Texas lawmaker proposes bill targeting furries; measure seeks to ban ‘non-human behavior’ in schools
A Texas lawmaker has introduced a bill to ban “non-human behavior” in public schools, such as barking, meowing and other animal-like practices commonly used by furries. The Forbidding Unlawful Representation of Roleplaying in Education, or FURRIES Act, was proposed in the state’s House last week by GOP Rep. Stan Gerdes. “No distractions. No theatrics. Just education,” Gerdes wrote on X. “Texas schools are for educating kids, not indulging in radical trends. Let’s keep the focus where it belongs—on preparing students for success in life.” Under the proposal, students would be prohibited from engaging in various animal behaviors, including using a litter box, licking themselves, making animal noises like barking, meowing, or hissing or otherwise pretending to be an animal. OKLAHOMA BILL WOULD BAN ‘FURRIES’ FROM SCHOOL, REQUIRE PARENT, ‘ANIMAL CONTROL’ TO PICK-UP RULE-BREAKERS Allegations of litter boxes being set up in school bathrooms have repeatedly been debunked by schools across the country in recent years following false claims that circulated online. Students would also be barred from wearing items that were not designed for human use, including animal ears, whiskers, tails, collars, leashes or other accessories typically used for pets. Fur is also prohibited, but the bill specifies that natural human hair and wigs are not included in the ban on fur. The legislation would require students to present themselves as humans. They also would not be allowed to start organizations or clubs related to non-human behavior and would be prohibited from promoting the idea that non-human behaviors are socially acceptable. There are some exceptions to the ban on animal accessories and non-human behaviors, including dressing up for Halloween or other school dress-up events related to human history, although this would be limited to five days per school year, as well as theater performances and dressing up as a school mascot. TEXAS LAWMAKERS CONSIDERING BILL TO BAN GENDER CHANGES ON BIRTH CERTIFICATES Students who fail to comply could be removed from class, suspended or expelled. The measure also allows for students to be transferred to a juvenile justice alternative education program. Teachers would be required to report violations to the Texas attorney general, and school districts that do not enforce the restrictions could face fines starting at $10,000 for the first offense and $25,000 for additional violations. The proposal has the backing of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and the state’s House Speaker, Dustin Burrows, both of whom are Republicans. “If you have a child in a public school, you have one expectation: your children’s going to be learning the fundamentals of education — reading and writing and math and science,” Abbott said during a recent meeting with pastors in Austin, citing the furry issue as a motivating factor to allow private school choice vouchers. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “If they’re being distracted by furries, those parents have a right to move their child to a school of their choice,” he continued. Gerdes called his bill “common sense” as he thanked Abbott and Burrows for backing the proposal. “I’m grateful that our leadership is taking this issue seriously and ensuring that Texas schools remain places of learning, not roleplaying,” Gerdes said on X. “This is common sense. Let’s get it passed.”
Venezuela will face ‘severe, and escalating sanctions’ if it doesn’t accept its citizens, Rubio says
Venezuela will face “severe, and escalating sanctions” if it refuses to accept its citizens who have been deported from the United States, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday. The tough warning comes as the Trump administration seeks to ramp up deportations of Venezuelans living illegally in the U.S. and to need a temporary residency program for hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans, which could pave the way for them to lose their legal status. ‘WEAPONIZED MIGRATION’: US FACES DEADLY CONSEQUENCES WITH MADURO IN POWER, VENEZUELAN OPPOSITION WARNS Many of those with protected status migrated to the U.S. amid Venezuela’s economic collapse under the authoritarian rule of President Nicolas Maduro. “Venezuela is obligated to accept its repatriated citizens from the U.S. This is not an issue for debate or negotiation,” Rubio wrote on X. “Nor does it merit any reward. Unless the Maduro regime accepts a consistent flow of deportation flights, without further excuses or delays, the U.S. will impose new, severe, and escalating sanctions.” The threat came days after Richard Grenell, President Donald Trump’s special envoy tasked with securing the release of six U.S. citizens imprisoned in Venezuela, said the Maduro government had agreed to accept repatriation flights. Maduro agreed to accept his citizens after initially refusing to do so. CLICK HERE FOR MORE IMMIGRATION COVERAGE In February, Trump ended a permit to export oil to allow Chevron to export oil from Venezuela to the U.S. In doing so, Trump noted that Maduro’s government had not met benchmarks to promote free and fair elections. The Trump administration is fighting to deport Venezuelan gang members back to their country. Over the weekend, 238 Venezuelan gang members were flown to a high-security prison in El Salvador despite a federal judge’s order temporarily blocking the deportations. During an interview on Fox News Radio, Rubio thanked El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele for accepting the migrants. “Venezuela should be taking them, but they refuse to take them. And so, we are fortunate to have a friend like President Bukele who, as part of my meeting with him said we will take them for a fraction of what it costs you guys to house them in your own prison system,” he said. “I think it was a very helpful thing that El Salvador did for us and President Bukele, and we’re grateful to him for it. And frankly, I feel like we should continue to do it,” he added.
