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Newly released documents reveal the extent of the FBI’s monitoring of President Donald Trump’s now-chief of staff Susie Wiles, showing investigators tracked phone metadata reflecting her contacts with attorneys, journalists, campaign officials, Trump Organization personnel and Secret Service contacts.

Documents released Monday by the White House detail “Plasmic Echo,” the investigation into Trump’s handling of classified documents and other presidential records that led to the FBI’s 2022 search of Mar-a Lago and later included possible obstruction of the investigation.

The records show the FBI tracked Wiles’ phone activity from at least February through May 2023, cataloging who called her, whom she called, when the calls occurred and how long they lasted.

The documents show Wiles was in contact with at least 21 attorneys, along with campaign personnel, Trump Organization contacts, Secret Service contacts and journalists, offering a fuller account of the reach of the bureau’s monitoring.

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Reuters first reported in February that FBI Director Kash Patel said the bureau had subpoenaed phone records belonging to him and Wiles while they were private citizens as part of federal investigations involving Trump.

The newly released documents provide a more detailed picture of the scope and scale of the monitoring, revealing how investigators mapped Wiles’ phone contacts across Trump’s legal, political, business, media and security circles over several months.

Some entries name the contacts swept into the FBI’s monitoring of Wiles, including journalists associated with CNN, The Washington Post and Politico, while dozens of others are identified only by labels such as “Lawyer,” “Campaign” and “USSS.”

Monday’s document dump revealed the FBI’s monitoring also swept in Wiles’ contacts with two separate Secret Service officials, identified only as “USSS 1” and “USSS 2,” extending the bureau’s mapping of her phone activity into Trump’s protective orbit. The records do not reveal what investigators were seeking to establish through those contacts, what was discussed or provide reliable durations for the calls.

A March 24 entry from that year shows investigators logged a 41-second call from “Lawyer 7” to Wiles and then examined earlier calls between the two, illustrating how investigators were not simply capturing isolated contacts but tracing patterns across her network. The documents do not explain what prompted that scrutiny or what investigators believed those contacts could reveal.

In another example, a March 9 log shows investigators cataloging a series of Wiles’ calls with at least six contacts identified as campaign personnel, recording when the communications occurred and how long they lasted, but not the substance of the conversations.

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The probe was launched by the FBI and Justice Department in March 2022, with then-FBI Director Christopher Wray seeking authorization and Attorney General Merrick Garland approving the full investigation. The probe was later placed under special counsel Jack Smith, whom Garland appointed in November 2022 to oversee the ongoing investigation.

Wiles was running Trump’s political operation and serving as a top campaign adviser at the time, and later became his White House chief of staff.

“Jack Smith’s surveillance operation was a disgraceful abuse of government power. Spying on political opponents is weaponization of law enforcement, plain and simple,” White House spokesperson Lauren Bis told Fox News Digital. “Those responsible must be held accountable.”

Heritage Foundation foreign policy expert Victoria Coates told Fox News Digital the tracking into Wiles is “unprecedented, dangerous and should be illegal.”

“The Biden FBI was following the precedent of the Obama FBI in 2015, when they used their authorities to surveil then-candidate Donald Trump and his campaign at Trump Tower as well as other candidates, notably my then-boss, Senator Ted Cruz. It’s the ultimate political dirty trick,” said Coates.

Coates argued that the breadth of the FBI’s tracking raises concerns about investigative overreach, pointing to what she characterized as a stark contrast with the Justice Department’s handling of President Joe Biden’s classified-documents case.

“No, particularly by the Justice Department’s own very low standards in dealing with President Biden’s classified-document violations from his time as vice president, which were far more egregious than anything retained at Mar-a-Lago,” Coates said.

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She also warned that tracking Wiles’ communications with attorneys and journalists carries broader implications for future presidential campaigns.

“In our increasingly digital world, it raises the grim specter of future campaigns where an incumbent can weaponize the private communications of not only a candidate and his family, but also his staff,” Coates said.

The declassified documents also show agents gathering details about the travel of Melania Trump and her son, Barron, as the FBI planned for a potential search of Mar-a-Lago.

Operational planning emails included pre-raid checklists directing agents to “finalize FBI understanding of FPOTUS/FLOTUS/minor son’s travel,” including the type of aircraft and specific travel timeline, as investigators worked to determine when the warrant would be executed.

The FBI executed the search warrant at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, on Aug. 8, 2022. Agents entered the property shortly before 9 a.m. and began searching around 10:30 a.m., according to records previously reported by Fox News Digital.

Fox News Digital’s Stepheny Price and Alec Schemmel contributed to this report.

Rep. Warren Davidson, R-Ohio, plans to introduce legislation that puts the prospect of a central bank digital currency (CBDC) in the crosshairs.

The lawmaker, who has served in the U.S. House since mid-2016 and is currently seeking re-election, characterized central bank digital currency as “communist money for the digital age,” during an interview with Fox News Digital.

“They could just freeze your money. You could program it. Some people call it a feature,” Davidson said. He provided a scenario in which a pickup truck driver pays $10 per gallon for fuel while a hybrid driver could get their fuel for just $2 per gallon. “And people see this as a feature. I think it’s dystopian,” Davidson said, adding, “I definitely want to stop it.”

Last month, in a post on X, Davidson wrote, “I’m drafting a bill to regulate Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) as counterfeit money. Planning a CBDC? Conspiracy. Designing a CBDC? Same as designing counterfeit plates. Launching CBDC? Counterfeiting. Prison for counterfeiters and their accomplices. No CBDC!”

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In another post on X last month, Davidson warned, “CBDC = communist money for the digital age. Programmable money puts the government between you and your money. You will only have access with their permission. This is an existential threat to western civilization.”

While a section within the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act that became law earlier this year temporarily prohibits the creation of a CBDC, that ban sunsets in a few years — language in the ban notes that “provisions of this section shall cease to be effective on December 31, 2030.”

Davidson told Fox News Digital during the interview on Tuesday that “the fundamentals for sound money is some level of fiscal discipline,” adding that “you can’t spend more than you bring in every year.”

“I don’t think it has to be gold,” he said, explaining that there needs to be “a disciplined monetary policy” in which “you can’t grow the money supply disproportionate to your economy.”

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“I think we should end this Fed,” Davidson said, adding that he believes there is “a case for a central bank,” while noting, “I don’t know that you could reform the current one without ending it.”

Davidson said that he thinks “we should at least audit the Fed.”

Asked about President Donald Trump’s proposal to dole out $5,000 to every American adult if the GOP wins both chambers of Congress during the midterms, Davidson indicated that he could get behind the policy if it is paired with spending cuts to cover the cost.

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Davidson said that “on its face” the proposal is concerning “because $5,000 per person going into the economy would fuel inflation,” but suggested that such a move could be combined with action such as gutting Obamacare, saying that among “the most promising ways to pay for it is a radical shift in healthcare.”

Margot Cleveland, Senior Legal Correspondent at The Federalist, is suing the city of Dearborn, Michigan and the city’s mayor, Abdullah Hammoud, for violating the First Amendment by displaying exclusively Muslim symbols in public displays, accusing the city of being “a hostile place for Christians and Jews.”

Cleveland alleges the city put up banners celebrating the Islamic holiday of Ramadan and a display of crescent moons while refusing to showcase equivalent Christian or Jewish iconography.

“I was picking up pizza in downtown Dearborn. When I went down the boulevard, up and down the street were ‘Ramadan Kareem’ (generous Ramadan) banners, which is the equivalent of a happy or blessed Ramadan,” Cleveland told Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview.

“This was the fourth week of Lent. We had Easter coming up in two weeks, and Passover was a week away. I was shocked, and then I saw the display all by itself—again, the crescent moon,” she said.

Cleveland wrote to Dearborn’s city attorney, asking if the city planned to reciprocate the displays for the other Abrahamic faiths, but did not get a response, she told Fox News Digital.

