Senate progressive accuses Trump of ‘mafia-style blackmail’ in shutdown fight
A Senate Democrat ripped President Donald Trump for a recently released memo that detailed mass firings in the event of a shutdown, and accused the president of engaging in “mafia-style blackmail.” Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., railed against the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) memo sent to federal agencies this week that outlined a plan to reduce employees across the government beyond those that are typically furloughed. While the House passed a short-term funding extension last week, Senate Republicans and Democrats are at odds over the bill. The deadline to fund the government is Sept. 30, and so far, no progress has been made to reach an agreement to keep the lights on. Van Hollen charged that Trump “is engaged in mafia-style blackmail, with his threats ultimately harming the American people,” and likened the OMB’s memo to actions taken by tech billionaire Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency earlier this year that led to tens of thousands of federal employees being either fired or incentivized to retire or take a buyout. WHITE HOUSE TELLS FEDERAL AGENCIES TO PREPARE LAYOFF PLANS AS GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN LOOMS “He is threatening to double down on the failed actions of Elon Musk and his chainsaw — going after patriotic civil servants that provide Americans with critical services — despite having to rehire many of these workers after Americans experienced the negative impact of those cuts,” he said. “These dedicated workers have nothing to do with the ongoing political and policy disputes that have brought us to the brink of a shutdown,” Van Hollen continued. “These threats are not only an attack on Americans’ services and benefits, they’re also likely illegal. We’ll be fighting back with every tool we have.” Van Hollen’s ire comes as the Trump administration is gearing up for mass firings beyond the standard furloughs in a government shutdown. TRUMP CANCELS MEETING WITH SCHUMER, JEFFRIES OVER ‘RIDICULOUS DEMANDS’ AS FUNDING DEADLINE LOOMS The OMB’s memo, obtained by Fox News Digital, directed that in the event lawmakers cannot pass a funding extension, or continuing resolution (CR) by the deadline, agencies should “use this opportunity to consider Reduction in Force (RIF) notices for all employees” in programs that have no other available funding source and that don’t comport with Trump’s priorities. “RIF notices will be in addition to any furlough notices provided due to the lapse in appropriation,” the memo read, and would be issued “regardless of whether the employee is excepted or furloughed during the lapse in appropriations.” TRUMP-APPROVED PLAN TO AVERT GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN SCUTTLED BY SENATE Lawmakers are set to return to Washington on Monday, just a day before the deadline to fund the government. Senate Democrats blocked the GOP’s CR last week, and demanded a seat at the table to negotiate with congressional Republican leaders and Trump. However, Republicans have pushed back against Democrats’ counter-proposal as unserious, and are unwilling to budge on a laundry list of items tossed into their CR, which included permanently extending expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies, repealing the healthcare section of Trump’s “big, beautiful bill,” and clawing back canceled funding for NPR and PBS. A meeting between Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., and Trump was set for Thursday, but the president canceled, and accused Democrats of “ridiculous” demands in their counteroffer to the GOP’s plan.
Ousted director says America250 leaders ‘hate Trump more than they love America’ after firing for Kirk post
EXCLUSIVE: The commission planning America’s 250th birthday celebration is run by people “who hate President Trump more than they love America,” the group’s former executive director told Fox News Digital after he was fired from his job for posting on social media to mourn Charlie Kirk’s assassination. Ariel Abergel, 25, was terminated from the bipartisan America250 Commission recently for what the outfit referred to as a “security breach of a commission social-media account.” EXCLUSIVE: TRUMP’S AMERICA250 TO CREATE WORLD’S LARGEST US FLAG, TALLER THAN EMPIRE STATE BUILDING The claim of a “security breach” is “fake news,” however, a Trump administration official told Fox News Digital. “Ari always had access to the social media accounts and was posting a message honoring the memory of Charlie Kirk,” the official said. Abergel will be given a different role within the Trump administration, the official told Fox News Digital. An America250 spokesperson said the group was justified in making the move. “The U.S. Congressional Semiquincentennial Commission has terminated the employment of its Executive Director, Ari Abergel, effective immediately after he initiated a security breach of a Commission social media account, attempted to procure the resignations of multiple commissioners by misrepresenting himself as acting on behalf of Congressional leadership, and engaged in multiple other