Radio Free Europe sues Trump admin, Kari Lake over defunding
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, the U.S.-funded news outlet created to reach people living under communism during the Cold War, is suing Kari Lake and the Trump administration over efforts to defund the organization. The lawsuit, filed in a Washington D.C. federal court, said the station has not been paid a $7.5 million invoice submitted Monday. It claims the funding freeze undermines Congress’s purse strings. Both entities are funded by government grants, with around 1% coming from private donations and other sources, the lawsuit states. “Whether to disburse funds as directed by appropriations laws, and whether to make those funds available through grants as directed by the International Broadcasting Act, is not an optional choice for the agency to make,” the lawsuit said. “It is the law. Urgent relief is needed to compel the agency to follow the law.” MD GOV DEFENDS $190K TRUMP-CENTRIC IRISH CONSULTANT CONTRACT AS POTUS MOVES IN NEXT DOOR If funding doesn’t resume, the station will be forced to lay off employees that work to bring news coverage to 23 countries in Europe and Asia in 27 languages. “This is not the time to cede terrain to the propaganda and censorship of America’s adversaries,” RFE/RL President and CEO Stephen Capus said in a statement. We believe the law is on our side and that the celebration of our demise by despots around the world is premature.” The lawsuit names U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), Victor Morales, the acting USAGM CEO, and Kari Lake, a former television anchor in Arizona who later ran for governor and senator who serves as a senior advisor to Morales, as defendants. The lawsuit came days after President Donald Trump signed an executive order intended to eliminate USAGM. LAWMAKERS FROM STATE WITH MOST FEDERAL WORKERS PER CAPITA WARN AGAINST TRUMP BUYOUT BID Leaders in Europe have warned that Radio Free Europe could struggle to find funding to replace the cuts made by Trump. On Monday, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky urged European Union ministers at a meeting in Brussels to consider ways to allow the Prague-based service to continue. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called Radio Free Europe “a beacon of democracy” and said it was sad that the U.S. had decided to cut its funding, Reuters reported. “Can we come in with our funding to … fill the void that U.S. is leaving? The answer to that question is … not automatically, because we have a lot of organizations who are coming with the same request to us,” she told reporters. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Radio Free Europe began broadcasting in 1950 to Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria, all countries that were behind the Iron Curtain. Radio Liberty started broadcasting to the Soviet Union in 1953. Both entities were alternative news sources to the media controlled by the Soviet Union and other communist governments.
