New 6-figure ad touts Trump policies that have key industry ‘booming’: ‘You voted for it’
FIRST ON FOX: A conservative energy group has debuted its latest ad as part of a seven-figure campaign supporting President Donald Trump’s “all-of-the-above energy” agenda. “You voted for it, you got it, America is booming,” the 30-second ad from The Restoring Energy Dominance Coalition, a conservative nonprofit organization headed up by former U.S. Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette and former U.S. Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt, says. “Meeting a quickly growing energy demand with an all-of-the-above approach will make good on President Trump’s promise to restore American energy dominance,” the ad continues. “Solar and storage, wind, nuclear, oil and gas. All forms of energy, all across the country.” H2GO: HOW EXPERTS, INDUSTRY LEADERS SAY US HYDROGEN IS FUEL FOR THE FUTURE OF AGRICULTURE, ENERGY, SECURITY The ad then cuts to Trump, who says, “All forms of energy, yep”, before the ad says, “And that means more jobs and higher wages for you.” “In America, we show up, we get to work, we win.” The RED Coalition ad is supported by a six-figure ad buy that will air on broadcast, cable TV and digital platforms. TRUMP ENERGY CHIEF DECLARES CLIMATE CHANGE A ‘GLOBAL PHYSICAL PHENOMENON’ AMID REVERSAL OF BIDEN-ERA POLICIES This ad is the fourth major television ad launched by the group since the start of this year as part of a broader seven-figure campaign to “support the administration’s energy priorities.” Last month, RED Coalition, along with Trump pollster Tony Fabrizio, put out a polling memo stating that 51% of registered voters are in favor of Trump’s “All-of-the-Above Energy agenda,” as well as 65% of GOP voters. Trump has vowed to use his second White House term to re-exit the Paris Climate Accord, undo strict emissions standards for vehicles and power plants, and bolster production of U.S. oil and gas, including through fracking, which is the controversial technology by which pressurized fluids are used to extract natural gas from shale rock. In the days after his victory, industry groups representing the nation’s biggest oil and gas producers told Fox News Digital they have little doubt Trump will make good on these promises in a second term. “Energy was on the ballot” in the 2024 elections, American Petroleum Institute President and CEO Mike Sommers said in a statement. Fox News Digital’s Breanne Deppisch contributed to this report.
Boasberg contempt showdown looms after Supreme Court hands Trump immigration win
A federal judge is weighing whether to hold Trump administration officials in civil contempt after they defied a court order blocking deportation flights last month – even as the Supreme Court on Monday handed the administration a temporary legal victory, allowing it to resume use of the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to deport illegal immigrants. President Donald Trump’s immigration agenda is colliding with the federal judiciary as his administration races to fulfill a central campaign promise: mass deportations. The aggressive pace – which has included the removal of alleged members of violent transnational gangs – has triggered a wave of legal challenges from critics who claim the administration is unlawfully ejecting migrants from the country. The high court’s 5–4 decision, which Trump praised on X as a “great day for justice in America,” lifted a lower court’s injunction and allows deportations to resume for now, though with added due process protections. The unsigned, four-page ruling focused narrowly on the lower court’s order and permits the administration to invoke the wartime-era Alien Enemies Act to expedite removals. However, the ruling does little to halt the escalating feud between the Trump administration and U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, who has signaled he may hold administration officials in contempt for defying his order last month to ground deportation flights. Boasberg is set to preside over a hearing Tuesday to address the administration’s use of the state secrets privilege to block the court from accessing information about the flights. It will mark the judge’s first opportunity to respond since the Supreme Court sided with Trump. JUDGE BOASBERG POISED TO HOLD TRUMP ADMIN IN CONTEMPT, TAKES DOWN NAMES OF DHS OFFICIALS: ‘PRETTY SKETCHY’ Though Trump and his allies celebrated the Supreme Court’s intervention, the decision offers only a narrow and potentially short-lived reprieve. The ruling requires the administration to provide detainees slated for removal with proper notice and an opportunity to challenge their deportation in court. However, the justices said those legal challenges must be filed in Texas – not in Washington, D.C. – a jurisdictional shift that injects fresh uncertainty into the lower court proceedings. The decision drew a scathing dissent from Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who warned that the ruling would make it significantly harder for individuals to contest their removals on a case-by-case basis. “We, as a Nation and a court of law, should be better than this,” she said. Boasberg blocked the administration’s use of the Alien Enemies Act for a 14-day period