serious and repeated breaches of authority and trust,” the commission said in a statement to Fox News Digital. Abergel was appointed to the board earlier in 2025 by the Trump administration. “I was appointed to oversee America250 and execute on President Trump’s vision for America250 and on behalf of the board,” Abergel told Fox News Digital. “But the board and the president were not necessarily aligned.” TRUMP TO CREATE TASK FORCE TO PLAN ‘EXTRAORDINARY CELEBRATION’ FOR 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF AMERICA’S INDEPENDENCE The bipartisan commission is chaired by Rosie Rios, a former aide to President Barack Obama who was appointed to the group by President Joe Biden. Abergel told Fox News Digital that the commission “has been plagued by years of dysfunction, greed and cronyism.” “America250 is run by people who hate President Trump,” Abergel told Fox News Digital. “This firing is proof of that, and I wear it as a badge of honor.” Sources familiar with the situation told Fox News Digital that, before his firing, Abergel had asked Rios to release a statement that would condemn political violence following Kirk’s assassination, but Rios allegedly refused to do so. Abergel then used America250 social media channels to post a tribute to Kirk, using the commission’s Instagram account to post a photo with a caption reading: “America is in mourning. God bless Charlie Kirk.” After he posted the message, a source familiar told Fox News Digital that Abergel received a phone call from counsel for America250, threatening him with legal action on behalf of the commission for using the social media account. During the call, Abergel was accused of “theft of government property,” the source said, adding that commission leadership “took particular issue with the fact that the post mentioned God,” noting that it was “too divisive” for America250’s accounts. The next day, Abergel received a formal notice from America250 counsel informing him that his access to the office and IT systems and his email account had been revoked. He was then asked to resign but refused, the source said. The following week, Abergel was formally notified that his employment was terminated, the source said. As for the content of the post, an America250 spokesperson told Fox News Digital that the organization “is not in the business of commenting on news, no matter how horrible.” “In recent weeks, Mr. Abergel defied directives from the Commission’s executive committee, engaged in unauthorized actions related to Commission-approved programming, finances, and communications, jeopardizing the Commission’s operations and reputation,” the America250 spokesperson said in the group’s statement. “The bipartisan Commission remains committed to delivering a once-in-a-lifetime celebration for the nation’s 250th anniversary and will promptly appoint a new executive director, in consultation with the White House and Task Force 250.” An America250 spokesperson also said social media platforms and the commission’s website had been removed from Abergel’s authority. Those responsibilities were transferred to another commission employee, according to the spokesperson. “Despite that clear written directive, Ari logged into the account, changed the password and its two-factor authentication contact, effectively locking the commission out of the account,” the spokesperson said. “Ari was treated the same as any other federal employee who initiated a security breach of a government agency social media account, repeatedly defied direct orders from his employer, and misrepresented his authority in attempting to procure the resignations of multiple members of the agency’s governing body.” America250 claims Abergel’s actions were the basis for his termination, but did not provide specific examples of the alleged “insubordination and subversive behavior.” AMERICA WILL BE CELEBRATING ITS 250TH BIRTHDAY AND EVERYONE’S INVITED: ‘BE INSPIRED FOR OUR COUNTRY’S FUTURE’ But Abergel defended his work, stressing that “every major decision I made had the support of the White House, and in many cases, congressional leadership.” “There was no misrepresentation,” he said. White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly told Fox News Digital that the Trump administration is “incredibly proud of all of Ari Abergel’s work at America250 — most notably during the Army250 parade, which boldly honored the bravery and strength of our military men and women.” “Through the White House Task Force established by President Trump’s January Executive Order, we will continue to coordinate closely with America250 to ensure that all events heading into our nation’s 250th birthday are given the grand celebration our country deserves,” Kelly said. As for the commission’s relationship with the president and the Trump administration, the America250 spokesperson told Fox News Digital that America250 “is proud to have the leadership of President Trump as we prepare and plan for America’s 250th birthday milestone.” “The President and his team have been and will be great partners as we create the largest and most inspiring celebration and commemoration in our nation’s history,” the spokesperson said.