Republican Tudor Dixon praises Trump as she eyes 2026 run for governor or Senate in key battleground
Business executive, conservative commentator and 2022 Republican gubernatorial nominee Tudor Dixon says she’s seriously mulling another run for statewide office in 2026 in her home state of Michigan. But Dixon says she hasn’t decided whether she’ll bid for the Great Lakes battleground state’s open Senate seat or governor’s office. “I want to do the most good for our beloved state. That’s why I’m considering a run for governor or U.S. Senate,” Dixon announced Tuesday in a statement on social media. “Both races present unique opportunities and different ways to benefit Michigan.” Dixon said that she “will decide soon where my experience and talents would most benefit the state we love so dearly.” THIS TOP DEMOCRAT MAKES A MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT IN MICHIGAN’S SENATE RACE In her statement, Dixon praised President Donald Trump, emphasizing that he “is leading the way nationally.” “He is delivering on his promises to secure the border, bring manufacturing jobs home and boost energy independence,” she argued. “I am committed to standing with President Trump to deliver on the America First agenda here in Michigan. THIS REPUBLICAN WAS THE FIRST TO JUMP INTO MICHIGAN’S RACE FOR GOVERNOR Trump’s endorsement of Dixon in the summer of 2022 helped boost her to the GOP gubernatorial nomination. Dixon went on to lose by ten points to Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who secured a second term steering Michigan. Whitmer is now term-limited and prevented from running for re-election in 2026. Among the Republicans already in the race are state Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt, who announced his bid for governor in January. Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist and Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson are among the Democrats who’ve already announced. Detroit’s Democratic Mayor Mike Duggan made headlines late last year when he announced his 2026 gubernatorial campaign as an independent. The Senate race will be a battle to succeed retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters, who announced earlier this year that he wouldn’t seek re-election in 2026 to a third six-year term. Former Rep. Mike Rogers announced at the end of January that he was “strongly considering” a second straight Republican run for the Senate in Michigan. ONLY ON FOX: SENATE GOP CAMPAIGN CHAIR REVEALS HOW MANY SEATS HE’S GUNNING FOR IN 2026 Fox News confirmed earlier this month that Rogers is likely to announce his campaign in the coming weeks and that he has hired veteran Republican strategist and Trump’s 2024 co-campaign manager Chris LaCivita as a senior advisor. Rogers won the 2024 GOP Senate nomination in Michigan but narrowly lost to Rep. Elissa Slotkin, the Democrats’ nominee, in last November’s election in the race to succeed longtime Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow, who retired. Slotkin, who vastly outspent Rogers, edged him by roughly 19,000 votes, or a third of a percentage point. Besides Dixon, other Republicans considering a Senate run are Rep. John James – who is in his second term in the House and was the GOP Senate nominee in Michigan in 2018 and 2020 – and longtime Rep. Bill Huizenga. Among Democrats, State Sen. Mallory McMorrow, the majority whip in Lansing, is likely to launch a Democratic campaign. McMorrow grabbed national attention in 2022 after delivering a floor speech in the Michigan Senate that was seen as a model for countering GOP attacks. Among the other Democrats who have expressed interest in running are two-term Michigan Attorney General Dana Nesse and Congresswoman Haley Stevens. Pete Buttigieg last week ruled out a Senate run in his adopted home state of Michigan. The move by the 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, who served four years as transportation secretary in former President Joe Biden’s administration, appears to clear the path for a potential 2028 White House bid by Buttigieg.
Fox News Politics Newsletter: Trump Calls for ‘Lunatic’ Judge’s Impeachment
