Obama, Pelosi, other top Dems resisted instant Harris endorsement citing need to ‘earn it,’ ‘hiking’ excuse
Top Democrats stretching from former President Barack Obama to former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi resisted giving former Vice President Kamala Harris their full public endorsements in the immediate fallout of then-President Joe Biden dropping out of the race, according to Harris’ memoir detailing her 107-day presidential campaign against President Donald Trump. Harris recounted that after Biden dropped out of the race via a message posted to X on the afternoon of July 21, 2024, she made phone calls to top Democrats to feel out their endorsements. A handful offered their support right off the bat, she said, with former President Bill Clinton, for example, reportedly telling Harris he was “relieved” that Biden dropped out and called on her to, “Send me anywhere. Make this your own campaign.” Others, however, never got back to her or resisted offering her their support when she initially asked. Harris shared her “notes of the calls” in her book, “107 Days,” which hit bookshelves Tuesday. KAMALA HARRIS BREAKS SILENCE ON BIDEN DROPOUT, ADMITS SHE HAS REGRETS ABOUT HER HANDLING OF SITUATION “Saddle up! Joe did what I hoped he would do. But you have to earn it,” Obama said when Harris spoke to him, according to the book. “Michelle and I are supportive but not going to put a finger on the scale right now. Let Joe have his moment. Think through timing.” Pelosi said the nomination process should have included a primary style process, “not an anointment.” HARRIS TAPS DEM EMAILS LISTS TO MARKET NEW BOOK, SPARKING PARTY NEUTRALITY CONCERNS “I’m so sad about Joe. It’s so tragic. My heart is broken. But now it’s you! It’s important there’s a process, we have a great bench. We should have some kind of primary, not an anointment,” she told Harris, according to the former VP’s notes of the conversations. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, who found himself in Trump’s political crosshairs in 2025, reportedly told Harris: “You’ve been loyal. I respect that.” Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders reportedly advised Harris to avoid an overwhelming focus on abortion. BIDEN TEAM IS READY TO DROP DIRT ON HARRIS IF SHE COMES AFTER HIM, MARK HALPERIN SAYS “I supported Joe because he was the strongest voice for the working class,” he said, according to the memoir. “Please focus on the working class, not just on abortion.” A trio of high-profile Democrat governors also resisted giving Harris their endorsement, either ghosting Harris or noting concerns of timing over their endorsement. “Hiking. Will call back. (He never did.)” Harris wrote of her conversation with California Gov. Gavin Newsom, the top leader of her home state. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker cited the Democratic National Committee, which was held in Chicago that year, as to why he could not offer her an endorsement. “As governor of Illinois, I’m the convention host. I can’t commit,” Pritzker said. KAMALA HARRIS TO PUBLISH BEHIND-THE-SCENES ACCOUNT OF FAILED 2024 CAMPAIGN “I believe you’ll win, but I need to let the dust settle, talk to my colleagues before I make a public statement,” Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said, according to Harris’ memoir. Harris said she went from “call to call with the clarity that comes when stakes are high, stress is through the roof, and there’s zero ambiguity.” “Some people I called would offer me support and then ask, ‘What do you think the process should be?’” she continued, before bucking any floated ideas of a primary race. “If they thought I was down with a mini primary or some other half-baked procedure, I was quick to disabuse them,” she said. “How much more time would it have taken to pull that off?” Other high-profile Democrats offered their full endorsements to Harris, including Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who offered to hop on an Amtrak ride to help her out. “We’re thrilled the president endorsed you. We’ll do whatever we can—we’ll jump on a plane, we’ll get on Amtrak. I want to be part of your war council,” Hillary Clinton told Harris, according to Harris’ memoir. Harris’ highly anticipated book follows a handful of other political memoirs on the 2024 election race, which was underscored by mounting concerns over Biden’s mental acuity before he ultimately dropped out — leaving Harris with just more than 100 days of campaigning to try to defeat Trump. The former vice president is set to begin a book tour across the nation upon the release of the memoir. Fox News Digital on Tuesday morning reached out to the respective offices of the top Democrats cited in the book for comment, including Newsom, Barack Obama, Pelosi, Whitmer, Sanders and Pritzker.
