NationalWatch

South Dakota Republican businessman Toby Doeden will move on to a July runoff in the GOP gubernatorial sweeps, while the race for the second contender remained too close to call overnight Wednesday.

The news is a blow to incumbent Gov. Larry Rhoden, who still has a shot to face off in the runoff depending on whether he, U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-S.D., or South Dakota House Speaker Jon Hansen make it through.

Rhoden, the longtime lieutenant governor under former Gov. Kristi Noem, is a rancher who rose through the ranks of state legislative leadership before succeeding the former Homeland Security secretary.

Often seen with his trademark cowboy hat, the western South Dakota native spent 16 years in the state legislature and has focused on continuing Noem’s platform of making South Dakota one of the nation’s most affordable and business-friendly states.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR KRISTI NOEM? 2026 SENATE CHATTER GROWS AFTER DHS EXIT

Rhoden opposes abortion, supports Second Amendment rights and has worked with his former boss on homeland security matters, including cooperating with ICE on immigration enforcement operations.

President Donald Trump was conspicuously mute in the crowded primary, an observation South Dakota News Watch recently questioned Rhoden about.

“I don’t spend a lot of time fretting about it,” the governor said.

“If you look at who he’s endorsed, he likes endorsing winners and seldom goes out on a limb. And here we have a four-way primary with a seated House member in the race,” Rhoden said, adding that Trump appears to like making safe bets.

BLUE STATE GOVERNORS MOVE TO KEEP HEAT ON NOEM AS DHS FIRES BACK

Rhoden, along with Doeden and Hansen, faced a challenge from Rep. Dusty Johnson, the state’s lone congressman, whose statewide profile was considered stronger than that of the other candidates in the race.

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Doeden ran as a political outsider and positioned himself as a populist candidate.

Largely self-funded, Doeden positioned himself as a conservative alternative to the Pierre establishment.

Hansen, meanwhile, is the establishment conservative challenger who has served in the State House for more than a decade.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday gave Alabama Republicans a victory, issuing an emergency order that the state can use a congressional map likely to benefit the GOP in November’s midterm elections.

The justices granted Alabama’s emergency appeal to use a map adopted by the state legislature in 2023 that includes a single majority-Black district for this election cycle. The court’s three liberal justices dissented.

Alabama Republicans had sought to revive the previously blocked map, which is expected to give the GOP an opportunity to gain an additional congressional seat by replacing a court-drawn south Alabama district that helped elect a Black Democrat with a map that contains only one majority-Black district.

The ruling came after the Supreme Court last month vacated a lower court ruling blocking Alabama’s 2023 congressional map and sent the case back for further review. Last week, however, a three-judge federal panel again blocked the GOP-backed map and ordered Alabama to continue using a court-drawn map containing two districts in which Black voters are a majority or have an opportunity to elect their preferred candidates.

REDISTRICTING WAR INTENSIFIES AS GOP SUFFERS SETBACKS IN TWO STATES

Republican Gov. Kay Ivey celebrated the ruling Tuesday evening and confirmed that Alabama’s Aug. 11 special primary election would be conducted under the 2023 map.

“The U.S. Supreme Court confirmed what I have said all along and that is that Alabama knows our state, our people and our districts best,” Ivey said in a statement.

“Today’s decision is a win for the people of Alabama and our elections,” she continued. “Alabama is doing our part to keep America strong, and I am proud our state continues to fight the fight to ensure activists do not get the final say.”

REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK: DEMOCRATS SAY THEY CAN STILL FLIP THE HOUSE DESPITE GOP REDISTRICTING GAINS IN THE SOUTH

“I will see y’all at the polls August 11!” Ivey added.

The redistricting fight comes as President Donald Trump has encouraged Republican-led states to redraw congressional maps following the Supreme Court’s Callais decision, which limited the use of race in congressional redistricting. Alabama argued that the lower court’s remedial map improperly elevated race over traditional districting principles, while voting-rights groups argued that the state’s map diluted Black voting power.

In an unsigned majority opinion, the court wrote: “The State has also made a strong showing of irreparable harm and that the equities and public interest favor it.”

SUPREME COURT JUST GAVE BLACK VOTERS A SHOT AT REAL POWER BEYOND SAFE SEATS

“We have repeatedly cautioned that lower federal courts should not “alter the election rules on the eve of an election,” the majority added.

In a dissenting opinion, Justice Sonia Sotomayor argued that the map discriminates against Black Alabamians.

“Before the Court are two paths,” Sotomayor wrote. “Down one lies an orderly election, held under a tried-and-tested congressional map that protects Black Alabamians’ right to vote and with which all voters, elections officials, and candidates alike are familiar.”

SUPREME COURT RULES ON KEY VOTING RIGHTS ACT RULE AS REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS WAGE REDISTRICTING WAR

“Down the other lies a chaotic election, held under a never-before-used congressional map that intentionally discriminates against Black Alabamians, that Alabama adopted in unashamed defiance of a prior court order di­rectly affirmed by this Court, and that will require officials to change the voter registrations of hundreds of thousands of voters in just days at best, a task that Alabama previ­ously represented would take months,” she continued.

“The majority chooses the second path and disregards both democratic values and the rule of law.” she added.

The ACLU also criticized the ruling, arguing it permits Alabama to use a racially discriminatory map.

“Today’s ruling delays relief for voters who have already spent years fighting for an equal opportunity to elect candidates of their choice and to have their voices heard,” Davin Rosborough, deputy director of the ACLU’s Voting Rights Project, said in a statement.

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“We remain committed to pursuing equal opportunities in Congress for our clients and Black Alabamians,” he added. “We will fight for those rights even in the face of those who continue to move the goalposts and undo our nation’s progress in realizing its promise as a multi-racial democracy.”

Fox News Digital’s Adam Pack and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Justin Murphy won New Jersey’s Republican U.S. Senate primary Tuesday, setting up a general election fight against Democratic Sen. Cory Booker in a state where Republicans have not won a U.S. Senate race since 1972.

The race was close among the top three candidates with 90% of the votes counted. Murphy was followed by suspended New Jersey State Trooper Richard Tabor, and former News 12 New Jersey reporter Alex Zdan. Physician Robert Lebovics finished last.

Murphy is an attorney and U.S. Navy veteran from Tabernacle, New Jersey, who previously served as a local committeeman and ran unsuccessfully for the GOP Senate nomination in 2024, finishing a distant third. He launched another campaign this cycle to take on Booker, casting himself as a conservative, pro-Trump grassroots candidate.

‘JERSEY SHORE’ STAR MIKE SORRENTINO TEASES FUTURE RUN FOR NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR

Murphy faces an uphill but nationally watched race against Booker, a high-profile Senate Democrat and frequent Trump critic who is running unopposed on the Democratic side of the ticket as he seeks another term after first winning the seat in a 2013 special election. While Republicans are hoping to flip the seat, the party has not won a U.S. Senate race in the state since 1972.