last month to allow the court time to review the case on its merits. The order drew scathing criticism from Trump, who labeled Boasberg an “activist judge” and called for his impeachment – prompting a rare warning from Chief Justice John Roberts. Boasberg has said he will decide as early as this week whether to pursue civil contempt proceedings against Trump administration officials for defying his order. Three planes carrying 261 migrants – including more than 100 individuals slated for removal solely under the Alien Enemies Act – were flown to El Salvador last month from the U.S., around the same time Boasberg issued an emergency order blocking the Trump administration from deporting Venezuelan nationals for 14 days. Boasberg also issued a bench ruling ordering that all migrant flights be “immediately” returned to U.S. soil. The administration did not comply, and hours later, the planes arrived in El Salvador. At a show-cause hearing last week, Boasberg instructed Justice Department attorney Drew Ensign to determine who in the administration knew about the restraining order and when. He also demanded to know who made the decision not to comply, saying that information could be relevant if he moves forward with contempt proceedings. Boasberg contested Ensign’s suggestion that the administration may not have violated the emergency restraining order. “It seems to me there is a fair likelihood that that is not correct,” Boasberg told Ensign. “In fact, the government acted in bad faith throughout that day,” he added. SUPREME COURT GRANTS TRUMP REQUEST TO LIFT STAY HALTING VENEZUELAN DEPORTATIONS Boasberg asked follow-up questions about agency affiliation, titles and the spelling of officials’ names – suggesting he would be examining their roles in the case very closely as he weighed whether there was probable cause to move on civil contempt. Ensign repeatedly told the court he did not know and was not privy to the information himself. “I made diligent efforts to obtain that information,” he told Boasberg. The Trump administration’s repeated failure to meet court deadlines may give Boasberg grounds to proceed with civil contempt proceedings, even if jurisdictional questions limit his ability to rule on the plaintiffs’ broader request for a preliminary injunction. Government lawyers have refused to share information in court about the deportation flights and whether the plane (or planes) of migrants knowingly departed U.S. soil after the judge ordered them not to do so, citing national security protections. The Supreme Court has affirmed that federal judges have the authority to compel parties to act and hold them accountable for defying court orders in both civil and criminal cases. The potential contempt proceedings come amid soaring tensions between the executive branch and the judiciary, as Trump administration officials clash with federal judges overseeing a flood of lawsuits and emergency requests to halt administration actions. While contempt findings against executive officials are rare, they are not without precedent. APPEALS COURT BLOCKS TRUMP ADMIN’S DEPORTATION FLIGHTS IN ALIEN ENEMIES ACT IMMIGRATION SUIT In civil cases, a judge will often reiterate the original order and set clear steps and deadlines for the party to demonstrate compliance. If those deadlines are missed, the court can take further action to compel obedience – consistent with the basic principle that “all orders and judgments of courts must be complied with promptly.” Boasberg sharply criticized Trump officials for failing to comply with his bench order requiring deportation flights to return to the U.S. and for refusing to provide basic information about the individuals who were removed. During last week’s hearing, it became clear the
‘Enough is enough’: House Republican touts GOP effort to pass bill cracking down on ‘rogue’ judges
As House Republicans move forward with legislation this week that they say would wrangle “rogue” judges across the country who have been blocking President Trump’s agenda, Fox News Digital spoke to GOP Rep. Abe Hamadeh about the importance of that quest. “If you look at what President Trump has been going through compared to previous presidents, it’s unheard of,” Hamadeh told Fox News Digital about the dozens of injunctions already issued against Trump since taking office. “It’s unprecedented the amount of injunctions trying to stop President Trump’s America First agenda, which, overwhelmingly, the American people support, and to have one district court judge be able to determine the direction of our country is not what the judiciary is meant for.” The No Rogue Rulings Act (NORRA), introduced by Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., would limit district court judges’ ability to issue orders blocking Trump policies nationwide, and Republicans are expected to advance the legislation out of the House Rules Committee and vote this week. GOP REP REVEALS AFTER F-16 RIDE WHY TRUMP’S LEADERSHIP IS ALREADY PAYING OFF FOR MILITARY Hamadeh says he supports Issa’s bill, which Issa told Fox News Digital when he introduced it was introduced in February, will push back on the current judge-shopping climate in the United States that he says represents “judicial tyranny” and “weaponization of courts.” Hamadeh