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… -Vance knocks globalization’s ‘cheap labor’ and lauds ‘America’s great industrial comeback’ at AI summit -Thousands of new JFK assassination files set to be released after Trump announcement -Trump, supporters seek to push back against ‘activist’ judges President Donald Trump called for the impeachment of a judge in a Truth Social post on Tuesday, apparently referring to Judge James E. Boasberg, who recently tried to block deportation flights to El Salvador. President Barack Obama appointed Boasberg to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Boasberg became chief judge of the district court in 2023. “This Radical Left Lunatic of a Judge, a troublemaker and agitator who was sadly appointed by Barack Hussein Obama, was not elected President – He didn’t WIN the popular VOTE (by a lot!), he didn’t WIN ALL SEVEN SWING STATES, he didn’t WIN 2,750 to 525 Counties, HE DIDN’T WIN ANYTHING! I WON FOR MANY REASONS, IN AN OVERWHELMING MANDATE, BUT FIGHTING ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION MAY HAVE BEEN THE NUMBER ONE REASON FOR THIS HISTORIC VICTORY,” Trump declared in the post…Read more SECOND OPINION: Trump to declassify JFK files: Famed doctor who investigated assassination predicts what Americans could learn ‘ROGUE’: Allowing judges to impede Trump on immigration poses national security threat: expert TRUMP VS COURTS: Trump administration has noon deadline to disclose deportation flights after judge’s order MAGA MANDATE: Vice President JD Vance to play key role with RNC to grow GOP majority in 2026 ‘LEAVE NOW’: Trump tells illegal immigrants to self-deport using CBP Home app in new video ‘LOW-LEVEL’ JUDGES: Who are the federal judges going toe-to-toe against the Trump agenda? ‘MAJOR VICTORY’: Alleged MS-13 leader on FBI most wanted list being extradited to US, Patel says ALL THE ‘RAGE’: Canada ‘rage room’ lets visitors smash Trump, Vance, Musk portraits to release tariff angst MILITARY SHAKE-UP: Ukraine’s Zelenskyy replaces top military official ahead of Trump-Putin call ‘DEATH SENTENCE’: Israeli strikes on Hamas amount to ‘death sentence’ for remaining hostages, terror group says ‘BARBARIC’: Trump’s DOJ to tackle ‘barbaric Hamas terrorists’ with new Oct. 7 task force ‘IN PROGRESS’: Trump now speaking with Russia’s Putin about ending Ukraine war ‘UNCONSTITUTIONAL’: Impeachment articles hit judge who ordered Trump to stop Tren de Aragua deportation flights ‘EXCESSIVE INFLUENCE’: Bipartisan bill seeks to stop pharmacy middlemen from driving up drug costs HIDING THE EVIDENCE: Vanderbilt Med Center ‘hiding’ DEI resources behind password-protected web pages: report ‘UNPRECEDENTED’: Newsom asks for nearly another $3B for state health program overwhelmed by illegal immigrants ‘THAT’S WHAT WE DO’: University doctor boasts about finding loopholes to skirt anti-DEI laws CAMPUS CRAZINESS: Barnard ‘poisoned’ by ‘DEI propaganda,’ says influencer who uncovered anti-Israel sentiment on campus ‘WHACK NUTS’: Sheriff pushes back after blue state leaders sues to stop immigration enforcement ‘PROTECT OUR SOVEREIGNTY’: Pentagon deploys Navy warship that fought Houthis to new US southern border mission in line with Trump order ‘MY PROMISE TO YOU’: Dan Bongino sworn in as FBI deputy director: ‘Critical time for our nation’ ‘CREDIBILITY ON FIRE’: Red state hunts Tren de Aragua terrorists as judges throw up obstacles Get the latest updates on the Trump administration and Congress, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.
Don Jr. campaigns in WI for GOP-backed Supreme Court candidate as early voting begins
National figures across the political aisle are descending on Wisconsin as early voting is underway for the April 1 election, where the race between Waukesha County Circuit Judge Brad Schimel and Dane County Circuit Judge Susan Crawford is heating up and making history as the most expensive judicial race in the country. Donald Trump Jr. headlined a Turning Point Action town hall in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, on Monday with Turning Point President and Co-Founder Charlie Kirk. Turning Point Action, a nonprofit focused on electing conservative leaders, launched a “Commit 100” voter turnout operation in Wisconsin to support Schimel’s candidacy, the Republican-backed former Wisconsin attorney general. “We understand that these kind of races that people don’t always hear about, they could tip the scales of the entire future of the Republic. . . . We have to save our court in order to save this great state of Wisconsin,” Kirk told Wisconsin voters on Monday. The Democratic National Committee (DNC) announced on Tuesday a coordinated campaign for Crawford, the Democrat-backed candidate for Wisconsin Supreme Court. The DNC said it will host 12 text and phone banks and deploy thousands of volunteers to deter Elon Musk’s influence on the election. ‘HE CANNOT BUY AN ELECTION HERE IN WISCONSIN’: SANDERS SLAMS MUSK IN STATE TRUMP WON BY LESS THAN 1% “When I went to Wisconsin to knock doors last month, folks told me they don’t want billionaires like Elon Musk running our federal government, and they certainly don’t want him