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Cleveland submitted a series of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests to find out the cost of the displays, which, according to her lawsuit and in an interview with Fox News Digital, is where she allegedly learned that the city had also integrated Islamic iconography in other official capacities.

“The police department was selling — with the police department’s seal — Ramadan t-shirts. It had the police department seal and a crescent moon, and I believe it said Ramadan,” ” Cleveland said.

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The Dearborn Police Department did not respond to a Fox News Digital inquiry regarding the alleged t-shirts.

After repeated attempts to try and contact city officials, Cleveland still received no response, until one city councilor told her that the council had been instructed not to engage with her.

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“I reached out to city council, every individual, both their public email and a secondary one. Received no response,” she shared. “But on LinkedIn, one of the council members responded and said, ‘Hey, we were told we can’t talk to you,’” Cleveland told Fox News Digital.

Cleveland then attended an open city council meeting in May. She asked that the councilors, who she explained control the city’s purse strings, use an ongoing budget surplus to purchase banners celebrating Jewish and Christian holidays.

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“I have not asked the city not to celebrate Ramadan,” she said. “What I’ve asked is that the city treat Christians and Jews equally. Put up Passover banners, Easter banners, put up a Star of David, put up a cross, do something. And throw in some patriotic symbols to show we are one Dearborn, one country where all faiths are represented equally. That has not been done,” she said.

Contrary to acceding to her requests, Cleveland claims the city put up even more decorations celebrating Ramadan in the wake of her attempts to contact city officials.

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“After I was ignored, what happened? The mayor then went and bought more Ramadan displays. I complained about the banners. What does he go? He goes bigger and brighter with lighted Ramadan displays,” she said.

The mayor’s office did not respond to a Fox News request for comment.

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“People who are not in Dearborn do not understand Dearborn,” Cleveland said. “My beef is with the mayor and the people running the city who are discriminating against Christians and Jews. The average people who live in Dearborn get along great. It is a diverse city and people get along. The mayor is causing a problem.”

The city rejected Cleveland’s accusations in a statement released shortly after Cleveland’s lawsuit.

Dearborn “has a longstanding commitment to serving all residents fairly and equitably, regardless of faith or background,” the statement read.

“Dearborn will continue to uphold the rights and dignity of every resident and remain a city where everyone is treated with fairness, respect, and equal protection under the law” the statement continued.

The American Freedom Law Center filed the civil complaint on behalf of Cleveland in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan on Sept. 17.

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Dearborn’s city attorney did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for additional comments.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

FIRST ON FOX – CEDAR RAPIDS, IA : One of the largest pro-life organizations in the country is pouring time and resources into the high-stakes battleground of Iowa, making the case that voters of all backgrounds will be “shocked” to know where the Democratic Party stands on abortion.

Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America’s ground game has knocked on over 172,000 doors in Iowa promoting the Republican ticket in the Hawkeye State. Additionally, the group has a planned digital spend of $650,000 to go along with a $1.35 million spend from the Women Speak Out PAC, SBA’s super PAC, to contact voters in the Iowa universe.

“The scale of SBA Pro-Life America’s voter contact program is among the largest in the nation and certainly the largest in the pro-life movement,” SBA President Marjorie Dannenfelser told Fox News Digital.

Fox News Digital was on the ground in Iowa with SBA canvassers in Cedar Rapids on Tuesday, where the team passed out flyers and spoke to voters in support of Iowa Republican Sen. Ashley Hinson and hammered the abortion positions of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand.

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“Our goal really is just to inform voters,” SBA field rep Amy Elizabeth told Fox News Digital. “Most people we’re finding are pro-life, regardless of the way that they vote and we want to make sure that they’re aware of the candidate’s views on abortion and pro-life and we wanna make sure they’re making knowledgeable and informed decisions when they go to the polls.”

Literature passed out by the canvassers calls Sand “wrong for Iowa families” while arguing that he will “do everything in his power to overturn Governor Kim Reynolds’ pro-life legacy” and “even supports painful late term abortions. The literature also promotes Hinson as the “pro-life champion” that Iowans “need in DC.”

Elizabeth told Fox News Digital that the conversations with voters on the ground have been effective.

“Some of my favorite conversations have come from people who normally wouldn’t vote the same way that I would vote,” Elizabeth explained. “They’re not typically conservative voters. They are a little bit more liberal leaning. But when we really are open to having conversations together and I can share with them some information about the candidates that they typically would vote for, they are very surprised and they’re very shocked to hear how those candidates feel on some issues that are important to them.”

NEW MIDTERM BATTLEGROUND TAKES SHAPE AS PARTIES BUILD ELECTION ARMIES

Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America and Women Speak Out PAC announced in August that their Iowa voter-contact program had surpassed 100,000 visits to voters’ homes in the Des Moines, Davenport and Cedar Rapids areas. The groups said the effort is targeting persuadable and low-turnout voters ahead of November’s elections, with the goal of defeating Democrats they describe as “pro-abortion” and electing candidates who support abortion restrictions.

Nationwide, Dannenfelser says SBA will ultimately reach 10.5 million voters during this election cycle, including 4 million at their front doors in person.

“Our hardworking field team has been on the ground in key battleground states, educating voters about the Democrats’ radical agenda of all-trimester abortion — anytime, for any reason, paid for by taxpayers — even when babies can feel pain,” Dannenfelser said.

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“Polling shows the vast majority of Americans reject this, and our team at the doors is finding it true visit after visit. One conversation at a time, we are changing hearts, minds, and votes. We focus on Republicans, Democrats, and Independents that can be persuaded and low-propensity, pro-life voters. All these groups are shocked by Democrats’ extremism on abortion.”

A third of Republicans would be less likely to vote in the midterms if they believe that the GOP has abandoned the abortion issue, according to polling released earlier this year, suggesting that driving pro-life Republicans to vote will play an important role in the party’s hopes to retain control of Congress in November.

Amid global public health concerns surrounding the death of an Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute of Siberia and the Far East worker, the World Health Organization noted in a statement issued Tuesday on the X account of Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus that it had requested more information from Russia regarding the matter, including on “media reports of a second employee with pneumonia of undetermined cause.”

“The individual died on 2 October 2026 after being hospitalized with severe pneumonia. Initial media reports suggested pneumonic plague following an alleged accidental laboratory exposure,” the WHO statement noted.

“In response to WHO’s verification request under the International Health Regulations, the Russian health authorities reported that no case of plague had recently been registered in Irkutsk oblast. They informed WHO that an epidemiological investigation had been conducted, preventive and control measures implemented, and identified contacts placed under medical observation and tested. They reported that no high-threat pathogens had been detected among the contacts and that medical observation of all identified contacts had been completed,” the statement explained.

“WHO has requested further information to clarify the cause of the severe pneumonia, the pathogen that prompted the public health measures, and media reports of a second employee with pneumonia of undetermined cause,” the statement notes.

Reuters reported that when questioned about the WHO’s request to respond to reports of a second individual in Siberia allegedly becoming sick, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov called for caution when it comes to media reporting.

“There is a great deal of media coverage, and the vast majority of what the media are reporting about this situation is false information,” Peskov said, according to the outlet.

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The U.S. State Department has formally requested more information from the Russian government regarding the death of the woman who worked at the anti-plague research facility, issuing what is known as a démarche, defined as a request or intercession with a foreign official.

“We have officially requested additional information from the Russian government,” a U.S. State Department spokesperson noted. “We are also in official communication with other countries around the world to share information.”

Fox News Channel senior foreign policy correspondent Gillian Turner reported that State Department health experts had been in touch with Russia’s foreign ministry about the public health matter since Friday, but that the démarche arose due to Russian officials being unforthcoming via back channels.

RUSSIAN RESEARCHER’S MYSTERY DEATH COULD BE ‘FAR WORSE’ THAN THE PLAGUE, FORMER SENIOR TRUMP OFFICIAL WARNS

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) noted in a post on Tuesday that the “CDC is aware of and closely monitoring reports of a suspected case of pneumonic plague in the Irkutsk region of Russia that resulted in a death. We are working across the U.S. government to assess developments as additional information becomes available.