Google to reinstate banned YouTube accounts censored for political speech
FIRST ON FOX: Google vowed on Tuesday to offer YouTube accounts that were permanently banned for political speech the ability to be reinstated, and the big tech giant admitted that it once faced pressure from the Biden administration to remove content about COVID-19. Google detailed its remarkable shift in a document, first obtained by Fox News Digital, that a lawyer for the company provided to the House Judiciary Committee. The new policy from Google, also known by its parent company Alphabet, could affect both average users and well-known figures like FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino, White House counterterrorism chief Sebastian Gorka and “War Room” podcast host Steve Bannon, all of whom were permanently banned in recent years for COVID-19 or election-related content. “Reflecting the Company’s commitment to free expression, YouTube will provide an opportunity for all creators to rejoin the platform if the company terminated their channels for repeated violations of COVID-19 and elections integrity policies that are no longer in effect,” the lawyer representing Google wrote. CNN REPORTER SAYS LIBERALS SHOULD ‘ACTIVELY ACKNOWLEDGE’ THEIR ROLE IN CANCEL CULTURE Bongino ended his conservative radio show, which livestreamed on Rumble, when he joined the administration this year. He has attributed his popularity on that platform to permanently losing his YouTube account in 2022. YouTube permanently banned Bongino, who had one of the most followed accounts on the platform, for spreading what it said was COVID-19 misinformation about masks. The document from Google also noted that YouTube “values conservative voices on its platform” and acknowledged that the creators “have extensive reach and play an important role in civic discourse.” The document included a section about the Biden administration and said White House officials at the time pushed Google behind the scenes to remove perceived misinformation related to COVID-19. The lawyer for Google also noted that the big tech platform censored content independently of the Biden administration based on its internal policies but that the company has since rolled back those policies. “Senior Biden Administration officials, including White House officials, conducted repeated and sustained outreach to Alphabet and pressed the Company regarding certain user-generated content related to the COVID-19 pandemic that did not violate its policies,” the lawyer wrote. The administration “created a political atmosphere that sought to influence the actions of platforms based on their concerns regarding misinformation,” the lawyer added. Reached for comment, a Google spokesperson told Fox News Digital it did not have anything more to add besides what was in the document. Google’s revelations came in response to a yearslong Republican-led investigation by the committee into big tech companies, including Google, that censored and suppressed content on their platforms related to COVID-19, the 2020 election and Hunter Biden. YouTube’s posture follows Meta similarly shifting last year toward denouncing the Biden administration’s pressure tactics, which were well-documented in emails provided to the committee. Meta revealed at the time that it was doing away with third-party fact-checkers, a move then-President Joe Biden called “really shameful.” YouTube has not used outside fact-checkers and vowed that it “will not empower fact-checkers to take action on or label content” on the platform. Parallel to the congressional investigations was a lawsuit brought by two Republican attorneys general over social media censorship. Discovery in that case largely mirrored what the committee uncovered. The Supreme Court ultimately did not decide on the merits of the case, Murthy v. Missouri, and instead found that the plaintiffs lacked standing to bring it. But the lower courts had largely sided with the plaintiffs, including a judge who found the federal government seemed to have “assumed a role similar to an Orwellian ‘Ministry of Truth.’” The high court’s decision disappointed Republicans, who had hoped for a landmark ruling that social media companies’ censorship practices violate the First Amendment. The case also explored jawboning, which involves the government pressuring private companies to censor their speech. WHITE HOUSE WORKED WITH YOUTUBE TO CENSOR COVID-19 AND VACCINE ‘MISINFORMATION’: HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE The term jawboning has resurfaced in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s death, after ABC late-night host Jimmy Kimmel suggested on his show that the suspect Tyler Robinson was a member of the “MAGA gang.” Authorities have said Robinson felt Kirk spread hate and that he engraved his bullet casings with gamer-inspired antifascist messaging. Kimmel also repeatedly expressed sympathies for Kirk’s family and condemned the shooting. Still, ABC and owners of its affiliate stations suspended Kimmel’s show. ABC lifted its suspension beginning Tuesday, but one of the affiliate owners, Sinclair Broadcast Group, said it will continue to replace Kimmel with other programming. Concerns with jawboning arose because Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr made a veiled threat about Kimmel’s remarks ahead of ABC pulling him off air. The FCC has regulatory authority over broadcasting networks, including ABC, but still must abide by the First Amendment. “Frankly, when you see stuff like this, I mean, we can do this the easy way, or the hard way,” Carr told conservative podcaster Benny Johnson. “These companies can find ways to change conduct, to take action, frankly, on Kimmel, or there’s going to be additional work for the FCC ahead.” In addition to the censorship concessions, Google also criticized the European Union’s Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Act and told the House Judiciary Committee it will remain “vigilant” in the face of legal obligations from other countries. The EU laws have drawn bipartisan scrutiny in Congress over concerns the foreign laws will force big tech companies to follow more expansive regulations and to ramp up content moderation in a way that could affect American users. Google agreed on Tuesday that the EU laws “place a disproportionate regulatory burden on American companies.”
