. While the Oakland Police Department reported a decrease in violent crime in 2024, 2025 began with a crime surge, including five recorded homicides within a 48-hour period. By Jan. 3, The San Francisco Chronicle reported Oakland’s third homicide of the year and seventh since Dec. 30, 2024. Oakland’s staggering $129.8 million budget deficit for Fiscal Year 2024-25 forced some Oakland firehouses to close their doors earlier this year, but the City Council was able to pass a resolution to reopen those firehouses earlier this year. “Oaklanders are frustrated,” Taylor told Fox News Digital in an interview ahead of the special election. “We are upset that we have not been getting what we deserve, what we should be getting from our local government. The status quo continues to fail us when we see crime rates rising out of control, we see homelessness still growing when it’s shrinking in neighboring cities, we see our city facing the largest fiscal budget deficit in our history – a number of failures that show that what we have is not working.” Lee touted a long list of political endorsements during her campaign and had the name recognition that landed her a victory. She lost the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate last year to her former colleague in the House, Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif. “Barbara Lee is meeting voters every day in their living rooms, at their doors and at community events. She hears their priorities loud and clear – she is running to be a mayor who can make Oakland safer, address the fiscal crisis and root out corruption. That is why her 100-day plan tackles public safety, homelessness, good governance and economic opportunity head on,” a spokesperson for Lee’s campaign told Fox News Digital ahead of the special election. Lee vowed to bring a “fresh perspective” to Oakland’s City Hall, and she accused Taylor of helping “make the bad decisions that shaped the city.”
Indiana takes first action in long-shot plan to acquire parts of Illinois
Indiana is taking a first step toward a rather unlikely effort to amend its border and acquire parts of Illinois. The legislature in the Hoosier State passed a bill last week to establish the Indiana-Illinois Boundary Adjustment Commission that would recommend whether to alter the border between the two states. Indiana Gov. Mike Braun, a Republican, plans to sign the measure into law, his office said on Friday. The governor will then face a Sept. 1 deadline to schedule the commission’s first meeting. CONSERVATIVE PORTION OF BLUE STATE LOOKING TO BREAK OFF AND JOIN NEIGHBORING RED STATE This comes as residents of some counties in Illinois seek to separate from the densely populated and deep blue Chicago area. But despite support from the Indiana government and the people in the Illinois counties that would change states, the Illinois government and the U.S. Congress would need to approve the plan to change state boundaries. Illinois’ top elected officials do not support the idea. A companion bill in Illinois authorizing the state to participate in the commission to change the border has not received a hearing in an Illinois House committee. Democrat Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker also described the Indiana measure earlier this year as “a stunt.” Minor boundary changes between states are not a new idea, as there have been at least 50 in U.S. history, according to the National Center for Interstate Compacts at The Council of State Governments. However, no major changes have been implemented since the Civil War era, when some counties in Virginia separated to create West Virginia. The current effort to change the border between Illinois and Indiana is fueled in part by political divisions. The Chicago area is controlled by Democrats and, given the area’s large population, the party also controls the state government, while Republicans represent many other parts of Illinois. The Indiana government, meanwhile, is controlled by Republicans. NY LAWMAKER CALLS FOR STATEN ISLAND TO SECEDE In the last five years, voters in 33 Illinois counties have approved ballot measures asking if they want to consider separating from Cook County, a county that includes Chicago, to form a new state. But the initiative does not necessarily mean they would join Indiana, if given the opportunity. A similar effort is ongoing in eastern Oregon, as some counties in that Democrat-controlled state want to break away and join Republican-led Idaho. The Idaho House approved a measure two years ago allowing Oregon to enter into discussions, but similar measures have not moved forward as they remain stuck in committees in the Oregon legislature. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Rap sheets, photos of suspected Tren de Aragua gang members Trump admin tried to deport before SCOTUS ruling