Murphy, who describes himself as self-employed, is a former Tabernacle deputy mayor and a U.S. Navy veteran, according to the New Jersey Globe. He previously ran for the GOP Senate nomination in 2024, finishing far back in third, before launching another bid this cycle as a conservative candidate running on cleaning up his state’s pollution, protecting it from ever-expanding windmill construction, parental rights, medical freedom and improving Medicare for seniors.

“I will convey my Conservative principles with confidence, energy, and optimism. The last time New Jersey elected a Republican to the US Senate was 1972; my campaign represents a new day in New Jersey politics,” Murphy states on his campaign website. “Being self-employed, I can identify with middle-class voters. I know firsthand financial struggle, debt, and stress.  I know the long hours and countless weeks without a paycheck that many small business owners experience as a normal part of their working adult lives. Small business owners will have no better friend in Washington.”  

DEMS PICK CHALLENGER FOR GOP CONGRESSMAN WHO VANISHED FROM PUBLIC VIEW AMID HEALTH MYSTERY

The GOP primary unfolded without an obvious Trump-backed favorite. Trump does not appear to have endorsed in New Jersey’s Republican Senate primary. His late New Jersey endorsements ahead of Tuesday’s primary went to House Republicans Tom Kean Jr., Jeff Van Drew and Chris Smith.

Murphy received support from two county Republican organizations and ran in some counties under the slogan “American Conservative Republican,” according to NJ Spotlight News’ 2026 U.S. Senate primary voter guide.

The general election will test whether Republicans can make inroads in a state that has remained stubbornly difficult for GOP Senate hopefuls.

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Booker won re-election in 2020 by more than 16 points, and early race ratings have generally listed the seat as safely Democratic heading into November.

Rep. Tom Kean Jr., R-N.J., said Tuesday he is “more energized than ever” and plans to return to in-person work “within a matter of weeks,” issuing a new statement after months away from Capitol Hill because of an undisclosed medical issue.

Kean, who represents New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District, has been absent from Congress for months while dealing with undisclosed health issues keeping him away from Washington and the campaign trail. Kean said in April that he was addressing a “personal medical issue,” but he has not publicly disclosed the nature of the issue.

“Serving the people of this district is the honor of my life. Every day, I wake up determined to build on the results I have delivered for New Jersey families such as lowering costs, restoring the SALT deduction, funding our law enforcement, helping veterans, standing with Israel, strengthening our economy, and making government work better,” Kean said in a statement Tuesday, amid growing scrutiny over his absence.

REP. TOM KEAN JR. SAYS HE EXPECTS TO RETURN TO CONGRESS ‘IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS’ AFTER MISSING 100 VOTES

Kean has not cast a vote since March 5, according to The New York Times. House voting records also listed Kean as “Not Voting” on a May 21 roll call vote.

“I am optimistic about the road ahead, and ready to earn the support of voters in every corner of the district,” Kean continued. “I am more energized then ever to keep fighting for the people of New Jersey’s 7th District. Right now I am focused on my recovery and under the advice of healthcare professionals I will transition from virtual work to in person work within a matter of weeks. At that time I will be completely transparent as to the nature of my medical condition.”

Kean added that he “understand[s] the need for transparency on this matter” and looks forward to sharing his experience with the public.

DEMOCRAT TINA SHAH CALLS TRANSGENDER HEALTHCARE FOR CHILDREN A ‘NO-BRAINER’ IN COMPETITIVE NJ HOUSE RACE

Ahead of Kean’s Tuesday primary election, during which he ran unopposed, President Donald Trump endorsed the New Jersey Republican.

Trump praised Kean in a Truth Social post Monday night, describing him as a strong supporter of the president’s “America First Agenda,” adding the New Jersey Republican is “working tirelessly” on border security, crime, the economy, taxes, energy, veterans and Second Amendment issues.

“Tom Kean has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Re-Election,” Trump concluded, telling people to get out and vote.

Trump’s support remains one of the most powerful forces in Republican primaries, with candidates across several states openly competing for his backing ahead of key contests. His endorsement of Kean signals the White House and GOP leaders are still lining up behind the incumbent as Republicans fight to defend their narrow House majority this fall.

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Four Democrats — Rebecca Bennett, Michael Roth, Tina Shah and Brian Varela — were competing for the nomination to face Kean in November, but Bennett edged them out Tuesday night during the Democratic primary.

The Associated Press described Bennett as a former Navy helicopter pilot, Roth as a former Small Business Administration official, Shah as an intensive care doctor and Varela as a businessman, with each candidate raising seven figures as Democrats target Kean’s battleground seat.

The race to replace a political titan from the Treasure State has taken shape with three challengers who will square off in November. 

What was expected to be an easy path to victory in Montana was shaken up earlier in 2026. Now, three new faces — former U.S. District Attorney Kurt Alme, ex-University of Montana President Seth Bodnar and former Montana state Rep. Reilly Neill — are all headed to the big stage in November.

Republican Sen. Steve Daines’ sudden exit from his reelection campaign opened up the race in ruby-red Montana. 

2026 MIDTERMS: PRIMARIES, KEY RACES AND ELECTION RESULTS

Now, it’s a three-way battle between his chosen successor, an insurgent independent candidate and a former state legislator. 

Alme has a home field advantage given the groundwork Daines laid throughout his political career, turning Montana from a purple to ruby red bastion for the GOP.  

But Alme hasn’t run for statewide office before. He was tapped twice by President Donald Trump to serve as U.S. District Attorney in Montana and had a stint in Gov. Greg Gianforte’s administration. 

And he’s leaning into Trump’s backing, along with the endorsements of Daines and Sen. Tim Sheehy, R-Mont., to make his case to voters.

“We think that the Republican platform — and certainly President Trump’s approach to governing — is a winner in Montana,” Alme told Fox News Digital in March. “And we think that if we stick to our conservative roots, we’re going to perform well against anyone.”

FROM REALITY TV TO CITY HALL? TRUMP-BACKED SPENCER PRATT SOARS IN LA MAYOR RACE AS CALIFORNIANS VOTE

His opponents, however, have both been critical of the circumstances that led to his entering the race. 

Daines, just as the candidate filing deadline in Montana was nearing its end, opted to drop out of the race. Then Alme stepped in almost immediately, a move that drew accusations that Daines tried to rig the Republican primary in the state.

Bodnar charged in a statement after collecting the needed signatures to make it on the ballot that “D.C. insiders tried to rig this election in March by installing a handpicked candidate who will do their bidding. 

“Our campaign has spent months building a political movement of Montanans who want the chance to send leaders to Washington who will always put Montana first,” Bodnar said. “I will never pay allegiance to party bosses or political elites, and I will work every day until Election Day to earn the vote of every Montanan.”