Trump officials slam blue state governor for ignoring chaotic anti-ICE ‘rioters’ disrupting operation
The Department of Homeland Security is criticizing Illinois Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker for failing to assist in responding to a chaotic anti-ICE riot in a Chicago suburb that forced federal authorities to deploy tear gas and other non-lethal measures. In a Monday statement, the department claimed that police “under JB Pritzker’s sanctuary jurisdiction refused to answer multiple calls for assistance.” Fox News Digital reported last Friday that federal officials clashed with a group of protesters who were blocking ICE vehicles from entering and exiting a processing facility in Broadview, Illinois. DHS labeled the protesters “rioters” and said that so far, federal law enforcement has arrested 16 rioters. The agency said that the “rioters and sanctuary politicians obstructed law enforcement, threw tear gas cans, rocks, bottles, and fireworks, slashed tires of cars, blocked the entrance of the building, and trespassed on private property.” DHS said that rioters also assaulted law enforcement officials. Matt Hill, a spokesperson for Pritzker, responded by telling Fox News Digital that “it’s completely false to suggest the state or local municipalities have been obstructing federal officials.” DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE THROWN TO GROUND DURING CHAOTIC ANTI-ICE PROTEST “The state has not received multiple calls for assistance from the federal government and would remind them of the importance of coordinating with local law enforcement to protect public safety,” said Hill. He added, “Governor Pritzker has been clear that violence is unacceptable and everyone needs to follow the law, which includes federal agents respecting constitutional rights to peaceful protest.” “The media needs to use extreme caution before reporting what the Trump administration is saying given their record of lies, lack of transparency, and failure to coordinate with the state and local law enforcement,” said Hill. The DHS statement said the protest disrupted an operation targeting “some of the worst of the worst—including criminals convicted of drug trafficking, domestic abuse, drinking and driving, and assault,” who were being processed at the facility. The agency highlighted some of the criminal illegals who were being processed when the protest broke out. Among those was Andres Ventura-Uvaldo, a criminal illegal and Mexican national, who the agency said was previously arrested for felony DUI and domestic violence. Another, Alberto Algeria Barron, also a Mexican national, was previously removed from the U.S. in 2014 and was convicted for domestic battery twice, according to DHS. NEWSOM ON COURTROOM COLLISION COURSE WITH TRUMP OVER ICE MASK BAN Erwin Jose Roa-Mustafa, an illegal alien from the Dominican Republic, was also being processed at the facility after pleading guilty on federal charges of conspiracy and intent to distribute a controlled substance and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. DHS said that ICE was also processing another alleged drug trafficker, Ibis Alberto Testa Nunez, from Mexico, who was previously arrested by the Drug Enforcement Administration for cocaine possession and possession with intent to distribute. Two others, Salvador Alcantar-Alcantar, from Mexico, was previously arrested for DUI, trespassing and assault, and Carlos Eduardo Chavez-Cardenas, from Bolivia, was previously convicted for DUI and possession of drugs, according to DHS. “These heinous criminals, including domestic abusers, drug traffickers, violent offenders, and drunk drivers are some of the illegal aliens being held in the ICE Broadview Processing Center,” said DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. MASSIVE ICE OPERATION NETS GANG MEMBERS, MURDERERS, CHILD PREDATORS: ‘WREAKED HAVOC’ “These rioters in Illinois are fighting to keep rapists, murderers, and other violent criminals loose on Illinois streets,” said McLaughlin. “Instead of rioting, they should be thanking ICE officers who every single day wake up and make our communities safer.” This comes as DHS says that ICE officials are facing a more than 1,000 percent increase in assaults as they conduct operations across Illinois.