explained that he has signed onto several efforts to impeach some of the judges who have issued nationwide injunctions, knowing that the efforts are unlikely to succeed but to send the message that the sentiment in Congress and with Trump voters is one that believes “enough is enough.” One of those judges facing impeachment calls, U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg, issued an emergency order temporarily halting the Trump administration’s deportation flights under the Alien Enemies Act, which Hamadeh took particular issue with. JUDGE TARGETED BY GOP FOR IMPEACHMENT DEALS BLOW TO TRUMP’S FEMA OBJECTIVES “The federal bench right now has to be very careful, they’re losing legitimacy constantly every single day, when you see the constant pushbacks, I mean, it’s amazing,” Hamadeh said. “What President Trump wants to do is deport illegal immigrants who are terrorists, who are murderers, who are rapists, and they’re trying to stop that.” “They’re trying to keep them in our country. Well, what happened when Biden was importing so many of these illegal immigrants, literally flying them in from their countries of origin into the United States? They never weighed in on that issue. So it’s shocking to see that the judiciary, sadly, has been in the way of what President Trump is trying to accomplish. but we are going to limit them, here in the House, and I’m sure it’s gonna pass the Senate as well and make its way to the president’s desk.” Many prominent Democrats have praised Boasberg’s ruling after years of either silence or indifference about the border crisis, which Hamadeh told Fox News Digital is evidence that they “don’t know what they’re fighting for.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “Democrats are in a world of trouble, especially knowing who is on the bench and what they’re actually fighting for has been really opposed to what the American people want,” Hamadeh said. “We want to save communities, we want to stop fentanyl, and we want to deport these terrorists, illegals, and the rapists and murderers who have come into our country because of Joe Biden’s disastrous border. I’m from Arizona. To see President Trump, literally in two months, get the border encounters to a 97% decrease, it’s shocking. It’s amazing to see that type of result. That’s why the American people voted for President Trump. And unfortunately, you see these judges trying to stop them.” The House is also expected to move forward with the SAVE Act this week, which requires proof of citizenship in the voter registration process. Fox News Digital spoke to Hamadeh about his efforts working with Republicans to push election integrity, an issue that saw a Republican victory recently when voters in Wisconsin voted to enshrine voter ID into the state’s constitution. Hamadeh, along with GOP Rep. Claudia Tenney, recently introduced legislation to codify Trump’s recent executive order on election integrity that mandates voter ID into law. “I want everybody to know that there’s never been a disenfranchised voter because of election integrity,” Hamadeh said. “Disenfranchisement is because of election fraud and President Trump is trying to prevent that.” Fox News Digital’s Liz Elkind contributed to this report
House Democrat stable after ’emergency medical event’
Rep. Donald Norcross, D-N.J., “suffered an emergency medical event likely related to his gallbladder” over the weekend while traveling, his office said in a statement on Monday. Norcross “was admitted to UNC Rex Hospital in North Carolina on Sunday and is in stable condition, where he is receiving exceptional medical treatment” while traveling over the weekend. His office says he “is currently in good spirits and wants to thank the doctors, nurses, and support staff at UNC Rex Hospital for all their work on his behalf during his stay.” The legislator will be transferred to Cooper University Healthcare in New Jersey “in the coming days to complete his recovery.” TOP DEMS SUE TRUMP OVER EXECUTIVE ORDER REQUIRING PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP IN FEDERAL ELECTIONS The Democrat posted to X once on Monday evening about bills he and Rep. Brendan Boyle, D-Penn., introduced, the No Tax Breaks for Union Busting Act and Tax Fairness for Workers Act. “The No Tax Breaks for Union Busting Act and Tax Fairness for Workers Act both focus on protecting America’s workers,” Norcross said in a statement. “Every worker deserves a free and fair choice to join or form a union, and it’s time that our tax code reflects that.” HOUSE DEM TO BLOCK VA NOMINEES TO PROTEST DOGE CUTS “The No Tax Breaks for Union Busting Act will end corporate handouts for union-busting campaigns, make our tax code fairer, and level the playing field for workers,” he continued. “The Tax Fairness for Workers Act will restore fairness and put money back into the pockets of workers who bet on themselves. During a time when the Trump Administration is attacking workers’ rights, I’m honored to have Representatives Brendan Boyle and Judy Chu partner with me in the fight to put more money into the pockets of hardworking Americans,” he said. Norcross is 66 years old, according to the New York Post. He and his wife have three adult children and four grandchildren, according to his biography.