Bodnar, who has similarly not run for public office, is leading all candidates in fundraising.

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His latest financial filing showed the independent raised over $754,000 since March for a total of $2 million since entering the race. Neill raised $294,000 during the same period, gaining an edge on Alme, who raised $259,000. 

Given the GOP’s grip on the state, which Trump has won by double digits in each election he’s run, Bodnar and Neill both face an uphill battle.

A pro-Palestinian plastic surgeon in New Jersey who testified as a witness in a major terrorism case on behalf of a convicted Islamic cleric won election to Congress.

Adam Hisham Hamawy, a former Army combat medic born in Egypt, won a 12-way Democratic primary contest for a solidly blue House seat, according to The Associated Press.

Hamawy was considered to be the frontrunner to succeed retiring Trenton-area Rep. Bonnie Watson-Coleman, D-N.J., and garnered support from the Democratic Party’s far-left flank.

He attempted to weather mounting scrutiny for his ties as a young adult to Sheikh Omar Abdel Rahman, who was convicted of inciting the 1993 World Trade Center bombing that killed six people and injured thousands. The infamous “Blind Sheikh” was also an influential figure among al Qaeda terrorists.

MEET ANALILIA MEJIA, THE SANDERS-AOC BACKED PROGRESSIVE WHO JUST WON ELECTION TO CONGRESS

Hamawy testified as a witness for the defense and has faced lingering questions for his role in the convicted sheikh’s 1996 trial.

Fox News contributor Andrew McCarthy, the chief prosecutor in Abdel Rahman’s criminal trial, said Hamawy’s testimony ultimately helped the government’s case despite it being offered to undermine the prosecution’s case.

“As was uniformly the case with witnesses presented in the extensive defense case, his testimony, once cross-examination was over, did more to bolster the prosecution’s proof of a jihadist terrorism conspiracy against the United States than to help the accused,” McCarthy said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

His campaign told Fox News Digital that a past affiliation with Abdel Rahman, who was also convicted of conspiring to assassinate Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, amounts to “guilt-by-association” shaming. He has denied any wrongdoing and was never criminally charged.

The political newcomer also faced questions over his ties to a now-shuttered al Qaeda-linked front group in Eastern Europe, which he briefly volunteered for in 1994, Jewish Insider first reported.

Hamawy is endorsed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.; Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y.; and controversial Twitch streamer Hasan Piker, among other leading progressives. American Priorities, a nascent pro-Palestinian super PAC, also poured money into the race to put him over the top.

EX-COUNTERTERRORISM CHIEF WARNS OF ‘MAJOR PROBLEM’ THAT COULD FORCE US ‘BACK INTO THE WAR ON IRAN’S TERMS’

The district, spanning liberal Mercer County up through Somerville to the Plainfields, is considered a safe Democratic seat in a blue-trending state that has moved away from the relatively close margins President Donald Trump received in his 2024 race. 

With a crowded field, few have coalesced around an alternative to Hamawy, while one opponent — Plainfield Mayor Adrian Mapp — did call out the surgeon as a “radical extremist.”

Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., told Jewish Insider he had “deep concerns” about Hamawy’s “associations with terrorist organizations and leaders who have attacked America.”

Activist Sue Altman, who lost to adjacent-district Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr. in 2024, is another of the dozen running against Hamawy.

She recently won support from influential figures among the party’s establishment, including former Gov. Jon S. Corzine, ex-Sen. Robert “The Torch” Torricelli and ex-Sen. Bill Bradley. 

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Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., notably credited Hamawy with saving her life on an overseas deployment to the Middle East in 2004, and he, in turn, credited her with helping secure his evacuation in 2024 after his medical mission was reportedly trapped by a closed border crossing near Khan Younis, Gaza.

During that humanitarian trip, Hamawy said he had “never… witnessed the level of atrocities and targeting of my medical colleagues,” in an apparent reference to the Israeli government.

Trump-backed Republican Steve Hilton expressed confidence Tuesday as California Republicans fight to avoid being shut out of the governor’s race under the state’s unique “jungle-primary” system.

Hilton is one of two main Republicans in the race, alongside Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco.

After Hilton received President Donald Trump’s endorsement, his neck-and-neck position with Bianco became a lead, but as the election neared, concern arose that two Democrats may outdo he and the sheriff – leaving no Republican on the ballot,

“I’m very excited that it looks like we’re going to have a good night tonight,” Hilton said.

“I think the president’s endorsement has been a great honor. The vice president endorsed me this morning. What an incredible thing for someone who’s a new American citizen,” the former Fox News host – a native of Great Britain – added.

Hilton portended a good night regardless of Bianco’s decision to stay in the race.

“I think everyone in California understands we need change,” he said.

Hilton said California Republicans – of which there are more numerically than any other state – are energized and that the early ballot returns depict such.

“I’m pretty confident that we are going to do fine one way or the other.”

The mood extended beyond the governor’s race. In Los Angeles, independent mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt spent Election Day courting voters in neighborhoods Republicans and independents increasingly see as receptive to change.

Pratt was spotted at the famed Roscoe’s Chicken & Waffles, mingling with voters at the soul food establishment – and also seen in another clip hosting a cookout in a park in a majority-minority community.

With Gov. Gavin Newsom term-limited and Mayor Karen Bass under fire for her handling of crime, homelessness and the Palisades fires, Republicans and Pratt see an opportunity for marked change in California.

Former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger – who like Hilton is an immigrant and Republican – was the last member of the Grand Old Party to hold court in Sacramento.

FIRST ON FOX: President Donald Trump’s Department of the Interior unveiled a new patriotic installation at Freedom Plaza in downtown Washington, D.C., placing Revolutionary War figures at a site long associated with protests and encampments. 

“This exhibition featuring Caesar Rodney and the 12 Soldiers of the Revolutionary War is a powerful tribute to the patriots whose service and sacrifice helped secure the freedoms we enjoy today,” Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary Doug Burgum told Fox News Digital.

The installation pairs a statue of founding father Caesar Rodney with 12 bronze Revolutionary War soldiers, honoring patriots whose sacrifices helped found the nation. Freedom Plaza has frequently been the site of political protests, including when it was known as “tent city” during economic protests in 2011 and more recently as the staging area for protests during the violent summer of 2020, when riots broke out in cities nationwide following the death of George Floyd.

“As we prepare to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, this exhibition is one of the many ways President Donald J. Trump is ensuring that the stories of the men and women who built this nation are preserved, honored and shared for generations to come,” said Burgum. “Our history is one of courage, opportunity and exceptionalism, and this exhibition helps bring that legacy to life for all Americans.”

