Trump invites El Salvador’s Bukele to White House for ‘working visit’
President Donald Trump has invited El Salvadorian President Nayib Bukele to visit him at the White House later this month, according to an April 1 letter from Trump that Bukele shared on X Wednesday night. Fox News Digital reached out to the White House on Thursday morning to request comment as well as confirmation of the letter Bukele posted but did not receive a response by the time of publication. “Your support of my efforts to combat illegal immigration is greatly appreciated,” Trump told Bukele in the message. “For far too long, our southern border has been an open door. With the assistance of friends like you, we have made great progress in protecting Americans from illegal border activity. EL SALVADOR ACCEPTS MORE ALLEGED TREN DE ARAGUA GANG MEMBERS FROM TRUMP ADMIN “Also of great importance to our partnership is your willingness to use El Salvador’s new superman prison for Tren de Aragua and MS-13 gang members. You have shown real leadership and are a model for others seeking to work with the United States,” Trump continued. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem toured CECOT, El Salvador’s confinement center, last month. Trump concluded the letter by inviting Bukele to join him at the White House on April 14, “for an official working visit to discuss this and other ways we can support each other.” TRUMP ADMIN DEFENDS DEPORTING ACCUSED MS-13 LEADER TO EL SALVADOR AMID BACKLASH In a post on Monday Bukele had noted, “Last night, in a joint military operation with our allies from the United States, we transferred 17 extremely dangerous criminals linked to Tren de Aragua and MS-13. All individuals are confirmed murderers and high-profile offenders, including six child rapists.” President Trump thanked the foreign leader. “Thank you President Bukele, of El Salvador, for taking the criminals that were so stupidly allowed, by the Crooked Joe Biden Administration, to enter our Country, and giving them such a wonderful place to live!” Trump declared on social media. NOEM COMES FACE-TO-FACE WITH ALLEGED TREN DE ARAGUA MEMBERS DURING TOUR OF NOTORIOUS EL SALVADOR PRISON CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “Grateful for your words, President Trump. Onward together!” Bukele replied.
‘Liberation Day’ tariff announcements stir up political frenzy
Following President Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” speech from the Rose Garden on Wednesday afternoon, during which he announced a new wide-ranging tariff strategy, politicians took to their partisan corners to express their thoughts. Republicans hailed the move as a “proven strategy” and “long overdue,” but Democrats suggested there was nothing liberating about tariffs, which they complained will make life even more expensive for Americans. During his Rose Garden remarks, Trump held up a poster board showing the combined rate of tariffs and other non-tariff barriers that other countries impose on U.S. exports alongside the reciprocal tariffs the Trump administration plans to levy on imports from those countries. Among those included were: The White House released a full list of the reciprocal tariffs in a post on X. PENCE GROUP LASHES OUT AT TRUMP TARIFFS AHEAD OF ‘LIBERATION DAY’ EVENT: ‘TAX ON AMERICAN CONSUMERS’ “This is a disaster, and anyone who says otherwise is lying,” the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee posted on X after the announcement. “There’s nothing liberating for those who are grappling with the high costs of food, housing, and utilities,” said Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, a leading Democratic voice. “Just watched the President’s ‘Liberation Day’ speech. Based on this, I can confirm many Americans will be liberated from: Being able to afford groceries, Much of their retirement savings, Any hope of buying a home,” remarked Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif. “As for lower prices? Just the opposite.” TRUMP, SENATE GOP BUDGET LEADERS HUDDLE AT WHITE HOUSE ON RECONCILIATION BILL Meanwhile, most Republicans responded with faith that Trump’s plan will serve the economy and Americans well. “The American people clearly trust President Trump’s instincts on the economy,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson. “It’s not ‘blind faith’ – because they know his first term delivered us the greatest economy in American history. Tariffs are part of the president’s proven strategy to fix our economy again, level the playing field, and put America first.” “The United States and American workers will no longer be ripped off by other countries with unfair trade practices,” House Majority Leader Steve Scalise said, before thanking Trump for “putting America’s workers and innovators first with reciprocal tariffs that level the playing field and make trade FAIR.” Rep. Greg Steube, R-Florida, also chimed in, saying “what many fail to realize” is “Trump’s reciprocal tariffs are a long-overdue response to years of unfair trade policies against America.” TRUMP ROLLS OUT SWEEPING NEW TARIFFS — WHAT TO KNOW “The numbers don’t lie–the rest of the world has profited at the expense of American workers and businesses,” said Steube. “President Trump is finally putting America First by taking bold, necessary actions that past leaders wouldn’t take.” “Trump’s tariffs aren’t starting a trade war—they’re ending one,” commented Rep. Brian Babin, R-Texas. “For decades, other countries ripped off American workers with unfair tariffs and barriers. Now, we’re finally fighting back. America First!” Fox Business Eric Revell contributed to this report.
