Latest Political News on Fox News

Senate Republican pushes crackdown on California-style 'bureaucrat tax' adding $100K to new homes

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 08:00:19 -0400

FIRST ON FOX: A Senate Republican wants to slash six figures from the cost of a new home by rooting out cumbersome regulations at the state and local level, which he said will make homeownership more affordable for Americans.

Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., wants to gut the so-called "bureaucrat tax," which piles on regulations that amount to nearly $100,000 in added costs when building single-family homes, in order to expand the housing supply in the country and lower the barrier to entry for buying a home.

He’s introducing the Freedom to Build Act, which would create a designation of the same name that would open up a flow of federal grants to builders and communities that would offset construction costs and incentivize deregulation along the way.

TRUMP-BACKED AFFORDABLE HOUSING OVERHAUL CLEARS SENATE, WHILE HOUSE GOP RAISES RED FLAGS

But it’s not a federal mandate to spur deregulation. Instead, communities could opt into the Freedom to Build designation, which would, in turn, put those locales at the front of the line for federal grants from the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

"For many Americans, the dream of owning a home is increasingly out of reach, and excessive regulations have made new homes too costly for many American families," Hagerty said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "My Freedom to Build Act streamlines costly and often redundant regulations to reduce the cost of a new home in our country."

Hagerty’s legislation follows the newly released Economic Report of the President, which lamented the so-called bureaucrat tax and its effect on the construction of single-family homes. It described the bureaucrat tax as a barrier to building and homeownership because of the addition of "California-style fees, mandates, regulations, and red tape in many states and localities."

BIPARTISAN HOUSING PUSH ADVANCES, BUT TRUMP-BACKED INVESTOR BAN FACES RESISTANCE

The report contended that home prices rose sharply during a period of low interest rates between 2012 and 2021 because of "strong demand running up against a wall of tight supply due to bureaucratic costs and delays that function like a six-figure ‘bureaucrat tax’ on the cost of building a new home."

The report also found that the bureaucrat tax constituted between 24% and 29% of the cost of a new home, and that the cumbersome regulations not only add to the cost of building a new home but also slow down the construction of a single-family home.

HOUSE PASSES BIPARTISAN HOUSING BILL AS TRUMP ZEROES IN ON AFFORDABILITY CRISIS

"Put even more concretely, the bureaucrat tax adds over $100,000 to the cost of a new single-family home," according to the Economic Report of the President.

"Reform at the state and local levels to tackle the sources of the six-figure bureaucrat tax would greatly enhance the ability of supply to keep up with stronger demand," the report continued.

Meanwhile, the Senate passed a massive affordable housing package backed by President Donald Trump last month.

The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which easily sailed through the upper chamber on a bipartisan vote, is geared toward helping first-time homebuyers and lower-income Americans enter the housing market or gain access to more affordable housing options.

It also includes Trump’s push for a ban on institutional investors buying up homes. Still, the bill has not moved in the lower chamber, where lawmakers are frustrated with some of the tweaks made in the Senate, including the institutional investor ban.

Far-left Senate hopeful's radical ties to 'Maduro cronies' could torpedo campaign: 'Tired of the chaos'

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 07:00:50 -0400

Abdul El-Sayed’s refusal to distance himself from controversial Twitch streamer Hasan Piker has intensified claims that the Michigan Senate candidate is an extremist.

As El-Sayed's campaign continues, Fox News Digital uncovered even more ties to radical socialist activists, such as a pro-Maduro organizer and other far-left figures, whose support is now becoming a political liability.

For example, El-Sayed recently touted an endorsement from Tom Burke, the longtime executive leader of a group that hopes to build a new Communist Party in America and a publicly pro-Nicolas Maduro activist who regularly travels to Venezuela. He was just in New York protesting Maduro's imprisonment on narco-terroism charges, visited Caracas in 2022 to attend the party convention of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela, the ruling party of Venezuela at the time led by Maduro, and, in 2020, he met with top officials from the country's elections agency that has been accused of rigging elections under Maduro.

Meanwhile, El-Sayed just held a fundraiser with Anas ‘Andy’ Shallal as well. Shallal has publicly praised Cuba's Fidel Castro and Assata Shakur, of the Black Liberation Movement, who was convicted of killing a New Jersey State Trooper during a shootout with fellow activists. El-Sayed has also received donations from Marxisim expert Robert Meister and Brooklyn professor, Nancy Romer, who has lambasted the United States' "savage capitalism."

MICHIGAN SENATE CANDIDATE ABDUL EL-SAYED TAKES HEAT FOR KHAMENEI COMMENTS, HASAN PIKER EVENT

Fox News Digital reported last month that El-Sayed was among a slew of Michigan candidates and politicians who had received donations and were pictured with a radical Michigan-based Imam on his social media pages who eulogized and held formal events honoring the death of Ayatollah Khamenei after he was taken out by U.S. forces in February.

"Abdul El-Sayed cannot win a general election in Michigan, full stop," a longtime Democratic strategist told Fox News Digital in response to this reporting. "This is a candidate who spent years calling police 'standing armies we deploy against our own people,' posted more than a dozen times in support of defunding the police, and then deleted his entire social media history the moment he decided to run statewide, hoping Michigan voters wouldn't notice. They will notice. And so will Mike Rogers."

As a gubernatorial candidate in Michigan in 2018, El-Sayed said that he "share[s] a lot of ideals" with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and, since 2019, El-Sayed has spoken at, or attended, at least five DSA-organized or sponsored events, according to public reporting and social media posts.

El-Sayed's remarks came after he was asked whether he had sought out any endorsements from the country's national socialist movement – DSA – while running for governor. El-Sayed responded that he doesn't like labels but shares a lot of "ideals" with the group.

"We’ve had great conversations, and we share a lot of ideals, [but] I don’t like labels," El-Sayed responded to the question. "I come from that world, where we pick our words very carefully and very thoughtfully. And I think that the term ‘socialism’ is too slippery of a word right now, and it evokes too many different things to too many different people."

"I think for a millennial the word ‘socialism’ is spelled with a lower-case ‘s,’ and it implies an engagement of government in some of the most important aspects of our lives to ensure and address a level of equity that we have not had," he continued. "And then, I think for people who are over the age of sixty, it implies a history that was some of the most fearful in their lives. And I think because it evokes different meanings politically, it’s just not a useful term."

Last month, El-Sayed touted an endorsement from IATSE Local 26, with Burke quoted as the union president. Burke, a decades-long socialist leader, is the organizational secretary at the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, which describes itself as aiming to start a new Communist Party in the United States. Burke has also proven himself to be a loyal supporter of Venezuela's Maduro and his political party. Maduro was recently captured by the Trump administration and sent to court on narco-terrorism charges, which Burke has described as "disgraceful" acts by the military at Trump's direction.

Burke has slammed the U.S. efforts in Venezuela as amounting to the same sort of regime change efforts seen in Iraq and Afghanistan.

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Meanwhile, Burke travels to Venezuela frequently, according to publicly posted summaries and photos of his trips, including in 2022 when he attended the political convention for Maduro's ruling party, the United Socialist Party of Venezuela, and in 2020, when he met with the president of Venezuela's elections agency, which has been accused of interfering in the country's elections.

Burke can be seen in photos alongside other individuals who met with the Maduro-backing Bolivarian Militia, and photos Fox News could not independently verify showed Burke at a 2020 protest in Caracas next to Bolivarian militiamen that involved both pro-government and anti-government forces and ultimately became violent.

Despite Maduro's fall from grace and praise following his departure, Burke said during a radio interview in 2023 that Maduro was "very popular with people."

"We want social change that builds upon the civil rights movement and the women's liberation movement, the LGBTQ movements of the 70s and 80s, and especially the labor movement," Burke recently said in an interview with Fight Back! Radio several weeks ago. "We want to build up those movements to create a new society from the ashes of the one that the billionaires are destroying."

El-Sayed also campaigned just recently alongside Shallal, a wealthy Iraqi-American business owner and entrepreneur, according to a web page advertising the event that included a domain belonging to the Democratic Party's ActBlue fundraising arm. Shallal has praised and commemorated radical far-left individuals, like communist Cuban leader Fidel Castro and radical American activist Assata Shakur, known for killing a state trooper in a gunfight with other activists, being sentenced to life, and then fleeing to Cuba.

"Fidel Castro was a bigger than life figure whose impact reached far beyond his beloved country, Cuba," he wrote on Instagram in November. In February, Shallal also posted a letter from American activist Alice Walker praising Castro. Shallal visited the Cuban embassy as recently as last year, posting about it on social media in front of a statue at the embassy of Cuban political figure Jose Marti.

In addition to Burke and Shallal, El-Sayed accepted support from radical socialist professor Nancy Romer and Marxism philosopher Robert Meister, who both have donated to his campaign.

Romer has lambasted America's "savage capitalism," and claims she helped bring about a statewide Michigan chapter of the Human Rights Party decades ago, which historical reports show was often far-left of traditional Democrats and circumvented orthodox Democratic Party priorities.

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Meister, who has donated thousands to El-Sayed, is a Marxism expert who has posited that the Soviet Empire helped prevent anti-Imperialist movements from being squelched during the Cold War era and has written books on how to apply Marxism in the current political environment. Meister previously served as director of The Bruce Initiative on Rethinking Capitalism, and his published works include "Political Identity: Thinking Through Marx" and "Critique Of The Global Discourse Of Humanitarian That Followed The Fall Of Communism."

Fox News Digital reached out to the Michigan Senate candidate about his comments and his ties to publicly avowed socialists, other radicals and their ideals, but did not receive a response.

However, according to Republican strategists who spoke with Fox News Digital, whether El-Sayed calls himself a socialist or not, Democrats running against him should be aware of the company he keeps and use it to their advantage. Fox News Digital reported last month that El-Sayed accepted money as a political candidate and has been seen as recently as 2023 rubbing elbows with Michigan-based Muslim Imam Mohammad Ali Elahi, who complained in a eulogy following Khamanei's death that the Iranian Supreme Leader was killed by "the most wretched hands on Earth."

Ali Elahi, whose social media pages were a who's who of Michigan and national level Democratic politicians until the photos were deleted after Fox News Digital inquired about the connections, showed him regularly meeting with Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly and the Imam also showed himself taking trips to Iran as well.

At the latest gathering on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in September, pictures from the meeting showed it was also attended by the co-founder of the left-wing activist group CODEPINK, which has been accused of having close ties to China, and former U.S. intelligence official and U.N. weapons inspector Scott Ritter, whose house was raided by the FBI for what Ritter himself described as violation of the Foreign Agents Registration Act.

"Abdul El-Sayed is campaigning with, and for, extremists. If his recent comments weren’t bad enough, El-Sayed’s ties to the DSA, Maduro cronies, and Iranian regime sympathizers check all the boxes of radical leftism that has become all too commonplace in the Democrat Party," said Jessica Anderson, President of the conservative Sentinel Action Fund. "Michiganders are tired of the chaos and extremism. That’s why we see support growing for commonsense leaders like Mike Rogers."

While El-Sayed did not respond to Fox News Digital's inquiries, he did go on Fox News channel's "America's Newsroom," during which anchor Bill Hemmer pressed him on his plans to hold a campaign event with controversial, communist-sympathizing podcaster Hasan Piker. Hemmer also gave El-Sayed a chance to respond to criticism about his comments, suggesting he was worried about upsetting people "sad" about the Iranian Supreme Leader's death at the hands of U.S. military forces with any statement about the matter. El-Sayed said in the recording he preferred to stay silent about it.