INTERIOR DEPARTMENT ADOPTS NO-TOLERANCE POLICY FOR HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS IN WASHINGTON, DC

Caesar Rodney is best known for his overnight ride from Delaware to Philadelphia in July 1776, traveling nearly 80 miles through a storm to break a deadlock within Delaware’s delegation. His vote helped secure unanimous support among the colonies that cast votes for independence.

“Under President Trump’s leadership, Freedom Plaza will offer visitors a meaningful opportunity to reflect on the courage and sacrifice of Americans who fought to secure our independence nearly 250 years ago,” DOI official Matthew Middleton told Fox News Digital.

The 12 other soldiers represented are Simon Knowles, Caesar Glover, Joseph Warren, Jude Hall, Peter Muhlenberg, James Armistead Lafayette, Samuel Whittemore, Jack Sisson, James Caldwell, Peter Salem, Naphtali Daggett and Salem Poor.

TRUMP FLOATS REPLACING 250TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT WITH MASSIVE MAGA RALLY AFTER ARTISTS PULL OUT

During the protests of 2020, a statue of Rodney in Wilmington was removed as monument debates over historical figures with ties to slavery intensified. The statue was moved to Freedom Plaza to celebrate America’s 250th birthday.

Freedom Plaza has a storied history as a political protest hotspot in the nation’s capital. 

Occupy D.C. demonstrators set up at Freedom Plaza in October 2011, one of two major federal-property protest sites in the city, sparking many battles with the National Park Service.

RIOTING, LOOTING LINKED TO GEORGE FLOYD PROTESTS LEAVES TRAIL OF DESTRUCTION ACROSS AMERICAN CITIES

It became a gathering point during the 2020 George Floyd protests, with activists assembling there before marching through city streets. The riots and unrest in Washington were concentrated closer to the separate Lafayette Square and the later “Black Lives Matter Plaza,” which D.C. began dismantling in March 2025.

In 2020, demonstrations ripped through downtown D.C. outside the White House’s North Lawn, covering the areas of the Freedom Plaza and BLM Plaza.

Freedom Plaza was first established in 1980 and originally named Western Plaza. The site was renamed in 1988 in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. It frequently served as an encampment site for the homeless until recent federal crackdowns under the Trump administration.

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The plaza will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the exhibit’s installation, Fox News Digital has learned.

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka said Tuesday that he disagreed with the tactics New Jersey State Police used after they were ordered by Gov. Mikie Sherrill to secure the scene outside Delaney Hall, describing the agency as “a sword.” 

Clashes erupted outside the detention center in Newark on Friday after protesters defied an order from the State Police to relocate to a nearby “First Amendment zone.” The area has seen frequent demonstrations in recent days after illegal immigrant detainees penned an open letter alleging physical and psychological torture, claiming they were being denied medical care and adequate food.  

On Saturday, Sherrill said the New Jersey State Police Public Safety Response team was sent to the area in a move “absolutely necessary to protect public safety, and avoid escalation from ICE.” 

“I mean, clearly I agree that she was supposed to take action, 100 percent. She’s the governor. She’s the leader of this state. Our agencies are going to follow her, her attorney general, her staff. We’re going to defer to her, because she is the leader of this state. And she needed to make strong and aggressive decisions,” Baraka, a fellow Democrat, said Tuesday.

LEFT-WING STREAMER BLASTS NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR OVER STATE POLICE RESPONSE AT ICE FACILITY PROTESTS

“She made a decision to involve the state police, which is probably the tools that she has at her disposal. So I don’t disagree with any of that up to that point. What I disagree with is the tactics that were employed by the state police when they got here,” he continued. 

“Look, the state police is a sword. If you’re going to use them, you have to expect people to get cut. And those are the thinking that has to go into this. And I just think that we, going forward, have to have larger discussions about tactics on the ground. The local authorities, our public safety director has to be involved in every decision going forward in our city. Right? The elected officials have to be involved, our health department,” Baraka also said. “And to their credit, there have been cross conversations with individuals, but not collective ones. And we finally had a collective conversation.” 

Baraka also mentioned Tuesday that the city of Newark has been in active litigation against GEO Group, the operators of Delaney Hall, for the past year. GEO Group has a national contract with ICE.

GOV. SHERRILL BLAMES ICE, DEFENDS RIOTERS AFTER DEPLOYING TROOPERS TO QUELL VIOLENT MOB

“And from the beginning, we have advocated for the immediate closure of this building, Delaney Hall, due to the GEO Group’s failure to comply with code ordinances, which we believe pose a serious health and safety risk,” he said. 

“The reports of detainees suffering miscarriages, receiving inadequate medical care, psychological abuse, is troubling, which forces us now to expand, and our business administrator will talk about that, our lawsuit against Delaney Hall, further than just code enforcement violations,” Baraka continued. 

Newark Business Administrator Eric Pennington said Tuesday that he emailed the GEO Group Monday night “indicating that we want to get access” to Delaney Hall “to make sure that the health and safety of the individuals inside is appropriate.”

“We have not received a response yet but we expect to get that today. If they don’t allow us in, we, along with partners who are out here to protect the individuals inside, they will join our lawsuit … along with the state health department … to have this facility shut down until it can be inspected and ensured that it is safe for the individuals who are in there,” Pennington said. “So we are awaiting GEO Group’s response now and we expect to go to the court within the next day or two, to continue the existing lawsuit.” 

A DHS spokesperson told Fox News Digital last week that all detainees are provided with three meals a day, clean water, clothing, bedding, showers, soap and toiletries.

The office of New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport also announced Tuesday that it “filed a lawsuit against The GEO Group, Inc., which operates the Delaney Hall immigration detention center in Newark,” asking a court to “grant the New Jersey Department of Health (DOH) full access to the facility, which is the focus of well-documented concerns about inhumane and unsanitary conditions for detainees.

“If ICE and the GEO Group – with a $1 billion government contract – have nothing to hide and the conditions inside Delaney Hall are as safe and as sanitary as this private corporation and the Trump Administration claim, then there is no legitimate reason why my health inspectors are being kept from full access throughout the building,” Sherrill wrote on X in response to the announcement. “We are going to keep working for better conditions inside Delaney Hall until it is closed for good.”

The Department of Homeland Security responded by calling the lawsuit “frivolous.”

“ICE is committed to transparency, and Delaney Hall complies with all required state and local laws. Just last week on May 28, four representatives of the New Jersey State Health Department arrived at approximately 11:00 AM.  They entered the facility and inspected the food service department. The inspection of the kitchen was completed and they departed around 12:30 PM. We will continue to grant state and local inspectors’ access to the facility where appropriate,” it added.

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Fox News Digital has reached out to the GEO Group for comment.

Fox News Digital’s Louis Casiano, Preston Mizell, Alexandra Koch and Michael Dorgan contributed to this report. 