Senate approves resolution against Trump’s Canada tariffs hours after ‘Liberation Day’ event
The Senate on Wednesday approved a resolution opposing President Donald Trump’s tariffs on imports from Canada hours after his event championing “Liberation Day.” Four Republicans – Sens. Rand Paul and Mitch McConnell, of Kentucky; Susan Collins, of Maine; and Lisa Murkowski, of Alaska, sided with Democrats in voting for a resolution that would repeal the emergency declaration that permitted Trump to levy taxes on Canada by citing deadly fentanyl flowing across the border. The measure, introduced by Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., passed the upper chamber of Congress by a 51-48 vote. The resolution likely won’t survive the GOP-controlled House, but its passage was a small victory for Democrats looking for their best attack line before the midterms. WHAT IS TRUMP’S NEW LIBERATION DAY AND WHAT TO EXPECT APRIL 2? Paul defended his decision to cross party lines in a speech on the Senate floor in which he quoted American revolutionary James Otis in saying, “Taxation without representation is tyranny.” The senator said it was that longstanding principle that originated from the Magna Carta that sparked the American revolution and was incorporated into the Constitution by the Founding Fathers. “And yet today, we are here before the Senate because one person in our country wishes to raise taxes,” Paul said. “Well, this is contrary to everything our country was founded upon. One person is not allowed to raise tax. The Constitution forbids it.” Paul said the Founding Fathers “so feared the power of taxation that they gave it only to Congress.” “I stand against the idea of skipping democracy, of skipping the constitutional republic, of rejecting our founding principles, not because I have any animus towards the president,” Paul said. “I do this because I love my country, and I want to see the division of power enabled such that it protects us all from the amalgamation of power into one person such that it can be abused. Another name for emergency rule is martial law.” “This is a tax, plain and simple,” he said of Trump’s Canada tariffs. “Taxes should not be enacted by one person. So I will vote today to end the emergency. I will vote today to try to reclaim the power of taxation, the power of the tariff, to where the Constitution designated it should properly be, and that is in Congress.” Trump called out Paul, McConnell, Collins and Murkowski in a post to Truth Social early Wednesday, saying that the four would hopefully “get on the Republican bandwagon, for a change, and fight the Democrats wild and flagrant push to not penalize Canada for the sale, into our Country, of large amounts of Fentanyl, by Tariffing the value of this horrible and deadly drug in order to make it more costly to distribute and buy.” THESE ARE THE ‘DIRTY 15’ COUNTRIES TRUMP MIGHT TARGET WITH LIBERATION DAY TARIFFS “They are playing with the lives of the American people, and right into the hands of the Radical Left Democrats and Drug Cartels,” Trump wrote. “The Senate Bill is just a ploy of the Dems to show and expose the weakness of certain Republicans, namely these four, in that it is not going anywhere because the House will never approve it and I, as your President, will never sign it. Why are they allowing Fentanyl to pour into our Country unchecked, and without penalty. What is wrong with them, other than suffering from Trump Derangement Syndrome, commonly known as TDS?” The president said the four Republicans have been “extremely difficult to deal with” and “unbelievably disloyal” to Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D. The Democratic Party has been battling an identity crisis since November’s election resulted in Republicans controlling both chambers of Congress and the White House. As Democrats strategized on how to emphasize Republican internal divisions, Kaine used one of the few ways the minority party could force a floor vote. Congress has the authority to overturn emergency resolutions. The measure opposing Trump’s tariffs on Canada passed hours after the president hosted a “Make America Wealthy Again” event in which he announced an executive order instituting “reciprocal tariffs” on various countries. “In the face of unrelenting economic warfare, the United States can no longer continue with a policy of unilateral economic surrender. We cannot pay the deficits of Canada, Mexico, and so many other countries. We used to do it. We can’t do it anymore. We take care of countries all over the world,” Trump said. “But we have to take care of our people, and we’re going to take care of our people first.” “Today we’re standing up for the American worker, and we are finally putting America first,” he added.