U.S. registers most outbreaks of global antisemitism in August: Watchdog report
A shocking new report has found that Jew-hatred in the U.S. dramatically spiked in August. The report from the Combat Antisemitism Movement monitored 694 antisemitic global incidents, an average of 22.4 incidents per day. The volume of antisemitism amounts to more than15.7% more incidents worldwide compared with August 2024. The United States recorded the highest number of antisemitism incidents in August, with 162 incidents. That represented a 13.3% increase from the 143 incidents recorded in July, noted the CAM report. Some telling examples cited were in Oregon, where swastikas were painted on the Jewish Museum and “Death to the IDF [Israel Defense Forces]” vandalism in St. Louis, where cars were torched. UK PUNK-RAP DUO SPARKS OUTRAGE WITH ANTI-ISRAEL CHANTS AT MAJOR MUSIC FESTIVAL CAM stated” 458 of the 694 incidents (66.3%) recorded in August involved Israel-related antisemitism, reflecting the persistent trend of anti-Zionist rhetoric and attacks directed at Jewish individuals and institutions in the ongoing aftermath of the October 7th massacre.” Anti-Zionism is defined as the rejection of the Jewish state and translates into efforts to dismantle Israel via the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions campaign (BDS) and comparisons with Hitler movement. The German and Austrian parliaments define BDS as antisemitic campaign that recalls the Nazi boycott campaign of Jewish businesses during the Holocaust. ISRAEL’S NETANYAHU RIPS IRELAND, SPAIN AND NORWAY RECOGNIZING PALESTINIAN STATEHOOD: ‘REWARD FOR TERRORISM’ The clear spike of Israel-related antisemitism in August unfolded in multiple examples, according to CAM. In Utah, a brewer built a “Dropkick a Zionist” cider. In France, a Paris air traffic controller blurted out “Free Palestine” to an El Al flight crew. In Germany, a Russian national sought to attack the Israeli embassy in Berlin. In Spain, the anti-Israel musician Bob Vylan articulated support for “armed resistance” to oppose “Israel’s genocide.” Israel and the Trump administration deny that Israel is engaged in genocidal activity. Critics argue that pro-Hamas and pro-Palestinian activists are spreading disinformation. Hamas’ charter calls for a genocide of Israel and its October 7, 2023 invasion of Israel, causing the murder of over 1,200 people and the kidnapping of more than 250, was Hamas’ attempt to destroy the Jewish state. IDF KILLS HAMAS TERRORIST IT SAYS WORKED FOR UNRWA, LED CHARGE ON REIM BOMB SHELTER MASSACRE Antisemitism on college campuses across the globe continued to proliferate. CAM noted that in August there 19 acts of antisemitism on institutions of higher learning, 14 of which unfolded in the U.S. The Trump administration launched an aggressive crackdown on academic antisemitism, in contrast to former President Joe Biden’s administration, noted observers of the world’s oldest hatred. The global surge in denial of the Holocaust also continued. Anti-Israel protesters in Sydney held signs declaring “Zionists are neo-Nazis” and “Never again means never again for anyone.” In Germany, antisemites vandalized a stone column at a Holocaust memorial in Baden-Baden in the state of Baden-Württemberg. In France, a Lyon Holocaust memorial was vandalized with the words “Free Gaza.” In the U.S., the radical left-wing and pro-Iran regime group CodePink protested outside the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. Fox News Digital has documented the global antisemitic movement on its website titled Antisemitism Exposed.
Trump admin reunites with Elon Musk in pursuit of AI dominance: ‘Benefit of the country’
FIRST ON FOX: The Trump administration agency that manages the government’s real estate holdings, procurement and technology services is partnering with Elon Musk’s xAI in a move it says will cost effectively streamline federal workflow. The General Services Administration announced on Thursday morning that federal agencies will now have access to Grok 4 and Grok 4 Fast as part of an agreement with xAI, valid until March 2027, that Musk says will make government drive innovation in government. “xAI has the most powerful AI compute and most capable AI models in the world,” Musk, co-founder and CEO of xAI, said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “Thanks to President Trump and his administration, xAI’s frontier AI is now unlocked for every federal agency empowering the U.S. Government to innovate faster and accomplish its mission more effectively than ever before,” Musk added. “We look forward to continuing to work with President Trump and his team to rapidly deploy AI throughout the government for the benefit of the country.” ARMY PUSHES BATTLEFIELD AI AS COUNTER-DRONE FIGHT TAKES CENTER STAGE Josh Gruenbaum, federal acquisition service commissioner at the General Services Administration, explained in a press release that