buying our elections,” DNC Chair Ken Martin said in a statement. SOROS-BACKED JUDGE DEFENDS REDUCED SENTENCE FOR REPEAT CHILD MOLESTER AT DEBATE IN STATE SUPREME COURT RACE “After what I heard on the ground, we’re investing earlier than ever before. The best way to curb Elon Musk’s influence is to organize everywhere, win races, and stop him in his tracks. Right-wing billionaire money is allergic to grassroots organizing, which is why Democrats will call more than 2 million Wisconsin voters—hosting 12 text and phone banks and sending thousands of volunteers into action. The DNC is all hands on deck, because Wisconsin is not for sale,” he added. “Americans for Prosperity-Wisconsin’s grassroots army has connected with over 300,000 voters since before Thanksgiving – hearing from parents, business owners, and community members alike and their message is clear— Wisconsinites know that radical Susan Crawford would not protect the rule of law, our public safety, or preserve our constitutional rights. AFP-WI remains laser focused on supporting Brad Schimel through April 1st because the future of our state, and our country, depends on it,” Megan Novak, State Director for Americans for Prosperity Wisconsin, said in a statement to Fox News Digital. The group will lead canvassing efforts in the Milwaukee area on Friday. The winner of April’s Supreme Court election will hold the “nonpartisan” position for a 10-year term, dictating the balance of power in Wisconsin that could determine the battleground state’s political trajectory. Due in part to billionaire investments from Musk and George Soros, the race is on track to be the most expensive judicial race in the United States, according to campaign finance reports. The Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Ben Wikler described the election as an “all-hands-on-deck moment” and framed the election as a competition against Musk himself. “With Wisconsin voters up against the world’s richest man, this is an all-hands-on-deck moment and we’re thrilled to have the support of the DNC in this fight,” Wikler said. “Elections in Wisconsin often come down to a hairsbreadth, and every voter we can turn out to support Judge Susan Crawford and Dr. Jill Underly on April 1 can make the difference between keeping Wisconsin on a path of progress or letting Elon Musk and Donald Trump drag us backwards.” Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., during a stop on his “Fighting Oligarchy” Tour in Altoona, Wisconsin, targeted Musk for donating to the conservative candidate Schimel. Campaign reports reveal Musk’s Building America’s Future and America PAC have spent millions on Schimel’s campaign. The Wisconsin Democratic Party responded with a $2 million donation to Crawford, which included a $1 million donation from Soros. April’s election is expected to shatter the fundraising record set by the 2023 Supreme Court race, when Justice Janet Protasiewicz’s victory secured a 4-3 liberal majority for the Badger State. Schimel and Crawford are competing to replace the liberal-leaning Justice Ann Walsh Bradley. A win for Schimel would give conservatives the majority, while a win for Crawford would maintain the liberal majority. “We remember back in 2023, a couple of years ago, the off-election year, where we should have won that Supreme Court seat, and we didn’t. And now the balance of power is slipping in one direction. And we did not want to be taken by surprise again,” Kirk said on Monday to explain his involvement in the race. “George Soros . . . JB Pritzker and all those other billionaires are spending millions of dollars here,” Gov. Scott Walker, R-Wisc., said at the Turning Point Action town hall. Walker said Democrats have fallen in step with Crawford because “if she’s elected, they’re going to pick up two more seats currently held by Republicans in the House of Representatives from Wisconsin by gerrymandering those seats.” He said that “could be the end of President Trump’s agenda” in Wisconsin. “We cannot let that happen. The court is not for partisanship. The court is the place to uphold the Constitution and the laws of the state. That’s why we need to elect Brad Schimel,” Walker said. “They will redistrict the hell out of this thing,” Trump Jr. added. “They will break every rule imaginable. They will negate everything and say you don’t have standing and say you can’t combat it. We made such incredible gains over the last few years, because people saw exactly what was at stake and got engaged. We cannot take our foot off the gas for one second.” Conservatives urged Wisconsin voters on Monday night to “stay vigilant” despite Republicans winning big on November 5.