Top GOP candidates in deep red state unify behind each other at joint event: ‘Bold ideas’
FIRST ON FOX: Two of the top Republicans in the solid red state of Ohio are endorsing each other, representing a move toward unity in the state where Republicans are hoping to win next November without President Trump on the ticket. “I’m proud to back Jon Husted for U.S. Senate,” Ohio GOP gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy said in a press release alongside an event with Ohio Republican Sen. Jon Husted in Columbus on Monday night. “Jon represents Ohio values, and he is a common-sense leader who I’ve known for years. He’s a fighter for our families and our freedoms, and he’ll carry Ohio’s voice to Washington without compromise.” Husted reciprocated the sentiment by issuing his own endorsement of Ramaswamy’s campaign for the governorship in Ohio. GOP SENATOR REVEALS WHY TRUMP’S ‘COMPLETE AND TOTAL ENDORSEMENT’ WILL BE CRUCIAL FOR HIS MIDTERM RACE “Vivek has articulated bold ideas for our state, and I believe his vision for excellence aligns closely with the priorities Ohioans expect and deserve,” Husted said. “I’m proud to endorse my friend Vivek Ramaswamy to be the next Governor of Ohio.” The press release touted Husted’s “reputation as Ohio’s common-sense public servant who streamlines government and expands opportunity” along with Ramaswamy’s “perspective of a successful entrepreneur who champions innovation and free markets.” The two candidates together, the press release stated, represent a pairing that is “uniting Ohio around a strong mission for the state on the national stage.” Husted, appointed to the U.S. Senate by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine to replace Vice President JD Vance, is running for re-election against former Ohio Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown and Republicans across the country have circled the wagons in support of the freshman senator. OHIO TEAMSTERS UNION ENDORSES RAMASWAMY IN GUBERNATORIAL RACE, BREAKING FROM TYPICAL SUPPORT OF DEM CANDIDATES “After 50 years of living off the tax payer, losing an election by a wide margin with $300 million in out of state money, abandoning working Ohioans to be Chuck Schumer’s lap dog, and sucking up to coastal elites, it’s time for @SherrodBrown to just go away,” Ohio Republican Sen. Bernie Moreno, who defeated Brown last year despite entering the race as an underdog in the polls, said on X after Brown entered the race. “Ohio is lucky to have @SenJonHusted in the Senate!,” Ohio Republican Congressman Jim Jordan posted on X after Brown jumped in the race. Husted, who has previously served as Ohio’s lieutenant governor and secretary of state, has Trump’s endorsement as he runs next year to fill the final two years of Vance’s six-year term. Ramaswamy, a billionaire entrepreneur in the pharmaceutical sector, catapulted onto the political scene when he ran for president in 2024 before dropping out and endorsing Trump but continuing a push for the “America First” agenda as a surrogate. Ramaswamy had also stated an interest in being appointed to the Senate to replace Vance before Husted was appointed. “One of my core areas of focus that I think is really resonating, is elevating the standards of educational achievement in our state,” Ramaswamy said earlier this year about his gubernatorial campaign. “The No. 1 issue that I see resonating across the board, in a non-partisan manner, is the recognition that we are in the middle of this educational achievement crisis.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Former Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton is currently the leading Democrat in the governor’s race in Ohio, a state Trump carried by 11 points in 2024. Ramaswamy and Husted endorsing each other represents a united Republican front between Husted, elevated to the Senate by DeWine, a longtime political stalwart viewed as an establishment figure, and Ramaswamy, who has taken up the mantle of the Republican “MAGA” base in Ohio. RNC surrogate and Ohio attorney Mehek Cooke told Fox News Digital that “this kind of unity is rare” in “today’s political climate” and sends a “powerful message” that the Republican Party is a “big tent.” “We don’t all have to look the same, speak the same, or even come from the same lane to believe in what’s best for Ohio,” Cooke said. “Endorsements are more than just words on a press release—they are a testament to a shared belief that Ohio can and must lead. From excellence in our schools, to economic growth that empowers families, to building safe and strong communities rooted in opportunity, Vivek and Jon are showing that when leaders come together, Ohioans win.”