Protecting the playing field: GOP urges governors to take action on women’s sports
EXCLUSIVE: Republican Sens. Jim Risch and Tommy Tuberville are urging governors across the country to adhere to President Donald Trump’s executive order to keep men out of women’s sports while also demanding state-level action to ensure female athletes “receive the same assurance of fairness nationwide.” In February, Trump issued an executive order titled Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports and affirmed the position that the U.S. “must preserve fairness, safety, and equal opportunity for female athletes.” RISCH, GOP LAWMAKERS DEMAND OLYMPIC COMMITTEE COMPLY WITH TRUMP ORDER TO BAN TRANS ATHLETES IN WOMEN’S SPORTS Fox News Digital obtained a letter authored by Risch, R-Idaho, and Tuberville, R-Ala., and sent to the National Governor’s Association. The senators said their states have taken “decisive action to protect women’s sports” but “many governors have yet to do so” and are “jeopardizing a fair playing field for female athletes.” “The majority of Americans agree that biological men should not be allowed to compete in women’s sports,” they wrote, saying that the executive order “reinforces a fundamental truth: women and girls deserve an even playing field on which they can compete and excel in athletics.” “The science is clear that the biological differences between men and women are significant and must be recognized in athletic competition … Protecting women’s categories is essential to preserving the rights and opportunities that generations of women have fought to secure.” Risch and Tuberville wrote that it is “misguided policies” that have “robbed too many women of their earned athletic opportunities and successes and forced them into uncomfortable, and even unsafe, situations.” “State-level action is vital to ensure America’s female athletes receive the same assurance of fairness nationwide,” they wrote, applauding states that have taken “meaningful action” on the president’s executive order to demonstrate their “clear commitment to fairness, safety and the future of women’s sports.” WEST VIRGINIA SENATOR WANTS NCAA TO MAKE CLEAR ‘A WOMEN’S LOCKER ROOM IS FOR WOMEN ONLY’ Risch and Tuberville are urging states that have not yet taken action to “take the necessary steps to align with President Trump’s Executive Order immediately.” Risch and Tuberville said they are “ready to partner with governors and state leaders to implement policies that protect women and girls in sports.” “Together, we will ensure that the progress made to expand and strengthen women’s athletic opportunities continues for decades to come,” they wrote. Risch and Tuberville introduced the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act in the Senate to codify Trump’s executive order. Risch and Tuberville also recently sent a letter to the International Olympic Committee urging it to safeguard opportunities for female athletes during the Olympic Games. In addition, they wrote to the NCAA requesting clarification on its stance on the privacy and safety of female athletes in women’s changing rooms.
Dem governors revolt against Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs
President Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs imposed a 10% baseline on all imports — with steeper rates for countries with trade deficits — sparking pushback from Democratic governors trying to shield their states from any fallout. While the Trump administration has maintained that the aggressive new tariffs will ultimately strengthen the U.S. economy and protect American workers, Trump’s new tariff orders have impacted global markets as Democratic governors unite in opposition. Govs. Gavin Newsom, J.B. Pritzker, Josh Shapiro, Jared Polis, Tim Walz and Kathy Hochul are among the growing list of Democratic governors speaking out against Trump’s tariffs – and, in some cases, working to blunt the impact on their local economies. “Democrats should focus on out-of-control homelessness, crime, regulations, and unaffordability in blue states instead of trying their hand at international dealmaking,” White House spokesman Kush Desai said in a statement to Fox News Digital. THE LOSERS AND WINNERS OF TRUMP’S ‘LIBERATION DAY’ TARIFF PLAN Newsom, considered a potential 2028 presidential contender, announced plans to seek “strategic” international partnerships to exclude California from the retaliatory tariffs imposed on the U.S. by countries caught in the crosshairs of Trump’s tariffs. TRUMP URGES AMERICANS TO ‘HANG TOUGH’ ON TARIFFS PLAN AS MARKETS TUMBLE “I’m pursuing trading relationships with our global partners to combat the pain of Trump’s tariffs and exclude California-made products from retaliation. As the world’s 5th largest economy, California remains open for business — no matter the turbulence in Washington,” Newsom said in an X post. However, within the U.S. Constitution, trade policy is a power reserved to the federal government, and states do not have legal authority to independently negotiate with foreign governments on tariffs or make global trade deals. Pritzker, another potential 2028 presidential candidate who has rejected Trump’s second term at every executive order, led a delegation of Illinois lawmakers to Mexico last week and signed an agreement with the state of Mexico City to strengthen economic cooperation. As Pritzker was securing an independent economic relationship on his “trade mission” to Mexico, he slammed Trump’s tariffs as a “tax” on Americans. “Donald Trump may want to call this ‘Liberation Day,’ but there is nothing liberating for working families who are grappling with the high costs of food, housing, and utilities,” Pritzker said. “Tariffs are a tax. They are a tax on working families, a tax on groceries, and a tax on other everyday necessities.” Shapiro, who was on Democratic nominee Kamala Harris’ vice presidential shortlist, also likened the new tariffs to a “tax” and reiterated their negative impact on Pennsylvania families. “The reality is Donald Trump’s economic policies are making things harder for the good people of Pennsylvania,” Shapiro said in an MSNBC interview. Democratic governors continued to pile on the “Liberation Day” criticism on the airwaves over the weekend. Former Vice Presidential candidate Tim Walz took aim at Trump’s intelligence in an MSNBC interview, saying Trump “doesn’t fundamentally understand how trade works.” “This is a tax on working people,” Walz added. Hochul, who has sparred with the Trump administration on abortion and immigration, said in an interview that Trump’s tariffs “are the largest tax increase in American history” and argued they aren’t “liberating” but “hurting real people in our state and across this country.” “This is one of the biggest tax hikes in American history. It’s not Liberation Day, it’s Recession Day,” Colorado Gov. Jared Polis added on Bloomberg this weekend. Trump has continued to defend his tariffs since “Liberation Day.” “The United States has a chance to do something that should have been done DECADES AGO,” Trump said on Truth Social on Monday. “Don’t be Weak! Don’t be Stupid! Don’t be a PANICAN (A new party based on Weak and Stupid people!). Be Strong, Courageous, and Patient, and GREATNESS will be the result!” Despite the market panic and uncertainty following his tariff implementation, Trump has reiterated that “some day people will realize that Tariffs, for the United States of America, are a very beautiful thing!”
Congressional Democrats targeting dozens of House Republican-held seats in 2026 midterm battle for majority
The House Democrats’ campaign arm is taking aim at nearly three dozen Republican-held seats in the chamber as they aim to win back the majority in next year’s midterm elections. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) on Tuesday released its initial 2026 target list, which included 35 GOP-controlled seats, and launched an effort to fundraise for the party’s eventual nominees in each of the districts. The DCCC emphasized that their moves signal that “Democrats are on offense and poised to win the majority in 2026.” The unveiling of the DCCC list comes three weeks after the rival National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) went up with its initial target list, which took aim at 26 districts controlled by House Democrats. REPUBLICANS TO TAKE AIM AT THESE 26 DEMOCRAT-HELD HOUSE SEATS IN 2026 MIDTERMS Republicans currently control the House, when the chamber returns to full strength, with a razor-thin 220-215 majority. “House Republicans are running scared, and they should be. They’re tanking the economy, gutting Medicaid, abandoning our veterans, and making