Washington Post article hyping anti-DOGE protesters in deep red state omits crucial details
FIRST ON FOX: An article on the Washington Post’s newspaper cover highlighting Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) opposition from Republican and Independent protesters at an event in Alabama failed to point out that several protesters featured in the story were Democratic donors who have espoused left-wing and anti-Trump views on social media. “Constituents hunt for answers from GOP congressman,” a Washington Post headline last week, which also ran online with the headline, “Republicans, independents crave answers from GOP congressman in Alabama,” read along with a story explaining how protesters are upset with GOP Rep. Dale Strong about DOGE. Despite framing the story as amplifying criticism from Republicans and Independents, every protester quoted in the story with a first and last name has donated to Democrats, which the article does not point out. Additionally, the article omits that several Democrat donors were included in the article’s pictures. Melanie Kolowski, the main protester cited in the story, is described by the Washington Post as “politically independent” and someone who is a “Second Amendment fan” and “proud owner of a Glock 47.” TOP FINANCIAL OFFICIALS SOUND ALARM ON ‘UNCONSCIONABLE’ ECONOMIC IMPACT OF DOGE PROTEST VIOLENCE: LETTER However, a Fox News Digital review of election records shows that she is a registered Democrat in Alabama who has only donated to ActBlue, earmarking donations to Sen. Mitch McConnell’s failed Democrat opponent Amy McGrath and the failed Senate campaign of former DNC Chair Jaime Harrison. Kolowski’s Facebook account includes posts blasting Elon Musk, accusing Justice Clarence Thomas of wanting to take America back to the time of segregation, and promoting abortion, gay marriage and DEI. In another post from last month, she shared a post from Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., a self-proclaimed Democratic Socialist, hyping a rally he and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., hosted together in Denver. The post included a fire emoji and an emoji showing heart eyes. The piece also quotes Michael Bonaker, who the author describes as a “registered Republican.” Bonaker is indeed a registered Republican, but FEC records show that he has only donated to Democrats, and he has posted on the social media platform BlueSky that “if you support MAGA and ’47, you are a racist.” “First, a space x starship disintegrates before our eyes! Second, Waiting for Elon’s brain to explode like Samuel L Jackson’s character did in Kingman,” Bonaker wrote in a BlueSky post. “We are mad as hell and not going to take it anymore! That rings a bell… Proud to peacefully demonstrate with my closest progressive minded friends,” he wrote in another BlueSky post. “Even in our racist red state.” “It’s hard to be sympathetic to those who voted to put this wanna be dictator into power,” he said in another post. DOGE SLASHES BILLIONS MORE IN EXPENSES FOR PROGRAMS LIKE PERUVIAN CLIMATE CHANGE AND GENDER EQUITY IN MEXICO “Next, You love your money way more than your fellow US citizens of differing races and creeds,” the post says. “Sit in your evangelical pew and make your false prayers in the name of Jesus. One day, Your hypocrisy will be judged and you will deserve your punishment.” The Washington Post included a picture in the story with Kolowski holding an upside-down American flag, while Strong spoke at the event with the caption, “Kolowski held a silent protest with Zeb Lemon, left, and Jeremy Devito as Strong spoke at the defense contractor event.” FEC records show that Lemon is also a Democrat donor, and a Fox News Digital review of his social media shows him describing himself as a “leftist.” Devito is not only a registered Democrat and Democrat donor in Alabama, but he has filed to run for Congress as a Democrat against Strong. The story featured a comment from another Republican who was only identified as Lynn and a photo of a man named Branson Block with a sign around his neck that said “Make America Think Again.” Fox News Digital reached out to the Washington Post, Kolowski, and Bonaker for comment.