"I just want to remind you that most people in the city of Dearborn and Dearborn Heights are not Arab-American. They are white. And they’re worried, just like I am, they’re saddened by the fact that their tax prices go up and they are watching their gas prices go up with it all to fight a war that we shouldn’t really be a part of," El-Sayed said, trashing the war as "illegal," "immoral" and described what was going on in Iran as a "regime change war."

Hemmer also gave El-Sayed a chance to respond to his decision to campaign with Piker, which has earned him immense criticism. Piker has been slammed for justifying Hamas' attacks and slaughter, including rapes, on innocent Israelis, was forced to walk back comments about how Americans deserved 9/11, and recently told his followers that "you really don't need suicide bombing anymore," because cheap Chinese-made drones can be bought online for anyone who is interested in performing a terror strike.

Piker sympathizes with communist ideals, but has labeled himself a socialist and Marxist while rejecting communist labels. However, Piker has also described communism as the "honorable end goal" of socialism.

"It's an active decision to reach out to people who feel locked out of their politics to have a conversation, just like I'm making an active decision as somebody who is running in the Democratic primary to have a conversation on Fox News," El-Sayed said of his decision to campaign with Piker. "Just because you invite somebody to campaign with you, or you’re engaging with them, does not mean that you agree with them."

Long-time GOP strategist Collin Reed agreed with other sources Fox News spoke to who said that, even though El-Sayed may be brushing off his ties to radical folks, if other Democrats in the upcoming primary want to win they should be zeroing in on his affiliations.

"Welcoming the support from open and avowed socialist sympathizers will no doubt make Mr. El-Sayed the belle of the ball at No Kings rallies and other left-wing resistance movements, but it’s a tough sell in a battleground state like Michigan," Reed said. "You are the company you keep, and the other Democrats competing in this primary would be wise to use these revelations to disqualify Mr. El-Sayed in the eyes of their voters. If they don’t, it will be another sign that the tail is wagging the dog and the far left driving the debate in these primary contests, which is poised to shape the overall contours of the midterm elections."

Push to oust Trump exposes cracks among Democrats on strategy, timing

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 07:00:07 -0400

Congressional Democrats want President Donald Trump out of the White House, but they are not on the same page about how or when to act.

More than five dozen Democrats have called for Trump’s impeachment, but that push is likely dead on arrival absent GOP support.

Others want Trump’s Cabinet and Vice President JD Vance to effectively usurp him by invoking the 25th Amendment, which has never been used to oust a sitting president in the nearly 60 years since the amendment was ratified.

FLASHBACK: DEMS WANT TO BOOT TRUMP WITH 25TH AMENDMENT, BUT REFUSED TO DO SO UNDER BIDEN

Most Democrats aren’t admitting the political realities of either option, and their typically unified front is showing cracks as they debate how best to push back against the administration.

"I don't think it is the best use of our time," Rep. Madeleine Dean, D-Pa., said last week at a news conference when asked about impeachment. "Let us get into the majority, let us get a Senate majority and then hold this president to account."

"All options should be on the table," Rep. Sara Jacobs, D-Calif., a member of House Democratic leadership, said following Dean’s comments.

Top Democrats in both chambers are not in direct alignment, either.

TRUMP IRAN THREAT SPARKS CALLS FOR HIS OUSTER, BUT ONE DEM SAYS EFFORT ‘NOT REALISTIC’

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has stopped short of calling for either impeachment or the 25th Amendment, instead pushing for another war powers resolution vote this week to rein in Trump’s authorities in Iran.

"Congress must reassert its authority, especially at this dangerous moment," Schumer said. "No president, Democrat or Republican, should take this country to war alone — not now, not ever. Republicans will once again have the opportunity to join Democrats and end this reckless war of choice."

Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., has appeared to encourage removal conversations among House Democrats and touted a caucus-wide briefing on the 25th Amendment led by Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., last week.

"Shockingly, Donald Trump threatened to escalate his war of choice in a profane Easter Sunday rant and to eradicate an entire civilization," Jeffries wrote in a "Dear Colleague" letter. "We will continue to unleash maximum pressure on Republicans to put patriotic duty over party loyalty and join Democrats in stopping the madness."

The 25th Amendment has a much higher threshold for success than impeachment, given that it would require Vance, most of Trump’s Cabinet, and two-thirds of both chambers of Congress to align to remove Trump.

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Impeachment would have to start in the House, and it’s unlikely that formal proceedings against Trump would even begin under House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La.

But that hasn’t stopped Democrats from trying. Late last year, Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, forced votes on two articles of impeachment against Trump, and nearly two dozen Democrats joined Republicans to kill the effort.

Rep. John Larson, D-Conn., filed 13 articles of impeachment against Trump last week, citing the president’s military intervention in Venezuela, the deployment of National Guard troops to cities across the country, and his executive order to curtail birthright citizenship, among other charges.

It is unclear whether Larson, who is facing a heated primary challenge from a decades-younger opponent, will force a vote on his resolution.

In the Senate, even fewer lawmakers are calling for drastic measures against Trump. Only a handful — including Sens. Andy Kim, D-N.J., Chris Murphy, D-Conn., Ed Markey, D-Mass., and Ron Wyden, D-Ore. — have called for impeachment or the 25th Amendment.

"I mean, he's unfit for office," Kim said. "I think the 25th Amendment, and if not, then impeachment."

It’s also a desire that Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., contended was "not realistic right now, given his oddball Cabinet of sycophants and eccentrics."

"We’re going to have to buckle down and win this the old-fashioned way," Whitehouse said.

Dem candidate blasted by GOP opponent over joke about bandmate convicted of child sex abuse

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 07:00:02 -0400

FIRST ON FOX: Democratic congressional candidate and Latin music star Bobby Pulido is being criticized for a joke he made about a longtime bandmate exposed as a child predator.

Pulido, a two-time Latin Grammy Award-winning singer who is the Democratic nominee in Texas’ 15th Congressional District, is facing scrutiny over bandmate Frankie Caballero, who is a registered sex offender convicted of indecent contact with an 8-year-old girl. Pulido has said he was not aware of the bandmate’s conviction and that he cut ties with him as soon as he learned.

However, Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz, R-Texas, who Pulido is attempting to unseat, called out the musician-turned-politician for the joke, which he made at a 2018 concert, claiming, "Everyone knows he knew."

Fox News Digital reviewed YouTube video of the concert, which took place in November 2018, when Pulido referred to Caballero as a "bad man." He quipped that though Caballero was born in South Bend, Indiana, he did not attend Notre Dame but went to "Penn State," which prompted Caballero to take a step back and Pulido to laugh, saying, "No, no, I’m just kidding, don’t worry."

DEM CANDIDATE'S UNEARTHED 'WINTER TEXAN' COMMENT COULD HAUNT CAMPAIGN

A spokesperson for Pulido has pushed back on De La Cruz's comments, accusing the congresswoman of "telling lies" and saying that "Bobby Pulido had no knowledge of Caballero's sex offender registration and would never knowingly associate with anyone with such a history."

In an interview with Fox News Digital, De La Cruz asserted that "the question isn't whether Bobby Pulido knew what his close friend did to these children — everyone knows he knew — the question is why Bobby Pulido spent decades bringing a pedophile around to our families?"

"The answer is, he doesn't care, because he is a celebrity who barely even lives in this country," she said.

As a singer and actor, Pulido has spent much of his career splitting his time between Mexico and South Texas.

"This is someone who was already faced child sex abuse charges when Mr. Pulido personally recruited him and built his entire career around him," she said.

"Then he goes on to molest an 8-year-old girl from our community and goes to prison. Once again, Mr. Pulido hires him," she said. "He starts bringing this pedophile into our parks, into our festivals, and my opponent is even on tape joking about this man's crimes."

De La Cruz emphasized, "My heart breaks up for the families whose children were victimized by the predator that Bobby Pulido brought into our neighborhoods for decades, knowing full well what he had done."

DEM CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE BOBBY PULIDO DEPICTS LEWD BEHAVIOR IN CONTROVERSIAL MUSIC VIDEO FOR HIS SONG

"I'm raising my own kids in South Texas, and I want every family that Bobby Pulido put in danger to know I'm here for you."

In response, a spokesperson for Pulido's campaign pushed back, telling Fox News Digital, "Monica and her máquina de mentiras (machine of lies) are at it again, telling lies because they don't want you to know the truth."

"Bobby Pulido had no knowledge of Caballero's sex offender registration and would never knowingly associate with anyone with such a history," the spokesperson added.

The spokesperson added that "Bobby, and his supporters, will not be lectured by Monica De La Cruz, who is the only candidate in this race who has been accused of child abuse under oath in a court of law and even had a restraining order issued against her to protect a child."

During divorce proceedings in 2021, De La Cruz was accused by her ex-husband of pinching her then-step-daughter and of being verbally abusive. A temporary restraining order was granted, and no further charges were pursued, and the order was eventually dissolved.

De La Cruz has denied the accusations as false.

Meanwhile, a former Democratic prosecutor in Hidalgo County, Texas, told Fox News Digital that they "have thoroughly reviewed this case," and concluded that "Mr. Pulido has no plausible deniability."

The prosecutor said that Pulido's "Penn State" comment "can only be inferred as either a child sex abuse joke or a reference to the fact that his friend spent four years in the state pen — both are devastating to Mr. Pulido's defense."

Caballero was first arrested for child sex abuse charges in 1992. Though he was hit with a $75,000 bond, according to the Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office website, the disposition of that case is unclear.

Pulido first collaborated with Caballero in 1995, three years after the 1992 arrest, and Caballero is credited on at least four of Pulido's studio albums in 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1999.

In May 2014, Caballero was convicted of a second-degree felony involving indecent contact with an 8-year-old female and was incarcerated, according to the Texas Public Sex Offender website. He was incarcerated from 2014 to 2016.

Following his conviction and prison sentence, he toured again with Pulido between 2018 and 2021, with the two seen performing together in several cities, including Kansas City, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Tucson, Arizona, per videos shared on YouTube.

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Between 2020 and 2021, Caballero was charged with indecency by sexual contact with a child, attempted aggravated sexual assault of a child, unlawful restraint of a child under 17, though those charges have been dismissed, according to Hidalgo County, Texas, Jail records. He was also charged with assault of a family member by impeding breathing and circulation, which resulted in him being released to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

He was also hit with failure to comply with sex offender registration in 2020 and 2021.

In a prior statement to Fox News Digital, Pulido's campaign manager, Abel Prado, said, "First and foremost, Bobby extends his deepest sympathies and support to all of the victims involved."

"Frankie Caballero has long struggled with addiction issues and Bobby Pulido has acknowledged and attempted to help him with that battle," Prado continued. "When Jimmy Montez Management learned of Caballero’s criminal history in 2021, he was immediately fired and that relationship was severed."

"Bobby was never made aware of Caballero’s sex offender registration and would never knowingly associate with anyone with that kind of history."

Fox News Digital reached out to Caballero for comment.

Biden DOJ weaponized FACE Act against pro-life Americans, 882-report alleges

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 06:29:34 -0400

The Justice Department released a report Tuesday alleging the Biden administration weaponized federal law by selectively prosecuting pro-life activists under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, following a review of more than 700,000 internal records.

DOJ officials said prosecutors coordinated with abortion-rights groups to track activists, sought harsher sentences for pro-life defendants and, in some cases, withheld evidence or tried to exclude jurors based on religion.

"This department will not tolerate a two-tiered system of justice," Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement. "No Department should conduct selective prosecution based on beliefs. The weaponization that happened under the Biden Administration will not happen again, as we restore integrity to our prosecutorial system."

