Latest Anders Hagstrom News | 91��

Supreme Court hands GOP a redistricting win by striking down lower court block on Texas map

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 10:10:12 -0400

The Supreme Court handed down a victory for the Republican Party on Monday, striking down a lower court's ruling that had blocked Texas' plans for redrawing its congressional districts.

The court hung its order on reasoning from a previous ruling in Abbott v. League of United Latin American Citizens but did not elaborate. The three liberal justices, Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson, dissented.

The decision comes after the Supreme Court temporarily greenlit the state's map in December and California's map in February. Both states spearheaded the mid-cycle redistricting fights that have now been cropping up across the country. The high court's approval of both states' maps, giving Republicans and Democrats five-seat advantages, respectively, served to cancel each other's efforts out ahead of the 2026 midterms.

DOJ BACKS TEXAS IN SUPREME COURT FIGHT OVER REPUBLICAN-DRAWN MAP

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, had asked the Supreme Court last year to pause a three-judge panel's ruling in the Western District of Texas that found 2-1 that race was too much of a factor in its redraw and that the state had improperly attempted to pack Latino and Black voters into new districts.

The Department of Justice also chimed in, telling the high court to intervene and reverse the lower court decision, saying Texas' choice to change its map was driven by purely "partisan objectives," not racial objectives, which could violate the Voting Rights Act.

The voting and immigrant rights groups who challenged Texas and Abbott claimed that the map was an illegal racial gerrymander.

The high court granted a 6-3 temporary stay in December, finding in an unsigned order that the groups had committed "at least two serious errors," including that they did not extend the Texas legislature the "presumption of legislative good faith." Monday's decision by the Supreme Court to summarily reverse the lower court decision keeps the new Texas map alive indefinitely.

REAGAN-APPOINTED JUDGE TORCHES COLLEAGUES IN TEXAS MAP FIGHT

The second error, the justices said, was that the groups did not offer an alternative map that served Texas’ stated political needs.

The high court said in the December order that the lower court should also not have "interfered with an active primary campaign, causing much confusion and upsetting the delicate federal-state balance in elections."

In the dissent, Justice Elena Kagan, an Obama appointee, criticized the conservative majority for its "eagerness to playact a district court."

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

"This Court’s stay guarantees that Texas’s new map, with all its enhanced partisan advantage, will govern next year’s elections for the House of Representatives," Kagan wrote. "And this Court’s stay ensures that many Texas citizens, for no good reason, will be placed in electoral districts because of their race. And that result, as this Court has pronounced year in and year out, is a violation of the Constitution."

White House Correspondents' Dinner suspect checked into Hilton hotel one day before the shooting: sources

Sun, 26 Apr 2026 11:18:12 -0400

Suspected gunman Cole Allen checked into the Hilton Hotel hosting the White House Correspondents' Dinner on Friday, just one day before the event, sources told 91��.

Allen, 31, a computer scientist from Torrance, California, is accused of opening fire at the event where President Donald Trump was in attendance. Initial reports say Secret Service agents fired 3-4 shots, and Allen fired at least one.

The FBI is conducting a ballistics investigation at its lab in Quantico, and authorities are also working with credit card companies to go through purchases going back in time.

Authorities said Allen was initially talking with police, but he began refusing to speak as of Sunday morning.

NORTH CAROLINA MAN RECOUNTS SHOOTING AFTER TRUMP BANNER TORN FROM MOTHER’S YARD: 'SOME PEOPLE JUST SNAP'

Sources say Allen is scheduled for his initial court appearance sometime Monday.

Allen told law enforcement after his arrest Saturday night that he was targeting Trump administration officials, according to senior federal law enforcement sources.

Allen said he planned to "shoot Trump administration officials," the sources said.

TRUMP WOULD-BE ASSASSIN IN BUTLER HAD MASSIVE 'DIGITAL FOOTPRINT,’ ALLEGES COLUMNIST

Authorities have said Allen rushed a Secret Service checkpoint at the event at the Washington Hilton while armed with multiple weapons. He allegedly then opened fire, striking a Secret Service officer in his ballistic vest.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said on Sunday that authorities do not believe Allen worked with any accomplices. Trump said Saturday night that the shooter was a "lone wolf."