Trump faces Judge Boasberg over migrant deportation flights defying court order
A federal judge will hear from government lawyers Thursday to determine whether the Trump administration defied court orders when it deported hundreds of migrants to El Salvador last month. The hearing marks the latest clash between President Donald Trump and U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, who Trump has publicly attacked as an “activist” judge and called for his impeachment. At issue is whether the administration knowingly violated Boasberg’s emergency order, which temporarily blocked the deportations and required that any individuals removed under a centuries-old immigration law be “immediately” returned to U.S. soil. Flights carrying migrants, including those deported under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, still landed in El Salvador that same night. “Oopsie…” El Salvador’s president, Nayib Bukele, wrote on X after they landed in his country. “Too late.” Boasberg, who issued the emergency orders at the center of the controversial and complex case, has said he intends to find out whether the administration knowingly violated them, and who, if anyone, should be held accountable. ‘WOEFULLY INSUFFICIENT’: US JUDGE REAMS TRUMP ADMIN FOR DAYS-LATE DEPORTATION INFO “The government isn’t being forthcoming,” Boasberg told Justice Department attorney Drew Ensign during an earlier hearing. “But I will get to the bottom of whether they complied with my order, who violated it and what the consequences will be.” At Thursday’s hearing, Boasberg is expected to revisit many of the same questions he raised earlier, including how many planes left the U.S. carrying individuals deported “solely on the basis” of the Alien Enemies Act. Other questions include how many individuals were on each plane and what time and from which location each plane took off. Although the administration has already appealed the case twice – first to the D.C. Circuit, which upheld Boasberg’s order, and then to the Supreme Court – the judge is still pressing for answers. Thursday’s hearing is part of his effort to determine whether the government defied the court when it carried out the deportation flights. APPEALS COURT BLOCKS TRUMP ADMIN’S DEPORTATION FLIGHTS IN ALIEN ENEMIES ACT IMMIGRATION SUIT The Alien Enemies Act, passed in 1798, has been used only three times in American history – during the War of 1812 and the two world wars – making its modern application by the Trump administration a rare legal maneuver. Trump officials have argued invoking the law is necessary to expel dangerous individuals, including alleged members of the Tren de Aragua gang, who were flown to El Salvador under the administration’s new deportation policy. Meanwhile, plaintiffs have pushed back on the administration’s use of the 1798 law, calling its use during peacetime “unprecedented.” In a brief filed to the Supreme Court earlier this week, plaintiffs argued the law permits immediate deportations only in cases of a “declared war” or an “invasion or predatory incursion” by a foreign nation, conditions they say don’t apply to the Venezuelan nationals targeted for removal. Government lawyers have declined to disclose key details about the deportation flights, including whether any planes departed after Boasberg’s order, citing national security protections. Boasberg had previously warned the administration of consequences if it violated his order and criticized earlier filings as “woefully insufficient,” noting the government also refused his offer to submit information under seal. APPEALS COURT BLOCKS TRUMP ADMIN’S DEPORTATION FLIGHTS IN ALIEN ENEMIES ACT IMMIGRATION SUIT The case has become a political flash point over the balance of power between the courts and the executive branch. Trump allies dismiss much of the judiciary’s involvement as the work of “activist” judges seeking to rein in the president and overstep their constitutional role. Trump’s demand for Boasberg to be impeached prompted a rare public rebuke from Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts. “For more than two centuries, it has been established that impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision,” Roberts said in a statement. “The normal appellate review process exists for that purpose.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The White House has kept up its criticism of the lower courts, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt last month accusing judges of overstepping their bounds and infringing on the president’s authority. “The administration will move quickly to pursue Supreme Court review, defend the Constitution, and protect the American people,” Leavitt said in a statement.