‘Operation Take Back America’ results in over 80 illegal alien arrests
Agents with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE) and other federal enforcement authorities arrested 81 illegal aliens in just five days as part of an enhanced targeted enforcement effort titled “Operation Take Back America” in Kentucky. As President Donald Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration continues, ICE announced the arrests in a statement Tuesday, which said that 25 of those arrested are charged with criminal offenses. Among those with criminal charges was an illegal alien who had previously been deported, excluded, removed or denied admission seven times. The agency said those not criminally charged will continue to be held by ICE pending removal proceedings. Offenses include sexual misconduct with a minor, drug trafficking and domestic violence. The statement said the migrants arrested were present in the country illegally and came from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Cuba, India and Palau. ‘CLOSING TIME’: WHITE HOUSE, BORDER PATROL TROLL WITH DEPORTATION MEME VIDEO The Department of Homeland Security also made an announcement in which it said the arrests were part of Operation Take Back America, which, according to the department, involves “multiple federal law enforcement agencies in Kentucky” working together to “repel the invasion of illegal immigration throughout the Commonwealth.” The department said that Operation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative that streamlines efforts and resources within DHS to not only crack down on illegal immigration but also “achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.” The operation was coordinated out of Louisville. Michael Bennett, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky, praised the operation, saying it impacts not just Kentucky but the entire country. “I commend the work of our federal law enforcement partners, prosecutors, and support personnel who worked tirelessly to make this operation a success,” said Bennett. “The aggressive investigation and prosecution of those who violate immigration laws positively impacts the security of our communities and of the Nation.” ‘SAFER WITHOUT HIM’: COLUMBIA STUDENT CLAIMS CLASSMATE ARRESTED BY ICE ‘HATES AMERICA’ According to DHS, several of those arrested had illegally re-entered the country once or several times after being deported. One of those aliens – a 54-year-old Mexican national named Humberto Avila-Duran – was arrested in Jefferson County, Kentucky, around Mar. 14 for possessing a firearm illegally. He was found to have been denied admission, excluded, deported and removed from the United States on or about Jan. 21, 2011, Mar. 3, 2011, Mar. 8, 2011, Aug. 14, 2012, May 9, 2014, May 13, 2014, and Nov. 13, 2020. CLICK HERE FOR MORE IMMIGRATION COVERAGE Another migrant arrested, Edi Diaz-Lopez, 30, a citizen of Mexico, was charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, illegal possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. If convicted, Diaz-Lopez faces up to 40 years in prison. PRESIDENT TRUMP COMFORTS MOTHER WHOSE SON DIED OF FENTANYL POISONING: ‘UP THERE WATCHING YOU’ Another migrant arrested was a 44-year-old Indian national convicted of sexual misconduct with a minor, intimidation and battery. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Chicago Field Office Director Sam Olson also commented on the arrests, saying, “We are committed, as a united group, to removing individuals from our communities who pose a threat to public safety and national security.” “Public safety relies on the expertise of ICE officers who are able to coordinate across federal agencies to accomplish these arrests,” he said. “Operations that lead to the arrest and detention of alien offenders can be complex and may, at times, prove to be challenging. Our agency is more than capable to meet those challenges. I’m grateful for all our federal partners here in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.”
Republicans eviscerate Schumer for ‘mocking hardworking Americans’ on ‘The View’: ‘Seriously Chuck?’