The Trump administration on Saturday released the rap sheets and photos of alleged Tren de Aragua (TdA) gang members detained in Texas who the administration is trying to deport. The suspects of the violent Venezuelan gang were going to be deported using the recently reinstated Alien Enemies Act of 1798 before the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) ruled Saturday morning against deportations under the 18th century law. In a decision in favor of the American Civil Liberties Union, the administration was barred from removing Venezuelans held in Texas’ Bluebonnet Detention Center “until further order of this court.” Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito dissented from the majority opinion. 5 ALLEGED TREN DE ARAGUA GANG MEMBERS CHARGED IN RETAIL THEFTS, INCLUDING 1 SEEN SOBBING IN POLICE INTERVIEW SCOTUS previously ruled the president could conduct deportations under the Alien Enemies Act as long as suspected illegal aliens were afforded due process to challenge their removal from the U.S. “These are some of the TdA gang members detained in Texas that we are trying to deport,” a senior Trump official told Fox News. TdA, designated a foreign terrorist organization Feb. 20 by the Department of State, has thousands of members, many of whom the White House says have unlawfully infiltrated the U.S. and are “undertaking hostile actions against the United States.” Photos released by the administration of suspected TdA members who made the list show various tattoos, weapons, jewelry and money. Officials also noted each suspected member’s prior criminal convictions and current charges. Here are some of the Bluebonnet Detention Center inmates the White House claims are Venezuelan citizens and confirmed TdA members who would have been deported: Romero-Gonzalez has pending criminal charges for three counts of assault, crimes against a person and unlawful possession of a weapon, according to officials. Photos appear to show Romero-Gonzalez in a sports car with an expensive watch and a large amount of cash, various tattoos. In one photo, Romero-Gonzalez is holding a gun while wearing a reflective work vest. SUPREME COURT BLOCKS NEW DEPORTATIONS OF VENEZUELANS IN TEXAS UNDER 18TH CENTURY ALIEN ENEMIES ACT Parades-Worwa is facing criminal charges for aggravated assault with a weapon and pointing and presenting guns at a person, according to the Trump administration. Photos appear to show a number of Parades-Worwa’s tattoos. Andrade-Vargas is facing criminal charges for larceny and dangerous drugs, according to officials. Photos appear to show various tattoos, including one above Andrade-Vargas’ left eyebrow. JUSTICE KAGAN DENIES EMERGENCY APPEAL TO HALT DEPORTATION OF MEXICAN NATIONALS CLAIMING ASYLUM FROM CARTEL Rosales-Ceballos was convicted of criminal flight to avoid prosecution. He has also been charged with alien smuggling and resisting an officer. A photo appears to show a large tattoo on Rosales-Ceballos’ neck behind his right ear. Rendon-Garcia is facing criminal charges for drug possession and possession of dangerous drugs, according to the Trump administration. Photos appear to show one of Rendon-Garcia’s tattoos with a date below it. Daza-Segura was convicted of criminal burglary and larceny, according to officials. Photos appear to show various tattoos, including “VIDA” on Daza-Segura’s knuckles. Rodriguez-Tovar has multiple criminal convictions including hit-and-run, battery, possession of stolen property, driving under the influence and shoplifting, according to the Trump administration. He also has pending charges for battery, resisting an officer, simple assault and driving under the influence. Photos appear to show an electronic device with “T.D.A.” and “Venezuela” written on it. Omana is facing criminal charges for aggravated assault with a weapon, according to officials. Photos appear to show social media posts of Omana holding a gun and throwing up alleged gang signs. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Cardenas-Bravo is facing criminal charges for aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, child neglect with great bodily harm, resisting an officer with violence, domestic violence battery, carrying a concealed gun and possession of a gun during the commission of a felony, according to the Trump administration.