Former Biden cabinet member mounts California gubernatorial bid
Xavier Becerra, who served as Department of Health and Human Services secretary throughout most of former President Joe Biden’s White House tenure, has announced a California gubernatorial bid. “From housing to healthcare, childcare to college, working families are facing an affordability crisis. The California Dream is slipping away. I’m running for Governor to fight for that dream, to build a stronger, affordable California for everyone, and to take on bullies who get in our way,” Becerra noted, according to his campaign website. “We need a leader who will reward hard work, innovation, and endurance again. We need a leader who has rolled up his sleeves as a construction worker, an executive, and a lawmaker. I’m that leader, and as Governor I’ll be ready to build a California that’s rising again,” he asserted. HOUSE REPUBLICANS GRILL HHS SECRETARY BECERRA OVER MIGRANT CHILDREN: ‘WOULD NOT WANT TO BE YOU’ Prior to helming HHS, Becerra served as the Golden State’s attorney general, and before that he spent more than two decades serving as a lawmaker in the U.S. House of Representatives. Becerra joins the field of candidates vying to replace current California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat who is currently serving his second term and is not eligible to run again since the state’s constitution stipulates, “No Governor may serve more than 2 terms.” KAMALA HARRIS REVEALS TIMETABLE FOR MAKING MAJOR POLITICAL DECISION IN DEEP BLUE STATE Former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter and California’s current Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis are some of the other candidates jockeying for the job. Politico reported that at a pre-Oscars party, Harris was asked by someone when she would decide about a gubernatorial bid. Her answer was the end of the summer, according to two people with knowledge of the talk, the outlet reported. Former Vice President Kamala Harris has told allies that she will decide by the end of the summer whether to mount a bid for the role, a source in her political orbit confirmed to Fox News Digital. HHS DOWNSIZING BEGINS AMID RFK JR. ‘MAKE AMERICA HEALTHY AGAIN’ PUSH: ‘WIN-WIN FOR TAXPAYERS’ CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Harris is mulling whether to seek the governorship next year, the presidency in 2028, or a position outside elected office, according to an individual with knowledge of her deliberations, the New York Times reported. Fox News’ Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report
Blagojevich has new job working for ‘Bosnian Bear’ politician with ties to Putin
Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, fresh off a pardon from President Donald Trump, has a new job representing the interests of a politician known as the “Bosnian Bear,” who also has close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Blagojevich, who was pardoned by Trump in February, has agreed to lobby on behalf of the Republic of Srpska, a Serb-majority territory in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Politico reported. The region has long been mired in ethnic tension. “RRB Strategies LLC will provide communications and public affairs support on behalf of the Republic of Srpska,” according to the registration statement filed by Blagojevich’s firm. Registration is required under the Foreign Agents Registration Act. ROD BLAGOJEVICH RIPS BIDEN, DEMOCRATS FOR LYING ABOUT PARDONING HUNTER: MADE ‘CHUMPS OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE’ In a post on Wednesday, Blagojevich said Interpol, the global police organization, denied a request from “the unelected Bosnian High Representative to arrest Milorad Dodik, known as the ‘Bosnian Bear’ for his big physique, the duly elected President of the Republic of Srpska.” Interpol’s denial came as Dodik traveled to Israel to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and to attend a conference on how to combat antsemitism, the former governor said. Earlier this week, Blagojevich said left-wing courts, prosecutors and officials were trying to “jail populist conservative leaders elected by the people & bar them from holding office.” He cited efforts to push back against Trump, Marine Le Pen in France and Dodik, who has long advocated for Srpska to separate from Bosnia and Herzegovina and join Serbia. TRUMP PARDONS FORMER ILLINOIS GOV. ROD BLAGOJEVICH: ‘HE WAS SET UP BY A LOT OF BAD PEOPLE’ In February, he was sentenced to a year in prison for defying the country’s Constitutional Court. He has since fled to Moscow. In March, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Dodik was undermining Bosnia and Herzegovina’s institutions and threatening its security and stability. “Our nation encourages political leaders in Bosnia and Herzegovina to engage in constructive and responsible dialogue,” he said. “We call on our partners in the region to join us in pushing back against this dangerous and destabilizing behavior.” Trump reportedly weighed tapping Blagojevich to serve as U.S. ambassador to Serbia before picking former Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich.