the new widespread access to AI models is an “essential” tool not only in fulfilling Trump’s promise that the United States will win the AI race, but also for “building the efficient, accountable government that taxpayers deserve.” As part of the agreement, xAI engineers will provide full support in order to “accelerate the adoption of Grok to transform government operations.” The agreement between GSA and xAI will be effective immediately, allowing federal agencies to “begin leveraging the benefits of Grok AI models through GSA’s established procurement channels,” the GSA press release says. MEET THE EX-BIDEN APPOINTEE WHO COULD BE MAJOR FORCE AGAINST TRUMP’S AI AGENDA: ‘DOOMSAYER” Gruenbaum told Fox News Digital the AI tools being deployed are essential to the goal of aligning with Trump’s goal of modernizing government operations and winning the race with China to dominate the AI space, adding that xAI “stood out” as a strong partner that offers “world class technical talent.” “This technology could be as transformative as the internet, maybe more,” Gruenbaum said about artificial intelligence. “Right now, we’re in the human-augmentation phase, but soon agents will be able to handle tasks more independently. That raises questions of values—what data, history, and perspectives are embedded in these systems. It’s crucial that Western, American values are front and center. We need to work with allies to ensure those values shape the technology that ends up leading the world.” The agreement, the final frontier model to be unveiled as part of the GSA’s comprehensive OneGov Strategy, will also be providing agencies with an “upgrade path” to the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program, a government compliance program standardizing security measures. “‘Grok for Government’ will deliver transformational AI capabilities at $0.42 per agency for 18 months, with a dedicated engineering team ensuring mission success,” xAI cofounder Ross Nordeen said in a statement. “We will work hand in glove with the entire government to not only deploy AI, but to deeply understand the needs of our government to make America the world leader in advanced use of AI “ Gruenbaum called it “impressive” from a “milestone perspective” how “quickly we got all these frontier models onto the GSA schedules—at dollar deals or less.” “This one is the best value yet, and with the longest duration. That’s a big deal.” Last month, GSA announced the launch of a new tool it says will be instrumental in enabling agencies across the federal government to efficiently implement artificial intelligence at scale and take a major step forward rolling out the president’s “AI Action Plan.” The Trump administration rolled out it’s A.I. Action Plan in July after Trump ordered the federal government in January to develop a plan of action for artificial intelligence in order to “solidify our position as the global leader in AI and secure a brighter future for all Americans.” Trump has made U.S. artificial intelligence growth a cornerstone of his administration, such as notching multi-billion deals with high-tech firms such as Oracle and OpenAI for the Stargate project, which is an effort to launch large data centers in the U.S, as well as a $90 billion energy and tech investment deal specifically for the state of Pennsylvania to make it the U.S. hub for AI. After completing his tenure with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in late May and a public falling out with Trump, Musk was seen sitting next to and talking with Trump at the memorial service for Charlie Kirk last weekend in Arizona, suggesting a possible rekindling of their friendship. “Elon came over and said hello,” Trump said to reporters after the event. “I thought it was nice, he came over, we had a little conversation.” A GSA spokesperson told Fox News Digital the agreement with xAI has been in the works for weeks. Fox News Digital’s Emma Colton contributed to this report
Dems face backlash for violent rhetoric after deadly ICE shooting: ‘Must stop’
Members of the “Squad” and other leading Democrats are being criticized for using inflammatory rhetoric, which Trump administration officials say has contributed to the “demonizing” and “dehumanization” of ICE law enforcement officers. This comes as the Department of Homeland Security says ICE agents are facing a 1,000% increase in assaults in the line of duty. On Wednesday, a gunman, identified by the FBI as 29-year-old Joshua Jahn, opened fire on an ICE field office in Dallas, killing one and injuring two others. Authorities discovered rounds with the words “anti-ICE” etched onto them at the scene. The shooter took his own life after the attack, according to authorities. After the attack, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt called on Democrats to change their rhetoric, saying, “Democrats must stop demonizing the heroic men and women of ICE who are just doing