Republican lawmakers are calling out Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., for “mocking hardworking Americans” during an appearance on “The View,” where the Democratic leader criticized individuals who want to keep more of the money they make. House Majority Whip Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Minn., wrote that Schumer “is so out of touch with the American people that he would MOCK hardworking taxpayers for wanting to keep more of the money THEY EARN and run the businesses THEY OWN.” “Seriously Chuck?” Emmer said in a post on X. Schumer, during his appearance on the daytime talk show on Tuesday, criticized individuals who want more control over running businesses they “built” with their “bare hands.” SCHUMER PRESSED ON WHETHER HE SHOULD STEP DOWN AMID SPENDING BILL FALLOUT DURING ‘THE VIEW’ “Their attitude is, ‘I made my money all by myself. How dare your government take my money from me? I don’t want to pay taxes. Or, I built my company with my bare hands. How dare your government tell me how I should treat my customers, the land and water that I own, or my employees,” Schumer said on “The View” on Tuesday. “They hate government. The government’s a barrier to people, a barrier to stop them from doing things. They want to destroy it,” Schumer said. “We are not letting them do it and are united.” “You know it’s bad when even Whoopi Goldberg tries to get Schumer to stop talking,” Rep. Pat Harrigon, R-N.C., reacted to the interview. Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., said Schumer was “mocking hardworking Americans who want to keep their own money is exactly what’s wrong with the left” and that he is “out of touch.” SCHUMER DISMISSES POSSIBLE AOC PRIMARY CHALLENGE, SAYS HE’S FOCUSED ON BRINGING TRUMP’S NUMBERS DOWN “Chuck Schumer’s at it again, mocking hard-working Americans for wanting to keep more of their own money,” wrote Rep. Kevin Hern, R-Okla. “He can keep pushing his government-first agenda, but Americans know better. They don’t need Washington to tell them how to spend their dollars.” “Spoken like the leader of a party with an 29% approval rating,” wrote Rep. Burgess Owens, R-Utah, in a post on X. Schumer also defended his reasoning for breaking with members of his party to help pass the Republican-led government funding bill on Friday and said that he wakes up “at 3 in the morning, sometimes so worried about the future of the country under these oligarchs.” “Chuck Schumer says he wakes up at 3am thinking about Elon. Rent free,” said Libs of TikTok in a post on X alongside a clip of the Democratic leader’s media appearance. “The absolute horror of returning to government spending levels from a few years ago!” Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, wrote in a post on X in response to the Democratic leader. “Chuck Schumer says he’s dealing with a ‘different, horrible kettle of fish’ because President Trump and Republicans want to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse from government,” Trump’s Rapid Response team said on X. Schumer was also asked by the hosts if it was time for him to step aside as the Senate Minority Leader, to which he responded, “No.” Fox News Digital reached out to Schumer for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.
Trump, Putin on same page about Iran’s nuclear weapon capabilities, White House says
President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are in sync when it comes to Iran obtaining nuclear weapons, according to the White House. Trump and Putin, who spoke over the phone Tuesday morning about how to draw an end to the war in Ukraine, agreed that Iran must not obtain access to weapons permitting Tehran to obliterate Israel, the White House said. “The leaders spoke broadly about the Middle East as a region of potential cooperation to prevent future conflicts,” the White House said in a statement after the call. “They further discussed the need to stop proliferation of strategic weapons and will engage with others to ensure the broadest possible application. The two leaders shared the view that Iran should never be in a position to destroy Israel.” TRUMP REINSTATES ‘MAXIMUM PRESSURE’ CAMPAIGN AGAINST IRAN Meanwhile, Russia is urging the U.S. to loosen its sanctions on Iran, which have crippled Tehran’s economy. Representatives from Russia met with Chinese and Iranian counterparts in Beijing Friday, and pressed the U.S. to withdraw the “unlawful” sanctions and resume nuclear discussions, according to a statement from the three countries. “The three countries reiterated that political and diplomatic engagement and dialogue based on the principle of mutual respect remains the only viable and practical option in this regard,” China’s Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu read aloud in a joint statement Friday. Russia has maintained a cozy relationship with Iran and has utilized Iranian drones in the war against Ukraine. For example, Russia started to employ the Iranian-made Shahed-131 and Shahed-136 series drones in 2022 to hit Ukrainian artillery targets and areas of Ukraine’s electricity distribution grid, according to the nonprofit organization Washington Institute for Near East Policy. The Defense Intelligence Agency also released a report in 2023 detailing how Iran had given Russia access to “hundreds” of one-way attack air drones. Although Iran denied that the drones originated from Tehran, the Defense Intelligence Agency said it obtained debris from attacks in Ukraine that “clearly prove Iran’s support to Russia.” Trump cautioned in February he believed that Iran was “close” to developing a nuclear weapon, and his administration reinstated a maximum pressure campaign against Iran through sanctions targeting Iran’s oil exports in February. Additionally, Trump revealed March 7 that a nuclear deal with Iran could emerge in the near future and that he sent a letter to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, urging Tehran to agree to a nuclear agreement. TRUMP SAYS ‘SOMETHING’S GOING TO HAPPEN VERY SOON’ WITH IRAN AS HE PUSHES TO NEGOTIATE NUCLEAR DEAL Failure to do so could mean military intervention, he said. “I would rather negotiate a deal,” Trump told Fox Business in an interview March 9. “I’m not sure that everybody agrees with me, but we can make a deal that would be just as good as if you won militarily.