PRO-LIFE JOURNALIST ASSAULTED ON STREET ASSIGNS BLAME TO DEMOCRATIC RHETORIC

The Justice Department’s "Weaponization Working Group" — a review team created under the Trump administration to examine whether federal law was used in a biased or politically motivated way — said it reviewed internal communications, case files and prosecutorial decisions tied to enforcement of the FACE Act, a law intended to protect access to abortion clinics and pregnancy resource centers.

The report found officials under the Biden administration worked closely with groups including Planned Parenthood, the National Abortion Federation and the Feminist Majority Foundation, which helped compile information on pro-life activists used in investigations and prosecutions.

The report said, "The Biden DOJ prosecutors knowingly withheld evidence that defense counsel requested to prepare an affirmative defense."

In one case, a DOJ official told defense counsel, "I do not keep the kind of records you requested and, as a result, I do not believe that we will provide them to you," when asked for data to support a selective prosecution defense.

The report said the official had the information "readily available" but declined to share it with the defense.

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The report also alleged prosecutors attempted to screen out jurors based on religious beliefs and, in some cases, opted for aggressive arrest tactics rather than allowing defendants to voluntarily surrender.

For instance, the report cited a case involving pro-life activist Mark Houck in which prosecutors declined a request for him to self-surrender and instead authorized an FBI arrest at his home.

DOJ officials further claimed pro-life defendants faced significantly harsher sentencing requests, with prosecutors seeking an average of 26.8 months in prison compared to 12.3 months for defendants accused of violence against pro-life organizations.

The report argued the Biden administration’s enforcement of the FACE Act was uneven, with authorities prioritizing cases involving abortion clinics while failing to adequately pursue attacks on pregnancy resource centers and churches.

The Justice Department said the Trump administration has already taken steps to reverse course, including issuing pardons for pro-life activists convicted under the prior administration, dismissing several civil cases and limiting future FACE Act prosecutions to "extraordinary circumstances" involving significant aggravating factors.

Assistant Attorney General Daniel Burrows said the findings raised serious concerns about the conduct of department attorneys.

"The behavior unearthed in this report is shameful," Burrows said in a statement. "Lawyers who should have known better withheld evidence, worked to keep committed religious people off juries and generally allowed the Department of Justice to be used as the enforcement arm of pro-abortion special interests."

Inside teachers' union May Day 'dress rehearsal' critics warn will 'groom' students into Dem 'foot soldiers'

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 06:00:15 -0400

A recent webinar hosted by some of the top teachers' unions in the United States that pushed a curriculum focused on the upcoming May Day protests is prompting education experts and watchdogs to sound the alarm about alleged political indoctrination inside classrooms.

The Chicago Teachers' Union and the National Education Association collaborated with the Zinn Education Project on an April 2 seminar referred to as a "curriculum build" to bring "social justice into the classroom" ahead of May Day, the traditional May 1st holiday that has long been embraced by communist and socialist movements as a day of mass political action.

"There’s probably gonna be a lot worse things that Trump does, and so May Day is a dress rehearsal for maybe there’s a random day in, you know, June that we all are, like, no work, no school, no shopping, because of something Pete just did, right?" Dave Stieber, a history teacher in Chicago Public Schools, said during the presentation.

"So this is a continuation and a buildup of that."

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The webinar also included guidance on how educators could bring activism into the classroom, including with very young students, with speakers who encouraged lessons centered on activism for children as young as three, presenting such engagement as a way to build early awareness and participation.

"I did want to say I really encourage teachers of young children not to feel like this is stuff that’s way beyond their students, not to be afraid of raising up social justice issues, including workers’ rights, anti-racism, pro LGBT, LGBTQIA plus issues, immigration and immigrants rights," Kirstin Roberts, a pre-school teacher in Chicago Public Schools, says in the seminar.

The North American Values Institute (NAVI), which first posted the seminar online, argues that the unions are attempting to "groom" students to push social justice platforms in protests across the United States, including on May Day.

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"The webinar demonstrates clearly that our teacher unions view students as foot soldiers in their political and ideological battles and the classroom as an appropriate venue to wage their war," Mika Hackner, director of research at NAVI, told Fox News Digital.

During the seminar, one of the lessons on "May Day curriculum building" focuses on making the upcoming protest look less "scary" to children.

"In this lesson, we really want to introduce the idea that there’s going to be marches and protests on Mayday," Roberts says.

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"Sometimes those are made to look really scary on the news and so we, or in social media, and so we want to share images with our children of protests that lifts up the beauty and the humanity of the people involved."

The Chicago Teachers’ Union, which has been pushing for schools to be closed on May Day, has long-faced criticism for pushing far-left political agenda items in the classroom and encouraging teachers to take to the streets in opposition to the Trump administration.

Earlier this year, Fox News Digital reported that CTU appears poised to spend a substantial amount of money on "political activities" to the tune of $3.1 million.

In January, CTU members filmed themselves protesting federal immigration enforcement and anti-DEI measures at a local Target, sparking criticism both online and from experts.

"It’s very clear that teachers unions seek to destroy our country by turning our students against it," Teacher Freedom Alliance CEO Ryan Walters told Fox News Digital.

"The Chicago Teachers Union is one of the worst. The fact that they are targeting students as young as 3 years old with this anti-American propaganda should be criminal. The teachers unions will continue to use students as Marxist pawns until we have driven them out of our schools."

The NEA has found itself facing criticism over political activism in recent months as well, which Fox News Digital has extensively reported on, including federal labor filings in January that showed the nation's largest teacher's union funneling millions to far-left activist groups, ballot initiatives and social justice organizations.

"They don't care about the students, they care about pushing these leftist, liberal Democrat people [politicians] so that they can get more money and just fund all these stupid initiatives," an NEA whistleblower told Fox News Digital in January.

Fox News Digital reached out to the NEA, CTU, Chicago Public Schools, and Zinn Project for comment.

House Dem reveals why his party should challenge Trump on Iran as gas prices soar $1 per gallon

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 06:00:15 -0400

Rep. Glenn Ivey, D-Md., is demanding consideration of a Democrat-led war powers resolution that would require President Donald Trump to pull U.S. armed forces out of hostilities with Iran.

"I think it's important for us to keep trying to push the issue forward, and eventually [Republicans] are going to have to allow us to bring it to the floor and have a vote on it. So, we're hoping that that's going to be sooner rather than later," Ivey said.

"Now we're at a point where gas prices have gone up more than a dollar per gallon. We spent $54 billion on this war so far, and there's no end in sight."

If passed, the resolution would prevent the president from engaging in additional military action, save for defensive reasons and require a declaration of war for any additional operations in Iran.

TRUMP'S THREAT TO END IRANIAN 'CIVILIZATION' SPARKS UPROAR ON CAPITOL HILL

Republicans have panned the idea as an unhelpful restriction on an administration navigating international uncertainty.

The House of Representatives already voted down one Iran war powers resolution earlier this year, offered by Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky. That measure failed in a 212-2019 vote in March.

The effort drew the condemnation of U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La.

"As you know, the War Powers Resolution failed. That is the right result. We are not at war. We have no intention of being at war. The president and the Department of War have made it very clear that this is a limited operation," Johnson said shortly after its consideration.

"It would have been a very serious misstep by Congress," Johnson added.

AOC TELLS TROOPS TO REFUSE 'ILLEGAL' ORDERS AHEAD OF TRUMP'S LOOMING IRAN DEADLINE

The U.S. first began hostilities with Iran on Feb. 28, launching a joint bombing attack with Israel that targeted the country’s military leadership and killed the country’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Trump and Cabinet officials maintained the campaign was necessary to prevent Iran from securing a nuclear weapon.

Since then, Democrat lawmakers have blasted Trump for what they viewed as the beginning of the war efforts without the consent of Congress — something they maintain goes against the War Powers Act of 1973.

That law states that any military engagement that extends past 60 days requires congressional approval.

Despite a recent ceasefire agreement, Ivey said he doubts the negotiations will result in a lasting peace, raising questions about the scope of the conflict.

ROGUE DEM BUCKS PARTY ON TRUMP WAR POWERS, CALLS IRAN ‘47-YEAR-OLD WAR CRIME’

"At this point, it's hard to know exactly what the administration has in mind or where they're trying to go. The 10-point proposal that Iran sent to us and the 15 points that we sent back, I don't see any common ground on that," Ivey said, referring to a contrasting set of demands the two countries have issued.

"I'm not clear if we're going to be able to find some kind of common ground where we can resolve it in the short term," he added.

Trump endorses neighboring state lieutenant governors for re-election

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 05:55:45 -0400

President Donald Trump on Tuesday issued full-throated re-election endorsements for the incumbent lieutenant governors of Nevada and Idaho.

"Stavros Anthony has been a fantastic Lieutenant Governor for the Great People of Nevada!" the president declared in a Monday Truth Social post.

"Stavros Anthony has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Re-Election — HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!" he asserted.

TRUMP-BACKED GOVERNOR ANNOUNCES BID FOR THIRD CONSECUTIVE TERM

Anthony thanked the president for his backing.

"Thank you, President Trump, for your support for my re-election and for your support for Nevada. I look forward to seeing you this week in Las Vegas," the state official wrote in a post on X.

REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR TARGETED BY DEMOCRATS LAUNCHES RE-ELECTION BID IN KEY BATTLEGROUND

Trump also gave his stamp of approval to Idaho Lt. Gov. Scott Bedke, declaring that he "has been a tremendous Lieutenant Governor of Idaho, a place I love and WON BIG in 2016, 2020, and 2024!"

"Scott Bedke has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Re-Election — HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!" the president declared in a Truth Social post.

24 STATES BACK CHALLENGE TO TRANSGENDER INMATE SURGERY RULING WITH NATIONWIDE STAKES

President Trump previously issued posts in which he endorsed Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo and Idaho Gov. Brad Little for re-election last year.

Johnson gets reinforcements as GOP swears in new member — but the edge could shrink within days

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 05:00:55 -0400

Relief is on the way for House Speaker Mike Johnson, as the GOP clings to a razor-thin majority in the House of Representatives.

Republican Rep.-elect Clay Fuller of Georgia is expected to be sworn in by Johnson on Tuesday, one week after Fuller defeated Democrat Shawn Harris in a special election to fill the vacant U.S. House seat in Georgia's 14th Congressional District, in the crucial southeastern battleground state.

The seat, in northwest Georgia, was left vacant when MAGA firebrand Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene stepped down at the beginning of January. Greene quit Congress with a year left in her term, after a bitter falling out with Trump.

DEMOCRATS BUILD MOMENTUM, BUT GOP STILL IN DRIVER'S SEAT IN BATTLE FOR SENATE MAJORITY

The special election came as Republicans clung to a fragile four-seat majority in the House. The GOP was under the gun to make sure the Democrats didn't pull off an upset in a district that President Donald Trump carried by a whopping 37 points in his 2024 presidential victory. Fuller ended up topping Harris by 12 points.

REPUBLICANS WIN BUT DEMOCRATS ALSO CLAIM VICTORY THANKS TO BALLOT BOX SURGE IN TRUMP TERRITORY

Pointing to Fuller, Johnson in a statement to Fox News Digital said, "We look forward to welcoming him to our House Republican Conference and adding another strong member to our small but consequential majority."

And the speaker described Fuller, who was a local district attorney and a lieutenant colonel in the Air National Guard who's served in the Air Force since 2009, as "a principled leader who is laser-focused on delivering results for Georgia."

Fuller, in an interview last week with Fox News Digital minutes after winning the runoff election, described himself as a "reinforcement" for Johnson and said his victory was "extremely crucial."

And referring to Washington, D.C., he said he was looking "forward to getting up there as soon as possible... to being up there and fighting."