their jobs to keep Americans safe.” Despite this, several Democrats posted anti-ICE statements on social media after the Wednesday attack in Texas. ‘VILE LIE’: TRUMP OFFICIAL DRILLS SQUAD MEMBER FOR ANTI-ICE POST AS ATTACKS INCREASE In a post on X several hours after the shooting, Rep. Nikki Budzinski, D-Ill., accused ICE agents of unleashing “dangerous and reckless immigration operations” on the public. “I’ve joined the Illinois delegation in demanding answers about DHS’s dangerous and reckless operations in our state,” wrote Budzinski. “We refuse to stand by while masked agents trample on due process, indiscriminately arrest our neighbors, and threaten immigrant communities.” In a since-deleted post, Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., also criticized ICE agents after the attack, accusing them of “picking up moms as they drop off their kids to daycare or people going to work.” Just days before the attack, Rep. Robin Kelly, D-Ill., who is also a Democratic senatorial candidate, accused ICE of using “Gestapo tactics” against the American people, saying their actions “are a betrayal of the values we swear to uphold.” Leading Democrats have also taken a similar tone against ICE agents, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., who accused Trump border czar Tom Homan of working to “unleash masked ICE agents on the American people.” TRUMP OFFICIALS SLAM BLUE STATE GOVERNOR FOR IGNORING CHAOTIC ANTI-ICE ‘RIOTERS’ DISRUPTING OPERATION Last week, former Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., accused ICE of intentionally stoking fear and tearing communities apart. “ICE is targeting community members with no criminal record,” Warren wrote on X. “Agents are sitting outside of churches and schools. Driving unmarked vans and breaking car windows. These violent ICE arrests don’t make us safer — they intentionally stoke fear and tear communities apart.” Speaking on the Senate floor last week, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., accused federal officials of targeting anyone with “brown skin and a Hispanic surname.” “ICE is arresting first and asking questions later,” Durbin said. “I’ve seen the devastating impacts of these policies in my state of Illinois. People are fearful of masked men in unmarked vans who can grab them at any time because of how they look or their voice, accent.” “Parents are terrified to take their kids to school, and businesses are suffering as people are scared to go to work,” he added. Squad members have also been criticized for vilifying ICE agents. The day before the attack, Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., reposted a since-deleted news post accusing ICE agents of using a 5-year-old autistic child as “bait” to catch her illegal immigrant father. Homeland Security has since contested the report, saying that the father, Edwards Hip Mejia, abandoned the child after being pursued by agents. Omar reposted the story, saying, “This is vile and beyond cruel. Abolish ICE.” In a post last week, another Squad member, Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., accused President Donald Trump and ICE agents of an “absolutely shameful” campaign of “terrorizing our communities to the point that students are too afraid to go to school.” NEWSOM SILENT ON ANTI-ICE RHETORIC AFTER DALLAS SHOOTING, DESPITE URGING NONVIOLENCE Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., has accused ICE agents under the Trump administration of an “illegal abduction” of Columbia student, immigrant and activist Mahmoud Khalil. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., said last week that “ICE is racially profiling and kidnapping people just for looking Latino or speaking Spanish.” Jayapal said, “Trump is turning our law enforcement into his own secret police to terrorize our communities.” In response, DHS has called for a full stop to the dehumanization of ICE agents. FROM RHETORIC TO BLOODSHED: TEXAS ICE ATTACK CAPS ESCALATING LEFT-WING TERROR WAVE “The men and women of ICE are fathers and mothers, sons and daughters. They get up every morning to try and make our communities safer,” the agency wrote on X. “The violence and dehumanization of these men and women who are simply enforcing the law must stop.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Speaking on Fox News after the Dallas attack, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said that due to the rhetoric, ICE agents and their families are being doxxed and targeted. “It’s absolutely unacceptable and I do think it’s incumbent, really upon the media, upon politicians, we’ve got to turn the rhetoric down, we don’t want anyone to be hurt, we don’t want anyone to get killed, this is an awful day,” she added. In a Truth Social post Wednesday following the Dallas ICE field office shooting, Trump said, “I AM CALLING ON ALL DEMOCRATS TO STOP THIS RHETORIC AGAINST ICE AND AMERICA’S LAW ENFORCEMENT, RIGHT NOW!”