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “But the time is happening now, the time is coming up,” he said. “Something is going to happen one way or the other. I hope that Iran, and I’ve written them a letter saying I hope you’re going to negotiate, because if we have to go in militarily, it’s going to be a terrible thing for them.” The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Judge orders reinstatement of USAID functions, says DOGE effort to shutter agency likely unconstitutional
A federal judge in Maryland has ruled that the Trump administration’s efforts to shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) were likely unconstitutional, and has ordered it to ultimately reinstate the agency’s lawful functions. On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang concluded DOGE’s efforts “to shut down USAID on an accelerated basis, including its apparent decision to permanently close USAID headquarters without the approval of a duly appointed USAID officer, likely violated the United States Constitution in multiple ways.” Chuang said these actions “not only harmed the plaintiffs, but also the public interest, because they deprived the public’s elected representatives in Congress of their constitutional authority to decide whether, when, and how to close down an agency created by Congress.” The judge issued a preliminary injunction blocking DOGE and the administration from further actions against USAID, likely an emergency Department of Justice (DOJ) appeal to the 4th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, then potentially to the Supreme Court. FEDERAL JUDGE ORDERS TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO PAY ‘UNLAWFULLY’ RESTRICTED USAID FUNDS In his ruling, Chuang, a 2014 Obama bench appointee, also ordered immediate restoration of email and computer access to all USAID employees, including those placed on administrative leave. DOGE is now prohibited from any further cuts to USAID. The lawsuit was filed by current and former agency employees and contractors. Chuang’s decision marks the first time a judge has ruled that Musk is likely exercising enough independent authority to require him to be confirmed by the Senate under the Constitution’s Appointments Clause, the Hill reported. SCOTUS RULES ON NEARLY $2B IN FROZEN USAID PAYMENTS This decision comes after a different federal judge ordered the Trump administration to pay the remainder of foreign aid owed to contractors for completed work last week, noting in a new court ruling that the administration likely violated the separation of powers doctrine by “unlawfully impounding” nearly $2 billion in funds appropriated by Congress. U.S. District Court Judge Amir Ali, a Biden appointee, said in the ruling that the Trump administration likely exceeded its constitutional authority in attempting to block the payments owed by the State Department and USAID to grant recipients and foreign aid contractors. “Here, the executive has unilaterally deemed that funds Congress appropriated for foreign aid will not be spent,” Ali said. “The executive not only claims his constitutional authority to determine how to spend appropriated funds, but usurps Congress’ exclusive authority to dictate whether the funds should be spent in the first place.” Ali had previously ordered the Trump administration to pay all owed foreign aid funds for previously completed work, totaling $1.9 billion, by Feb. 26, at 11:59 p.m. USAID HEAD PETER MAROCCO TELLS LAWMAKERS HE’S EYEING POTENTIAL CRIMINAL CHARGES FOR FOREIGN AID FRAUD: REPORT The Supreme Court took up the case for emergency review last week, but ruled 5-4 to reject the administration’s request to extend the freeze. Instead, the court remanded the case back to the D.C. federal court and Ali to hash out the specifics of what must be paid and when. USAID aid became an early target of the Trump administration, with the president being a longtime critic of overseas spending, arguing that it does not benefit the American taxpayer and going so far as to call those who run the top agency “radical lunatics.” Republicans argue it is wasteful, promotes liberal agendas and should be enfolded into the State Department, while Democrats say it saves lives abroad and helps U.S. interests by stabilizing other countries and economies. In all, the Trump administration said it will eliminate 5,800 of 6,200 multi-year USAID contract awards, for a cut of $54 billion. Another 4,100 of 9,100 State Department grants were being eliminated, for a cut of $4.4 billion, according to a State Department memo reviewed by the Associated Press. Several examples of questionable spending have been uncovered at USAID, including more than $900,000 to a “Gaza-based terror charity” called Bayader Association for Environment and Development and a $1.5 million program slated to “advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in Serbia’s workplaces and business communities.” Fox News Digital’s Michael Dorgan and the Associated Press contributed to this report.