everything more expensive. In short, they’ve lost the trust of their constituents, and it’s going to cost them the majority,” DCCC Chair Rep. Suzan DelBene of Washington State charged in a statement announcing the moves. WERE LAST WEEK’S ELECTIONS IN WISCONSIN AND FLORIDA A CRYSTAL BALL FOR THINGS TO COME IN NEXT YEAR’S MIDTERMS? While the Democratic Party experienced major setbacks in last November’s elections – losing control of the White House and their Senate majority – House Democrats took a small bite out of the GOP’s House majority. The DCCC noted that their 2026 map “is more expansive than at the start of the 2024 cycle, reflecting a political environment of eroding public support for House Republicans.” Democrats, pointing to last week’s elections in Wisconsin and Florida, emphasize that their voters are angry and energized to resist President Donald Trump’s sweeping and controversial moves during the opening months of his second tour of duty in the White House, and claimed that the contests were an appetizer of things to come in next year’s midterms. And the DCCC argued that the House GOP’s “refusal to stand up to Donald Trump and Elon Musk threatens the health care benefits and income security millions of Americans have earned, makes our country less safe, and has sent our economy into a tailspin.” DelBene, pointing to the NRCC earlier this year urging its members to avoid holding town hall discussions, also claimed that “House Republicans are so scared, they’ve decided to hide from the public.” POLL POSITION: WHERE TRUMP STANDS WITH AMERICANS 11 WEEKS INTO HIS SECOND TOUR OF DUTY IN THE WHITE HOUSE The districts the House Democrats are targeting are currently held by Rep. Nick Begich of Alaska (AK-AL), Reps. David Schweikert (AZ-01), Eli Crane (AZ-02), and Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06) of Arizona, Reps. David Valadao (CA-22), Young Kim (CA-40), and Ken Calvert (CA-41) of California, Rep. Gabe Evans (CO-08) of Colorado, Reps. Cory Mills (FL-07), Anna Paulina Luna (FL-13) and Maria Elvira Salazar (FL-27) of Florida, Reps. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01), Ashley Hinson (IA-02) and Zach Nunn (IA-03) of Iowa, Rep. Andy Barr (KY-06) of Kentucky, Reps. Bill Huizenga (MI-04), Tom Barrett (MI-07), and John James (MI-10) of Michigan, Rep. Ann Wagner (MO-02) of Missouri, Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02) of Nebraska, Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (NJ-07) of New Jersey, Rep. Mike Lawler (NY-17) of New York, Reps. Max Miller (OH-07), Mike Turner (OH-10) and Mike Carey (OH-15) of Ohio, Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Ryan Mackenzie (PA-07), Rob Bresnahan (PA-08) and Scott Perry (PA-10) of Pennsylvania, Rep. Andy Ogles (TN-05) of Tennessee, Rep. Monica De La Cruz (TX-15) of Texas, Reps. Rob Wittman (VA-01) and Jen Kiggans (VA-02) of Virginia, and Reps. Bryan Steil (WI-01) and Derrick Van Orden (WI-03) of Wisconsin. The DCCC said it was also launching nominee fund pages, which it said provides “a way for grassroots donors to contribute now so that resources are available to the eventual Democratic nominee in these Districts in Play.” While the party in power, which clearly is the Republicans, traditionally faces serious political headwinds in the midterm elections, the NRCC is optimistic they can defend their majority. “If you look at the landscape for the 2026 election, there are only three Republicans in districts that [former vice president and 2024 Democratic presidential nominee] Kamala Harris carried, but there are 13 Democrats in seats that Donald Trump carried, and half of those are majority Hispanic districts that President Trump has really put in play for us,” NRCC chair Rep. Richard Hudson of North Carolina reiterated Monday in a Fox News Digital interview. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The NRCC also points to the growing number of House Democrats who are seeking statewide office in 2026 rather than running for re-election. Hudson said the trend would “absolutely” help the GOP defend the majority next year. “It’s much easier to win an open seat than a seat with a Democrat incumbent who’s entrenched.,” Hudson said. “I think it’s incredibly helpful, and I think you’re going to see a whole lot more Democrats running for other offices and retiring.”