Obama says he has been ‘digging myself out of’ hole with Michelle
President Barack Obama admitted he has been “digging myself out of a hole” in his relationship with Michelle Obama. Obama made the comments in London’s O2 Arena as part of his European speaking tour on Wednesday, saying his time in the White House eroded his relationship with his wife. “I was digging myself out of the hole I found myself in with Michelle … Now I’m at about level ground,” he said, according to The Standard. The former president admitted that it had been a “challenge” to repair their relationship, which most recently came under public scrutiny when Michelle did not join him in attending the funeral for former President Jimmy Carter in January. She also skipped President Donald Trump’s inauguration barely a week later. AUTISM SPECTRUM IN ADULTS HAS COMMONLY OVERLOOKED SYMPTOMS, EXPERTS WARN Obama also addressed Trump’s latest comments on autism and Tylenol, accusing the president of committing “violence against the truth.” “We have the spectacle of my successor in the Oval Office, making broad claims around certain drugs and autism that have been continuously disproved,” Obama said. MEDICAL GROUP GOES AGAINST CDC, RECOMMENDS COVID SHOTS FOR YOUNG KIDS “The degree to which that undermines public health, the degree to which that can do harm to women who are pregnant, the degree to which that creates anxiety for parents who do have children who are autistic — which, by the way, itself is subject to a spectrum, and a lot of what is being trumpeted as these massive increases actually have to do with a broadening of the criteria across that spectrum so that people can actually get services and help,” Obama said. “All of that is violence against the truth.” The Trump administration said in April it would kick off a massive research initiative to understand the cause of autism by September, and the president hinted at the announcement Sunday at the memorial service for conservative activist Charlie Kirk. RFK JR ANNOUNCES ‘HISTORIC CRACKDOWN’ ON ‘BROKEN’ ORGAN DONATION SYSTEM “Tomorrow we’re going to have one of the biggest announcement(s) … medically, I think, in the history of our country. I think you’re going to find it to be amazing,” he said at the time. Tylenol manufacturer Kenvue has said it strongly disagrees with the administration’s assessment and said that “acetaminophen is the safest pain reliever option for pregnant women.” “We believe independent, sound science clearly shows that taking acetaminophen does not cause autism,” a company spokesperson said. “We strongly disagree with any suggestion otherwise and are deeply concerned with the health risk this poses for expecting mothers.” Fox News’ Diana Stancy contributed to this report.
Trump admin’s crackdown on illicit Chinese vapes in US scores major wins: ‘Emerging threat’
Industry insiders are touting progress made by the Trump administration and local law enforcement to crack down on illicit Chinese vapes, which they say will both protect the youth and bring clarity to the domestic vape retail industry. The World Vape Show announced earlier this month was forced to postpone a Miami, Florida, event “due to customers experiencing difficulty importing products into the marketplace” in an industry where the vast majority of imported vapes come from China. “Illicit Chinese vapes are a clear warning sign of a broader and violent criminal network. These same organizations trafficking fentanyl – and the violence that comes with it – are turning to counterfeit vapes as a low-risk source of cash flow,” Hugo Barrera, director of South Florida High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) , told Fox News Digital. “That’s why South Florida HIDTA is actively training law enforcement on how to combat this emerging threat, while also working with prevention partners to educate the public. We’re seeing progress – even trade shows where these illegal deals once took place are shutting down – but there’s still much more to do.” DISPOSABLE VAPES MORE TOXIC AND CARCINOGENIC THAN CIGARETTES, STUDY SHOWS Over the past eight months, the administration has vowed to combat the problem of illicit Chinese vapes and choke off the supply chain at the borders and ports after critics in the industry hammered the Biden administration for not doing enough to combat the issue. Those promises appear to be taking shape at the federal and local level including news of a federal raid earlier this month in Illinois where CBS News reported federal agents seized flavored vaping products. “The Chinese are getting richer while our children get sicker,” HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. posted on X at the time. “We’re putting an end to that.” “We are targeting illegal Chinese vapes and we will stop them from poisoning our children. Just last week, I stood with @AGPamBondi after law enforcement seized 50 truckloads of illegal vapes from a Chicago-area warehouse — 90% of them from China.” EXCLUSIVE: BIDEN FAILED TO STOP CHINA’S TOXIC NICOTINE INVASION — AND YOUR KIDS PAID THE PRICE, EXPERT WARNS In May, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced in a press release it seized almost two million units of “unauthorized e-cigarette products” in Chicago that represented an estimated retail value of just over $33 million. “Responsible community retailers are working hard to provide adult smokers with less harmful alternatives to cigarettes,” Scott Shalley, president and CEO of Florida Retail Federation and Georgia Retailers, told Fox News Digital. “Unfortunately, years of inconsistent (or non-existent) regulatory enforcement has allowed unscrupulous retailers to knowingly sell illicit and illegal Chinese products that continue to flood the market and place consumers – and particularly, our youth – at risk. We applaud the recent uptick in enforcement as we work to weed out the bad actors, protect our youth and provide much needed clarity to the retail industry.” Earlier this month, HHS announced a massive seizure of imported vaping products amounting to 4.7 million units of unauthorized e-cigarette products with an estimated retail value of $86.5 million. “Almost all the illegal shipments uncovered by the operation originated in China,” the government said in a press release. “FDA and CBP personnel determined that many of these shipments contained vague and misleading product descriptions with incorrect values, in an apparent attempt to evade duties and the review of products for import safety concerns.” State and local jurisdictions appear to have increased vigilance in pushing back on China flooding the market with illicit vapes as well. In Louisiana, Operation “Vape Out” has resulted in 34,000 illegal vapes being seized and at least 10 arrests while Operation “Smoke Signals” in Florida has yielded at least 27 arrests across 20 vape stores. Edgar Domenech, former deputy director and COO of the DOJ’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives and a strategic advisor for the Tobacco Law Enforcement Network, told Fox News Digital “this is more than unauthorized tobacco smuggling.” “Federal state and local law enforcement leadership is starting to recognize that these are sophisticated criminal networks trading Chinese vapes alongside hard drugs and guns while they launder profits and evade taxes to cover it all up,” Domenech said. “We need an all-of-government approach to break this monster’s back once and for all.”