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced during a House Appropriations Committee hearing Tuesday that the Justice Department is abandoning its efforts to create the Anti-Weaponization Fund.

The fund, which stemmed from a lawsuit between President Donald Trump and the Internal Revenue Service, was put on hold after a federal judge issued a temporary injunction blocking its creation. A hearing on the Anti-Weaponization Fund’s legal basis had been scheduled for June 12, but it will no longer take place, according to Blanche’s testimony.

“We are not moving forward with the fund, period,” Blanche said. “The reasons for the fund are something that President Trump talked about for a long time, which is the fact that there were a lot of people in this country who had their government weaponized against them. The reasons for the fund, I think, remain as important as they were before, but, we are not moving forward with the fund.”

 This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.

Senate Republicans want a clear-cut answer on whether the Trump administration’s now-stalled, nearly $2 billion “anti-weaponization” fund is dead before moving forward with a multibillion-dollar immigration enforcement package. 

The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Monday announced that while the administration “disagrees strongly” with a Virginia federal court’s order against the fund, it would adhere to the decision. But many Republicans contend that it’s not enough to satisfy their concerns.

“I appreciate them saying that, but they don’t have a choice,” Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., said. “They have to abide by federal district court law. It doesn’t tell me whether they’re planning on appeal. It doesn’t tell me whether the administration’s backing off the idea — it doesn’t tell me anything, except they’re gonna follow the law.”

TRUMP ADMIN BACKS OFF CONTROVERSIAL $2B FUND, CLEARING PATH FOR GOP TO RESTART AGENDA

And in the middle of the intra-party battle is President Donald Trump’s roughly $70 billion funding package for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol.

“If your question is, is the weaponization fund impacting our ability to pass the reconciliation bill? The answer is yes,” Kennedy continued. “But right now, the reconciliation bill, and the process surrounding it, looks like a broken arm with a bone sticking out.”

Senate Republicans abruptly halted budget reconciliation, the party-line process they’re using to ram through the funding package, after an explosive meeting with Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche about the fund last month.  

GOP’S PRIMED FOR PRIMARY SEASON PAYBACK ON TRUMP’S MOST AMBITIOUS, CONTROVERSIAL POLICY

Republicans’ general sentiment was that the problem was one for the administration and Trump to figure out, given that a slew of Democratic amendments related to the fund would likely pass and modify the package.

And what was meant to be a concession, or at least a glimmer of hope to restart the process, has not landed well with Republicans. 

“The only thing that’s gonna solve this problem — to get immigration funded and law enforced — is for the president to do away with the weaponization fund,” Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, told reporters. 

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said that the DOJ’s announcement appeared to signal that the fund had been shut down, but that conversations among Republicans would decide the next steps on reconciliation.

SENATE GOP ERUPTS OVER TRUMP DOJ ‘ANTI-WEAPONIZATION’ FUND, PUNTS ICE, BORDER PATROL FUNDING

Still, he acknowledged that Republicans wanted more answers from the administration. 

“Well, I think anything that they say on top of what the DOJ said is helpful, but, I mean, I think the statement they made effectively shuts it down,” Thune said.

Some Republicans aren’t totally against the idea of some form of compensation fund for people who claim they were wronged or targeted by the government, but contend that it’s how the fund is administered that matters.

Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., broadly supports compensation funds, like his Radiation Exposure Compensation Act that was signed into law last year, but said that the question was “how do you administer it?” 

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“My view on that is, you can work those details out in a way that rewards victims,” Hawley said.
”I mean, that’s the key thing.” 

Others are ready to move on from the fight and feel that the DOJ’s announcement was enough to clear the decks of concerns among their colleagues.

Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., said it’s a “moot point at this point.” 

“I think it’s important for us to move forward with the ICE and CBP funding,” Schmitt said. “There’s just, we gotta get that done. Democrats have been obstructing that for too long, and so, as far as I’m concerned, it’s a moot point.”

President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that the rescheduled White House Correspondents’ Dinner (WHCD) will take place at the Waldorf Astoria in July, nearly three months after gunfire abruptly ended this year’s banquet at the Washington Hilton.

“In a sign of Strength and Fortitude, it was just announced that The White House Correspondents’ Dinner, which violently ended rather abruptly on April 25th, will be rescheduled to July 24th. This announcement is a very good thing in that we cannot allow Lunatics to change our way of life, or even its scheduling,” wrote Trump on Truth Social.

“It will be a ‘HOT’ ticket! Interestingly, the location will be The Waldorf Astoria, on Pennsylvania Avenue, a Building and Ballroom that I built,” Trump continued. 

The annual dinner has historically been held at the Washington Hilton. Chaos, however, broke out at this year’s banquet when an armed suspect stormed the event in what authorities say was an attempt to assassinate the president. The incident prompted Secret Service agents to rush the president and first lady from the room as guests scrambled for cover, abruptly ending the dinner.

TRUMP RUSHED AWAY FROM WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENTS’ DINNER AS SHOTS FIRED

“I was asked to be there, and speak, by Weijia Jiang, President of The White House Correspondents’ Association, and have accepted. I don’t know whether or not I will give the same rather nasty statements, at least as it concerns certain people, but we will soon find out,” Trump continued. 

The Waldorf Astoria occupies the Old Post Office building, where the Trump Organization previously operated Trump International Hotel Washington D.C. The Trump Organization sold the hotel’s lease rights in 2022. 

LEAVITT BLAMES ‘LEFT-WING CULT OF HATRED’ AFTER WHCA DINNER SHOOTING

Jiang announced the rescheduled date was decided by the White House Correspondents’ Association board in an email to association members, sharing the rescheduled event will be a more “intimate gathering.”

“The event will feature significantly enhanced safety measures and new access procedures,” Jiang stated.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, who has been on maternity leave, said on X that she will attend the event, writing, “Looking forward to a great night.”

MELANIA TRUMP ADVISOR REVEALS WHAT FIRST LADY WAS THINKING AS SECRET SERVICE RUSHED WHCA DINNER

“This dinner will not only be an opportunity to carry out our program. It will be a statement that violence has no place in American life and a free press will not be intimidated into silence. As you have all demonstrated, courage and community can and should rise above,” Jiang said.

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In May, suspect Cole Allen pleaded not guilty to attempting to assassinate the president of the United States, discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence, transporting a firearm across state lines and assaulting a federal officer with a deadly weapon.

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

An Obama-appointed federal judge temporarily blocked the National Park Service from removing an anti-Trump “86 47” flag near the National Mall, delivering a win to a progressive activist group and drawing sharp pushback from President Donald Trump’s Department of the Interior.

“This opinion is from an Obama-appointed judge. In what world have we lost all decency, to demand that any threat against the President be taken very seriously,” said a DOI spokesperson to Fox News Digital. “While the Department shall and does comply with the Court’s orders, this type of behavior should not be tolerated.”