TRUMP-BACKED WIFE OF RNC CHAIR LAUNCHES CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGN AS GOP CLINGS TO HOUSE MAJORITY

When Fuller is sworn in, the House Republican conference will stand at 219, which includes Republican-turned-independent Rep. Kevin Kiley of California, who caucuses with the GOP.

But the Democrats may soon boost their ranks by one to 215.

Democratic congressional candidate Analilia Mejia is favored in Thursday's special election in New Jersey's left-leaning 11th Congressional District, in the race to fill the seat left vacant when then Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill stepped down late last year after winning election as governor.

There's one more vacant seat in Congress, in California's 1st Congressional District, following the unexpected death in early January of Republican Rep. Doug LaMalfa.

A primary in the race to fill LaMalfa's seat will be held on June 2, which is primary day in California. And the special general election will be held on Aug. 4.

The district, in northeastern California, is solidly Republican.

Swalwell’s former Dem rival unloads on his ‘lightweight’ career as sexual assault allegations emerge

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 05:00:41 -0400

Andrew Yang, who ran against Eric Swalwell during the crowded 2020 Democratic primary for president, questioned why his one-time rival had ever thought he could win an election for some of the highest offices in the land, shortly before he announced on Monday that he was resigning his House seat.

Yang slammed Swalwell's political career as "lightweight," arguing he is not "an intellect or deep policy thinker," and described the California congressman as someone whose actions reflect a stronger desire to get ahead than fighting for what he believes is right.

"Eric made the first debate in 2019, which he spent challenging Joe Biden to ‘pass the torch’ and quoting Joe in his first Senate campaign saying that the incumbent was too old and out of touch and it was time to give way to the next generation. Joe came up to him during a commercial break, took Eric by both lapels, and said to him 'nice try, I’m not going anywhere.' Eric then dropped out a few days later," Yang recounted in his post.

"After 2020, Eric became a fixture on cable news programs, particularly MSNBC and CNN, mouthing Democratic talking points. He burnished his social media following. In 2024, when Joe Biden’s age became one of the central issues of the day and Dean Phillips tried to force a primary, Eric was nowhere to be found. He had gotten the message that being a good partisan soldier was a better path."

DEM SENATOR RIPPED FOR 'SMEAR' OF FEMALE ACTIVIST ADVOCATING FOR SWALWELL'S ACCUSERS: 'VERY BAD LOOK'

Yang said that running for higher office, and particularly the presidency, candidates must have "vision, intellect, confidence, conviction, communication ability, charisma, [and] maybe even morality or principle." However, Swalwell has none of these, according to Yang, who ran for New York City mayor in 2021 and is currently leading a new political party he founded called the Forward Party.

Yang also launched a nonprofit called Humanity Forward after his failed 2020 presidential bid and began hitting the media circuit on various stations as a contributor and analyst.

Yang, while familiar with Swalwell but not super close to him, described Swalwell as "in way over his head" when running for president, and also pointed out that Swalwell's sexual improprieties were an "open secret" within D.C. and California circles.

ERIC SWALWELL EXITS CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR RACE APOLOGIZING FOR PAST JUDGMENT WHILE DENYING CLAIMS

"I sometimes think of some of the other figures from my presidential primary ‘class,’ many of whom I’m loosely in touch with. I feel like Eric is Icarus from the Greek myths; he flew too close to the sun, and now he’s crashed to Earth," Yang added about Swalwell's ambition for higher office.

Yang said he thought the best-case outcome for Swalwell would be that he retains his seat in the House of Representatives, which both Democrats and Republicans have said they want him expelled from, but then loses it a few years down the line when someone is in a strong position to challenge him. Swalwell announced his resignation shortly after the post started spreading on social media.

Both Democrats and Republicans supported Swalwell resigning following the fresh allegations of sexual misconduct. Even Swalwell's "best friend in the world," as he described him at an event, Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., was forced to walk away from supporting his long-time friend and colleague just a day after he was raked over the coals for supporting him and, as one Democrat strategist put it, running a "smear" campaign to discredit Swalwell's accusers.

"The allegations against Congressmember Swalwell are deeply disturbing," California Democratic Party Chairman Rusty Hicks said in a statement.

When asked whether she had requested Swalwell resign, Pelosi reportedly responded, "Oh, I think that was his decision. I think it's a smart decision to make," according to Politico.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., who ran against Swalwell and Yang during the crowded 2020 Democratic primary for president, said she is "glad that [Swalwell] will be gone," adding that "people who are in positions of power and authority over others need to be held accountable when they take advantage of that position."

'Smart decision': Swalwell's resignation spurs praise from both parties after bombshell allegations emerge

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 21:53:21 -0400

Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., announced he was planning to resign from Congress following sexual misconduct allegations, leading top Senate Democrats like Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., to praise the decision.

Meanwhile, Republicans are questioning how much top Democrats knew before the final ball dropped Monday with Swalwell's resignation, which came just days after he suspended his California gubernatorial campaign.

Swalwell said Monday that he was "deeply sorry" to his family, staff and constituents for his "mistakes," but stood headstrong in calling the sexual misconduct and abuse allegations against him "false."

"I am aware of efforts to bring an immediate expulsion vote against me and other members," Swalwell said in his announcement. "Expelling anyone from Congress without due process, within days of an allegation being made, is wrong. But, it's also wrong for my constituents to have me distracted from my duties. Therefore, I plan to resign my seat in Congress."

SWALWELL CAMPAIGN SETS OFF ALARM BELLS AFTER ACCEPTING $25K DONATION FROM CCP-TIED LAWYER: ‘OUTRAGEOUS’

"It was a good decision," added Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., when asked about Swalwell's resignation. "You don't have to be a rocket science to figure that out. It's terrible – what has been alleged."

Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., reportedly told CNN that he thought Swalwell made the right decision.

Swalwell's decision to resign keeps Democrats from having to vote on a contentious resolution to expel Swalwell, which was expected to happen if he had not resigned.

"With a criminal investigation in the works, the move will avoid the need to answer questions immediately in an ethics investigation that might present legal dangers," George Washington University professor and Fox News legal analyst Jonathan Turley pointed out. "Few defense attorneys would relish a client responding to an open-ended ethics investigation when the outcome seems likely expulsion."

When asked whether she had requested Swalwell resign, Pelosi reportedly responded, "Oh, I think that was his decision. I think it's a smart decision to make," according to Politico.

Furthermore, when asked whether she had any previous idea about the sexual misconduct allegations, Pelosi responded, "none whatsoever," Politico also noted. Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., a longtime friend and colleague of Arizona who faced heat for defending him, said minutes before Swalwell's resignation that he "had no knowledge of the allegations of assault, harassment, and predatory behavior against Eric Swalwell."

‘USEFUL PUPPET’: ERIC SWALWELL IN THE HOT SEAT AFTER TRAVELING TO DOHA ON SEVERAL QATAR-SPONSORED TRIPS

Warren, who ran against Swalwell during the pairs' bids for the presidency, said she is "glad that [Swalwell] will be gone," adding that "people who are in positions of power and authority over others need to be held accountable when they take advantage of that position."

Within an hour after Swalwell's announcement that he would resign, one of Swalwell's colleagues in the House of Representatives, Rep. Tony Gonzalez, R-Texas, followed suit and announced he was resigning as well amid sexual misconduct allegations.

"There is a season for everything and God has a plan for us all. When Congress returns tomorrow, I will file my retirement from office. It has been my privilege to serve the great people of Texas," Gonzales said.

Gonzalez last month said he would not run for reelection, so it is uncertain what may change. If Gonzalez and Swalwell left tomorrow, the slim margin in the House between Republicans and Democrats would not change.

Republican reactions to Swalwell's resignation Monday mirrored the praise from Democrats. Republican frontrunner in the California gubernatorial race, Steve Hilton, also slammed "career politicians" for letting Swalwell "get away with it."

"Of course Eric Swalwell had to drop out of the California governor's race. The question is, why was he ever in it, knowing he had all this going on?" Hilton told Fox News Digital.

"First smart thing he’s done," said Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., who added that Gonzales "needs to follow his lead" right before he actually did.

"Eric, you did the right thing by resigning. However, don’t you dare say there weren’t grounds for your expulsion, because there absolutely were," Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., said after Swalwell's announcement he would be resigning. "He made the correct decision, but there still needs to be a full-fledged criminal investigation. Based on what I’m hearing, he may go to jail."

Other Republicans questioned how much Democrats knew before the allegations of sexual misconduct became public against Swalwell.

"The mainstream media doesn’t attack a Democrat unless it helps a separate Democrat. It’s axiomatic. The Swalwell episode proves that in technicolor," John Ashbrook, a co-host of the "Ruthless" podcast told Fox News Digital. "If he wasn’t jeopardizing their party’s ability to hold the California Governor’s mansion, none of them would have said a word."

"Eric Swalwell should've been removed from Congress long ago, yet Democrats rallied around him over and over even after it was shown he was compromised by a Chinese spy," added Republican strategist Mark Bednar, who has worked for former Speaker Kevin McCarthy and current Transportation Secretary and former Congressman Sean Duffy. "The real questions for Democrats close to him are what did they know, when did they know it, and will they question then-Speaker Pelosi's judgment regarding Swalwell’s committee assignments?"

Hilton echoed Bednar's questions about how much top Democrats knew.

"Machine politicians and unions that endorsed Swalwell and threw money at him — they knew about his past. It was an open secret on Capitol Hill and Sacramento. Nancy Pelosi, Adam Schiff, the teacher unions, SEIU — they are all totally full of it with their fake outrage and condemnation," Hilton told Fox News Digital. "California is ruled by a corrupt Democrat elite that is collapsing into chaos, sleaze and scandal. That's why the Swalwell stand-ins that they send to run against me in the general election, whether it's Katie Porter or Tom Steyer, will be no better."

Swalwell's 'best friend' in Congress turns on him after bombshell allegations torpedo his political career

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 20:54:07 -0400

One of Rep. Eric Swalwell's, D-Calif., closest friends in Congress is putting distance between himself and the lawmaker, contending he had no idea about the bombshell accusations of sexual assault that have surfaced against the former gubernatorial candidate.

"I want to be clear: I had no knowledge of the allegations of assault, harassment, and predatory behavior against Eric Swalwell," Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., said in a statement.

"The women who have come forward have shown courage," he continued. "They deserve to be believed, to be supported, and to see justice served."

HOUSE REPUBLICAN PLANS MOTION TO OUST SWALWELL FROM CONGRESS AMID SEXUAL ASSAULT ALLEGATIONS

Gallego's turn on Swalwell came just minutes before the lawmaker announced his resignation from Congress.

He already pulled his endorsement of Swalwell’s now-defunct bid for governor shortly after the bombshell San Francisco Chronicle report was published, and said the lawmaker was "no longer fit to be a member of Congress" and supported the push to expel him from the lower chamber.

It’s the culmination of a swift about-face for Gallego, who has signaled a desire for a 2028 presidential bid and was once described by Swalwell as his "best friend in the world."

The pair have been friends since Gallego’s time in the House and both came under fire for photos that surfaced of the duo riding shirtless on camels in Qatar as part of a private trip in 2021. And just days ago, Gallego defended Swalwell online.

PELOSI, CALIFORNIA DEMS SLAM SWALWELL OVER BOMBSHELL SEXUAL ASSAULT ALLEGATIONS: 'INDEFENSIBLE'

"When you are in first place, is when they target you," Gallego said on X. "Eric is a fighter and he will win the Governors race."

Now, Gallego said he doesn’t know his once close friend.

"I trusted someone who I believed was a friend, but it is now clear that he is not the person I thought I knew," Gallego said.