Mangione, Catholic Church shooter, Charlie Kirk shooter, ICE shooter all used engraved bullets
A gunman who opened fire at a Dallas immigration facility Wednesday allegedly left behind a bullet casing inscribed with the phrase “anti-ICE,” part of a recent trend of suspects in high-profile shootings signaling their possible motives through their ammunition. FBI Director Kash Patel shared a picture of the casings, saying one was engraved and “shows an ideological motive” behind the attack. The incident followed the accused killer of Charlie Kirk inscribing gamer-inspired antifascist messaging on bullet casings and Luigi Mangione using words on his casings linked to health insurance companies. The suspect in the Dallas incident, Joshua Jahn, 29, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound after killing one detainee and critically injuring two others, the Department of Homeland Security said. ANTI-ICE MESSAGE FOUND ON SHOOTER’S ROUNDS IN DEADLY ATTACK AT ICE FACILITY, FBI SAYS While detainees were the victims, Jahn fired “indiscriminately” and was “motivated by a hatred for ICE,” the DHS said. Tyler Robinson, 22, is facing murder charges in Utah and stands accused of assassinating Christian conservative activist Kirk during a speaking event at a college this month. Four bullet casings recovered with Robinson’s firearm contained phrases popular in gaming culture, including a direct mention of fascism and a possible reference to an antifascist Italian folk song. Local and federal authorities have said Robinson had become more political in recent years and was inspired by a hatred for Kirk. In Luigi Mangione’s case, evidence has shown the 27-year-old struggled with chronic back pain and had at some point documented frustrations with the health insurance industry, which prosecutors have tied to writing found on Mangione’s ammunition. AFTER DALLAS ICE SHOOTING, VANCE SAYS THOSE WHO DENIGRATE LAW ENFORCEMENT CAN ‘GO STRAIGHT TO HELL’ Mangione stands accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, whose killing on a sidewalk in New York City was captured in chilling surveillance footage as Thompson entered a hotel for a conference. Bullets recovered at the crime scene contained three words popular with critics who say health insurers mishandle claims. “In preparing for the crime, the defendant took the time to write the words ‘Deny,’ ‘Depose,’ and ‘Delay’ on the bullets he used — two of which were recovered at the scene of the murder as shell casings (because the bullets had been fired) and one of which was recovered as a live round,” prosecutors wrote in court papers. The apparent pattern of young suspected killers marking their crimes with ideological messages on spent and unspent munitions comes as politically charged violence takes center stage in the national discourse. A vast majority of voters in a recent Quinnipiac survey said the nation is in a “political crisis” and that political violence is a “very serious” issue. An Atlantic analysis of hundreds of terrorism incidents found that patterns in left-wing and right-wing attacks have fluctuated over three decades but that a rise in left-wing terrorism began when Trump was elected in 2016. Attackers sending their politicized messages through writings is not new, though the writings have more commonly been known to crop up in various types of manifestos. Last month, Robin Westman, 23, opened fire through the windows of a Catholic Church in Minneapolis during Mass, killing two children and injuring more than a dozen others before dying from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Police identified videos that Westman may have posted that included writings using the Cyrillic alphabet. One video also showed firearms and magazines with names of past mass shooters, “Kill Donald Trump” and “Where is your God?” scrawled on them.