“While the circumstances of this reported case remain unconfirmed, plague is a serious bacterial disease that is treatable with antibiotics, particularly when recognized and treated early. Pneumonic plague can spread person-to-person through respiratory droplets during close contact, which is why rapid identification and treatment of infected individuals, and monitoring of potentially exposed individuals, are important public health measures.

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“At this time, there is no indication of a broader threat to the United States, but CDC and our interagency partners are prepared and will continue to monitor the situation closely,” the CDC’s post concluded.

Fox News Channel’s Nick Kalman and Gillian Turner contributed to this report.

Some of President Donald Trump’s most frequent media critics are turning on Democrats’ latest attack on the president, rejecting claims that Trump suggested Iran should “take out” Los Angeles and San Diego.

“Trump’s point here is that if he didn’t start a war with Iran, then San Diego and LA would be at risk from nuclear war,” wrote The Atlantic writer Michael Scherer on X.

Trump was discussing the war with Iran and the threat of Tehran obtaining a nuclear weapon during a Nebraska rally on Monday before invoking Los Angeles and San Diego.

“They can take out a city. Let them take out Los Angeles. Let them take out San Diego. This is a very small price to pay,” Trump said.

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The remarks quickly triggered a fight over what Trump meant, with Democrats and multiple media outlets characterizing them as a suggestion that Iran be allowed to attack the two California cities.

One of the accounts amplifying the clip, Headquarters (@HQNewsNow), previously operated as “KamalaHQ” after originally serving as the Biden campaign’s “BidenHQ” rapid-response account.

Several prominent journalists who have frequently scrutinized Trump are pushing back on Democrats’ latest attack on the president, rejecting claims that Trump suggested Iran should “take out” Los Angeles and San Diego.

“This isn’t a direct quote from Trump, and I very much don’t think it’s a correct paraphrase. Trump has repeatedly argued that the consequences of the war, like higher gas prices, are a small price to pay compared to what an unchecked Iran could allegedly do,” CNN fact-checker Daniel Dale said.

“My read: The ‘small price to pay’ comment refers back to the costs of the war — like gas prices — not to the idea of Iran nuking LA and SD,” wrote CNN senior reporter Aaron Blake.

“Unpopular opinion: I don’t think Trump was suggesting letting Iran to attack ‘blue cities.’ I think he meant if Iran gets a nuke, LA and San Diego could be targets considering they’re two major West Coast cities,” wrote former Trump staffer turned Biden voter Sarah Matthews.

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Democrats quickly seized on clips and quotes from Trump’s rally, claiming he was suggesting Iran should be allowed to attack two California cities.

“After sending the National Guard and Marines to occupy California, Donald Trump is now saying our foreign enemies should ‘take out’ Los Angeles and San Diego. He is deranged and dangerous,” said California Gov. Gavin Newsom.

“Thirteen million Californians call LA and San Diego counties home. Their lives are not a ‘small price to pay’ or a punchline for Donald Trump,” said California gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra.

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“The President of the United States suggested that a foreign government attack Los Angeles. His statements against our city are dangerous and could potentially compromise our safety. The role of a president is to protect the country, not to actively threaten it and encourage attacks on American lives. In the face of irresponsible threats, as Angelenos, we know how to stand together and protect our city,” said Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.

“Deranged. Delusional. And soon to be defeated. Calling millions of Americans collateral damage in his illegal war that nobody asked for takes a special kind of depravity, the kind only a man as weak and feeble as Donald Trump could sink to,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.

“This is such a sick, evil thing to say. Especially because he’s not saying this as a joke. Just as sick that his supporters are laughing at it,” said Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy.

White House Communications Director Steven Cheung addressed the “media freakout,” saying critics’ claims are “not rooted in reality.”

“He was clearly stating U.S. cities would have been threatened if a nuclear Iran hadn’t been stopped. America is safer because of the President. Iran has no nuclear, no navy, no air force, and no money,” Cheung wrote on X.

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“No, he didn’t, you buffoons. He was saying the U.S. is fighting to STOP Iran from having the ability to take out LA and San Diego with a nuclear weapon — which they would if they had the chance,” clarified the White House Rapid Response account.

The Supreme Court declined Monday to hear an appeal from a former Pennsylvania judge who was suspended after repeatedly posting partisan political content on Facebook, including praise for former President Joe Biden and his policies.

Former Judge Mark Cohen, a former Democratic state lawmaker who began serving on the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas in 2018, made dozens of politically charged Facebook posts while on the bench, even after being warned to stop. Cohen appealed to the Supreme Court in April, with his lawyers arguing that the former judge’s First Amendment rights had been violated.

“Allowing judges to be disciplined based on the perceived ‘tone’ or ‘volume’ of lawful speech promotes arbitrary enforcement, invites political interference in the judicial branch, and threatens to undermine the rule of law,” Cohen’s lawyer told Law.com at the time. “This case presents an urgent opportunity for the court to restore constitutional clarity and reestablish the First Amendment’s protection of the rights of sitting judges to speak on matters of public concern.”

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The Supreme Court declined to take up Cohen’s case, denying his petition without comment.

Pennsylvania’s Judicial Conduct Board argued that the Supreme Court did not need to hear Cohen’s appeal because his social media activity amounted to “partisan cheerleading” and his suspension reflected a “straightforward application of familiar rules that judges around the country have followed for decades.”

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Pennsylvania’s highest court concluded that the volume and tone of Cohen’s posts made him appear to be an advocate for the Democratic Party.

In November 2021, Cohen promoted Biden’s Build Back Better legislation, saying its passage would improve “many, many American lives.” A year later, on Biden’s birthday, Cohen called him “an excellent President” and said he looked forward to “many more achievements.”

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Cohen also made posts taking specific policy positions, including one in favor of higher minimum wage laws and another against restrictions on elective abortions. Cohen also highlighted his record on gun policy, including a post noting that he had consistently received an “F” rating from the National Rifle Association while serving in the state legislature.

Cohen’s Supreme Court petition says the suspension also triggered the forfeiture of his judicial and prior public-service pensions.

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DLA Piper, the law firm representing Cohen, did not respond Wednesday to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations blasted New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani over his message marking the third anniversary of the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks, comparing the mayor’s framing of the massacre to “turning September 11 into a day of mourning for al-Qaeda terrorists.”

Ambassador Danny Danon accused Mamdani of trying to “hijack” the anniversary after the mayor commemorated the more than 1,100 Israelis killed by Hamas before pivoting to accusations of “genocide,” “occupation” and “apartheid” against Israel.

“‘Mamdani-ism’ — an attempt to hijack the anniversary of October 7 and turn it into yet another propaganda attack against Israel,” Danon wrote on X in response to the mayor’s post.

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“It is like turning September 11 into a day of mourning for al-Qaeda terrorists,” he added. “We will not let this happen. We will remember those who were murdered, and we will never forget who was behind this massacre.”

Mamdani’s post Wednesday began by calling the anniversary “profoundly painful for so many New Yorkers” and describing the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack as “horrific war crimes.”

“On that day, Hamas killed more than 1,100 Israelis and abducted 251 others,” Mamdani wrote. “We grieve alongside our many friends and neighbors who still carry that unthinkable loss.”

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The mayor then turned much of his statement toward the war in Gaza, accusing the Israeli government of carrying out a “devastating, ongoing genocide” and citing a Palestinian death toll of more than 74,000, including more than 21,000 children.

“The suffering did not begin nor end that day,” Mamdani wrote.

Mamdani accused Israel of bombing ambulances, targeting residential buildings and journalists with drone strikes and turning away food aid at border crossings. Israel has disputed allegations that it deliberately targets civilians, aid workers and journalists and has rejected accusations of genocide, noting flyers that the Israeli military has sent to Palestinian civilians warning them of attacks in advance and urging them to get to safety.