Tit for tat: House censures are becoming ‘snap’ solutions
The House of Representatives censured the late Roderick Butler, R-Tenn., in 1870 for taking a bribe for a military academy appointment. The House also censured late Rep. Thomas Blanton, D-Texas, in 1921 for inserting a document into the Congressional Record which contained obscene language. And late Rep. Gerry Studds, D-Mass., faced censure in 1983 for having sex with a 17-year-old page. Those are three of the 28 Members ever censured by the House. 4 HOUSE REPUBLICANS VOTE WITH DEMS TO BLOCK RESOLUTION CENSURING ILHAN OMAR FOR CHARLIE KIRK COMMENTS Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., did not become the 29th Member slapped with censure recently. That’s probably because Rep. Cory Mills, R-Fla., was one of four Republicans who joined Democrats to block a censure of Omar. And in so doing, Mills may very well have prevented himself from becoming the 30th House Member to be censured. Censure is the second-highest form of discipline in the House. It falls between a reprimand and expulsion. Censure is more than a regular foul in a soccer game. Kind of like a yellow card, which serves as a caution. But it’s not a red card, either, which triggers ejection. That said, censure has become a “thing” in recent years on Capitol Hill. If the House were to ever consider censuring any Member, such an inquest would go behind closed doors with the Ethics Committee. An inquiry may take months. No more. “Snap” censures are now fashionable in the House of Representatives. Here’s how it works: Someone thinks someone says a colleague says something outrageous. So they just prep a censure measure, go over the head of the Congressional leadership by making their resolution privileged (meaning the House must consider it within two days) and, if the House votes in favor of your gambit, that Member is censured. Done. Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., crafted a resolution to censure Omar and strip the Minnesota Democrat from her committee assignments. Mace accused Omar of using inflammatory rhetoric in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination. During an appearance on the news outlet Zeteo, Omar claimed “there is nothing more effed up, than to completely pretend that his words and actions have not been recorded and in existence for the last decade or so.” Mace’s resolution quoted from a profane social media video not produced by Omar — but reposted by her — which fired invective at Kirk. Mace’s maneuver came as leaders from both sides tried to urge calm at the Capitol amid the assassination of Charlie Kirk. ‘SQUAD’ MEMBER, NANCY MACE CLASH ON SOCIAL MEDIA: ‘YOU BELONG IN REHAB’ “Every leader has an obligation to lower the temperature right now,” said House Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar, D-Calif. “I disagree with the retweet of one of our one of our colleagues.” Aguilar said that Mace’s resolution to sanction Omar was not “helpful.” “Every member of Congress, and certainly the President of the United States, have a responsibility to take the temperature down,” said House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y. “Nancy Mace wants to lecture Ilhan Omar and Democrats about civility? Are you kidding me? It’s not a serious effort. It’s an effort to drive donors into her gubernatorial campaign.” For his part, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., didn’t try to sidetrack Mace. He declared that “Members have a prerogative to file privileged motions.” “What she did was outrageous and dangerous. And there has to be accountability in the House for these kinds of activities,” said Johnson. “I don’t understand why she uses that kind of language.” Mace and Omar wound up tangling over the censure resolution on X. “One-way ticket to Somalia with your name on it, Ilhan Omar,” posted Mace. “I am going soon, so please drop off the tickets on your way to your office. I am next door,” retorted Omar. The Minnesota Democrat added that Mace was either not “well or smart.” She added “you belong in rehab, not Congress.” Democrats defended Omar. “When we are all trying to take the political temperature down, when we are all trying to work to be able to approach our differences with humanity and stand out against political violence, this is the wrong move,” said House Minority Whip Katherine Clark, D-Mass. But lawmakers from both sides are growing weary of the censure trap. “Every time a Republican in this House is offended, they pile on censure resolution,” said Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. “I’m not here to be fighting over whatever people’s schoolyard thing is for the day.” “It’s escalation,” said Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., of Mace’s maneuver. “You’ve got to remember, we’re going to be in the minority someday. We’ll be on the receiving end of this.” Bacon added that Congress is now “better at shaming people versus legislating.” Ultimately, the House never took a direct vote on sanctioning Omar. Democrats instead moved to “table” or kill the resolution. That blocked an actual up/down vote on disciplining Omar. The House then voted 214-213 in favor of tabling Mace’s measure. All 210 Democrats who cast ballots voted to table. But four Republicans joined Democrats: Reps. Mike Flood, R-Neb., Jeff Hurd, R-Colo., Tom McClintock, R-Calif., and Mills. A ballot by Mills against tabling would have reversed the final tally to 214-213. That means the House would have proceeded immediately to the actual vote to censure Omar. But Mills’ vote with the Democrats froze Mace’s effort. ILHAN OMAR TANGLES WITH CNN HOST IN FIERY INTERVIEW, RIPS ‘HATEFUL’ CHARLIE KIRK It’s unclear if Mills based his decision on self-preservation. But had the House censured Omar, it would have undoubtedly triggered a resolution by Rep. Greg Casar, D-Texas, to sanction Mills. Casar’s resolution accused Mills of assault – which Casar denies. It also alleged that Mills improperly received the Bronze Star when he served in the Army. But once the House diffused the Omar measure, Casar withdrew his plan for Mills. Flood explained his vote to table. “I’m going to vote in ways that support the Ethics Committee,” said Flood. “If we were