‘Very talented’: Harris reveals Jasmine Crockett was part of ‘secret project’ of lawmakers she was mentoring
Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, was among a select group of Democrats who then-Vice President Kamala Harris sought to bolster via a top secret “Stars Project,” the 2024 White House hopeful’s new memoir reveals. Harris dove deep into her brief presidential campaign in a new book released on Tuesday called “107 Days,” with the title referencing the time between the beginning and end of her 2024 bid. In one section, Harris discussed planning the Democratic National Convention (DNC) and said it was “in the party’s interest to highlight our stars, while we make it as entertaining as possible.” 58 HOUSE DEMS VOTE AGAINST RESOLUTION HONORING ‘LIFE AND LEGACY’ OF CHARLIE KIRK “When I became VP, I had a secret project – I called it the Stars Project – that only my senior team knew about. We’d brainstorm about the younger talents in the party and then, on Friday afternoons, I’d invite one or another to visit my office in the West Wing or the residence,” Harris wrote. Several were nervous, she recounted, but Harris recalled telling them, “No, I think you’re very talented. What are you working on, and how can I help you?” FAR-LEFT FIREBRAND SAYS SHE ‘NEVER HAD A CONCERN’ ABOUT BIDEN’S MENTAL STATE “Many of those on my list spoke at the convention: Lauren Underwood, Robert Garcia, Angela Alsobrooks, Lateefah Simon, Maxwell Frost, Joe Neguse, Lina Hidalgo, Jasmine Crockett,” Harris listed. Crockett, who has received backlash from conservatives for comparing ICE to “slave patrols” and supporting defunding police, appeared to reference the passage in content she cross-posted on her personal Instagram account. The post was from a Texas politics-based account called “howdypolitics” that shared, “Kamala Harris had a secret project only known to senior staff called the ‘Stars Project,’ to privately mentor rising stars in the party. She made sure that many of them received speaking slots during the convention. That is what Jasmine Crockett was talking about in her speech at the DNC.” Crockett did reference a meeting with Harris in her speech at the DNC in summer 2024. “When I first got to Congress, I wasn’t sure I made the right decision. The chaos caucus couldn’t elect a speaker and the Oversight Committee was unhinged. I was going through all of this when I visited the vice president’s residence for the first time. As I approached Vice President Harris for our official photo, she turned to me and asked, ‘What’s wrong?’” Crockett recalled. “Mind you, we’d never met. But she saw right through me. She saw the distress. I immediately began crying, and the most powerful woman in the world wiped my tears and listened.” She said Harris told her, “You are exactly where God wants you. Your district chose you because they believe in you. And so do I.” “The next month I went viral for the first of many times to come for hitting Republicans with a dose of their own medicine. That brief but impactful interaction gave me my legislative legs and I’ve been running ever since,” Crockett said. Crockett recently ignited backlash from conservatives after slamming White lawmakers for honoring Charlie Kirk after his assassination. “And to be clear, you can wave all the flags you want to, but I am telling you right now that the most unpatriotic people that we have in this country are MAGA and this president. We are the real patriots. And it is time for us to take our flag back and show people what America is about,” she said. Fox News Digital reached out to Crockett for further comment on Harris’ book excerpt and her speech at the DNC.
White House tells federal agencies to prepare layoff plans as government shutdown looms
The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is telling federal agencies to draw up reduction-in-force (RIF) plans ahead of a possible government shutdown on Oct. 1, according to an internal memo obtained by Fox News. The guidance says agencies must consider issuing RIF notices to employees working on programs that are not legally required to continue if funding lapses. “With respect to those Federal programs whose funding would lapse and which are otherwise unfunded, such programs are no longer statutorily required to be carried out,” the memo states. Under the guidance, RIF notices would be issued on top of furlough notices and should go to all employees tied to the affected programs. GARBAGE COLLECTION, TOURS TO BE SUSPENDED ON CAPITOL HILL IF THERE’S A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN Agencies would later revise those plans once Congress approves fiscal year 2026 appropriations, keeping only the staff needed for core statutory functions. The memo notes that while Congress has usually passed short-term funding bills on a bipartisan basis, they believe this year is different. The same memo accuses Democrats of breaking that trend and pushing for “insane demands, including $1 trillion in new spending,” which it says could force a shutdown. SCOOP: GOP RAMPS UP SHUTDOWN FIGHT, TARGETS 25 VULNERABLE DEMOCRATS IN NEW AD BLITZ Last week, the House passed H.R. 5371, described as a clean continuing resolution (CR) that would extend current funding through Nov. 21. The administration backs the bill, but the memo says Democrats are blocking it in the Senate. “We remain hopeful that Democrats in Congress will not trigger a shutdown and the steps outlined above will not be necessary,” the memo says. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “The President supports enactment of a clean CR to ensure no discretionary spending lapse after Sept. 30, 2025, and OMB hopes the Democrats will agree.” The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.