JD Vance has ‘exchange of opinions’ on issues like deportations during meeting with top Vatican official
Vice President JD Vance met with the Vatican’s No. 2 official Saturday in Rome, and the pair had an “exchange of opinions” on international issues, including migrants and deportations under the Trump administration. “There was an exchange of opinions on the international situation, especially regarding countries affected by war, political tensions and difficult humanitarian situations, with particular attention to migrants, refugees and prisoners,” a statement from the Vatican said after the meeting. “Finally, hope was expressed for serene collaboration between the state and the Catholic Church in the United States, whose valuable service to the most vulnerable people was acknowledged.” Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019, met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s secretary of state, and Archbishop Paul Gallagher, its foreign minister. VP VANCE SHARES SPECIAL MESSAGE TO AILING POPE FRANCIS AMID BREATHING CRISIS He and Parolin “discussed their shared religious faith, Catholicism in the United States, the plight of persecuted Christian communities around the world and President Trump’s commitment to restoring world peace,” Vance’s office said. Pope Francis has cut back his official meetings since a bout with double pneumonia. The Vatican has clashed with the Trump administration over its deportation push, but the Holy See affirmed its good relations with the United States after the meeting. The vice president’s Vatican meeting Saturday is part of an official trip to Italy and India. Vance, with second lady Usha Vance and their two young children, arrived in Rome Friday, and he met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. “I’m grateful every day for this job, but particularly today, where my official duties have brought me to Rome on Good Friday,” the 40-year-old wrote on his X account Friday. “I had a great meeting with Prime Minister Meloni and her team, and will head to church soon with my family in this beautiful city. I wish all Christians all over the world, but particularly those back home in the US, a blessed Good Friday. He died so that we might live.” JD VANCE SOUNDS OFF ON DEPORTATION, ‘RATIFICATION OF BIDEN’S ILLEGAL MIGRANT INVASION’ VIA ‘FAKE LEGAL PROCESS’ The meeting came a day after President Trump met with Meloni at the White House to discuss a trade deal. U.S. Bishop Robert Barron, who, along with being bishop of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester in Minnesota, is also an online evangelist and founder of Word on Fire Ministries, told Fox News Digital he “was pleased to hear that Vice President JD Vance met with Cardinal Parolin and Archbishop Gallagher at the Vatican. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “American Catholics will appreciate that our Catholic Vice President was received with such a warm welcome. I’m sure that among the many topics they addressed were immigration and the war in the Ukraine, both of which are top of mind for both the Holy See and the United States. “The Vice President, as a Catholic, shares a common faith with his Vatican interlocutors, but also a common language in Catholic social teaching, which brings to bear into political and cultural realities moral and theological principles, insights and recommendations.” The vice president is expected to leave Italy for India, the second leg of his trip, on Monday, where he’ll meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
US senator blasts president of Mexico, says toxic sewage dump threatens ‘national security’
FIRST ON FOX: United States Senator Tim Sheehy, R-Montana, called out Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum in a scathing letter addressing the large amount of raw sewage and waste the neighboring country has dumped in the Tijuana River. The letter outlines Sheehy’s concern not only for the health and safety of local residents, but also points out that the toxic leak could potentially be jeopardizing U.S. national security. “This continuous discharge is sickening thousands of Americans annually, including U.S. Navy SEALs and Marine special forces who train in the affected waters,” the letter to the president of Mexico reads. “In February 2025, the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General concluded that, absent action, Navy Special Warfare Command would be advised to cancel or relocate up to 75 percent of water training exercises at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado due to elevated bacterial contamination levels.” EPA CHIEF TAKES ON MEXICAN ‘SEWAGE CRISIS’ FLOWING INTO US WATERS WHERE NAVY SEALS TRAIN Last week, the International Boundary and Water Commission stated that Mexico is dumping 5 million gallons of sewage a day into the Tijuana rRver. The toxic waste