ERIC SWALWELL EXITS CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR RACE APOLOGIZING FOR PAST JUDGMENT WHILE DENYING CLAIMS

Swalwell resigned from the House Monday night after ending his gubernatorial campaign in California, a move that was spurred by the San Francisco Chronicle's report that detailed allegations of sexual assault against him.

He currently faces allegations of sexual assault and misconduct from a former staffer and three other women.

In the House, Swalwell faced pressure from his colleagues to resign. That comes as the House Ethics Committee launched a probe against him and a campaign to expel him, and others, from the chamber was gaining steam.

"I am aware of efforts to bring an immediate expulsion vote against me and other members. Expelling anyone in Congress without due process, within days of an allegation being made, is wrong," Swalwell said in a statement. "But it's also wrong for my constituents to have me distracted from my duties. Therefore, I plan to resign my seat in Congress."

DoorDash driver hails key Trump policy after delivering McDonald's to White House: 'I'm going to enjoy it'

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 19:15:42 -0400

Sharron Simmons, the first DoorDash employee to ever deliver a meal to the White House, said she hopes that the benefits she’s reaping from President Donald Trump's no-tax-on-tips policy will extend past its current 2028 lifespan.

"Well, obviously, we would like for it to continue, but I'm going to enjoy it while I've got it. And, you know, it's not for me to decide that," she told Fox News Digital during a Monday interview shortly after delivering a McDonald's order to Trump.

Overall, Simmons says she believes she’s taking home more than $11,000 in extra income.

"I figure that I'm probably going to be saving about $3,000 to $4,000," Simmons said.

SCOOP: TRUMP'S 'BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL' TAX CUTS PROMOTED IN NEW REPUBLICAN AD BLITZ

Simmons’ story is one of the many ways the White House has attempted to highlight its work through Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, the president’s signature tax and border security package.

Alongside tax breaks for tips, that bill also temporarily eliminated tax obligations for overtime pay, increased the senior deduction to $12,000 and upped the child tax credit by $200 per child.

WATCH IT: SPEAKER JOHNSON HEARDS FROM UBER DRIVER ON ‘NO TAX ON TIPS’ BENEFIT: ‘BIG DIFFERENCE’

Critics of the package have argued that the tax breaks are cutting down the country’s revenue and contributing to the national deficit, while its supporters contend it will grow the economy by putting more back in the hands of consumers.

SEN TIM SCOTT: REPUBLICANS JUST GETTING STARTED, BUT NEED TIME TO STOP RADICAL LEFTISTS

Simmons originally joined DoorDash as a way to generate a little extra revenue on the side, stating that she began her partnership with DoorDash because of its flexibility after the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I've been doing DoorDash since 2022. And I just got into it because it was something that after COVID and everything, I didn't have to go into an office. And I kind of felt like by doing this, I would be able to help other people," Simmons explained.

Despite the future uncertainty of the policy’s current timeline, Simmons said she would focus on the present moment.

"[In] younger years, I didn't feel like my voice could be heard. And I feel now like we are heard," Simmons said.

Gabbard claims ‘coordinated effort’ by intelligence community to advance narrative to impeach Trump

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 19:06:32 -0400

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard released newly declassified testimony that she alleges shows a "coordinated effort" by the intelligence community to "manufacture a conspiracy" used as the basis of President Donald Trump first impeachment.

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence on Monday released two declassified transcripts from closed-door House Intelligence Committee hearings that Gabbard’s office says show former Intelligence Community Inspector General Michael Atkinson advanced as credible a whistleblower complaint based on secondhand information from an individual who had previously worked with then-Vice President Joe Biden in Ukraine. Gabbard’s office argued that, based on this and other testimony, Atkinson’s actions "weaponize[d] the whistleblower process and exceed[ed] his statutory jurisdiction."

Atkinson’s investigation helped trigger the first impeachment of Trump by advancing what he deemed a "credible" whistleblower complaint regarding a July 2019 phone call between the president and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Former Intelligence Community Inspector General Michael Atkinson "did not follow standard IG procedures and relied upon politicized, manufactured narratives" while investigating the whistleblower claim that ultimately led to Trump’s 2019 impeachment, Gabbard’s office said Monday.

GABBARD UNAWARE OF FBI PROBE INTO JOE KENT BEFORE RESIGNATION, OFFICIAL SAYS

Gabbard, citing previously classified House testimony by Atkinson, said the former inspector general "aggressively advanced" his preliminary probe while relying on secondhand testimony and what she described as politicized witnesses. Gabbard’s office also charged that Atkinson "never conducted a formal or complete investigation."

"In his own words, IC IG Atkinson recognizes that his conclusions were based on a ‘preliminary investigation,’ noting that ‘I haven’t done an investigation to determine whether they actually, in fact, took place … that all of the alleged actions actually took place,’" according to the statement from Gabbard.

Under federal law, the inspector general's preliminary role is to determine whether a whistle-blower complaint "appears credible," rather than to fully investigate or substantiate the underlying allegations. Atkinson did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

The testimony reveals that Atkinson was aware that the primary whistleblower, whose identity has still not been officially disclosed, was a "registered Democrat" and had alerted staff on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence before submitting their "Disclosure of Urgent Concern" form, Gabbard's office said.

The whistleblower also admitted having "worked closely with Vice President Biden" and "travelled with Biden to Ukraine and was part of conversations where LUTSENKO corruption was discussed," according to the DNI release. Yuriy Lutsenko, Ukraine’s prosecutor general from 2016 to 2019, was the official who inherited and closed the Burisma investigation and was subsequently courted by Hunter Biden-linked lobbyists seeking to facilitate connections between the Ukrainian government and Democratic political circles, Fox News Digital previously reported.

Gabbard also accused Atkinson of ignoring any bias, highlighting testimony in which he said, "I also want to make it clear that I never considered the whistleblower to be politically biased."

FBI'S CONTROVERSIAL TRUMP-RUSSIA ACTIONS PREDICTED WITH 'ALARMING SPECIFICITY' BY FOREIGN ACTORS: SOURCES

The office said that on the initial form submitted by the whistleblower, they admitted, "I do not have direct knowledge of private comments or communications" by Trump. Notably, whistleblower laws do not require a whistleblower to provide first-hand information, according to the National Whistleblower Center.

Gabbard’s office said one of the "key" witnesses Atkinson relied on to corroborate the whistleblower's report during his preliminary investigation was also a co-author of the controversial 2017 intelligence community assessment on Russian collusion that Gabbard has previously said was instigated at the direction of former President Barack Obama.

JAMES CLAPPER, JOHN BRENNAN HIT BACK AT TRUMP ALLEGATIONS ABOUT RUSSIA PROBE AS 'PATENTLY FALSE'

Gabbard, herself a former Democrat, accused Atkinson of having "failed to uphold his responsibility to the American people, putting political motivations over the truth."

"Deep state actors within the Intelligence Community concocted a false narrative that was used by Congress to usurp the will of the American people and impeach the duly-elected President of the United States," said Gabbard. "And this, along with the politicization of the whistleblower process by a former CIA employee who was working hand in glove with Democrats in Congress, are egregious examples of the deep state playbook on how to weaponize the Intelligence Community."

She added that "exposing these tactics and showing how they undermine the fabric of our democratic republic furthers the critical cause of transparency and accountability and will help prevent future abuse of power."

Democratic lawmakers largely dismissed the disclosures from Gabbard, framing the declassification as an attempt by the DNI to win favor from Trump.

"This is a nothingburger — just another sad attempt by Tulsi Gabbard to get in Donald Trump’s good graces," Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., the ranking member on the Senate Intelligence Committee, told Politico's NatSec Daily newsletter.

Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., ranking member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, also criticized the declassification on X.

"Everyone can read the transcript of Trump’s phone call to extort President Zelenskyy for dirt on Biden. That was an impeachable offense, and no amount of dust kicking and sycophancy can obscure it," Himes wrote. "Had Joe Biden made that call, Republicans would have burned the place down."

Fox News Digital reached out to House and Senate Intelligence Committee Democrats for additional comment.

Embattled Rep Tony Gonzales announces plans to resign amid sexual misconduct allegations

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 18:54:39 -0400

Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, abruptly announced his decision to resign from Congress Monday evening amid calls for him to step aside after admitting to sexual misconduct with a staffer earlier this year.

The embattled lawmaker is facing an anticipated expulsion vote that could occur as early as this week.

"There is a season for everything and God has a plan for us all. When Congress returns tomorrow, I will file my retirement from office," Gonzales wrote on social media. "It has been my privilege to serve the great people of Texas."

It is currently unclear when Gonzales will formally resign. A spokesperson for Gonzales did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

SWALWELL ANNOUNCES RESIGNATION FROM CONGRESS AFTER SEXUAL MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS TORPEDOED GUBERNATORIAL BID

Gonzales has come under bipartisan pressure to immediately step aside or face expulsion following his acknowledgment of an affair with his former staffer, Regina Santos-Aviles, who later died by setting herself on fire.

Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez, D-N.M., has vowed to move forward with her expulsion resolution if Gonzales does not quickly resign.

"He has until 2PM tomorrow—when we will file his expulsion. He better write that resignation "effective immediately," Leger Fernandez wrote on social media.

He first admitted to an affair with Santos-Aviles during a radio interview in March after repeatedly denying the existence of a sexual relationship.

"I made a mistake, and I had a lapse in judgment, and there was a lack of faith, and I take full responsibility for those actions," Gonzales told conservative radio host Joe Pags during the interview. "Since then, I've reconciled with my wife, Angel. I've asked God to forgive me, which he has, and my faith is as strong as ever."

Gonzales, who is married and has six children, has not acknowledged a second accusation of sexual misconduct with a former aide reported by The San Antonio-Express News.

Lawmakers are prohibited from engaging in sexual relationships with staffers, per House rules.

His announcement came just an hour after Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., said he planned to resign from the lower chamber amid serious allegations of sexual misconduct and rape. The California Democrat has not specified the particular day he plans to leave office.

REP TONY GONZALES ANNOUNCES HE WILL NOT SEEK RE-ELECTION AMID HOUSE ETHICS INVESTIGATION INTO AFFAIR

Swalwell, too, was facing a potential expulsion vote that Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., was pressuring House GOP leadership to bring to the floor by Wednesday.

"The actions of these two Members reflect poorly on every single one of us," Luna wrote in a letter to colleagues on Monday that was reviewed by Fox News Digital. "We as Members of Congress need to stand together in publicly condemning this behavior and restore the trust we have lost with the American people.

"We are the company we keep," she added.

It takes a two-thirds majority to expel a lawmaker from Congress.

Gonzales, a three-term lawmaker, suspended his reelection campaign in March after House GOP leadership called on him to exit the race.

President Donald Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., then switched their endorsements to conservative activist Brandon Herrera, who was competing in a run-off against Gonzales for the GOP nomination.

Both Gonzales and Swalwell were under investigation by the House Ethics Committee. However, the committee is expected to suspend its investigation into both members when they officially step aside.

Johnson had urged lawmakers to allow the ethics panel's investigation into Gonzales to be completed before the consideration of drastic measures, such as expulsion.

The dual resignation announcements could impact House Republicans' razor-thin majority. If the lawmakers both officially resign tomorrow, then each party will have one fewer lawmaker.

However, Congressman-elect Clay Fuller, R-Ga., who won a special election last week to fill former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's seat, R-Ga., is expected to be sworn in on Tuesday.

Swalwell announces resignation from Congress after sexual misconduct allegations torpedoed gubernatorial bid

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 17:41:19 -0400

Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., announced he would resign his congressional seat on Monday on the heels of multiple bombshell reports last Friday that forced him to drop out of a bid to become the next governor of California.

"I am deeply sorry to my family, staff, and constituents for mistakes in judgment I've made in my past," Swalwell said in a statement. "I will fight the serious, false allegations made against me. However, I must take responsibility and ownership for the mistakes I did make."