"Well, what President Trump said is that as of now we think that, that's what the police chief said as well," Blanche told NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday. "But this is an investigation that is 12 hours, 13 hours old, and so those facts can change, and they often do change. And if there's anybody else involved we will leave no stone unturned to find out everything we can about that."

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

"But from what we know right now, from what we know given what happened last night, and the evidence we've gathered so far, we don't believe anybody else was involved, but again, we have a lot of work left to do, and a lot of evidence left to go through and to collect," Blanche added.

91��' David Spunt contributed to this report.

Two gunmen suspected after Indiana University-area shooting leaves 9 injured, police say

Sun, 26 Apr 2026 08:55:38 -0400

Two men are believed to have fired shots during a large gathering near Indiana University in Bloomington early Sunday morning, leaving nine people injured, authorities said.

The violence broke out around 12:25 a.m. in the 400 block of East Kirkwood Avenue near a Five Guys restaurant, where Bloomington police were already monitoring a crowd estimated at 2,000 to 3,000 people following the annual "Little 500" cycling race, according to officials.

The incident stemmed from a fight between two women that escalated when multiple individuals drew weapons, police said.

"During the fight, multiple individuals can be seen drawing handguns and it is believed that two separate individuals fired their weapons," Bloomington Police Chief Mike Diekhoff said at a Sunday press conference. "At that point, everyone began running from the scene and officers rushed to the area to begin to look for victims."

ATTORNEYS FOR FAMILY OF FSU SHOOTING VICTIM CALL FOR TRANSPARENCY

Five victims were struck by gunfire or bullet fragments, while others were injured while fleeing the chaotic scene, suffering cuts and scrapes.

Those hit by gunfire or fragments included five women between the ages of 17 and 22, police said.

"All were treated and released except one who has been admitted and is in stable condition," Diekhoff said. "At this time, we are reviewing cellphone footage and video footage from nearby businesses."

Officials said none of the victims were Indiana University students, and the motive of the shooters remains unclear.

"The shooters were male," Diekhoff noted.

2 KILLED IN NORTH CAROLINA WHEN 'PLANNED' FIGHT ESCALATES INTO SHOOTING NEAR MIDDLE SCHOOL

INDIANA JUDGE SHOOTING LEAVES ‘LONG LIST’ OF POTENTIAL SUSPECTS DAYS INTO MANHUNT: DEFENSE ATTORNEY

He emphasized the shooting was not random, noting the gathering had been peaceful prior to the gunfire.

"At this time we will continue to investigate this and update on the status of the young woman who's still in the hospital and update the investigative leads that we have as we move forward," Diekhoff said.

Diekhoff said that authorities prepare extensively each year for the "Little 500," which draws large crowds from across the country.

"What we need to do is we need to make sure that we get the message out that guns aren't welcome, violence isn't welcome but coming and having a good time is," he said.

Bloomington Mayor Kerry Thomson condemned the violence, calling it "an incredibly sad day" for the community.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

"We condemn gun violence unequivocally in any form and my thoughts are with those that were injured last night," Thomson said.

The "Little 500" is considered the largest collegiate cycling race in the U.S., according to the Indiana University website.

The Bloomington Police Department did not immediately respond to 91�� Digital's request for comment.

Leavitt explains why Iran's seizure of two ships doesn't violate Trump's ceasefire

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 09:48:26 -0400

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt explained why President Donald Trump does not consider Iran's seizure of two ships in the Strait of Hormuz a violation of the ceasefire agreement.

Leavitt made the statement during an interview with 91��' Martha McCallum on Wednesday just hours after Iran captured the Greek and Mediterranean-flagged vessels.

"Does the seizure of two ships — as we said, they were Greek and Mediterranean-owned ships with cargo on them, and the reports are that Iran basically seized them and then moved them into Iranian waters. We don’t know what’s going to happen to these crews. We’re not sure where all of this is going. Does the president view that as a violation of the ceasefire?" McCallum asked.

"No, because these were not U.S. ships. These were not Israeli ships. These were two international vessels," Leavitt responded.

US FORCES ATTEMPTING TO BOARD SANCTIONED RUSSIAN-FLAGGED OIL TANKER IN NORTH ATLANTIC, SOURCES SAY

"And for the American media, who are sort of blowing this out of proportion to discredit the president’s facts that he has completely obliterated Iran’s conventional navy, these two ships were taken by speedy gunboats. Iran has gone from having the most lethal navy in the Middle East to now acting like a bunch of pirates. They don’t have control over the strait," she continued.