DOGE uncovers VA’s agreement to pay $380K per month for minor website modifications
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) paid hundreds of thousands of dollars a month for website changes before canceling the contract and having an internal staffer take over, according to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). While combing through loads and loads of data, DOGE discovered a previous contract by the VA for its website maintenance. “Good work by @DeptVetAffairs,” DOGE said in a post on X on Wednesday. “VA was previously paying ~$380,000/month for minor website modifications. That contract has not been renewed, and the same work is now being executed by 1 internal VA software engineer spending ~10 hours/week.” Fox News Digital has reached out to the VA for comment about the former contract. SENATE CONFIRMS DOUG COLLINS TO LEAD THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS VA Secretary Doug Collins has defended DOGE cuts at the VA as part of the new administration’s efforts to reform the department and better serve veterans. In February, the VA announced that the dismissal of more than 1,000 employees would enable the department to redirect over $98 million per year in resources back to health care, benefits and services for VA beneficiaries. Billionaire Elon Musk has been the face of DOGE since President Donald Trump signed an executive order establishing the department on Jan. 20. ‘CHANGES THAT ACTUALLY HELP OUR VETERANS’: VA SECRETARY DEFENDS PROPOSED 15% WORKFORCE REDUCTION Trump tasked the organization with optimizing the federal government, streamlining operations and slashing spending and gave the agency 18 months to do it. Along with discoveries like the former contract VA signed for website maintenance, DOGE continues to find waste and fraud among federal agencies. Last week, DOGE announced the termination of 113 contracts valued at $4.7 billion, including a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) consulting contract for Peru’s climate change activities. WHITE HOUSE ADVISOR LOSES PATIENCE WITH REPORTER OVER QUESTIONS ABOUT TRUMP’S TARIFF STRATEGY DOGE also announced the Department of Labor had canceled $577 million in “America Last” grants, totaling $237 million in savings. The funding that was canceled included $10 million for “gender equity in the Mexican workplace,” $12.2 million for “worker empowerment in South America” and $6.25 million for “improving respect for workers’ rights in agricultural supply chains” in the countries of Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador. As of April 2, DOGE claims on its site it has saved Americans $140 billion, or $869.57 per taxpayer. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP DOGE critics contend the organization has too much access to federal systems and should not be permitted to cancel federal contracts or make cuts to various agencies.