"I am aware of efforts to bring an immediate expulsion vote against me and other members. Expelling anyone in Congress without due process, within days of an allegation being made, is wrong," he continued. "But it's also wrong for my constituents to have me distracted from my duties. Therefore, I plan to resign my seat in Congress.

At least four women have accused Swalwell of sexual misconduct, including a former aide who alleged he raped her when she was intoxicated and could not consent, according to reporting from CNN and The San Francisco Chronicle.

SWALWELL CAMPAIGN SETS OFF ALARM BELLS AFTER ACCEPTING $25K DONATION FROM CCP-TIED LAWYER: 'OUTRAGEOUS'

Swalwell’s abrupt announcement of his resignation plans could thwart a bipartisan attempt to expel him that was slated to occur as early as this week.

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, a conservative House Republican, planned to introduce a resolution to forcibly remove Swalwell from his seat on Tuesday. She called on House GOP leadership to hold a vote on the measure on Wednesday.

Luna urged lawmakers in both parties to put aside "ideological differences" and support her resolution and a separate effort led by Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez, D-N.M., targeting embattled Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, for expulsion.

"It is our responsibility, according to the Constitution and House rules, to hold one another accountable, especially when it brings dishonor upon the institution," Luna wrote to her House colleagues Tuesday in a letter that was reviewed by Fox News Digital. "We as Members of Congress need to stand together in publicly condemning this behavior and restore the trust we have lost with the American people."

The Florida Republican warned over the weekend that she would draft the expulsion measure if Swalwell did not resign by the time House lawmakers returned to Washington on Tuesday.

Luna's resolution would have likely garnered significant bipartisan support.

Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., was among several progressive Democrats who issued support for the expulsion effort.

Other Democratic lawmakers have called on Swalwell to resign, but have stopped short of backing Luna’s expulsion resolution.

ADAM SCHIFF MAKES ENDORSEMENT IN CALIFORNIA GUBERNATORIAL RACE

Democratic backlash in the wake of the Chronicle’s harrowing reporting led to a wave of Swalwell's colleagues and longtime allies rescinding their support for his since-suspended gubernatorial campaign — including former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.

Swalwell exited the 2026 gubernatorial primary to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-Calif., on Sunday. The announcement came despite Swalwell appearing to be a top contender in recent polling.

Swalwell first became a member of the House of Representatives in 2013. Before his time in Congress, Swalwell served as a prosecutor in the Alameda County District Attorney's Office before becoming a city councilmember in Dublin, California, in 2010.

As a member of the House, Swalwell helped spearhead impeachment efforts against President Donald Trump in 2019 and, before that, led inquiries on whether Russian interference had meaningfully impacted the 2016 presidential election.

It’s unclear if Swalwell’s resignation marks an end to his political career.

In its Friday report, the San Francisco Chronicle detailed graphic accounts from a woman accusing Swalwell of pursuing intoxicated women, pressuring employees into intimate situations and asking for explicit images from female contacts.

Rumblings of misconduct from Swalwell first emerged earlier this month when Cheyenne Hunt, a former Capitol Hill staffer and a political media personality, began circulating testimony from women who said they had been sexually assaulted by the congressman.

'USEFUL PUPPET': ERIC SWALWELL IN THE HOT SEAT AFTER TRAVELING TO DOHA ON SEVERAL QATAR-SPONSORED TRIPS

"The Democratic candidate currently leading in the California governor’s race has a known history of being predatory towards women," Hunt claimed in a post to social media.

Despite initially remaining silent on the allegations, Swalwell’s office broke its silence on the matter in comments made to the New York Post earlier this week.

"This false, outrageous rumor is being spread 27 days before an election begins by flailing opponents who have sadly teamed up with MAGA conspiracy theorists because they know Eric Swalwell is the frontrunner in this race," Micah Beasley, a spokesperson for Swalwell, said.

Swalwell’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Trump’s McDonald’s order comes with cash surprise for ‘DoorDash Grandma’ outside White House

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 17:28:16 -0400

President Donald Trump turned a McDonald’s delivery into a Tax Day pitch Monday, bringing a DoorDash driver to the White House to tout the elimination of taxes on gratuities — and then surprising her with a cash tip from his pocket.

Trump welcomed Arkansas native Sharon Simmons to the White House on Monday, where the DoorDash delivery driver handed off two bags of the president’s favorite fast food while promoting Trump’s "no tax on tips" policy ahead of Tax Day. As he gaggled with reporters and Simmons, the "DoorDash Grandma" was asked about tips received at the White House.

"Are the White House good tippers?" a member of the media asked Simmons.

"Wait," Trump said before reaching into his pocket to whip out what appeared to be a $100 bill and hand it to Simmons.

BESSENT BLASTS DEMOCRAT-LED STATES FOR BLOCKING TRUMP TAX RELIEF IN OBBBA

"You reminded me," he continued.

After accepting the tip, Simmons responded that the White House has "very" good tippers.

VANCE WARNS OF 'PENALTY' FOR DEMS WHO OPPOSED THE 'BIG, BEAUTIFUL, BILL' AHEAD OF 2026 MIDTERMS

Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, tip earners may make up to $25,000 in tax-deductible income from 2025 through 2028, according to the Tax Foundation, a think tank that studies tax policy.

"I heard you picked up an extra $11,000 that you wouldn't get because the tax bill was so big, the refund was the biggest you've ever had," Trump said while speaking with Simmons.

Simmons, a grandmother of 10, has completed over 14,000 deliveries since she began in 2022, according to a DoorDash press release.

TRUMP BLASTS SPANBERGER AHEAD OF VIRGINIA MEETINGS, SAYS STATE FACES TAX BASE EXODUS LIKE NEW YORK, CALIFORNIA

"Since No Tax on Tips was enacted, we estimate Dashers have saved hundreds of millions of dollars," the release read.

Max Rettig, DoorDash global head of public policy, said in the release that this moment marks a win for millions of Dashers nationwide, who can now keep more of their earnings when filing their taxes this year.

"DoorDash is proud to advocate on behalf of Dashers like Sharon and push for policies like No Tax on Tips because they deliver real impact to so many hardworking people and their families," said Rettig.

Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for additional comment.

Fox News Digital's Leo Briceno contributed to this report.

Appeals court lets Trump resume White House ballroom construction, seeks lower court clarity

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 15:26:29 -0400

A federal appeals court in Washington, D.C., on Saturday cleared the way for President Donald Trump to temporarily resume construction of his planned White House ballroom, granting a near-term win to the administration as it pushes forward with the nearly $400 million project.

The case stems from a lawsuit filed late last year by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which sought to block the construction. The group argued that the project violates multiple federal laws, including the Administrative Procedure Act and the National Environmental Policy Act, and charged that the plans amounted to executive overreach without required approval from Congress and federal planning bodies.

A lower court judge last month put the project on hold, triggering the administration’s appeal.

TRUMP ADMIN FIGHTS IN COURT TO KEEP WHITE HOUSE EAST WING DEMOLITION, $300M BALLROOM BUILD ON TRACK

U.S. District Judge Richard Leon, a George W. Bush appointee, in March issued a preliminary injunction blocking construction of the ballroom, finding the Trump administration likely lacked the legal authority to proceed without congressional approval. He said the government had not shown it had clear authorization to replace parts of the East Wing with a privately funded structure.

Leon’s order paused most construction work on the ballroom, though he allowed activity tied to White House security concerns, and briefly delayed enforcement of his ruling until mid-April, to give the administration time to appeal the case to a higher court.

The Trump administration quickly asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to intervene, arguing that the project is critical to the safety and security of the "president, his family, and White House staff."

The 2-1 ruling from the circuit court did not immediately side with the Trump administration, but gave it temporary relief.

A majority of judges on the panel said the court needed more explanation from Leon before deciding whether construction should remain blocked.

Specifically, the judges asked Leon to clarify whether stopping the project would harm national security, as the Trump administration claims.

US APPEALS COURT HALTS TRUMP CONTEMPT PROBE ORDERED BY BOASBERG, FOR NOW

The appeals court also paused Leon’s order through April 17, giving the Trump administration time to ask the Supreme Court for emergency intervention if it chooses.

For now, the case will return to the district court for further explanation.

Trump first announced plans for the 90,000-square-foot ballroom in July, initially estimating the cost at around $200 million. He has said the project would be funded "100% by me and some friends of mine."

Lawyers for the administration have pushed back on the lawsuit, arguing the president has authority over White House construction decisions and that Congress does not need to approve the project.

TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ASKS SUPREME COURT TO REVIEW EL SALVADOR DEPORTATION FLIGHT CASE

"No taxpayer dollars are being used for the funding of this beautiful, desperately needed, and completely secure… ballroom," Justice Department lawyers said in court filings.

They added that past White House expansions, including the East and West Wings, did not require congressional involvement in their design or construction.

The National Trust, meanwhile, maintains the project cannot move forward without complying with federal law and proper review processes.

The Justice Department declined to comment on the ongoing litigation or whether it plans to seek Supreme Court intervention.

WATCH: Spanberger knocked for ‘bait and switch’ hypocrisy as popularity plummets amid redistricting fiasco

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 14:50:53 -0400

EXCLUSIVE: One of the Democratic Party’s top rising stars, Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger, is coming under increasing fire as critics accuse her of pulling a "bait and switch" on voters by abandoning her affordability promises in favor of tax increases on "just about anything that moves."

A new ad released by Unleash Prosperity on Monday slammed Spanberger over her affordability promises as Virginia Democrats propose new taxes on everyday expenses like dry cleaning, gym memberships and pet care. Unleash Prosperity’s ad puts it bluntly, saying, "Virginia can’t afford this."

The governor has not publicly supported or signed the measures. A statement by the governor's office sent to Fox News Digital on Monday emphasized that Spanberger did not sign the tax bills into law "because the General Assembly never passed them, and the bills never reached her desk." The statement said that Spanberger has "remained laser-focused on addressing high costs for Virginians."

However, Spanberger has supported a broader set of revenue measures since taking office, including proposals targeting digital services and business activity, as part of an effort to fund priorities such as education and healthcare.

TRUMP BLASTS SPANBERGER AHEAD OF VIRGINIA MEETINGS, SAYS STATE FACES TAX BASE EXODUS LIKE NEW YORK, CALIFORNIA

Steve Moore, an economist who co-founded Unleash Prosperity, told Fox News Digital that while Spanberger cashed in on Virginians’ worries over prices, she "raced out of the gate with all of these very liberal policies, including tax increases on just about anything that moves in Virginia."

Moore said Democrats across the country should take Spanberger's decline as a "warning" ahead of 2028.

There has been much buzz around Spanberger and her gubernatorial victory last year, which resulted in Republicans being ousted from power in Virginia. The Democratic Party selected her to give its response to President Donald Trump’s State of the Union, further evidencing her stardom.

Yet, despite the Democrats elevating her and even floating her as a presidential or vice-presidential pick, Moore said Virginians have been "shocked about that," explaining why her approval ratings have "absolutely plummeted."

"She has seen one of the swiftest declines in her popularity in the first six months in office that I've seen in many years of politics," Moore said.

Forty-six percent of Virginians disapprove of her job performance, while 47% approve, according to a recent Washington Post-Schar School poll. Compared with Virginia governors from both parties since 1994, Spanberger has the highest disapproval rating at this point in her term.

In contrast, predecessor Gov. Glenn Youngkin had a 54-39 job approval rating at this point in his term, with the highest favorability going to Democrat Mark Warner – now Virginia’s senior senator – at 78-20.