"This is piracy that we are seeing on display. And the naval blockade that the United States has imposed continues to be incredibly effective. And, to be clear, the blockade is on ships going to and from Iranian ports. And the point of this is the economic leverage that we maintain over Iran now. While there’s a ceasefire with respect to the military and kinetic strikes, Operation Economic Fury continues, and the crux of that is this naval blockade," she added.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps said the vessels, identified as the MSC Francesca and the Epaminondas, were operating without proper authorization and had tampered with navigation systems, accusations that could not be independently verified. The ships had earlier reported coming under fire near the strait, underscoring the increasingly volatile conditions in one of the world’s most critical shipping lanes.

US 'LOCKED AND LOADED' TO DESTROY IRAN’S 'CROWN JEWEL' 'IF WE WANT,' TRUMP WARNS

The Guard attacked a third ship, identified as the Euphoria, which had become "stranded" on the Iranian coast, Iranian media reported. It did not seize that vessel.

Both the U.S. and Iranian sides have targeted commercial and cargo vessels as part of a broader pressure campaign tied to stalled negotiations. U.S. forces have also moved to seize at least one Iranian-linked vessel in the region, with each side accusing the other of violating the terms of a fragile ceasefire.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

The Strait of Hormuz is a vital artery for global oil shipments, with roughly 20% of the world’s supply passing through it. Traffic has slowed dramatically as ships reroute or avoid the area amid gunfire, seizures and conflicting directives from both militaries.

91��' Morgan Phillips contributed to this report.

Trump admin loosens regulations on state-licensed medical marijuana

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 08:34:03 -0400

President Donald Trump's administration is reclassifying state-licensed marijuana as a "less-dangerous" drug, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced Thursday.

Blanche signed an order reclassifying FDA-approved and state-licensed marijuana from Schedule I – reserved for drugs like heroin – to the less strict Schedule III.

"The Department of Justice is delivering on President Trump’s promise to expand Americans’ access to medical treatment options," Blanche said in a statement.

"This rescheduling action allows for research on the safety and efficacy of this substance, ultimately providing patients with better care and doctors with more reliable information," he said.

MIKE TYSON URGES TRUMP TO DELIVER ON CANNABIS REFORM AFTER BIDEN'S 'FAILED' PLEDGE

Blanche noted that the order does not yet apply to marijuana generally, but said the order initiates "a new, expedited hearing with set deadlines, to fully reschedule marijuana."

Blanche's order comes just days after President Donald Trump signed another executive order Saturday expediting the review of some psychedelic drugs as potential therapy treatments.

"The executive order I'm signing, we're actually signing the executive order today, is really a moment," Trump said. "These treatments are currently in the advanced stages of clinical trials to ensure that they're both safe and effective for the American patients."

VETERANS CROSS BORDER FOR FORBIDDEN PSYCHEDELIC TREATMENT THAT'S CHANGING LIVES AFTER COMBAT

The president said the executive order would implement "historic reforms to dramatically accelerate access to new medical research and treatments based on psychedelic drugs."

"In many cases, these experimental treatments have shown life-changing potential for those suffering from severe mental illness and depression, including our cherished veterans," Trump said, citing the veteran suicide rate.

DEMENTIA RISK COULD BE TIED TO YOUR MINDSET AND OUTLOOK ON LIFE, STUDY SUGGESTS

"And the nice part is we're actually doing this early, but it has been going on. Research has been going on for quite some time. But, you know, usually with things like this, nothing ever happens, no matter how the research ends up, but we're changing that. This order will clear away unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles, improve data sharing among the FDA and the Department of Veterans Affairs, and facilitate fast rescheduling of any psychedelic drugs that become FDA approved," Trump continued.

The president said, "in 2024, a study from Stanford University, 30 special operation veterans with traumatic brain injuries underwent — it's called ibogaine treatment — ibogaine, remember the name," noting that they "experienced an 80 to 90% reduction in symptoms of depression and anxiety within one month."

A paper published in the journal Chronic Stress said ibogaine is a "psychoactive indole alkaloid which is extracted from the Tabernanthe iboga rainforest shrub and has been used for centuries in Central Africa for initiatory rituals."