Transportation Sec Sean Duffy slams blue state governor, says criminals ‘continue to terrorize’ city residents
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on Wednesday slammed New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), accusing both of discounting safety risks in New York City subways. “The @MTA & @GovKathyHochul continue to say NYC subways are perfectly safe. Meanwhile, criminals continue to terrorize innocent New Yorkers,” Duffy wrote in a post on X over a news story detailing recent violence on the NYC subway. “We’re fighting to make commuting safe again.” In December, a 57-year-old woman was allegedly burned alive by an illegal migrant from Guatamala in a horrific subway attack. Less than a month later, on New Year’s Eve, a New York City man was charged with attempted murder after allegedly shoving a 45-year-old man onto the subway tracks. GUARDIAN ANGELS RESUME NEW YORK CITY PATROLS AFTER SUBWAY BURNING DEATH: ‘NEVER SEEN IT THIS BAD’ In 2024, subway felony assaults increased and homicides doubled to 10, Fox News Digital previously reported. However, overall, subway crime was down by 5.4%, according to the NYPD. Duffy in March sent a letter to the MTA noting New York City’s transit authority must reduce crime, or it would face federal funding cuts. “The trend of violent crime, homelessness, and other threats to public safety on one of our nation’s most prominent metro systems is unacceptable,” Duffy wrote in the letter. “After years of soft-on-crime policies, our Department is stepping in to restore order.” The letter requested a copy of MTA’s data on fare evasion, worker assaults, customer assaults and police patrols, Fox News Digital previously reported. NYPD INVESTIGATES AFTER HOMELESS MAN CATCHES FIRE IN MANHATTAN SUBWAY STATION It also requested an explanation of how MTA, which is given billions of dollars from the federal government, has used taxpayer funding to address safety and security concerns. “Commuters are sick and tired of feeling like they have to jeopardize their safety to get to work, go to school, or to travel around the city,” Duffy wrote in the letter. “We will continue to fight to ensure their federal tax dollars are going towards a crime-free commute.” The DOT, MTA and Hochul’s office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. Fox News Digital’s Anders Hagstrom and Lindsay Kornick contributed to this report.
Ted Cruz clashes with key Democrat over ‘second phase of lawfare’ through federal judges’ orders
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., sparred during a hearing on federal judges’ nationwide orders against the Trump administration, and the Democrat dismissed her colleague’s claims of “lawfare.” “Understand this is the second phase of lawfare,” Cruz said during the Senate Judiciary Committee’s hearing, “Rule by District Judges II: Exploring Legislative Solutions to the Bipartisan Problem of Universal Injunctions.” “Now that their efforts to indict President Trump and stop the voters from re-electing him have failed, they’re going and seeking out individual radical judges,” the Texas Republican claimed. GOP DEFECTORS HELP SENATE ADVANCE RESOLUTION TO CANCEL TRUMP TARIFFS DESPITE WHITE HOUSE VETO WARNING Klobuchar disputed this, telling Cruz the injunctions from federal judges were a result of President Donald Trump “violating the Constitution.” “Why would Trump-appointed judges …,” the Minnesota Democrat began before being interrupted by Cruz. SENATE DEMS FORESHADOW MORE FORCED VOTES TO BLOCK TRUMP’S EMERGENCY ORDERS “Why don’t you file them in red districts?” Cruz asked. “Why are the Democrat attorneys general seeking out left-wing, blue swing districts?” Klobuchar claimed the spike in nationwide injunctions from district judges halting Trump administration actions are not because “these judges are crooked or lunatics or evil.” And she warned that making such claims could instigate threats and violence against them. SCOOP: LINDSEY GRAHAM AMENDMENT SIGNALS GOP BUDGET BREAKTHROUGH, SETS STAGE FOR TRUMP AGENDA Cruz criticized Democrats for not sufficiently denouncing threats against conservative Supreme Court justices in recent years. But Klobuchar called that a lie, explaining, “We came together and got more funding for the judges and changed things so that they had more protection.” While multiple Democrats criticized “judge shopping” during the hearing, they were careful not to get behind Republican bills to end all nationwide injunctions. “It’s impossible to separate the hearing from President Trump’s record in office,” said ranking member Dick Durbin, D-Ill. TRUMP, SENATE GOP BUDGET LEADERS HUDDLE AT WHITE HOUSE ON RECONCILIATION BILL But ending judge shopping, as Democrats have proposed in the past, wouldn’t completely address the issue, said majority witnesses John N. Matthews, a law professor at Notre Dame Samuel Bray, and Jesse Panuccio, partner at Boies Schiller Flexner. He was previously the acting associate attorney general at the Department of Justice (DOJ), chairman of the DOJ’s Regulatory Reform Task Force and vice chairman of the DOJ’s Task Force on Market Integrity and Consumer Fraud. “I think the incentive for forum shopping is that you think you can get a judge who can be a ruler for the whole nation. So, fix the problem of judges overreaching,” Panuccio.