Israel calls UN push for Palestine statehood a ‘charade,’ warns of ‘consequences’ for recognition moves
Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, dismissed today’s General Assembly conference on the question of Palestine as a “charade,” confirming Israel will boycott the meeting and warning countries moving toward recognition of a Palestinian state that there will be “consequences.” Speaking to reporters at U.N. headquarters just ahead of a high-level session on implementing a two-state solution, Danon said Israel would not engage in the debate, accusing supporters of recognition of “supporting terrorism rather than promoting peace.” “We will not participate in this charade. We will not enter the GA Hall, and we will not take part,” he told reporters. France pledged to recognize a Palestinian state at the General Assembly on Tuesday, joining a slew of Israel’s longtime allies who have done so in recent months. MACRON STAKES ANTI-TRUMP GLOBAL ROLE WITH GAZA INITIATIVE AT UN SUMMIT France became the first major Western nuclear power and a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council from the G7 to formally recognize Palestine. Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom announced their support on Sunday. Norway, Spain, Portugal and Ireland have done so in recent months. They cited Israeli settlement expansion and settler violence. “They feel they are doing something, but they are not promoting peace. On the contrary, they are supporting terrorism,” Danon said of the nations who recognized Palestine. “There will be consequences for that,” he promised. Danon did not define the consequences but did not rule out Israel extending its rule to parts of the West Bank. It’s a “discussion for the government” after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with President Donald Trump on Sept. 29. Danon said Israel is coordinating its response with the U.S. to allies recognizing Palestine — and that Washington would also join the boycott of Monday’s General Assembly meeting on implementing a two-state solution. “Nothing justifies the ongoing war in Gaza,” French President Emmanuel Macron said at the meeting. “Everything compels us to definitively end it.” UK, CANADA, AUSTRALIA RECOGNIZE PALESTINIAN STATE; NETANYAHU VOWS ‘IT WILL NOT HAPPEN’ Macron went on: “The time has come to no longer talk about the existence of Israel — it’s self-evident. The time has come to do justice to the Palestinians, to recognize the state of Palestine.” “We must do this to save lives.” Hamas has drafted a letter to President Donald Trump, asking the commander-in-chief to guarantee a 60-day cease-fire in exchange for the release of half of the hostages still in captivity, Fox News has learned. Trump has seemingly grown frustrated at the stalled-out peace effort that has left some 40 Israelis at the hands of Hamas for nearly two years. Trump is planning to meet with a group of Arab leaders on Tuesday, where they are expected to implore him to push Netanyahu to end the war in Gaza.
White House denies Homan took cash in FBI sting, slams probe as ‘political’
The White House claimed that President Donald Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, never accepted money in cash from undercover FBI agents amid reports that the Justice Department recently closed an investigation into Homan for potential bribery. The White House’s remarks come after MSNBC reported Saturday that Homan allegedly took $50,000 in cash in September 2024 from undercover FBI agents he believed were business executives after suggesting he could help them secure government contracts with a second Trump administration. Federal law enforcement MSNBC reported that the investigation into Homan closed “in recent weeks,” after FBI Director Kash Patel asked for an update on the probe. BORDER CZAR TOM HOMAN CALLS OUT MEDIA, REPORTERS ACCUSING ICE AGENTS OF RACIAL PROFILING MSNBC reported that video footage depicts Homan accepting the cash. However, the White House now says that Homan never even accepted the money in the first place, and said that Trump did not ask the Justice Department to shutter the probe. “Mr. Homan never took the $50,000 that you’re referring to, so you should get your facts straight, number one,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Monday. “Number two, this was another example of the weaponization of the Biden Department of Justice against one of President Trump’s strongest and most vocal supporters in the midst of a presidential campaign, you had FBI agents going undercover to try and entrap one of the president’s top allies and supporters, someone who they knew very well would be taking a government position months later, Mr. Homan did absolutely nothing wrong.” BORDER CZAR TOM HOMAN VOWS CRACKDOWN ON PROTEST VIOLENCE, SAYS FUNDERS WILL FACE PROSECUTION The White House did not provide additional comment to Fox News Digital. Previously, Trump administration officials have refrained from saying Homan never accepted the cash, and instead, said that there was no evidence of illegal activity. “This matter originated under the previous administration and was subjected to a full review by FBI agents and Justice Department prosecutors. They found no credible evidence of any criminal wrongdoing. The Department’s resources must remain focused on real threats to the American people, not baseless investigations. As a result, the investigation has been closed,” Patel and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement to Fox News Digital. BORDER CZAR TOM HOMAN’S MESSAGE TO ANTI-ICE PROTESTERS: ‘YOU WANT SOME? COME GET SOME’ Additionally, the White House said that the investigation was politically motivated and said that it was an example of Trump allies being targeted. “This blatantly political investigation, which found no evidence of illegal activity, is yet another example of how the Biden Department of Justice was using its resources to target President Trump’s allies rather than investigate real criminals and the millions of illegal aliens who flooded our country,” White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “Tom Homan is a career law enforcement officer and lifelong public servant who is doing a phenomenal job on behalf of President Trump and the country.”