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

"Ibogaine treatment is reported to alleviate a spectrum of mood and anxiety symptoms and is associated with self-reported improvements in cognitive functioning in individuals with substance-use disorders. During treatment, ibogaine allows the evocation and reprocessing of traumatic memories and occasions therapeutic and meaningful visions of spiritual and autobiographical content, which are of central relevance in addressing PTSD-related psychological content," it added.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Xavier Becerra pressed on 'rumors' he knew about Eric Swalwell's alleged misconduct during CA governor debate

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 08:45:59 -0400

California gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra faced scrutiny over his knowledge of former Rep. Eric Swalwell's alleged sexual misconduct during Wednesday's night's California gubernatorial debate.

Becerra, who served as Health and Human Services secretary under former President Joe Biden, was asked about recent comments in which he said he had heard "rumors" of Swalwell's actions. Swalwell dropped out of the California race and resigned from Congress over the scandal.

"Mr. Becerra, you were chair of the Democratic Caucus when Eric Swalwell was elected to Congress. You said in a recent interview that, quote, 'Many of us heard the rumors.' What rumors did you hear? And should you have pursued the rumors as a member of Democratic leadership?" NewsNation host Nikki Laurenzo asked.

"Thanks, Nikki. Yeah, you hear rumors all the time about all sorts of things. Rumors are not facts," Becerra responded. "And the, the caucus, the Democratic caucus is not a place that adjudicates those things. It's law enforcement that does. If someone had come forward, we could then have investigations."

CALIFORNIA DEMOCRATS DISTANCE THEMSELVES FROM FAMED PRO-UNION ACTIVIST AFTER BOMBSHELL REPORT

The debate came as Swalwell was hit with a fresh ethics complaint urging the Justice Department to investigate whether he leveraged his position in Congress to promote a startup business he was running on the side with his chief of staff.

Swalwell has also been accused by multiple women of sexual misconduct in recent weeks, allegations he has denied despite conceding he has made poor choices in his past with women.

The Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust (FACT), a conservative ethics watchdog, filed a complaint Wednesday calling on the Justice Department's Office of Congressional Conduct to investigate allegations Swalwell was personally pitching Findraiser, an artificial intelligence political fundraising tool, to Democratic lawmakers, staff and campaigns.

ERIC SWALWELL CAMPAIGN PAID HOTEL WHERE ACCUSER LONNA DREWES CLAIMS ASSAULT TOOK PLACE

Included in FACT's complaint is Yardena Wolf, Swalwell's former chief of staff and also the co-founder of Findraiser. Wolf eventually left her chief of staff role to lead Swalwell's now defunct gubernatorial campaign.

Swalwell already is facing multiple investigations related to sexual misconduct allegations, including from the Los Angeles County District Attorney, Manhattan District Attorney and the Justice Department.

Prior to sexual misconduct allegations against him coming to light earlier in April, the former member of Congress also was facing heat for his behavior on Capitol Hill as it pertained to promoting Findraiser.

One Democratic operative reportedly told news outlet NOTUS that Swalwell was "peddling the s--- out of" Findraiser on Capitol Hill.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

NOTUS released a pair of reports in March, one of which cited Federal Election Commission data that showed the artificial intelligence-powered political fundraising tool was getting business from some of Swalwell's longtime political allies, including Sens. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., and Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz.

91��' Alec Schemmel contributed to this report.

Trump says Israel, Lebanon agree to 10-day ceasefire

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 11:50:22 -0400

Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a 10-day ceasefire, President Donald Trump announced on Thursday.

Trump's announcement comes after a Lebanese official told 91�� that Lebanese President Joseph Aoun would not speak to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu until a ceasefire had been established.

"I just had excellent conversations with the Highly Respected President Joseph Aoun, of Lebanon, and Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, of Israel. These two Leaders have agreed that in order to achieve PEACE between their Countries, they will formally begin a 10 Day CEASEFIRE at 5 P.M. EST," Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.

"On Tuesday, the two Countries met for the first time in 34 years here in Washington, D.C., with our Great Secretary of State, Marco Rubio. I have directed Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Rubio, together with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Dan Razin' Caine, to work with Israel and Lebanon to achieve a Lasting PEACE. It has been my Honor to solve 9 Wars across the World, and this will be my 10th, so let's, GET IT DONE!" he added.

IRAN THREATENS TO END CEASEFIRE OVER HEZBOLLAH'S EXCLUSION FROM TRUCE DEAL

The ceasefire comes after Israeli and Lebanese officials met with Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the White House this week. Aoun also spoke with both Rubio and Trump in separate phone calls on Wednesday.