then flows up into the United States, and can even make its way into the Pacific Ocean. “For decades, Mexico has been dumping toxic waste into the water where our most elite servicemen train, causing serious health issues and harming our readiness,” Sheehy told Fox News Digital. “The problem is only getting worse, and their failure to do anything about it is harming our troops and our national security. Mexico needs to put a stop to this toxic tide immediately.” While Sheehy is sounding the alarm from Congress, local leaders have also confirmed that the Mexican government’s intentional waste dump has left residents with dangerous and harmful environmental conditions. SCOOP: BIDEN-ERA GRANT PROGRAM DESCRIBED AS ‘GOLD BAR’ SCHEME BY TRUMP EPA ADMINISTRATOR UNDER SCRUTINY ARMY TAKES CONTROL OF FEDERAL LAND ALONG NEW MEXICO BORDER TO INCREASE SECURITY, PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT “This sewage isn’t just disgusting — it’s dangerous. It contains E. coli, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, arsenic and other toxic chemicals,” San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond explained in a recent Fox News op-ed. “Our water is contaminated. Our air is polluted with aerosolized waste. Residents are reporting everything from skin infections to viral pharyngitis — and even family pets have gotten sick after exposure.” Next Tuesday, Fox News Digital reported that EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin is very aware of the issue, and intends to visit a local treatment facility in San Diego to assess the harmful flow of poisonous waste entering the U.S. from Mexico. A source close to Zeldin told Fox that this is a top priority for President Donald Trump’s environmental leader. GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE “We have heard far too many horror stories of Navy SEALs – some of the bravest and brightest service members in the military – falling ill from training in waters that have been contaminated by Mexican sewage that has flown into our nation,” Zeldin told Fox on Friday. “This has been a human health crisis that has lingered for decades.”
College president whose school takes no fed funding says Harvard ‘could make it on their own’ after Trump cuts
The president of a prominent Christian college in Michigan reacted Thursday to President Donald Trump’s battle with Harvard University — and the billions it stands to lose due to a federal funding freeze over its response to on-campus antisemitism. “We all have a right to free speech, but if you join the academic community, you don’t get to say whatever you want. You can’t go to physics class and talk about English Lit. Also, you can’t spit on people because they’re Jews or denounce them… because that breaks down the friendship that is necessary to the partnership of a college,” Hillsdale College President Larry Arnn told Fox News Digital in an interview. “Now, having said that, of course — you shouldn’t say ‘dirty Jew.’ It’s perfectly legitimate to say, ‘I don’t agree with it.’ But to say, ‘Israel took that land, and they don’t have a right to it,’ and the response would be, ‘OK, see if you can prove that.’ That’s an academic undertaking,” he said. TRUMP ADMIN SLASHES OVER $2.2B IN FUNDING TO HARVARD AFTER SCHOOL DEFIES DEMANDS “Shouting, preventing people from going to class, threatening them personally. That breaks down the academic community. They shouldn’t be doing that. And it’s, you know, because the [1964] Civil Rights Act is written in a certain way; if they permit that kind of activity, Harvard is in violation of that act, and that act applies to every organization in America.” A college, being an incubator of learning, should especially be an organization to prohibit such virulent behavior outright, Arnn added. 5 CONTROVERSIES EMBROILING HARVARD UNIVERSITY AS TRUMP SEEKS TO CUT FUNDING Earlier this month, the Trump antisemitism task force froze $2 billion in grants to Harvard, and Trump later floated stripping its tax-exempt status after the school’s administration released a statement saying it would not comply with demands. Arnn said that, antisemitic behavior or not, there are thousands of stipulations a college must agree to in order to receive funding from the federal Department of Education. “The government has changed so much since 1960, and it’s all over everything now, including education. And Harvard doesn’t like some recent things it’s been demanded to do, but it’s obeying hundreds of pages of rules that are detailed, and they have to comply with because they have a lot of money from the government,” he said. “So the obvious solution would be, don’t take the money from the government, which is what we do,” he said, referring to Hillsdale. Arnn said Hillsdale, founded in the mid-19th century in part by friends of then-Illinois attorney Abraham Lincoln, has never