Fox News Politics Newsletter: Ryan Routh’s bizarre defense
Welcome to the Fox News Politics newsletter, with the latest updates on the Trump administration, Capitol Hill and more Fox News politics content. Here’s what’s happening… -Trump’s newest Fed governor Miran vows to be ‘as independent as I can’ -NYC mayor hopeful boycotts ABC affiliate town hall over Jimmy Kimmel suspension –Conservative PAC turns tables on liberal narrative against exposing teachers who smear Kirk: ‘Ridiculous’ Ryan Routh, the man accused of attempting to assassinate then-presidential candidate Donald Trump at his Florida golf course last year, said he would not take the stand in his own criminal case on Monday — the strongest sign yet that the defense is preparing to rest its case and kick the trial into its final phase before jury deliberation. Routh, 59, has been representing himself in the federal criminal trial. He has pleaded not guilty to charges of attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate, assaulting a federal officer, and possession of a firearm, among other crimes. If convicted, he could face life in prison. He previously floated the possibility that he could testify on his own behalf — a risky strategy that would have waived his Fifth Amendment protections against self-incrimination, and opened him up to cross-examination by federal prosecutors…READ MORE. FACULTY IN THE FIRE: Education chief urges colleges to punish faculty who cheered Charlie Kirk’s death SCIENCE ON TRIAL: Trump to reveal medical finding he calls an ‘answer to autism’ in major announcement UNSTOPPABLE LOVE: Erika Kirk forgives husband’s killer at memorial service: ‘It’s what Charlie would do’ PARIS AND PALESTINE: Macron pushes Gaza initiative as UNGA opens, raising questions about his motives and rivalry with Trump NEW DEAL NEEDED: Trump must tell UN: US funding depends on reform, ex-diplomat says SHUTDOWN SHOWDOWN: Thune slams Democrats’ ‘cold-blooded partisan’ tactics as funding deadline nears RHETORIC REVEALED: Dem Senate hopeful calls for civility, despite past warning of ‘radicalized White men’ ELON CHIMES IN: Elon Musk wades into Virginia transgender bathroom clash, says Dem gov candidate wrongly ‘blaming’ Trump FACE-OFF: Newsom on courtroom collision course with Trump over ICE mask ban CULTURE CLASH: From Kirk to Kimmel: Fiery NJ debate spotlights political violence and free speech LIFE ON THE LINE: Luigi Mangione moves to dismiss death penalty, federal case citing Bondi comments Get the latest updates on the Trump administration and Congress, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.
DHS unleashes on NY Magazine cover that claims Kristi Noem doesn’t actually run the agency
FIRST ON FOX: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) responded to the New York Magazine cover story today, which claims that Corey Lewandowski, rather than Secretary Kristi Noem, is the one calling the shots at the agency. DHS punched back at New York Magazine’s reporting in an exclusive statement to Fox News Digital, saying that the story is simply “peddling anonymous gossip.” “This NYMag hit piece reads like a preteen rage-scrolling, then prompting ChatGPT for a screed on misogyny,” DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told Fox News Digital. “It’s not just lazy — it’s libelous — peddling anonymous gossip as fact while ignoring our exhaustive, on-the-record rebuttals that destroy their narrative.” “New York Magazine has sunk to new depths of journalistic cowardice, force-feeding the American public lies less digestible than Kibble dog food,” McLaughlin added. GAVIN NEWSOM FACES BACKLASH FOR ‘RECKLESS’ POST ABOUT KRISTI NOEM AFTER CHARLIE KIRK’S ASSASSINATION Lewandowski served as President Donald Trump’s first campaign manager during the Republican primary in 2016. He also served as a senior adviser for Trump’s 2024 campaign. He now holds the title of senior adviser at DHS. “All decisions are made by Secretary Noem,” McLaughlin told Fox. “Multiple staff have the ability to provide recommendations and input for her consideration. Mr. Lewandowski serves as an advisor.” “The Secretary, like all previous Secretaries, has various senior advisors,” McLaughlin continued. Noem, who was selected by Trump in November 2024, served as Governor of South Dakota prior to her tenure at DHS, and was rumored to be a potential Vice Presidential candidate along the campaign trail in Trump’s third run for president. ICE HAS DEPORTED NEARLY 200,000 SO FAR DURING TRUMP’S SECOND TERM, SETTING PACE FOR HIGHEST LEVEL IN DECADE Sources at DHS told Fox that Secretary Noem receives regular death threats, including from the terrorist