Texas lawmakers consider bipartisan bill aimed at clarifying exceptions to state’s abortion restrictions
Texas lawmakers are considering a bipartisan bill to clarify the state’s abortion ban, as many doctors have expressed concerns that the law is not clear about when they may step in to protect the life of the mother without committing a crime. The state has a near-total abortion ban, but doctors, using reasonable medical judgment, are permitted to take action in cases where a pregnant woman faces a life-threatening physical condition or substantial impairment of major bodily function. Now, the state legislature is seeking to pass a measure to clarify how narrow that exception is, which will give doctors a more clear idea of when they can intervene in situations where there are pregnancy complications. House Bill 44 and Senate Bill 31 are matching bills that have each been introduced in their respective chambers, with the Texas House Public Health Committee hearing testimony on Monday regarding the version in the lower chamber. PRO-LIFE ACTIVIST ASSAULTED, BLOODIED DURING STREET INTERVIEW ABOUT ABORTION “This is not someone who is six weeks and driving to Planned Parenthood because they don’t want their baby,” Catholic Conference of Bishops executive director Jennifer Alman said, according to FOX 4. “This is a woman who very much wants her baby at 20 weeks and having a medical emergency where she has lost her child,” Alman continued. “Even if it’s not fully dead yet, her child is in the act of dying and the only way she can survive to parent her other children is to accept that death, protect her life and that is what the bill seeks to strike a balance of.” The legislation, also called the Life of the Mother Act in both chambers, has brought together major pro-life groups, doctors, hospitals, Republicans and Democrats, said GOP Rep. Charlie Green, who authored the House version. “We know women’s bodies have been horribly injured because doctors and hospitals are afraid to provide abortions that could save their bodies,” Green said, according to FOX 4. “That’s because some of the language in our current law is not clear to doctors and hospitals.” SUPREME COURT DIVIDED OVER STATE EFFORT TO DEFUND PLANNED PARENTHOOD The lack of exceptions under Texas’ abortion ban prompted a lawsuit brought by 20 women, according to FOX 4, though it was rejected by the state Supreme Court. The court also called on the Texas Medical Board to provide clarity for doctors on when an abortion may be permitted under state law. The medical board said its job is not to clarify the law, sending the issue back to lawmakers, the outlet reported. Some who testified expressed concerns that the legislation would allow a loophole in the abortion ban. On the other side, some of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit argue the bill does not go far enough since it does not take into account fatal abnormalities of the fetus. Sarah Harrison said she was pregnant with twins when one of them had a fatal condition, according to FOX 4. “What if I got pregnant with twins again and I have to leave again? The trauma is real. It is real. It’s intense. Of course, I feel scared to get pregnant in this state,” she testified. Rep. Ann Johnson, a Democrat, said: “This bill does not include fetal abnormality. It does not include rape. But it does include a bipartisan approach to try to address the challenges.” “I heard you guys say not sick enough. This bill does an important thing that does say you do not delay treatment. This bill does try to address that delay in time,” she continued. The legislation appears to have enough support for approval.
Big-name anchors going independent, making money in the Substack era
Hamish McKenzie, the co-founder of Substack, is suddenly speaking out. “We are living through the most significant media disruption since the printing press, and it explains everything from why you can’t stand your neighbor to our current political tumult.” Today, he says on his site, “we live in a more chaotic environment, where the narrative frenzy of social media has given rise to political movements that gain power through exploiting attention of any kind, positive or negative, from moral panics to fulminating podium-thumpers. We’ve gone from ‘Ask not what your country can do for you’ to dunk tweets and death-by-emoji.” HOW DONALD TRUMP DOMINATES THE NEWS, BOTH POSITIVELY AND NEGATIVELY Obviously, it’s in McKenzie’s interest to portray a media revolution with him as the chief rebel. When Substack launched in 2017, it was viewed as an intriguing experiment, an outlet largely for those who didn’t have one. But in the Trump era, with his constant cable appearances and Truth Social posts, there’s little question that we’re submerged in a toxic environment. The president gets this, which is why he’s done a number of podcast interviews. He went on Joe Rogan and Kamala, uh, did not. Now, with big-name journalists giving up prime television gigs in favor of the site’s independence, we are living in the Substack Era. What was once viewed as the Holy Grail – an anchoring or hosting job on a major network – is now dismissed as old-school legacy media with too many corporate constraints. Take my former Fox colleague Chris Wallace. He left for CNN (actually CNN-plus, which was euthanized in three weeks) and then launched a Saturday talk show. But Chris recently announced he’s leaving the network to go independent, which undoubtedly includes Substack. Another ex-Fox colleague, Megyn Kelly, had a similar experience. Having been dropped by NBC after a bad experience there, she started a daily show and video podcast on Sirius XM, and now has 3.2 million subscribers on YouTube. MICHELLE OBAMA’S ‘IMO’ PODCAST RANKS 34TH ON SPOTIFY PODCASTS CHART Chuck Todd, having been eased out of his “Meet the Press” job, was given an online streaming show. But not long ago he announced he was leaving NBC to go independent. When Dan Abrams gave up his NewsNation