been as wealthy as Harvard but remains an exceptional institution. “The fact that they are defending [themselves] is good, and maybe they should have the complete courage of their convictions and just give [the funding] up,” he said. If the frozen funds account for the school’s annual federal contribution, it would calculate to $90,000 per student, Arnn added, noting the school also has a large endowment. “Maybe they could make it on their own,” he said. “Every transaction at Hillsdale College… is a voluntary transaction… [N]obody comes here unless they want to, they have to sign an honor code to come.” Arnn compared Hillsdale’s connections to a politically budding Lincoln to Harvard’s title as the oldest college in the country, and Princeton University’s ties to Founding Fathers like President James Madison. “If James Madison had come to college here, I would never shut up about it, right? Frederick Douglass spoke on our campus twice. I never shut up about that,” he said. Arnn cited how the first Trump administration investigated Princeton after figures there publicized its supposed racist structures. “[Madison] personally took pride in the fact they had kept the word ‘slave’ out of the Constitution, because although they had to make a compromise and not abolish it in certain ways, and that compromise is for a very big reason,” he said. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “The problem is, we have a set of principles that are perfect, but we will never serve them perfectly,” said Arnn. “[T]he attempt to do so can do a lot of harm depending on what the attempt is.” “My suggestion [to Harvard] would be to go in the right direction. It’s written in your own history. And you should probably do it with your own resources if you don’t like bureaucrats in Washington telling you what to do,” he said. In a statement, Harvard President Alan Garber said Harvard will “not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights,” and “no government… should dictate what private universities can teach, who they can admit and hire…”
Republican changes Van Hollen’s office plaque after Dem’s visit to El Salvador
Rep. Mike Collins, R-Ga., claimed in a post on X that he altered the name plaque outside the office of Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md. The Republican lawmaker’s post included a photo in which the plaque outside Van Hollen’s office says that he represents El Salvador. OREGON LAWMAKER LATEST DEMOCRAT TO VISIT EL SALVADOR FOR DEPORTED ILLEGAL MIGRANT ABREGO GARCIA “Hey [Sen. Van Hollen], I went ahead and changed your office plaque for you,” Collins wrote. Collins has repeatedly criticized Van Hollen for traveling to El Salvador to meet with accused MS-13 member and illegal immigrant Kilmar Abrego-Garcia. In another post on X, Collins slammed Van Hollen as “traitorous.” Additionally, when Van Hollen first announced his trip to El Salvador, Collins responded by saying, “If you’re going to advocate harder for illegal gang members than you do American citizens, don’t come back.” Abrego-Garcia’s deportation sparked an uproar among Democrats, many of whom say that the El Salvadorian national was a hard-working Maryland resident whose right to due process was violated. KILMAR ABREGO-GARCIA SUSPECTED OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN REPORT OBTAINED BY FOX NEWS However, Abrego-Garcia, who entered the U.S. illegally in 2011, remained in the country unlawfully despite being issued a deportation order back in 2019. Prince George’s County Police Gang Unit identified Abrego-Garcia as a member of the notorious Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) gang in 2019, according to Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). The HSI report also noted that Abrego-Garcia was suspected of human trafficking after a Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper encountered him in December 2022. According to the HSI report, on Dec. 1, 2022, a Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper stopped Abrego-Garcia after he was “observed speeding,” and noticed eight individuals in the vehicle, but no luggage. Abrego-Garcia said he began driving three days prior from Houston, Texas, to Temple Hills, Md., so the individuals could “perform construction work.” Additionally, the individuals in the car reportedly gave the same address as Abrego-Garica’s home. The report states that the trooper suspected it was a human trafficking incident. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP This past week, President Donald Trump hosted Angel Mom Patty Morin, a Maryland resident, at the White House. Morin’s daughter, Rachel, was beaten, raped and killed in Maryland by an illegal migrant from El Salvador in 2023. Patty Morin claims Van Hollen never contacted her after Rachel’s murder. Fox News Digital reached out to Rep. Collins’ office for comment.