organizations, cartels and criminal rings that DHS targets, presumably as a result of Noem and the Trump administration drastically reducing traffic across the southern border and deporting illegal migrants across the country. Despite the threats against Noem, NY Magazine published that the secretary is living in the U.S. Coast Guard military housing in Washington D.C., which DHS told Fox is due to the security threats she regularly faces. NY Magazine’s cover story later goes on to describe the Department of Homeland Security’s increase in deportations as one of the roots of “Trump’s police state,” saying that DHS is “endangering the constitutional rights of citizens and noncitizens alike.” McLaughlin punched back at those claims, telling Fox News Digital that Noem has specifically targeted dangerous illegal migrant criminals while also being responsible for overseeing the U.S. Coast Guard and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). DHS SECRETARY NOEM SAYS KIRK’S LAST TEXT TO HER WARNED ABOUT THREAT OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION IN BIG CITIES “[Secretary Noem] slashed taxpayer waste by over $12 billion in her first 200 days while locking down the border in the wake of Biden’s chaos, facilitating the exit of 2 million illegal aliens (including terrorists, murderers, rapists, child pedophiles and gang members), revolutionizing the Coast Guard and overhauling TSA for safer, smoother, more hardened security,” McLaughlin told Fox News Digital. “That’s leadership, not gossip — America’s safer and stronger because of Kristi Noem,” McLaughlin added. Last month, McLaughlin told Fox that the agency has arrested more than 359,000 illegal migrants and removed more than 332,000 illegal migrants from the U.S. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Lauren Starke, a spokesperson for NY Magazine, told Fox News Digital that their cover story was “carefully reported and fact-checked” in response to DHS’ comments to Fox. “Our Washington correspondent spoke with more than a dozen current and former DHS staffers, as well as Trump administration officials, lobbyists, consultants, immigration experts, and former colleagues of Noem in South Dakota,” Starke told Fox. “There is a public interest in government accountability, and we stand by this story.”
Charlotte light-rail stabbing murder spurs landmark criminal justice reform from North Carolina Republicans
North Carolina Republican leaders plan to put forward a criminal justice reform package to roll back what they call “soft-on-crime” policies, which they argue led to last month’s murder of a young Ukrainian woman in Charlotte by a mentally disturbed man. The unprovoked stabbing of Iryna Zarutska led North Carolina Senate President Phil Berger to spearhead the effort, announced Monday. “Iryna should still be alive. She should be thriving and enjoying time with her family and friends,” said Berger, R-Reidsville. “We cannot let North Carolina be held hostage by woke, weak-on-crime policies and court officials who prioritize criminals over justice for victims. We are also taking steps to revive the death penalty for those who commit the most heinous crimes.” PAM BONDI SAYS DEATH PENALTY A POSSIBILITY FOR IRYNA ZARUTSKA KILLER The package, dubbed “Iryna’s Law,” cracks down on lax provisions in pretrial release or bail policies – as alleged suspect Decarlos Brown Jr. had a lengthy, violent rap sheet. House Speaker Destin Hall, R-Lenoir, added in a statement that residents deserve to live without fear of criminals being “cycled in and out” of the criminal justice system. Hall said Iryna’s Law would eliminate cashless bail, “hold magistrates accountable” for lapses in judgment and set new standards for mental health evaluations to be administered to suspects. WHO IS IRYNA ZARUTSKA, UKRAINIAN REFUGEE KILLED IN CHARLOTTE TRAIN ATTACK? “We will simply not tolerate policies that allow violent offenders back onto our streets to commit more crimes and jeopardize public safety,” Hall said. While curbing some of the judges’ discretion, the package in turn allows jurists to impose GPS monitoring and conditional bond for a “new category” of violent offenses. Electronic monitoring and house arrest are heavily weighted as options for certain recidivist offenders. Magistrates and judges who violate the policies in Iryna’s Law could face suspension or removal if recommended by a chief judge or by State Supreme Court Chief Justice Paul Newby, a Republican from Asheboro who won the most recent nonpartisan election. Fox News Digital reached out to North Carolina Democratic Gov. Josh Stein for comment on the legislation but did not hear back by press time.