Progressive group Accountability Now USA flew the flag near the National Mall alleging that the National Park Service violated their First Amendment rights by threatening to revoke their permit. U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss in Washington, D.C., granted a temporary restraining order Monday allowing the flag to remain displayed for now.

The dispute comes amid heightened administration scrutiny of “86 47” messages after the Department of Justice charged former FBI Director James Comey over a similar message. 

CALIFORNIA BEACH ‘RESIST!’ PROTEST PUSHES ‘KINDNESS’ WHILE CALLING TO ‘86 47’ IN ANTI-TRUMP MESSAGE

Comey was charged with two federal counts over an Instagram post last year showing seashells arranged to read “86 47,” and faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

The administration has interpreted the number “86” as a political threat, pointing to its common use in the restaurant industry to mean removing or refusing service and its perceived connection to Trump as the 47th president.

Comey has denied he intended any violent threat toward Trump, explaining he understood it meant leave or ditch.

LEGAL EXPERTS WARN COMEY ‘8647’ INDICTMENT FACES FIRST AMENDMENT HURDLES

Moss was appointed to the federal bench by Obama after previously serving in Bill Clinton’s Justice Department. He has also contributed to and volunteered for Democratic candidates and causes.

The judge found the meaning of “86” ambiguous, noting the flag itself did not contain violent symbols and bore patriotic colors, writing “the evidence shows that Plaintiff displayed the 8647 flag to urge that Congress impeach and remove President Trump from office.”

Moss did note that “a true threat to the life or safety of the President would undoubtedly outweigh the interest of the public or the speaker in continuing to urge that unlawful conduct.”

Trump has repeatedly been targeted by violence, including just in April at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner.

There were two assassination attempts on Trump’s life in 2024, beginning in Butler, Pennsylvania, where a bullet grazed his ear after a gunman climbed onto a roof during a rally on July 13, 2024.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui recently drew backlash from Trump allies after apologizing to Cole Allen, the suspect accused of plotting an assassination attempt tied to the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, over his treatment in custody.

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“At a minimum, I should be apologizing to him. We are obligated to make sure he’s taken care of. Mr. Allen, I’m sorry that things have not been the way they are supposed to,” said Faruqui.

The temporary restraining order for the flag case is in place for 14 days as litigation continues.

Fox News Digital reached out to Moss’ chambers for comment.

LOS ANGELES, CA — Outside a Bristol Farms market in LA’s Westchester neighborhood, residents who spoke to Fox News Digital all agreed that homelessness is a top problem facing the city, but disagreed on which mayoral candidate is the right choice to clean it up.

“Love him,” Shelley Zuckerman said about reality television star and independent candidate Spencer Pratt, adding that homelessness is a main motivator of her support for the reality TV star’s mayoral run. 

“The fact that he’s not a politician, so he may or may not be a liar, we don’t know that yet, and I know that he wants to do something for L.A. that the politicians have been saying they’re going to do and then don’t,” Zuckerman added. “And I know politics works, that once you get in there you can’t always do what you want to do, but at least he’s got the passion.”

SPENCER PRATT SAYS HIS POLICY WILL FORCE HOMELESS OUT OF LA AND INTO CITIES LIKE SEATTLE

When asked if crime was a motivating factor to vote for Pratt, Zuckerman’s husband Saul responded, “Of course.”

The couple says they are supporting Republican Steve Hilton for governor.

Patrick Reynolds, who lives in the neighborhood, said he is “not happy with any of the candidates” and called Pratt a “clown” before saying he voted for incumbent Mayor Karen Bass “a little reluctantly.”

Homelessness has been a top-of-mind concern for voters in Los Angeles, and despite Bass being mayor for the last four years, Reynolds said he believes she’s the best choice on that front.

Reynolds, who said he is supporting billionaire Democrat Tom Steyer for governor, spoke at length about the problems with homelessness, including a local park he said has become “too dangerous” to visit in recent years.

KAREN BASS GRILLED OVER BROKEN HOMELESSNESS PROMISE, BLAMES BUREAUCRACY FOR SLOWED PROGRESS

“Homelessness for sure,” a woman named Diane, who said she voted for Bass, told Fox News Digital, “That’s number one on my list, and I think she’s tried very hard to fix that problem. It’s a big problem, I know. And I just think she is down to earth. She’s not some rich billionaire, which I appreciate.”

Diane said she is supporting former Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, a Democrat who served in the Biden administration, for governor because he is a “good guy.”

“I like that he is an immigrant and that he has worked his way up in this world,” Diane said. “I think he has a good sensibility. I like also that he isn’t a billionaire. I can relate to him.”

Dan Madden, a resident of nearby Manhattan Beach, told Fox News Digital that if he could vote in LA proper, he’d go with Pratt.

WHO IS TOM STEYER? ANTI-ICE BILLIONAIRE IN CA GOVERNOR’S RACE FACES SCRUTINY OVER DETENTION INVESTMENTS

“That’d be my man,” said Madden, who added that he is voting for Hilton for governor. “The last 20 years in Los Angeles has been screwed.”

“It’s getting worse,” Madden said about the homeless situation in the Los Angeles area. “They cleaned up here and there. Spots, especially along the beach, coastline, you see it cleaned up. Two months later, everybody’s back.”

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Pratt, a registered Republican running as an independent, faces off in a nonpartisan mayoral primary against incumbent Mayor Karen Bass, a Democrat, and City Councilmember Nithya Raman, a socialist.

Tuesday’s election will determine which two candidates advance to the November general election. If a candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, they will automatically be named the next mayor.

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., isn’t going to bat for Graham Platner as his Democratic colleagues tip-toe around the embattled candidate’s growing list of scandals. 

The lawmaker compared Democrats’ willingness to support, or at least not disavow, Platner’s actions to the same support for disgraced former Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., who resigned from Congress earlier this year over allegations of rape and sexual assault. 

“I’m saying that the last time Democrats leaned in on a guy that was sending, you know, [these] kinds of messages to women, I think that was like Swalwell, you know,” Fetterman said. “I don’t know, that’s not someone I’m never gonna carry water for.”

WATCH: SCHIFF DUCKS PLATNER QUESTIONS AS EMBATTLED DEM SENATE HOPEFUL HITS DC

Platner has been embroiled in controversy since last year when it was revealed that he had a symbol of Nazi iconography tattooed to his chest.

Since then, troves of old Reddit posts under the name “P-Hustle,” explicit texts sent to other women while he was married and the revelation that he has an account on the controversial Kik platform have dogged the candidate in recent weeks and days. 

But Democrats and his top supporters in the Senate, by and large, aren’t breaking with Platner, given that the party is determined to flip Maine in their quest to retake control of the upper chamber. And he is set to meet with Democratic lawmakers in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday. 