GOP gubernatorial candidate in key state touts record in race against Ramaswamy: ‘Results, not just rhetoric’
WASHINGTON, DC – Ohio Republican Attorney General Dave Yost, who is running for governor against tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy in the primary, spoke to Fox News Digital about his campaign and what he sees as the key difference between the two campaigns. “We do agree on an awful lot of things,” Yost, who was in Washington to celebrate with the national champion Ohio State Buckeyes college football team at the White House, told Fox News Digital about the gubernatorial race. “The difference is that I’m running on a record of results, not just rhetoric.” Part of that record, Yost explained, is his time as the state auditor in Ohio, where he helped uncover $260 million of efficiency savings. SCOOP: RAMASWAMY SCORES ENDORSEMENT FROM A POWERFUL HOUSE MEMBER IN OHIO GOVERNOR RUN “I was DOGE before DOGE was cool,” Yost said, adding later that “virtually nobody” he talks to in Ohio is opposed to the fraud and waste spending that is taking place with DOGE amid vocal Democratic pushback. Yost also touted his record on crime and public corruption as the state’s attorney general since 2019 and suggested his experience differentiates him from Ramaswamy. “We’ve been fighting for the Constitution, for the rights of Ohioans, fighting public corruption,” Yost said. “More than 170 people have gone to jail because of my work and the work of my team. So, we’ve been in the trenches. We don’t need on-the-job training, and I think that that record of results is going to make a difference for Ohioans.” OHIO COLLEGE ‘ILLEGALLY FORCING STUDENTS’ TO SHARE BATHROOMS WITH OPPOSITE SEX: WATCHDOG Recent polling shows that Ramaswamy, who has been endorsed by President Trump, Elon Musk, Rep. Jim Jordan and others, holds a commanding lead in the race, but Yost remains optimistic. “Obviously, there’s a long way to go, but I love Ohio,” Yost said. “I’ve been getting back out and talking with folks. The reception has been amazing. People are eager for a new America First kind of leadership in Ohio. And I am really excited about where we’re heading.” One specific issue that Yost believes he has been clearer on where he stands is the death penalty. “I don’t know where my opponent is on that,” Yost said. “He hasn’t spoken about it. I imagine that that’s why we have campaigns, and we’ll find out. But look, I support the death penalty.” Yost explained that “safeguards” must be used, and he emphasized that there are “no do-overs” but said that “we need” the death penalty. “What do you do with a guy who’s serving life without parole and then he kills a prison guard or a cook inside?” Yost said. “A family loses a loved one because of this murder. Was that a freebie? What, are we gonna give them another life sentence? So, at least in that circumstance, we need to have the death penalty, and then we’re just arguing about when we use it.” “But the death penalty is not working in Ohio right now. We haven’t abolished it. We still have the promise of it out there as the ultimate justice. We haven’t executed anyone since 2018. The average time that somebody on death row has been waiting for their date with justice is 22 years. That’s not due process, it’s overdue process, and we need to either man up and say, okay, we’re not gonna do this anymore, or we need to go about following the law and bringing the 116 people on death row to their date with justice.” A person close to the Ramaswamy campaign told Fox News Digital that the team is “looking forward to helping Dave Yost be successful in his next venture, whatever he chooses to do.” Another local issue in Ohio that Yost told Fox News Digital he is concerned about is the recent push by professional sports teams to secure taxpayer funds for stadiums. Yost expressed concerns about taxpayers being on the hook for sums of several hundred million dollars. “I’m not so sure that the taxpayers ought to be throwing tax money at these big public stadium projects,” Yost said. “I mean, those bonds, those taxes are going to be paid for by people that in a lot of ways can’t afford to go to a pro game. That strikes me as unfair. But beyond that, we have no limiting principle here.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “We’ve got all these different sports teams. We already have three of them now, since the Browns said we want $600 million. The Bengals come forward, and they want $350 million, and FC Cincinnati is saying, ‘Well, what about us?’ And pretty soon, we’re spending billions of dollars on sports stadiums that are used in one town a few days a year, when we could be spending that money on any number of other things, whether we’re talking about roads, bridges, economic development, whether we’re talking schools, or we’re talking about tax cuts. None of this makes sense to me. We at least need a plan and a limit. Right now, it looks like the candy store is just open.” Fox News Digital asked Yost what he hears most often when he travels the state talking to voters, and he said that the economy and “kitchen table” issues are most prevalent, but pointed out that Trump’s tariff policies, which have been much maligned by the Democrats, are more popular than the media lets on. “Right now, everybody’s watching as the world economy is being reordered, and unlike what I’m hearing from the disaster predicted by the elite press on the coasts, it’s a much different situation on the ground in Ohio,” Yost said. “I talk to a lot of businesses that think that this is going to be good for them, that the fair and reciprocal kinds of trade are going to bring a new resurgence to Ohio and to their industries, even though they see some pain and that’s what everybody’s talking
Global church network pushes ‘climate justice’ narrative during Holy Week: ‘Moral imperative’
FIRST ON FOX: One of the world’s leading liberal ecumenical Christian organizations published a post during Holy Week promoting climate change activism, sparking criticism from some experts who spoke to Fox News Digital. “Training shows climate justice a moral imperative for churches,” a post on the World Council of Churches website said on Monday as the billions of Christians worldwide began observing Holy Week and commemorating the seven days leading up to Easter. The post stated: “Exploring how churches can do more for climate justice, the World Council of Churches (WCC), in cooperation with the National Council of Churches in Bangladesh, organized a climate litigation training in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on 11 April.” In a Thursday post on X, WCC again spoke about climate change saying, “Climate crisis isn’t siloed—neither should our solutions be. At a joint seminar in India, experts push for a nexus approach to land, water & food justice.” FLASHBACK: BIDEN PROCLAIMED TRANS DAY OF VISIBILITY IN 2024 THAT COINCIDED WITH EASTER SUNDAY “Amidst the poly-crises the world is experiencing now, the role of churches and other faith actors in terms of our contributions to climate justice is more important than ever,” WCC general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr. Jerry Pillay said in Bangladesh. “Our moral voice is necessary for the urgently needed system changes.” Last week, WCC announced that it has “debuted its new resource on legal tools for climate justice, the focus was on hope for children—a hope strongly backed by knowledge on how churches can hold financial actors accountable for their role in perpetuating the climate crisis.” Fox News Digital reached out to WCC for comment. Dan Turner, founder and executive director of Power The Future, likened the climate change push to Christianity’s “long history of a battle against paganism.” “It is unsurprising that neo-pagans hide behind climate change to pollute religion and push their agenda,” Turner said. “The most Christian countries have the cleanest air and water, and the greatest respect for the Earth.” EASTER AND PASSOVER FOODS THAT AMERICANS MOST LIKE AND DISLIKE, ACCORDING TO NEW DATA Gabriella Hoffman, Independent Women’s Forum Center for Energy & Conservation Director, told Fox News Digital that it is not “uncommon” for religious institutions to preach the “biblical” teaching of “stewardship of the land” but that climate justice “strays from this teaching by encouraging its adherents to reject positive human interactions with nature.” “They believe nature supersedes the needs of people. Both interests can be balanced and not at odds with each other,” Hoffman said. Steve Cortes, founder of the League of American Workers and a Senior Advisor for Catholic Vote, told Fox News Digital, “During Holy Week, the church should be focused on reflecting on Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, instead of advancing climate hysteria. The church should be spreading the Gospel, not advance divisive legal battles that amplify fear over faith.” The WCC, which claims 352 member church bodies from more than 120 countries, representing over 580 million Christians worldwide, has a long history of political activism on behalf of liberal causes. The organization has “established several highly biased and politicized subgroups,” according to NGO Monitor, some of which have been linked to anti-Israel efforts and BDS activities. Last year, the WCC issued a statement in support of the International Criminal Court’s controversial decision to issue an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in response to the fallout from the October 7th terror attack. Shortly after that attack, the WCC issued a statement calling for “underscor[ing] the necessity of addressing the root causes of the current conflict, which are deeply intertwined with decades of occupation, prolonged sieges on Gaza, and the systematic violation of fundamental human rights.”