show after three years, he said: “As much as I love this show and the mission of this network, I just can’t continue to give this show the attention it needs and deserves with all of my other professional commitments.” The Mediaite founder later announced that he is concentrating on creating a YouTube channel for the site, working with other media folks. McKenzie’s great insight is that he could connect writers and podcasters directly to their audience, with Substack taking a cut. They can opt for a revenue-sharing agreement. Now you might ask, what if you’re not a famous former anchor or commentator? Turns out that niche sites do really well. They can work at other jobs at the same time. Many users report a six-figure income. This is especially striking in that most Substack people let you read their sites for free, or a shortened version, with the full column and special features available only for paying subscribers. The hope is that some of the freeloaders will become subscribers over time. Not everyone winds up at Substack voluntarily. Chris Cillizza, the former Washington Post columnist, is quite candid in saying he came to Substack after being laid off at CNN. He found himself with little to do after dropping the kids at school. TRUMP, EYEING 3RD TERM, KEEPS ATTACKING ELITE INSTITUTIONS – AND MANY ARE CAVING “I started this Substack — selfishly — to help me grapple with my changed life. To give me a platform where I could express myself — hopefully to an audience — about the world of politics, yes, but also how I was navigating a new reality.” He has slowly built a following and chats with Todd once a week, which is something that Substackers do. Casandra Campbell of Really Good Business Ideas analyzed the 29 most popular Substacks. The first two are Letters from an American (hundreds of thousands of paid subscribers for political history) and Broken Palate. Michael Moore was No. 3, and the only other names I recognized were former candidate Allen West, the Bulwark, and ex-Labor Secretary Robert Reich. The others had names like Dr. Mercola’s Censored Library, DeLa Soul, The Pragmatic Engineer and The Cryptonite Weekly Rap. “Our political culture now mirrors chaos media culture,” McKenzie says. “Opponents are not just to be argued against, but humiliated.” Good luck changing that. SUBSCRIBE TO HOWIE’S MEDIA BUZZMETER PODCAST, A RIFF ON THE DAY’S HOTTEST STORIES Look, I subscribe to several Substack accounts. I’d like to subscribe to more but, with fees ranging from $5 to $40 a month, it gets expensive. So I read others for free and ponder whether to upgrade. I don’t agree that this is the biggest deal since the Gutenberg press, around 1440, but it’s having an impact on the media and political culture. Substack is hot, and there are competitors, mainly because journalists and politicos crave a connection that goes beyond the craziness of the Trump age.
IRS and DHS reach historic deal to aid in pursuit of illegal immigrants subject to deportation
EXCLUSIVE: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) have come to an agreement to permit ICE to access taxpayer information to locate illegal immigrants subject to deportation. The Trump administration filed a memorandum of understanding late Monday with a court to create guardrails and a process for ICE requests to the IRS to further investigations of criminal illegal immigrants who have failed or refuse to leave the United States 90 days after a judge has issued a final order of removal. “The Internal Revenue Service and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement have entered into a memorandum of understanding to establish a clear and secure process to support law enforcement’s efforts to combat illegal immigration,” a Treasury Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital in a statement. COURT ORDER HALTING DEPORTATION FLIGHTS ‘UNCONSTITUTIONALLY IMPEDES’ EXECUTIVE BRANCH, TRUMP ALLIES ARGUE “The bases for this MOU are founded in longstanding authorities granted by Congress, which serve to protect the privacy of law-abiding Americans while streamlining the ability to pursue criminals,” the statement said. “After four years of Joe Biden flooding the nation with illegal aliens, President Trump’s highest priority is to ensure the safety of the American people.” A senior Treasury Department official said the illegal immigrants have been given due process but have overstayed 90 days post a judge’s removal order. The MOU outlines a process to ensure that sensitive taxpayer data information is protected while allowing law enforcement to pursue criminal violations, the official said. The Treasury Department is committed to protecting the privacy of law-abiding taxpayers, but a criminal exception obligates the agency to assist law enforcement, the senior official said. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TELLS FEDERAL JUDGE IT MIGHT INVOKE STATE SECRETS ACT ON HIGH-PROFILE DEPORTATION CASE A draft agreement reported last month by the Washington Post said it would limit ICE to confirm the addresses of illegal immigrants who have final removal orders. The deal would allow ICE to submit the names and addresses of illegal immigrants to the IRS, who could then cross-check those immigrants’ tax records and provide the immigration agency with current address information. Some veteran IRS officials have expressed concerns, arguing that the narrow exception was meant only for criminal investigations and not for immigration enforcement. They also worry that the policy will hinder tax collection from illegal immigrants, who are still subject to federal taxes despite being in the country illegally. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The agreement comes as President Donald Trump has continued to ramp up the deportation effort he promised on the campaign trail, while attempting to use every available resource in order to aid immigration authorities. Fox News Digital’s Michael Lee contributed to this report.