Moore called Spanberger’s tumbling ratings "the price for her bait-and-switch tax hike on Virginia residents and small businesses."

DEMS WHO RAN ON AFFORDABILITY NOW FACE BACKLASH AS COSTS CLIMB IN NY, VIRGINIA

"She campaigned on affordability, and nearly on day one in office, she and Virginia Democrats in Richmond endorsed a catalog of left-wing tax increase proposals on everything from dry cleaners to dog groomers, which make Virginia look like California," he said.

"Spanberger promised to be a pro-business moderate Democrat," he went on, quipping, "Maybe she should be known as ‘Scam-Berger.’"

Moore said Spanberger’s quick decline in the polls does not bode well for the Democratic Party’s hopes of taking back the White House in 2028.

"Spanberger is not alone," he explained. "We're seeing that with a lot of Democrats around the country; they run as moderates and as soon as they get in, they move to the extreme left."

"You're seeing Democrats who are governors and mayors across the country who are advancing very liberal pro-tax policies that are anti-business. And I think it's a very tough agenda for Democrats to run with in 2028 on the national picture," he went on.

"That should be a warning signal to Democrats across the country."

VIRGINIA DEMS TAKE TAX HIKES INTO OVERTIME, TARGET FANTASY FOOTBALL LEAGUES

Last week Trump took a similar line of criticism against Spanberger ahead of meetings in the state. He warned in a Truth Social post that her policies are triggering a tax base exodus similar to New York and California.

"She is adding so many Taxes, a Food and Beverage Tax, Digital Services Tax, Utilities Tax, and more," Trump wrote. "It has lost its Energy, Vitality, and Strength. People are leaving that would never have even thought of doing so!"

In a statement shared with Fox News Digital, Spanberger's office slammed criticisms of the governor raising taxes as "misinformation."

"The volume of misinformation — spread across social media and repeated in press coverage — made a clarification necessary. The facts are straightforward," the statement said. "Governor Abigail Spanberger did not sign dozens of tax bills into law — because the General Assembly never passed them, and the bills never reached her desk."

The office added that "in the opening months of her administration, Governor Spanberger has remained laser-focused on addressing high costs for Virginians" and is "also working alongside legislators and local communities to attract new capital investment."

Spanberger has also pushed back on the criticism herself. In a post on X, she said Trump and his allies were mischaracterizing her policies.

"The president and his allies are talking about taxes that our state legislature never even voted on and I certainly didn't sign," she wrote. "Why? Because if they don't flood the zone with fake news about fake taxes, people might hear about the bills I am signing to lower energy costs, strengthen our schools, make housing more affordable, and bring billions of dollars of business investment to Virginia."

A Spanberger spokesperson added that businesses have announced "more than $500 million in new investment in the commonwealth since Governor Spanberger took office in January," while accusing Trump of focusing on politics instead of economic stability.

"The ballgame changed when the President — whose been busy raising costs for Virginians by starting a reckless war that has skyrocketed inflation and driven gas prices up to $4 — strong-armed states into drawing more Republican congressional seats that he asserted he was 'entitled' to before the midterms," the governor's spokesperson said. "As prices rise in Trump’s economy, Governor Spanberger will continue her work with both parties to address the high housing, healthcare and energy costs that Virginians are feeling."

Fox News Digital's Charles Creitz and Michael Dorgan contributed to this report.

Swalwell faces House ethics probe over alleged sexual misconduct as expulsion threat looms

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 14:00:13 -0400

Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., an embattled lawmaker facing a potential expulsion threat, is the target of an investigation by the House Ethics Committee, the panel announced Monday.

At least four women have accused the California Democrat of sexual misconduct, according to multiple reports. The House panel said it is investigating "allegations that he may have engaged in sexual misconduct toward an employee working under his supervision."

The panel added that "the mere fact that it is investigating these allegations, and publicly disclosing its review, does not itself indicate that any violation has occurred."

Swalwell has denied any wrongdoing and pledged to correct what he has referred to as "false" allegations.

ERIC SWALWELL EXITS CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR RACE APOLOGIZING FOR PAST JUDGMENT WHILE DENYING CLAIMS

The San Francisco Chronicle first reported on an allegation Friday that Swalwell sexually assaulted a former staffer on two separate occasions while she was intoxicated and could not consent. The Manhattan District Attorney’s office has opened a criminal investigation into at least one incident that allegedly occurred in New York City.

The ethics committee announcement comes after Swalwell suspended his gubernatorial campaign Sunday night amid widespread backlash from influential Democrats who nearly unanimously called on him to exit the race.

Every congressional Democrat who endorsed Swalwell has withdrawn their endorsement, and his campaign also lost the backing of several major unions in the Golden State.

Prior to the torrent of sexual misconduct allegations, Swalwell had been a leading contender to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-Calif., and appeared to be gaining momentum in the race.

More than 50 former congressional and campaign staffers for Swalwell called on their former boss to drop out of the governor’s race and resign from the House in a public letter released Sunday.

"We stand unequivocally with our colleague, who showed extraordinary courage in coming forward to share her truth. We believe her," the letter read in part.

LAWMAKERS PUT EXPULSION THREATS ATOP HOUSE AGENDA AS RETURN SETS UP HIGH-STAKES WEEK

Still, the seven-term lawmaker has given no indication that he will resign from the House prior to the end of his term in January 2027.

Swalwell is also under investigation for allegedly violating federal immigration laws by hiring a Brazilian nanny who lacked authorization to work in the United States.

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., has vowed to introduce a resolution this week expelling Swalwell if he does not voluntarily step aside. Some prominent Democrats, including Reps. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., and Teresa Leger Fernandez, D-N.M., have said they will support the expulsion measure.

At least three California Democrats — Reps. Ro Khanna, Sim Liccardo and Jared Huffman — have urged Swalwell to resign or said they would support expulsion.

"I've seen enough. With his nuanced statement aimed at defending likely criminal charges, Swalwell all but admits a per se abuse of power under House ethics rules: sex with a subordinate," Huffman wrote on social media Sunday. "He must now drop out of the Governor's race and resign from Congress."

"Rep. Tony Gonzales, who admitted to the same violation, should also resign," Huffman added. "If they don't, I will support voting to expel both of them."

Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, who is under investigation by the House Ethics Committee, has acknowledged an affair with a former staffer and suspended his re-election campaign. The aide later died by setting herself on fire.

A spokesperson for Swalwell did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Obama CIA chief under DOJ scrutiny pushes fringe Trump ouster plan

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 13:06:44 -0400

Obama-era CIA Director John Brennan called for President Donald Trump to be removed from office, joining a growing list of Democrats who say Trump's Truth Social posts threatening Iran were unlawful.

Brennan, who is currently under investigation by the Justice Department, appeared on MS NOW for an interview with Ali Velshi. He said that the 25th Amendment, which establishes the protocol to remove the president, "was written with Donald Trump in mind."

"Allowing someone like this to continue to be the commander in chief and to control the tremendous capabilities of the U.S. military, including our nuclear weapons capability, which he seemed to allude to when he said he’s going to just eliminate a entire civilization," Brennan said. "Again, we really are in very, very troubling times."

More than 70 lawmakers are calling for the 25th Amendment to be invoked against Trump following a slew of threats he made on Truth Social toward Iran regarding reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

TRUMP IRAN THREAT SPARKS CALLS FOR HIS OUSTER, BUT ONE DEM SAYS EFFORT ‘NOT REALISTIC’

The president made his first threat on Easter Sunday, giving Iran a deadline of Tuesday, April 7, at 8 p.m. Hours before the deadline, Trump posted on Truth Social that "a whole civilization will die tonight."

"I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Right before the deadline, Trump announced that the United States and Iran had reached a two-week ceasefire agreement. But after negotiations in Pakistan this weekend, Trump announced on Truth Social Sunday that the U.S. Navy will begin to block all ships entering and exiting the Strait of Hormuz beginning Monday.

Since the start of the Iran war, Brennan has been publicly outspoken in his criticism of Trump's handling of the conflict. He's been a regular on MS NOW, suggesting a month ago that Trump is "flailing" and "clueless" about handling the war.

Notably, the Justice Department launched an investigation into Brennan in July 2025, stemming from allegations that Brennan improperly handled a 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment, which found that Russia was seeking to influence the 2016 presidential election in Trump's favor.

The 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment included the Steele dossier, a debunked collection of memos alleging Trump colluded with Russia, but Brennan testified before Congress that the document "was not in any way used as a basis for the Intelligence Community assessment that was done." House Republicans alleged that Brennan had lied in his 2023 Judiciary Committee testimony by denying that the CIA used the Steele dossier in preparing the assessment. The DOJ investigation is ongoing.

Lawyers for Brennan said they have been informed he is a target of the investigation but have not been told of any "legally justifiable basis for undertaking this investigation," according to The Associated Press.

Brennan also previously pushed back on the allegations of wrongdoing, including claims from Trump and his allies that Brennan helped promote a "contrived narrative" that Russia interfered in the 2016 election to benefit Trump, which became central to the FBI's Russia collusion investigation of Trump's 2016 campaign.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, told Fox News that the DOJ probe is "heating up" last month in an appearance on "Hannity" and predicted that Brennan would soon face "accountability."

Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment.

Soros-backed prosecutor set for Capitol Hill grilling as sanctuary policies face reckoning

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 12:47:17 -0400

Steve Descano, the George Soros-backed prosecutor in Fairfax County, Virginia, will make his first Capitol Hill appearance next month as House Republicans press him on the county’s immigration policies following a murder tied to a repeat illegal immigrant offender.

Descano and Fairfax County Sheriff Stacey Kincaid are set to appear May 14 before the House Judiciary Committee’s immigration subcommittee, according to letters provided to Fox News Digital confirming their participation. The hearing, titled "Fairfax County, Virginia: The Dangerous Consequences of Sanctuary Policies," will examine whether the county’s policy limiting cooperation with federal immigration authorities threatens public safety.

The hearing will put new federal scrutiny on Descano and Fairfax County’s limits on cooperation with immigration authorities as Republicans argue the county’s policies and prosecutorial decisions helped allow accused killer Abdul Jalloh — whom the Department of Homeland Security says had been arrested 30 times — to remain free before Stephanie Minter’s fatal stabbing.

Minter's case spurred the federal oversight and calls for legislative reforms, and Minter's family is now also backing a recall effort against Descano that could threaten his tenure, according to local reporting.

ANGEL MOM, GOP BLAME SPANBERGER AFTER ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT WITH 30 ARRESTS CHARGED IN KILLING

Descano has previously testified in state-level legislative hearings, including before the Virginia Senate Judiciary Committee, but the May 14 hearing would mark his first known appearance before a congressional committee.

"CA Descano is looking forward to the opportunity to discuss Fairfax's record as one of the safest large jurisdictions in the country," Descano's office told Fox News Digital on Monday when asked about his upcoming testimony.

Upon first announcing the hearing in April, prior to the committee confirming Descano's attendance and a finalized date, Republican leaders said Descano’s testimony would help inform possible reforms targeting sanctuary jurisdictions.

The scrutiny was driven largely by the murder of Minter, a Fredericksburg mother who was stabbed to death at a Fairfax County bus stop earlier this year. Jalloh, her alleged killer and a Sierra Leone national, is an illegal immigrant with a lengthy criminal history whose prior encounters with law enforcement had raised concerns.

Fairfax County police had previously warned Descano’s office multiple times, including last year, about Jalloh’s potential for violence, including one officer who cautioned in an email that it was "not a question of if, but rather when he will maliciously wound (or worse) again."

Despite those warnings, prosecutors dropped multiple charges against Jalloh, allowing him to remain free. DHS authorities said Jalloh had been arrested 30 times, including for violent offenses, before targeting Minter.