The mayor also accused the U.S. government of complicity in Israeli “war crimes” through its military support.

“Three years later, we must refuse to accept a world in which occupation and apartheid continue, where war crimes are met with impunity, and our federal government continues its complicity with every arms shipment,” Mamdani wrote. “To honor the dead, we must fight for a world in which every person can live with freedom, safety, and dignity.”

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Danon was not alone in objecting to Mamdani’s framing of the anniversary.

“Yet even today, @NYCMayor cannot put aside his ideological obsession with Israel long enough to simply let Jews mourn. At a time of rising antisemitism, words matter, and rhetoric has real-world consequences,” Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo wrote on X. “There are 364 other days for politics. Today, remember the victims. Condemn Hamas. Stand with the Jewish community.”

“Disgusting and shameful to use October 7th as an excuse to repeat Hamas’ talking points. The terrorist enemies that seek to destroy us will not prevail. We stand with the Jewish people and we pray for the victims, their families and the survivors,” said Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders.

“Shame on you for trying to blow a kiss and slap Israelis in the face at the same time,” posted former U.S. Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley. “On October 7, Hamas raped, burned, and murdered Israelis and Americans in front of their loved ones. They kidnapped others and tortured them for months. This is antisemitism, no matter how you try to put a bow on it. Israelis have every right to defend themselves. If this happened in the U.S., you can bet we would defend ourselves too.”

“@NYCMayor, not once do you say ‘Jews.’ On Oct. 7, Hamas-led attackers murdered civilians, committed sexual violence, mutilated bodies and took hostages,” said Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt. “You are weaponizing a day meant for mourning the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust to recycle your usual antizionist talking points. The city with the largest Jewish population outside Israel deserves a mayor who can honor the dead without exploiting them.”

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Hamas-led terrorists stormed southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing roughly 1,200 people in brutal fashion while livestreaming the atrocities online, and taking 251 hostages. Israelis marked the third anniversary Wednesday with memorials and vigils for those killed and abducted.

Deposed Venezuelan Nicolás Maduro and his wife could face new charges tied to the alleged torture of Americans as prosecutors fight their efforts to have their criminal case thrown out.

The additional charges are expected to be announced in Manhattan federal court, according to Fox News’ David Spunt and Jake Paronich.

U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald is expected to speak after a 10:30 a.m. hearing.

That hearing was scheduled to address a request by Maduro’s wife, Cilia Flores de Maduro, to be released from custody because of ongoing medical problems, including a heart condition.

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The expected charges would add to a case already involving allegations of cocaine trafficking, narco-terrorism and weapons offenses. 

Maduro and Flores deny the allegations and have sought to dismiss the case on sovereign immunity grounds.

Federal prosecutors pushed back in a recent court filing, arguing neither defendant is entitled to that protection and that Venezuela has not asserted immunity on their behalf.

The government noted that the U.S. has not recognized Maduro as Venezuela’s head of state since January 2019.

“The defendants are former rogue officials of a formerly rogue state with no entitlement to immunity,” prosecutors wrote.

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They argued that foreign sovereign immunity is “a matter of grace and comity on the part of the U.S., and not a restriction imposed by the Constitution.”

Prosecutors also argued that the alleged cocaine trafficking, narco-terrorism and weapons offenses violated the law rather than served any legitimate government function.

Maduro’s attorneys argued in their motion that the court lacks jurisdiction because he is recognized as Venezuela’s head of state. Flores separately filed a motion seeking dismissal on sovereign immunity grounds.

Maduro is also challenging the narco-terrorism conspiracy count. His lawyers said he vehemently denies involvement in drug trafficking intended to benefit groups allegedly engaged in terrorism and argued that prosecutors have not met the elements required for the charge.

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The government countered that the “prohibited drug activity had a nexus to and intended effect on the United States.”

Prosecutors allege Maduro and other defendants participated in cocaine trafficking that resulted in thousands of tons of cocaine being distributed to the United States, funding and supporting violent terrorist organizations.

Meanwhile, Flores’ attorneys have proposed home confinement with GPS monitoring, round-the-clock armed surveillance, surrender of her travel documents and a court-approved third-party custodian.

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Her lawyer said she was recovering from a complete hysterectomy before her arrest and receiving monthly injections for mitral valve prolapse. She may now need cardiac catheterization, which could lead to more invasive heart procedures, according to her release motion.

“Her medical condition is significant and her current housing, despite best efforts, is inadequate to allow for proper recovery from cardiac surgery,” her attorney wrote

Flores’ defense also argues she poses no danger to the community and denies the allegations against her.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton questioned Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico’s absence from the campaign trail during President Donald Trump’s rally in San Antonio Wednesday, prompting a response from his opponent’s campaign less than a month before the November midterm elections.

Paxton led the crowd in chanting “Where is Talarico?” while asserting that the Democrat had not been seen campaigning in Texas for 11 days.

Talarico’s campaign told Fox News Digital the Democrat has been sick with the flu and is expected to return to the campaign trail this weekend.

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“After holding more than 100 public events and shaking tens of thousands of hands, James came down with the flu but will be back on the trail this weekend,” JT Ennis, a campaign spokesperson for Talarico, told Fox News Digital. 

“Ken Paxton has been ignoring Texans this entire campaign, and his priorities are clear: He doesn’t answer to the people of this state. He answers to his billionaire megadonors and special interests.”

The statement from Talarico campaign spokesperson JT Ennis also criticized Paxton’s campaign priorities, pushing back against the Republican’s remarks as the two candidates compete for a U.S. Senate seat.

Trump also questioned Talarico’s whereabouts during his remarks, repeatedly referencing the Democrat’s absence while campaigning on Paxton’s behalf.

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The president suggested without evidence that Talarico had become sick after eating meat for political reasons, mocking the Democrat’s dietary preferences.

Trump also criticized Talarico’s positions on immigration, public safety and education, while praising Paxton’s record as Texas attorney general and urging voters to support his Senate bid.

The president emphasized the importance of the Texas race to Republicans’ efforts to maintain control of Congress, warning supporters about the consequences of Democrats gaining seats in the Senate.

MEET THE VOTERS WHO COULD BREAK THE GOP’S DECADESLONG GRIP ON A REPUBLICAN STRONGHOLD

Trump’s appearance in San Antonio was part of a broader effort to mobilize Republican voters ahead of the midterm elections. He urged attendees to participate in early voting, which begins Oct. 19 in Texas, or cast their ballots on Election Day.

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The exchange over Talarico’s whereabouts comes as the candidates enter the final weeks of the campaign.

Violence tied to Somali-American gangs in the Twin Cities metro erupted in recent days, with law enforcement recovering nearly 100 casings after a gunfight captured on a resident’s surveillance camera — as officials warn they need help to contain the problem before it escalates.

The warning follows a burst of violence across several Twin Cities suburbs — including a Bloomington shootout that left nearly 100 shell casings and another shooting in Eden Prairie — as law enforcement says the incidents have entered a retaliation cycle and officials race to disrupt the groups before the violence evolves into more entrenched drug- and money-driven crime.

“We have the opportunity to fix it,” Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher said of a surge in Somali gang violence across the Twin Cities — but warned authorities could be facing a much more difficult problem if the groups escalate the resources they use.

3 DEAD, INCLUDING SUSPECTED GUNMAN, AND 3 OFFICERS INJURED IN MINNEAPOLIS SHOOTING

“It’s early. Once they evolve into drugs, we’re in trouble. Once they evolve into money, more money, we are in trouble,” said Fletcher, whose county is anchored by St. Paul and runs along the west bank of the Mississippi River.

Fletcher estimated that about 300 juveniles are involved and said part of the problem lies in the Somali gangs’ relative novelty to local law enforcement and what he characterized as a reluctance to aggressively prosecute offenders across the river in Minneapolis.