SANDERS SAYS PLATNER HAS THE ‘GUTS’ TO FIGHT BILLIONAIRES DESPITE GROWING SCANDAL PILEUP

Still, Fetterman, who often breaks with Democrats on anything from funding the government to the war in Iran, was highly critical of Platner, whom he referred to by his online handle “P-Hustle.”

Fetterman didn’t explicitly say that Platner should drop out of the race, however. 

When asked if Maine Gov. Janet Mills, who teased that she was still on the ballot after dropping out of the race over financial woes, should jump back in and Platner step aside, Fetterman said, “I think you shouldn’t send, you know, sexually explicit texts or d— pics or whatever he sends to all these women on Kik.”

PLATNER’S DELETED REDDIT SPARKS OUTRAGE AGAIN AS HE APPEARS TO MOCK WOUNDED SOLDIER: ‘DIDN’T DESERVE TO LIVE’

“I mean, you know, like it’s, it’s truly bizarre. I mean, what’s next? So, I mean, here is a guy that describes an American soldier, a Purple Heart [recipient], a dumb motherf—– that doesn’t deserve to live,” Fetterman said. 

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“He smears Chris Kyle, you know, the American Sniper, cheers about the beating [of] IDF soldiers to death,” he continued. “I dig it, like the thing he has going for him, he’s done so much bizarre and tacky and gross stuff that you lose count, you know, it’s like you need to have like a bingo card.”

Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., dodged questions when asked whether he stood by Graham Platner, the embattled Maine Democrat whose Senate bid has become too big for his party to ignore and too messy for some Democrats to rally behind.

Schiff declined to answer when asked by Fox News Digital whether he was still supporting Platner, despite the Senate candidate being embroiled in multiple controversies.

“I’m going to an interview upstairs,” he responded.

Schiff later told CNN that he would “wait to learn more about these recent allegations involving his texting other women.”

SANDERS SAYS PLATNER HAS THE ‘GUTS’ TO FIGHT BILLIONAIRES DESPITE GROWING SCANDAL PILEUP

“Ultimately, though it’s going to be up to Maine voters what they decide how important or unimportant that is, and how important to focus on the economy, cost of living,” Schiff said. “And those issues are, but I’m going to wait until I know more about what just came out in the last 24, 48 hours to really say more about it.”

Schiff, like several other Democrats, has not officially endorsed Platner.

Others appear more willing to stomach the seemingly ever-growing list of scandals attached to the scandal-plagued candidate. 

Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, D-Md., who similarly has not officially endorsed Platner, wants to flip the Senate. 

“I’m supporting all Democrats,” Alsobrooks told Fox News Digital.

DEMOCRATS BREAK WITH SCANDAL-PLAGUED GRAHAM PLATNER, WARN OF ‘CIVIL WAR’ IN PARTY

“I don’t know him. Honestly, I’ve never met him,” she continued. “What I do know is that I’m supporting Democrats. We need Democrats in office to fight back against Donald Trump, and I’m supporting them.” 

The reckoning among Democrats comes months after the start of Platner’s public relations woes, which began when video surfaced of him sporting a totenkopf, or death’s head tattoo, on his chest — a symbol of the Nazi war machine from World War II.

The dam broke in recent weeks, with old Reddit posts resurfacing in which Platner waxes on veterans, sexual assault and other topics. He’s also embroiled in a sexting scandal and was most recently found to have a profile on the controversial Kik platform.

Now he’s coming to Washington, D.C., on Tuesday to hold a confab with Senate Democrats.

PLATNER STILL HAS ACTIVE ACCOUNT ON ANONYMOUS APP DUBBED ‘PREDATOR’S PARADISE’ AMID CHEATING SCANDAL

His most vocal supporter in the Senate, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., argued that the deluge of scandals was because of Platner’s stance against billionaires. 

“What we’re looking at right now is a situation where billionaires have already pledged to spend $90 million in a tiny state like Maine,” Sanders said. “Trust me, that is a lot of money. They don’t want him in.”

Others who have backed him, including Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., aren’t cutting the candidate loose. 

Meanwhile, Republicans aren’t letting the moment pass to go after Platner in defense of their colleague and longtime incumbent Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine.

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Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., told Fox News Digital what he believed voters thought of the insurgent candidate. 

“Here’s how I think most fair-minded Americans view Mr. Platner. They think that Jesus loves him but, in their opinion, he’s an idiot,” Kennedy said.

FIRST ON FOX: More than 70 lawmakers are lining up against a Colorado county’s effort to hold major oil companies financially liable for alleged climate change damages. 

The group of House Republicans led by House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., is calling on the Supreme Court to side with ExxonMobil and Suncor Energy in a hotly contested climate change lawsuit that they argue amounts to a costly “war on American energy.” 

The GOP lawmakers have characterized Boulder County’s lawsuit as a “dangerous overreach” that could leave major fossil fuel companies on the hook for billions of dollars in alleged damages. A positive ruling for the liberal county would encourage more lawsuits that could threaten the financial viability of the fossil fuel industry, they warn.

“Radical activists are trying to use the courts to accomplish what they couldn’t achieve through legislation — forcing their radical agenda on the American people and driving energy costs even higher,” Scalise said in a statement obtained by Fox News Digital. “These lawsuits would hand local activist politicians the power to dictate national energy policy and threaten the energy producers that power our economy.”

EXPERTS WARN OF BIGGEST ‘SCANDAL IN LITIGATION SYSTEM’ IF SCOTUS DOESN’T NIX LANDMARK ENERGY POLLUTION CASE

Attorneys with the law firm Boyden Gray filed the amicus, or “friend of the court,” brief on behalf of the congressional Republicans. 

The court is expected to hear oral arguments this fall in Suncor v. Boulder about whether federal law preempts localities from seeking relief for alleged climate damages in state courts. A ruling is expected in 2027.

The case reached the nation’s highest court after the Colorado Supreme Court allowed the yearslong case to proceed under state law, despite long-standing questions about whether localities can seek damages over cross-border and global greenhouse gas emissions. Boulder originally sued the major oil companies in 2018, arguing they knowingly contributed to global warming and misled the public about alleged climate harms.

The Republicans’ amicus brief argues that liability claims belong under federal jurisdiction, because allowing state courts to adjudicate global climate damages would result in a “cacophony of competing state commands” that undermine Congress’ role in setting national energy policy.

“The Court should reject this attempt by Respondents to establish their ‘own foreign policy’ from a Boulder courthouse,” the brief reads.

NY HOUSE GOP LAUNCHES PRESSURE CAMPAIGN ON HOCHUL TO SCRAP CLIMATE LAW OVER SOARING ENERGY COSTS

The signers also warned that a ruling in favor of Boulder County could unleash devastating economic losses for U.S. energy producers. 