ILLEGAL ALIEN MURDER SUSPECT AVOIDED SYSTEM AS ICE PUSHES DEM GOVERNOR TO KEEP HIM LOCKED UP

Descano has also faced criticism for his broader posture on immigration after campaigning on what he said was a two-tiered justice system that disadvantaged noncitizens, who could also see deportation as a consequence for their crimes.

Descano, for his part, has received more than $600,000 in campaign support from the Justice and Public Safety PAC, a committee primarily funded by Democratic megadonor George Soros that supports progressive prosecutors, according to public records.

DHS and House Republicans have also pointed to Fairfax County plea deals involving noncitizens, including a high-profile 2024 murder case where two defendants received five-year sentences, which they linked to Descano's avoidance of immigration-related outcomes.

Kincaid, who will also testify, has drawn separate scrutiny for declining to honor Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainers and instead requiring judicial warrants before transferring inmates to federal custody once they leave local jails, a policy federal officials have said conflicts with how ICE operates.

Trump warns China of ‘big problems’ over Iran weapons as Xi summit nears

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 12:33:31 -0400

President Donald Trump warned China it would face "big problems" if it supplies air defense systems to Tehran as Iran remains locked in a conflict with the United States and Israel.

"If China does that, China is gonna have big problems, OK?" Trump told reporters Saturday.

The warning comes as U.S. intelligence assessments indicate China may be preparing to supply, or already could have moved to supply, shoulder-fired air defense systems to Iran, according to multiple news outlets reporting on intelligence assessments, though officials caution the information is not definitive and there is no evidence the weapons have been used against U.S. or Israeli forces.

Trump’s warning also comes ahead of a high-stakes meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, with the two leaders expected to hold a summit in Beijing in May after it was postponed due to the ongoing conflict. The talks are likely to cover a range of issues, including trade tensions, Taiwan and the war involving Iran, placing additional pressure on U.S.-China relations as concerns mount over Beijing’s potential role in the conflict.

TRUMP VOICES FRUSTRATION WITH NATO, SAYS IRANIAN NAVY ‘DESTROYED’ AS US PREPS FOR BLOCKADE

The potential transfer of Chinese-supplied air defenses could increase risks to U.S. aircraft operating in the region, particularly low-flying missions already vulnerable to shoulder-fired missiles.

China also has played a role in recent ceasefire efforts, pressing Iran to engage in talks with the United States and Israel through diplomatic outreach and coordination with regional partners, even as it denies providing military support to Tehran.

Officials familiar with the intelligence say the systems in question include man-portable air defense systems, or MANPADS, which are capable of targeting low-flying aircraft and have already posed a threat to U.S. assets in the region during the conflict.

MANPADS are shoulder-fired, heat-seeking missiles designed to target low-flying aircraft. U.S. officials believe a similar type of weapon was likely used to bring down an American F-15E fighter jet over Iran earlier in April, marking the first loss of a manned U.S. aircraft in Iran in the conflict.

Trump said at the time the jet was hit by a "shoulder-fired missile."

It remains unclear whether any such systems have been transferred or are currently inside Iran, but the possibility has raised concerns among U.S. officials that additional air defenses could complicate future operations and increase risks to American pilots.

CHINA SAYS IT WILL RESUME SOME TIES WITH TAIWAN AFTER VISIT BY OPPOSITION LEADER

China has denied the reports, with its embassy in Washington saying it "never provides weapons to any party to the conflict" and calling the allegations untrue.

The reports come amid heightened tensions over China’s growing alignment with Iran, with U.S. officials increasingly warning that Beijing could play a more direct role in supporting Tehran as the conflict continues.

China has long played a role in supporting Iran’s military capabilities, supplying components used in ballistic missiles and drones as well as surveillance and targeting technologies, according to defense analysts. In recent years, Iran also has explored acquiring more advanced Chinese systems, including anti-ship missiles and air defense platforms, as it seeks to rebuild capabilities damaged in previous strikes.

Separate from the reports on potential air defense transfers, investigations using satellite imagery and maritime tracking data have identified Iranian vessels departing Chinese ports carrying cargo believed to include sodium perchlorate, a key ingredient in ballistic missile fuel, according to a Washington Post report. Other reporting citing Western intelligence and shipping data indicates multiple such shipments have reached Iran during the conflict, raising concerns Beijing may be helping Tehran replenish missile capabilities even as it publicly calls for de-escalation.

The Iranian mission to the United Nations could not immediately be reached for comment.

Democrats build midterm momentum, but Republicans still in driver's seat in Senate majority battle

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 12:14:01 -0400

A leading nonpartisan political handicapper predicts that the Democrats' path to winning back the Senate majority in this year's midterm elections is getting wider thanks to a rough political climate for the GOP, but that capturing control of the chamber remains a "tall order."

The Cook Political Report on Monday shifted the ratings in four key Senate races in favor of the Democrats, but added that Republicans "remain the narrowing favorites to retain the upper chamber."

Republicans currently control the Senate 53-47 but are battling stiff political headwinds, as the party in power in the nation's capital traditionally loses seats in the midterms. The GOP faces a rough political climate fueled by economic concerns amid persistent inflation, as well as rising gas prices tied to what polls show is an unpopular war with Iran and President Donald Trump's underwater approval ratings.

"Right now, we see the likeliest outcome is a one to three seat Democratic pickup — still just out of reach of the four seats the party needs to reclaim the majority," Cook Report Senate and Governors Editor Jessica Taylor said in a release.

SNUBBED BY TRUMP, THESE GOP CANDIDATES ACT LIKE THEY HAVE HIS ENDORSEMENT ANYWAY

The Cook Report shifted the race to succeed retiring GOP Sen. Thom Tillis in battleground North Carolina from toss-up to lean Democrat. Former two-term Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper is facing off against former Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley in what will likely be one of the most expensive and competitive Senate showdowns in the nation this autumn.

In battleground Georgia, where Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff is running for a second six-year term, the Cook Report also moved the race from toss-up to lean Democrat. Republicans view Ossoff as the most vulnerable Senate Democrat seeking re-election this year, but he has built a massive war chest while the GOP faces a three-way primary battle for its nomination.

STRATEGY SESSION: TRUMP TEAM HUDDLES ON MIDTERM MESSAGING

In red-leaning Ohio, where appointed Republican Sen. Jon Husted will face off in November against former longtime Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown, the Cook Report shifted their ranking from lean Republican to toss up, noting that "even recent GOP polling" has indicated the race is all knotted up.

The Cook Report also shifted Nebraska, a red state where GOP Sen. Pete Ricketts will face a general election challenge from independent candidate Dan Osborn, from solid Republican to likely Republican.

"We concede that these ratings changes are coming as Trump is at a new polling low and still navigating a yet-to-be-resolved war in Iran. So it’s possible things could rebound for his party or that they could find a rallying cry to get his base out in November — a summer Supreme Court retirement certainly wouldn’t hurt," Taylor noted.

And she pointed out that "Democrats are still contending with messy primary fights in Maine, Michigan, Minnesota and Iowa, where Republicans are rooting for flawed or bruised nominees to emerge. And Republicans will have a significant institutional financial advantage."

FOX NEWS POLL: AN EARLY LOOK AT THE 2026 MIDTERMS

National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) Chair Sen. Tim Scott acknowledged in a Fox News Digital interview last month that "there's no doubt the climate has gotten more and more difficult by the day, it seems like at times."

But Scott added that he remains "incredibly optimistic" the GOP can not only hold but expand its current majority.

The rival Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), in an email to supporters titled "Democratic Odds of Taking the Senate Increase as Four Ratings Shift in Their Favor," spotlighted the Cook Report's ratings shift.

Earlier this year, DSCC Chair Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand told Fox News Digital she was "very optimistic that with the quality of candidates that we have, with the recruiting failures and the poor candidates the Republicans have, and this very harmful climate that President Trump is creating, we have all the makings of a blue wave."

Senate Republicans race to fund ICE, CBP without Democrats as shutdown drags on

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 12:06:14 -0400

Senate Republicans are moving to fast-track funding for immigration enforcement without any Democratic support as a partial Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown stretches into its second month.

The upper chamber returns to Washington, D.C., on Monday, and the GOP already has its plan in motion to bypass Democrats’ blockade of funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

With President Donald Trump's blessing, they are using the budget reconciliation process to front-load funding for immigration enforcement for the remainder of his presidency. Taking that route doesn’t require any Democratic votes, but Republicans will have to put aside any differences they have if they want the legislation to work.

SENATE GOP VOWS TO ‘GO IT ALONE’ ON ICE FUNDING AS DEMS DOUBLE DOWN ON SHUTDOWN

Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, R-Wyo., and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who chairs the committee that will launch the reconciliation process in the Senate, met with Trump on Friday to lay the groundwork for the package.

Trump said on Truth Social shortly afterward, "Reconciliation is ON TRACK, and we are moving FAST and FOCUSED."

"Radical Left Democrats like Cryin’ Chuck Schumer, and Hakeem ‘High-Tax’ Jeffries, will do their best to stop us, but we don’t need their votes on this Bill, as long as Republicans UNIFY, and stick together," the president said.

"I am calling for the Bill to be done no later than June 1st, and on my desk," he continued. "The Department cannot wait any longer for full funding. We must beat the Radical Left Democrats at their own game."

Trump’s push for a focused package is what Senate Republicans had been hoping for, given that several other items, like the Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act, making their way into the bill could slow down work or get nixed by the rules that reinforce the process.

GRAHAM EYES ‘DOWN PAYMENT’ ON TRUMP-BACKED SAVE ACT WITHOUT DEMOCRATIC SUPPORT

"The reconciliation train is on the tracks," Graham said on "Special Report." "We're gonna have a very specific bill coming out before June 1 that will fund the Border Patrol and ICE for the entire presidency, the three years left of President Trump."

Keeping both chambers in alignment will be key, too, given that reconciliation will officially start in the House.

The whole reason Republicans are coalescing behind a reconciliation strategy is because of the ongoing DHS shutdown. The Senate, before leaving Washington for a two-week break, again passed a funding bill that carves out spending for ICE and parts of CBP.

It remains unclear when the House, which returns on Tuesday, will vote on the Senate-passed DHS funding bill.

House Republicans are frustrated that, after passing their own 60-day extension to reopen the agency, they again have to consider the Senate bill.

GOP INFIGHTING REPLACES CLASH WITH DEMS, DERAILS PATH TO END HISTORIC DHS SHUTDOWN

Many in the conference want to see the Senate make actual progress on a reconciliation bill before voting to fund DHS, while others on House Speaker Mike Johnson’s, R-La., right flank would rather fund the entirety of Homeland Security through reconciliation.

And a source familiar told Fox News Digital that House GOP leadership is waiting to see the upper chamber take concrete steps on a reconciliation package funding ICE and the Border Patrol before holding a lower chamber vote on the Senate bill.

Resistance in the House would guarantee that the partial shutdown, which hit 58 days on Monday, will continue.

Barrasso urged Johnson to pass the bill quickly to fund the rest of DHS, including the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and others.

"I would recommend that the speaker of the House take it up and pass it as soon as possible," Barrasso said on "The Faulkner Focus."

Meanwhile, he noted that Senate Republicans have already been working on their budget resolution, which will kick off the reconciliation process in the upper chamber, for the last two weeks, and blasted Democrats for spending weeks blocking DHS funding.

"It's critical to get FEMA up again," Barrasso said. "The Coast Guard, cybersecurity, all those things are necessary. The Democrats are against the security of this homeland, and it is just wrong, and we're gonna put an end to it using reconciliation."

Fox News Digital's Adam Pack contributed to this report.