TRUMP’S LAW-AND-ORDER BLITZ MARKS ONE YEAR WITH EYE-POPPING HAUL OF SUSPECTS, GUNS IN BLUE CITY

“We need more people focused on this problem. Because 50 kids in this 300 need to go to jail, 25 need to be prosecuted by the feds for RICO and and another 25 need to be prosecuted at the local level. Take 50 of the most active out of the mix, and we will see dramatic changes,” he said.

He ascribed some of the reticence to neighboring Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty, saying she has not been sufficiently “aggressive” in prosecuting such offenders.

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“One of the misconceptions is that somehow when you prosecute people, put them in jail that you’re destituting them to some terrible life. This is how kids get corrected,” he said.

Moriarty’s office pushed back on the assertion, with spokesman Daniel Borgertpoepping saying the neighboring communities are “looking for solutions” and that Moriarty’s prosecutors “communicate daily with law enforcement [and] will participate in any group that moves us toward sustainable public safety.”

“The way we approach prosecution of violent crime is consistent regardless of the race or ethnicity of those involved,” Borgertpoepping said.

Meanwhile, residents across the metro region expressed outrage to local officials over the violence and what they described as a growing threat to public safety.

Jared Scribner, a resident of nearby Edina, criticized officials for calling the issue “gun violence” and demanded they “confront what is happening even when the facts are politically uncomfortable.”

Scribner said violence associated with the gangs erupted at a local homecoming event and at a park.

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“We don’t need more virtue signaling, yard signs, DEI initiatives, or community conversations that lead to nowhere. We need competent government, accountability, and safe neighborhoods,” he said, also blaming Moriarty’s office for “refu[sing]” to properly address the issue.

He also suggested officials have sometimes generalized the ethnicity of those involved, remarking that it “feels more comfortable for some people to say East African. I don’t even know that that’s a fair term, because 98% of these gang members are Somalians.”

In nearby Bloomington, where about 100 casings were recovered from the scene of a late-night firefight that appeared to involve automatic weapons, Police Chief Booker Hodges took a confrontational tack toward the suspects who remained at large — while warning they do not fit the typical stereotype of gang members.

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“They’re coming from two parent homes, living in apartment buildings with $3,500 a month rent, driving Beamers and Mercedes. They’re not dealing with money. There’s no drugs in the house. They’re purchasing legal firearms,” he said.

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“To those of you who did this shooting, you know that I know that you know that I that we know who you are. So my suggestion is: you turn yourself in. Let’s stop playing these games with you running around out here doing all this stuff,” Hodges warned — as the violence draws national attention.

PRAIRIE CITY, Iowa — Iowa’s 1st Congressional District is shaping up to be one of the closest races in the country as Republicans try to hold their razor-thin majority in the House.

Fox News Digital spoke to Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks about her pitch to keep the seat in GOP hands and what Democrats taking back control would mean.

“Common sense over crazy. This is just common sense over crazy communism,” Miller-Meeks told Fox News Digital about her opponent, former Democratic state Rep. Christina Bohannan, who Miller-Meeks said is “perfectly in alignment” with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).

Miller-Meeks accused Bohannan, who the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) has labeled a “DEI queen,” of supporting progressive priorities during her time in the Iowa House that aren’t in line with where the majority of Iowa voters stand.

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“My opponent has not supported law enforcement. She tries to hide where she is on open borders. She has voted against every single tax cut while she was an Iowa legislator and said that the working family’s tax cut was dangerous and would get rid of all of it,” Miller-Meeks said. 

“Then she talks about in her campaign ads supporting tax cuts for the middle class. She also supported keeping boys in girls sports and boys and girls locker rooms.”

Miller-Meeks, who spoke to Fox News Digital at a Department of Agriculture roundtable talking to farmers about their needs and the Trump administration’s efforts to lower burdensome farming regulations, said, over the next month until the election, her campaign will continue to “make sure that we’re serving Iowans, that were out meeting with constituents answering their questions, coming before them and being available and doing the great constituent work that we’ve always done and showing the contrast.”

The incumbent congressman touted her record of working to bring in a massive steel mill in recent months, creating manufacturing jobs, helping farmers through ethanol and biodiesel policies, improving water quality and supporting conservation.

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Voters across the country, including in Iowa, have expressed frustration with the economy, the cost of gas and diesel and the Iran War. And while Miller-Meeks acknowledged the concerns, she’s making the case that putting Democrats back in power isn’t the answer because they would roll back the work that has been done by Republicans.

“There’ll be no relief coming,” she said. “They already said that they would get rid of all those policies.”

Miller-Meeks said the Democratic Party as a whole has moved further left and will attempt to “get rid of” Republican-led measures she credited with making U.S. steel production more competitive and benefiting states like Iowa.

“Our bill on opening up energy production here in the United States did bring gasoline prices and diesel prices down at the first of the year,” Miller-Meeks explained. She added that if Republican policies had been put in place during the Biden administration, “we would have already had more biodiesel, which would have helped bring down diesel prices.”

The congresswoman argued Republicans will fight to preserve policies that lower energy, housing, healthcare and prescription drug costs, create jobs and root out fraud, waste and abuse that cost taxpayers millions.

“It’s not just making prices affordable, but it’s also increasing wages and increasing jobs and good-paying jobs,” she said. “We have certainly done that with the policies that we’ve put in place that the Democrats would get rid of.”

WATCH: BATTLEGROUND DEMOCRAT CALLED IOWA A ‘BACKWATER’ OVER TRANSGENDER ATHLETES BAN

Miller-Meeks also mentioned several proposals she led targeting fraud in government programs following the Feeding Our Future scandal, which raised many questions about accountability among state leaders. The Medicaid Whistleblower Protection Act would establish federal protections nationwide for Medicaid workers who report early warning signs of fraud, and the WALZ Act would require the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General to open investigations into any program that sees a 10% or greater increase in total payments over any six-month period within a fiscal year.

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“Tackling corruption inside the government, inside government agencies or in members of Congress or the administration, we’re gonna continue to do that and work to serve Iowans and the American people,” she said.

This will be Bohannan’s third time running for Congress against Miller-Meeks after narrowly losing by less than a percentage point in 2024. The race is rated a “toss up” by Cook Political Report, reflecting Democratic momentum and broader headwinds facing Republicans in a midterm election shaped by President Donald Trump’s approval ratings and economic concerns.

In a statement to Fox News Digital, Bohannan defended her positions, writing Miller-Meeks’ “siding with drug companies, data centers, billionaires and party leadership at every turn” is “self-serving.”

“What’s crazy is pretending to represent your constituents when you’re bought and sold. I’ll always put Iowa first. That’s common sense,” Bohannan said.

A proposed rule from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) would implement new fees for international students seeking temporary employment in their field of study, an effort the agency says is aimed at reducing the flow of cheap labor into the U.S.

Under the proposal, F-1 visa holders would be charged a $70,000 fee for an initial Optional Practical Training (OPT) authorization, as well as a $30,000 fee for any subsequent extension.

“Optional Practical Training was never meant to be a back door into the American workforce, a subsidy for cheap labor, or a prize for those who game the system,” a DHS spokesperson said. “DHS is upskilling OPT to require foreign students to justify their worth to employers. American workers should not have to compete against a program that has been turned into a pipeline for cheap foreign labor.”

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Currently, OPT allows eligible foreign students to work part-time while enrolled in school and full-time for a set period after graduation at a cost of around $500.

To participate, students must work in a field directly related to their major, receive a recommendation from a designated school official (DSO) and obtain employment authorization from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

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Graduates with degrees in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) fields can qualify for an additional 24-month extension.

DHS said the proposed fee structure comes in response to widespread fraud and abuse identified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). According to the agency, certain schools, DSOs, employers and F-1 students have exploited existing regulations through illicit arrangements, including non-compliant worksites and “pay-to-stay” visa schemes.

The agency maintains that the rule change would force educational institutions to exercise “greater oversight and selectivity” before recommending students for the program.

However, the proposal is expected to face immediate legal hurdles.