“The sheer magnitude of the alleged damages would restructure the American energy industry if not bankrupt it altogether — and cause ripple effects worldwide, especially when multiplied by the dozens of similar cases across the country,” the brief continued.

The legal battle is also spilling into Colorado politics, where Republicans argue that climate-related lawsuits championed by Democrats threaten jobs and drive up energy costs.

Rep. Gabe Evans, R-Colo., a freshman lawmaker representing a swing district near the city of Boulder, cast the lawsuit as part of Democrats’ efforts to make energy production unaffordable. 

“These lawsuits and regulations aren’t just attacks on oil and gas companies — they’re attacks on Colorado jobs, American energy independence and every family already struggling with higher costs,” Evans, who signed the brief, told Fox News Digital. “I will continue fighting to protect Colorado energy workers and unleash the all-of-the-above energy strategy our nation needs.” 

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Republicans’ emphasis on affordability comes as the party grapples with voter frustration about higher-than-usual gas prices tied to the conflict with Iran.

Nearly 90% of voters called rising gas prices a “problem,” according to a Fox News Poll published in May.

President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that he is appointing Federal Housing Finance Agency Director William “Bill” Pulte to serve as acting director of national intelligence to replace Tulsi Gabbard.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump praised Pulte’s leadership at the FHFA and his oversight of mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

“William has deep experience managing the most sensitive matters in America, the safety and soundness of the Markets, and over 10 Trillion Dollars at Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac,” Trump wrote.

Trump said Pulte will remain FHFA director and chairman of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac while serving in the intelligence post.

“Congratulations to Director Pulte!” Trump added.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to face tough questions on Capitol Hill this week as Congress threatens to curb President Donald Trump’s war powers, while the administration pushes for an end to the conflict with Iran.

Rubio will testify in four congressional hearings on Tuesday and Wednesday on the State Department’s budget for the upcoming fiscal year. But the Trump official is likely to be grilled on the ongoing negotiations to end the war and whether the U.S. military campaign should continue against Iranian forces and the country’s nuclear capabilities. 

The U.S. and Iran have yet to agree on terms to end sporadic fighting. Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and potential sanctions relief have emerged as key sticking points in negotiations. 

President Donald Trump said Monday that he “couldn’t care less” if the stalled talks were over, in an interview with CNBC.

TRUMP SAYS IRAN IS ‘NEGOTIATING ON FUMES,’ BELIEVES REGIME THOUGHT THEY COULD OUTWAIT HIM

“I don’t care if they’re over, honestly,” Trump told the outlet. “If they’re over, they’re over. If they’re not, you know, I think they took too much time. Frankly, I thought they started to get very boring.”

The president’s comments followed fresh rounds of fighting over the weekend that tested the fragile ceasefires in place since early April. The U.S. military has shown no signs of ending its blockade of Iranian ports while Tehran has continued to flex its hold over the Strait of Hormuz.

Rubio’s Hill appearances come as both the House and Senate could advance legislation this week that would halt U.S. involvement in the war, absent congressional authorization.

A successful war powers resolution would likely be a symbolic blow to the administration given an expected presidential veto and the lack of a veto-proof majority.

GOP REP MASSIE JOINS DEMOCRATS IN OPPOSITION TO US IRAN STRIKES

But the president may suffer a political setback as a growing number of Republicans are souring on Trump’s handling of the war.

In the House, Reps. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., and Tom Barrett, R-Mich., have joined Democrats in voting to curtail the president’s war powers — and more GOP lawmakers could follow suit this week.

The Trump administration has repeatedly argued that the 1973 War Powers Resolution requiring congressional oversight of military action infringes on the executive branch.

Beyond the war powers debate, Rubio is also likely to face questions about Trump accepting a deal that stops short of dismantling Iran’s nuclear program. The Trump administration has repeatedly said it would never agree to anything that allows Iran to have a nuclear weapon. 

Some Republicans with hawkish national security views have warned Trump against agreeing to a deal that would let Tehran continue to project power across the region.

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“Our commander in chief needs to allow America’s skilled armed forces to finish the destruction of Iran’s conventional military capabilities and reopen the strait,” Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., wrote on social media in late May. “Further pursuit of an agreement with Iran’s Islamist regime risks a perception of weakness. We must finish what we started. It is past time for action.”

Fox News Digital reached out to the State Department for comment.

A Democratic candidate waging a high-stakes bid for one of the most competitive congressional districts in the country touted connections to a group pushing to keep laxer restrictions around commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) for undocumented immigrants.

Rebecca Cooke, running in Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District to unseat incumbent Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Wisc., highlighted an endorsement from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME).

“I’m honored to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the hard-working men and women of AFSCME.,” Cooke wrote.

Cooke’s alignment with AFSCME continues Democrats’ pushback against crackdowns on proof of citizenship status in certain industries.

TRUMP-BACKED VAN ORDEN PROJECTED TO DEFEAT DEM CHALLENGER IN COMPETITIVE WISCONSIN DISTRICT

Cooke did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.

Over the past year, the Department of Homeland Security has highlighted several instances where Americans were killed by illegal aliens who acquired CDLs.

In one such case, Dawood Hussain, a Pakistani native, was charged in April with vehicular homicide after driving a commercial truck down the wrong way of a highway, killing a U.S. citizen in a collision.

“Illegal aliens should not be operating 80,000-pound tractor-trailers on American roads,” USCIS spokesman Matthew J. Tragesser said of the incident.

TRUCKER SLAPPED WITH CHARGES IN FATAL DRIVING INCIDENT PREVIOUSLY IMMIGRATED TO US ILLEGALLY: SOURCE

“This tragedy, like many others, was completely preventable. Under President Trump’s leadership, USCIS remains committed to safeguarding our communities by helping to ensure dangerous illegal aliens are removed from our country, as well as supporting the president’s call for even tougher measures to prevent future truck tragedies.”

As states and federal lawmakers evaluate rules surrounding CDLs, AFSCME has pushed back, arguing that the standards should remain open to encourage job maximization — even for illegal immigrants.

The group published a toolkit, instructing businesses on how to circumvent restrictions on CDLs to illegal aliens.

Additionally, the group has sued the Trump administration for imposing federal requirements through the Department of Transportation that would require states to secure proof of lawful immigration status.

Cooke’s alignment with AFSCME is especially noteworthy in Wisconsin, a state with a trucking workforce.

CALIFORNIA TO REVOKE 17,000 COMMERCIAL DRIVER’S LICENSES GIVEN TO IMMIGRANTS AMID TRUMP ADMIN PRESSURE

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Over 186,600 residents of Wisconsin are employed in the trucking industry, according to the Wisconsin Motor Carrier Association — a figure accounting for roughly 1 in every 14 jobs in the state.

Cooke last lost a congressional election to Van Orden, 51.3% to 48.6%, in 2024.