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“Don’t Panic: DHS has no authority to slap a $70k fee on international students,” Doug Rand, director of the Talent Mobility Fund — an organization advocating to attract foreign STEM talent — wrote on LinkedIn. “Let’s not overreact — this proposed rule isn’t going to fare well in the courts, just as the $100k H-1B fee and other restrictionist policies have been struck down.”

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The proposed rule will be subject to a public comment period before any final implementation.

The Democratic National Committee is suing the Trump administration, alleging it illegally diverted $20 million in federal funds to produce and broadcast partisan political advertisements.

The ad campaign was designed to boost Republican prospects in the upcoming 2026 midterm elections and shore up President Donald Trump’s approval ratings, a move the DNC argues constitutes unlawful “publicity or propaganda,” the lawsuit states.

The lawsuit claims President Donald Trump personally directed the campaign, violating the longstanding statutory ban on using federal appropriations for “publicity or propaganda purposes.”

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“President Trump’s political propaganda ads are an attempt to resuscitate his historically low approval ratings and avoid widespread Republican defeats in the 2026 midterm election,” the lawsuit states. “The President has nationalized the midterm election, made himself the center of a two-day ‘midterm convention,’ and repeatedly directed voters to ‘pretend that I am on the ballot.’”

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) transferred the funds from money authorized under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, according to court filings.

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The OMB approved reallocating the funds into a U.S. Customs and Border Protection line item designated for “Commemorative Events,” according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit also notes that congressional committee reports explicitly restricted that line item to line-of-duty death memorials, agency anniversaries and commendation ceremonies.

The lawsuit highlights mounting pressure on Republicans, noting that polling numbers have dropped in traditional battlegrounds as well as in typically conservative states, which leaves Democrats “poised to take control of Congress, governor’s mansions, and state legislatures around the country.”

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Among the ads flagged in the filing is one featuring President Trump touting the capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. In another spot, Trump directly addresses the audience: “With you at my side, we will demolish the deep state. We will expel the warmongers from our government. We will drive out the globalists; we will cast out the communists, Marxists and fascists.”

A third ad explicitly asks viewers to “pretend I’m on the ballot” to drive turnout. The lawsuit also targets ads featuring high-ranking administration officials praising Trump, including War Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

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“Donald Trump is misusing millions of taxpayer dollars to fund pure propaganda ads in a last-ditch attempt to save Republicans in November, so we’re suing him,” DNC Chair Ken Martin said in a statement. “As gas and grocery costs rise and his approval numbers continue to crater, this president has stooped to taking money from a fund intended for memorials for Americans killed in the line of duty to promote his failed policies.

“Americans deserve better than to have their hard-earned tax dollars used for Trump’s illegal schemes.”

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The lawsuit asks the court to declare that the Trump administration and affected federal agencies unlawfully produced and aired the advertisements using congressionally appropriated funds and seeks an immediate injunction to block further use of taxpayer dollars for the campaign.

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

FIRST ON FOX: President Donald Trump will award Elon Musk and other leading American innovators the nation’s highest honors for scientific and technological achievement Thursday, Fox News Digital has learned, marking Trump’s first time presenting the awards.

“The Trump administration is grateful for the contributions of these incredible leaders in science and technology. These recipients are helping ensure America keeps leading the world in innovation,” White House spokesperson Liz Huston told Fox News Digital.

The honorees, who will be recognized at the White House’s Science: A New Golden Age Summit, include some of the most powerful figures in American technology and mark Elon Musk’s latest return to Trump’s orbit after his high-profile departure from the administration and subsequent public rupture with the president.

Trump will award the National Medal of Science to Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, Google co-founder Sergey Brin, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and AMD CEO Lisa Su, while Dell Technologies CEO Michael Dell and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella will receive the National Medal of Technology and Innovation during the summit, Fox News Digital learned. 

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The ceremony will mark the first time Trump has presented the National Medal of Science and the National Medal of Technology and Innovation during either of his administrations.

The summit will bring together leading scientists and tech innovators to discuss how super intelligence and private-sector investment can accelerate scientific breakthroughs and strengthen U.S. leadership in science and technology.

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Musk’s expected award marks another step in his return to Trump’s orbit after their relationship ruptured last year. The split followed Musk’s departure from DOGE, when he blasted Trump’s signature tax-and-spending bill as a “disgusting abomination,” setting off a personal feud that included Trump threatening his government contracts.

The two have since renewed ties, with Musk again appearing alongside Trump at a recent technology leader lunch and was present during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit.

The Tesla CEO has also returned to an advisory role in the Trump administration, co-leading the Pentagon’s Project Meridian, which studies the future of warfare and the weapons and technologies the U.S. military will need to maintain its technological edge.

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Trump has a personal tie to the award. 

His uncle, John G. Trump, was posthumously awarded the National Medal of Science by President Ronald Reagan for his pioneering work involving ionizing radiation and its applications in medicine, industry and atomic physics.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar, the Democratic nominee for Minnesota governor, praised law enforcement Wednesday after the FBI arrested an 18-year-old man accused of plotting an ISIS-inspired mass shooting at the Mall of America.

“I’m grateful for the heroic work of law enforcement that prevented a mass shooting and terrorist attack at the Mall of America,” she said in a statement. “This shows why we continue to need major coordinated investments in anti-terrorism and local law enforcement to stop attacks like these. Our state must take terrorism and violent crime head on, working with our federal law enforcement and local police departments to keep Minnesotans safe.”

Klobuchar, who has represented Minnesota in the U.S. Senate since 2007, is running against Republican Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth in the November gubernatorial election.

MALL OF AMERICA TERROR PLOT THWARTED, SUSPECTED ISIS SYMPATHIZER ARRESTED, FBI ANNOUNCES

Her statement came after federal authorities announced the arrest of Sheikhdoon Abdullahi Mohamud, 18, who investigators say pledged allegiance to ISIS and discussed carrying out a mass shooting at the Mall of America.

According to federal court documents, Mohamud allegedly spent months discussing plans for an attack before buying an AK-47-style rifle, four magazines and roughly 200 rounds of ammunition from an undercover FBI employee Tuesday. The rifle had been rendered inoperable, though the ammunition was live.

FBI Director Kash Patel said Mohamud “allegedly obtained a weapon he hoped to use in a mass casualty attack in support of ISIS, but this FBI arrested him and put a stop to his plans.”

PENNSYLVANIA MAN ACCUSED OF PLOTTING ISIS ATTACK ARRESTED WITH RIFLE AND 190 ROUNDS OF AMMUNITION: DOJ

President Donald Trump also praised the FBI’s handling of the case while speaking to reporters Wednesday.

“I did hear about it. And they did a great job. The FBI did a great job,” Trump said.

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Mohamud is charged with knowingly receiving a firearm and ammunition while knowing or having reasonable cause to believe they would be used to commit a felony and federal crime of terrorism.

Fox News Digital’s Stephen Sorace and Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.

For GOP congressional candidate Dan Green, the military confrontation with Iran isn’t the start of a new war — it’s the long-overdue resolution of a conflict that began in 1979. 

Drawing on his own military tours in Iraq, the Navy veteran running in Florida’s 9th Congressional District argues that America is finally settling decades-long strife with Tehran, even as he faces a tough domestic battle over inflation, kitchen-table economics and a 10-year Democrat incumbent in the newly redrawn Orlando-based suburban district.

“I think one thing to know about Iran is that they’ve been at war with us since the 1970s, when they seized our embassy in Tehran and they took our Americans hostage. So to me, this is about ending a long war, not starting a war. 

“Whether it’s the Marine Corps barracks in the ’80s when Iran bombed those, the Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia, and also with my tours in Iraq, the Iranians were killing a lot of our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines.

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“So, the question is, what’s the butcher’s bill you’re willing to tolerate of dead Americans? And we also know they plotted to kill and assassinate our president. 

“So, to me, this has been a long time coming, but I think what we really need to focus on is how do we get a successful termination of this conflict and stability back in the Middle East?”

Green is running in a district that voted for President Donald Trump by a large margin in 2024, yet the Republicans face headwinds as inflation and energy prices remain a persistent preoccupation for voters. Yet, he remains confident in the appeal of the GOP brand, compared to the Democratic alternative.

“I think the Democrats have a huge problem right now. I don’t think they know what they’re really about,” Green said. “As you know, they have a democratic socialist wing that is rising in power throughout their party, and a lot of moderate members are finding they have to make peace with that, or even liberal members as well.”

He continued: “We’ve got a lot of members getting elected now across the country who are democratic socialists who believe in this radical ideology, who want to frankly destroy our Constitution in so many ways: they want to abolish the U.S. Senate, they want to bring back woke ideology, transgender ideology, and higher taxes. So I think in some ways we know what they are going to bring, but it’s not a good future.”

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Florida’s 9th District, like much of the state, contains a large Latino population, which has been pivotal in shifting the state from purple to red. Green argues that while Republicans must appeal to voters on kitchen table economics, ultimately they need to be the party that upholds the rule of law.

“I think Americans of all backgrounds, regardless of race or ethnicity, are concerned about the cost of living these days. What we’ve been campaigning on is making America affordable again,” Green said. “So these kind of kitchen table issues of grocery prices, gas prices, property insurance rates — they resonate irrespective of background, I would say. 

“But the cornerstone of our republic is the rule of law, making sure we adhere to it and we follow it. There are ways of being compassionate with how we do that. There are ways of implementing that law more effectively. At the end of the day, we’re either a nation of laws or we aren’t. And so we need to do what’s required to make sure the law is enforced.”

The 9th District, which stretches from Orlando to the south, has a distinctly conservative bent, which Green argues will enable him to compete against the advantages of incumbency.

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“My opponent is an incumbent and sometimes with that come some advantages; name ID, access to greater resources,” Green said. “But I think the district fundamentally is a conservative district and I think even non-party-affiliated members who aren’t Democrat or Republican tend to be conservative.

“So I think we have a lot of great strength in this district for our campaign. I have worked in the military, I can put a plan together, and we’re executing a good campaign plan to take the seat back and flip it from blue to red.”

Finally, Green said he believes Soto’s votes on economic policies will be key to building a contrasting vision for the voters of the 9th District.

“Well, he’s been re-elected from a portion of our district, not the rest of the district. Most of the district has never voted for him or really seen him,” Green said. “To me, you’ve got a decade of not solving our district’s problems. 

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“He has voted against eliminating taxes on Social Security. He’s voted against eliminating taxes [on] overtime. He’s voted against eliminating tax on tips. To me, when you have the sort of affordability issue right now, those are not the right votes to take for this district. His values are also not aligned with our voters, as well. 

“You know, he voted to not prohibit transgender care. He’s also not done anything to stop insider trading for 10 years… and also, frankly, the democratic socialists are taking over the Democratic Party. You know, a vote for him is a vote for them, and I think that’s not what this district wants.”

The U.S. military has lost or sustained damage to at least 81 aircraft during the war with Iran — nearly double the number identified five months ago, according to a new government analysis that warns replacing some of the critical vehicles could strain the military’s ability to meet demands elsewhere.

The aircraft include some of the military’s most advanced fighters and critical support aircraft, as well as dozens of drones, the Congressional Research Service (CRS) noted in its report.

The tally is nearly double the 42 aircraft CRS identified in May as lost or damaged, although the increase partly reflects additional information becoming publicly available and does not mean all 39 additional aircraft were lost or damaged since that assessment.

ALARMING MISSILE REPORT DRAWS FORCEFUL RESPONSE FROM TRUMP AS IRAN WAR TESTS AMERICA’S ARSENAL

CRS, a nonpartisan arm of the Library of Congress that provides research and analysis to lawmakers and congressional committees, identified 12 F-15E Strike Eagles, an F-35A Lightning II, seven KC-135 refueling tankers, an E-3 Sentry airborne warning-and-control aircraft and 45 MQ-9 Reaper drones among those lost or damaged since Operation Epic Fury began on Feb. 28, 2026.

The body also warned that losses among aging, high-demand aircraft could create capability gaps or increase risk in other theaters, while production constraints and competing demands could affect how quickly the military rebuilds its capacity.

The 81 aircraft were lost or damaged through a mix of Iranian attacks, enemy fire, friendly fire, accidents and aircraft deliberately destroyed during rescue operations — though some damaged aircraft have since returned to service.

“We do not comment on reports from outside organizations or non-DOW battle damage assessments,” a Department of War official told Fox News Digital when reached for comment on the report.

HOW IRAN ATTACKS ARE FORCING THE PENTAGON TO RETHINK ITS DECADES-OLD MIDDLE EAST BASE STRATEGY

CRS cautioned that the tally could continue to change because of classification, ongoing combat operations and questions of attribution.

The new accounting comes more than eight months into a war that has strained U.S. weapons stockpiles and raised broader questions about how quickly the defense industrial base can replenish what the military is using. A Pentagon inspector general report last month found that the U.S. had spent an estimated $22.3 billion on munitions through June alone and warned of “strategic inventory shortfalls.”

The Congressional Budget Office estimated in September that replacing equipment lost through Aug. 1 could cost between $1.9 billion and $3.3 billion, depending on the Department of War’s replacement plans.

Drones account for more than half of the aircraft in the new tally. At least 45 MQ-9 Reapers have been lost in operations against Iran, according to CRS, along with three MQ-1 drones and an MQ-4C Triton.

But while drones drive much of the raw number, the report also points to losses and damage among scarcer, harder-to-replace aircraft.

An E-3 Sentry was damaged in an Iranian attack on Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia in March and was later reported to have sustained a “direct hit.” CRS specifically flagged the aging and limited E-3 fleet as an example of how losses among high-demand aircraft could create capability gaps or increase risks for U.S. forces in other theaters.

Iranian attacks have also inflicted damage on U.S. aircraft while they were on the ground at bases across the region. Five KC-135 tankers were reportedly damaged at Prince Sultan Air Base in March, while eight F-15Es sustained light damage during an Iranian strike on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan in September. The eight fighters were returned to service.

At least 18 U.S. service members have also died since the war began, though the Pentagon has divided those deaths between Operation Epic Fury and a separate category for the renewed fighting that began in July.

PENTAGON RACES TO BUY 10X MORE MISSILES AS IRAN WAR DWINDLES ARSENAL, THREATENS READINESS FOR CHINA AGGRESSION

Other losses illustrate the dangers surrounding recovery operations. Two MC-130J Commando II special operations aircraft were intentionally destroyed while supporting efforts to rescue the crew of a downed F-15E, while an HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopter was damaged during the same rescue effort. Four AH-6 Little Bird helicopters were later destroyed by U.S. forces during separate rescue operations, according to the Defense Department inspector general.

Three F-15Es were destroyed by friendly fire over Kuwait in the opening days of the war, while an F-35A was later damaged by Iranian ground fire over Iran.

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CRS said the losses could prompt Congress to examine whether the U.S. industrial base can replace aircraft quickly enough to meet military requirements. The report also pointed to a broader operational question: whether the losses reflect changes in Iran’s capabilities that require the U.S. to adjust its equipment, tactics or basing posture.

American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten drew backlash Wednesday after filming a video from a field near Newark’s Delaney Hall migrant detention facility, where she decried alleged conditions inside.

Weingarten’s video, filmed within view of the facility, comes as school-choice advocates have criticized her political activism while student academic performance remains below pre-pandemic levels — with one critic recently summing up the contrast as a desire to “dictate … policy on immigration while its own members’ students struggle with basic skills.”

“Dangerous rhetoric from politicians and activists demonizing our brave ICE officers has led to the over 8,000% increase in threats against DHS law enforcement who are heroically performing their congressionally mandated mission to remove criminal illegal aliens from communities across the country,” a DHS spokesperson told Fox News Digital when asked about Weingarten’s visit.

“Any claim that there are subprime conditions at ICE detention facilities is false,” the agency said.

ANTI-ICE PROTESTERS CLASH WITH AGENTS OUTSIDE NEW JERSEY DETENTION CENTER AS GOV SHERRILL DENIED ENTRY

Fox News Digital reached out to Weingarten through AFT for comment. In her video, Weingarten disputed DHS’ characterization of conditions at the facility:

“This is one of the most despicable things that our current government does,” Weingarten said as she was filmed pointing and gesticulating toward Delaney Hall.

“They put people — people have not committed any crimes — they are immigrants. They deport them, or they … detain them and deport them in conditions that are unimaginable.”

Weingarten, who grew up about 40 miles north of New York City in Nyack, New York, said her grandparents came to the U.S. seeking a better life, drawing a comparison to migrants detained at Delaney Hall.

“We saw families coming out [of Delaney] who had just visited their loved ones… They work hard. They play by the rules. They should not be detained or deported because we have a broken immigration system,” she claimed. “We should fix the immigration system, but the cruelty of this government right now is terrible.”

DHS said in response to Weingarten that its mission remains “straightforward” — enforcing laws on the books and protecting America’s national security.

“Being in detention is a choice. We encourage all illegal aliens to take control of their departure with the CBP Home App. The United States is offering illegal aliens $3,000 and a free flight to self-deport now,” the DHS spokesperson told Fox News Digital.

INSPECTION OF DELANEY HALL ICE FACILITY CONTRADICTS CLAIMS IN NEW JERSEY ATTORNEY GENERAL’S LAWSUIT

School-choice advocate Corey DeAngelis responded to Weingarten’s video by arguing that the union leader wants more illegal immigrants enrolled in public schools because their enrollment increases taxpayer funding.

“It’s time to overturn Plyler v Doe and stop forcing taxpayers to fund education for illegals,” DeAngelis tweeted, referencing a 1982 Supreme Court case wherein Eisenhower-appointed Justice William Brennan Jr. ruled for the majority that Texas could not deny undocumented school-age children access to free public education.

A 2026 Annie E. Casey Foundation analysis found that 47 states fared worse on its education index in 2024 than in 2019, with national declines in math proficiency, reading proficiency and preschool attendance. Weingarten has led AFT since 2008. She previously led New York City’s UFT from 1998 to 2009.

DeAngelis previously criticized Weingarten after she encouraged a boycott of Target over the Minnesota-based retailer’s response to ICE operations. DeAngelis wrote for the Heritage Foundation that AFT “wants to dictate corporate policy on immigration while its own members’ students struggle with basic skills. That mismatch should alarm every taxpayer and parent.”

WATCH: WEINGARTEN GESTURES WILDLY DURING ANTI-TRUMP RANT, LATER SAYS HE DRIVES HER TO DRINK

The clip of Weingarten drew criticism on X, including from users who argued that the teachers union leader was straying beyond education policy and into the immigration debate.

Other critics shared photos of Weingarten promoting her book “Why Fascists Fear Teachers.”

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“This is wild. Randi Weingarten is bad enough in her education related field (power, indoctrination, control) but now she is expanding into immigration,” another wrote.

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The clash comes as Weingarten and AFT have become increasingly involved in immigration fights beyond the classroom, including pressuring Target over ICE operations. Critics have pointed to persistent academic setbacks as evidence the union’s leadership should be focused on education, while AFT describes political activism and broader civil-rights advocacy as part of its mission alongside public education.

Fox News Digital also reached out to the Department of Education for comment.

The White House ripped Joe Biden after documents declassified by President Donald Trump on Monday revealed internal strife between the former president’s Department of Justice (DOJ) and the FBI’s Washington Field Office (WFO) before carrying out a raid on Mar-a-Lago in 2022.

In the months leading up to the raid, internal emails between FBI agents in the field office expressed frustration that the DOJ, led by then-Attorney General Merrick Garland, was unresponsive to their requests and unwilling to consider alternative options to raiding Trump’s estate in Palm Beach, Florida a year-and-a-half after he left office after his first term.

Fox News Digital exclusively reported on the internal emails, which show the FBI didn’t believe it had probable cause to execute the warrant, in December.

“Spying on political opponents is weaponization of law enforcement, plain and simple,” the White House said Tuesday. “This is further proof the Biden administration weaponized the DOJ to target political opponents. Those responsible must be held accountable.”

TODD BLANCHE REVEALS DOJ UNEARTHED CACHE OF JACK SMITH DOCUMENTS INSIDE FORGOTTEN ROOM

An email dated May 24, 2022, with the subject line “PE (Plasma Echo) Next steps – timeline preference – UNCLASSIFIED,” the special agent in charge of the counterintelligence division of the WFO sent an internal email detailing a proposed timeline for the investigation, ending with the execution of a search warrant. That target date was June 6 of that year. The raid would eventually take place on Aug. 8, 2022.

Another agent replied asking the first to loop the DOJ in on the timeline. What followed was skepticism that the raid was even necessary.

“[REDACTED] and I also agreed if there was a way to obtain the records via the [REDACTED], without the execution of the SW (search warrant), it would be preferable,” the special agent in charge said.

Another batch of internal emails from June 1-2, 2022, shows the FBI seeking a potential off-ramp from the investigation that was heading towards the execution of the raid.

“Even as we continue down the path towards a search warrant, WFO believes that a reasonable conversation with the former President’s attorney, [REDACTED], ought not to be discounted,” the email said. “At a minimum, even if the former President’s attorney is correct and that the documents were all declassified (or believed to be declassified), it can be reasonably argued that the documents remain sensitive and should be properly secured until the matter of classification is sorted out. This conversation could easily be accomplished at the same time that WFO presses forward with the investigation and continues building out the search warrant.”

JACK SMITH’S TRUMP PROBE SWEPT UP FOX NEWS, OTHER MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS AS INVESTIGATION WENT BEYOND LAWMAKERS

The emails noted that Trump’s defense attorneys would likely argue that the president has the absolute authority to declassify documents and expressed frustration that the DOJ, despite being asked, had not provided the FBI with a list of the charges they might file.

An internal email from July 13, 2022, less than a month before the raid, the assistant special agent in charge of the WFO said flatly that the FBI didn’t believe there was probable cause for the raid.

“WFO does not believe (and has articulated to DOJ CES), that we have established probable cause for the search warrant at Mar a Lago. DOJ has opined that they do, requesting the a wide scope including residence, office, storage space,” that email says.

The agent annoyedly continued by implying that the DOJ wasn’t interested in recovering the allegedly mishandled classified documents, intimating that there may have been an ulterior motive.

“Finally, if the goal is to identify and recover classified records quickly, so as to protect the information, the 5 weeks spent fixated on probable cause for a search warrant have been counterproductive,” the email said.

The agent offered other solutions to the raid, including re-interviewing Trump’s attorney and attempting to find other material witnesses.

BIDEN-ERA FBI TRACKED TRUMP FAMILY TRAVEL AND WILES’ CALLS WITH LAWYERS IN SECRET PROBE: DOCS

“A reasonable step would be to recontact the attorney and inquire about any further documents. WFO has made numerous suggestions to DOJ over the course of this investigation that the most expedient way to ensure recovery of all classified documents would be to go through [REDACTED]. DOJ has persistently disagreed.

Other documents declassified by the White House Monday showed that the FBI tapped now-White House chief of staff Susie Wiles’ phone and tracked the movements of Melania and Barron Trump.

The raid on Trump’s Florida estate was viewed as politically driven by many, as Trump was at the time mulling what became a successful bid for the presidency in 2024.

DOJ-appointed special counsel Jack Smith investigated the alleged retention of classified materials. Trump pleaded not guilty to all 37 felony charges from Smith’s probe, including willful retention of national defense information, conspiracy to obstruct justice and false statements.

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A superseding indictment charged Trump with three more alleged crimes: another count of willful retention of national defense information and two additional obstruction counts.

Trump pleaded not guilty, and Smith dropped after Trump won the 2024 presidential election.