According to the Lebanese presidency's official X account, Aoun thanked Trump for his efforts to secure a ceasefire in Lebanon and achieve what it described as a lasting peace and stability that could pave the way for a broader regional peace process.

Aoun, who previously served as commander of Lebanon's U.S.-backed armed forces before becoming president last year, said an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon would be a necessary first step before Lebanese troops could fully deploy to the border region.

HEZBOLLAH, IRAN UNLEASH COORDINATED CLUSTER BOMB STRIKES ON ISRAEL IN MAJOR ESCALATION

The diplomatic dispute comes as the White House presses for a broader deal to end the regional war that erupted after the Lebanon-based, Iran-backed Hezbollah terror group entered the conflict on March 2 in support of Tehran.

Hezbollah's intervention opened a new front in Lebanon just 15 months after the last major Israel-Hezbollah war.

Pakistan, which helped mediate the April 8 ceasefire between Israel and Iran, said ending the fighting in Lebanon is essential to preserving that agreement.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

"Peace in Lebanon is essential for peace talks," Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesman Tahir Andrabi said.

91��' Efrat Lachter contributed to this report.

Hegseth warns Iranian leaders to 'choose wisely' on deal with US: 'We are locked and loaded'

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 08:14:33 -0400

War Secretary Pete Hegseth warned Iranian leaders to "choose wisely" on whether to accept a peace deal with the U.S. on Thursday.

Hegseth made the comments during a press briefing at the Pentagon, saying the U.S. military is "locked and loaded" and prepared to strike Iran's energy infrastructure.

"We'll start with a message to Iran's military leadership," Hegseth said. "We're watching you. Our capabilities are not the same, our military and yours. Remember, this is not a fair fight, and we know what military assets you are moving and where you are moving them to while you are digging out, which is exactly what you're doing. Digging out of bombed out and devastated facilities."

"We are only getting stronger. You are digging out your remaining launchers and missiles with no ability to replace them. You have no defense industry, no ability to replenish your offensive or defensive capabilities. You only have what you have. You know that. And we know that you can move things around, but you can't actually rebuild. You can dig out for now, but you can't reconstitute. But we can," he said.

TRUMP DETAILS SWEEPING 'ALL OR NOTHING' BLOCKADE OF STRAIT OF HORMUZ AFTER FAILED IRAN TALKS

"If Iran chooses poorly, they will have a blockade and bombs dropping on infrastructure, power and energy," Hegseth added.

IRAN THREATENS TO HALT RED SEA TRAFFIC IN RESPONSE TO US MILITARY BLOCKADE OF PORTS

Hegseth was joined at Thursday's briefing by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine and U.S. Central Command Commander Adm. Brad Cooper, who recently returned from the front lines.

Hegseth said Cooper is making sure the U.S. military "continues to implement an ironclad blockade and ensures that our forces are maximally postured to restart combat operations should this new Iranian regime choose poorly and not agree to a deal."

"We are reloading with more power than ever before and better intelligence, even more importantly, better intelligence than ever before," he said in his message to Iran.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

"As you expose yourself with your movement to our watchful eye, we are locked and loaded on your critical dual-use infrastructure, on your remaining power generation and on your energy industry. We'd rather not have to do it, but we're ready to go at the command of our president and at the push of a button," he also said.

This is a developing story. Check back soon for updates.

Poll finds sharp rise in young men calling religion 'very important'

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 07:17:55 -0400

America's young men are increasingly turning to religion and professing that it is taking a more central role in their lives, according to a new Gallup poll.

The poll released Wednesday found that 42% of men under 30 years old now profess that religion is "very important" to them. That number is up from 28% from a poll conducted in 2023.

The data is also significant in showing a reversal of the traditional gender gap in religiosity. For older age groups, women consistently report higher levels of religiosity than men, but women in the under-30 group have remained with just 30% saying religion is "very important."

"The percentage of young men saying religion is very important to them is now similar to the percentage for men aged 30–49 and only slightly lower than for senior men," Gallup wrote.

TRUMP RETURNS TO NATIONAL PRAYER BREAKFAST AS FAITH TAKES CENTER STAGE IN SECOND TERM

"Young women, by contrast, are now by far the least religious women. At 29% calling religion very important, women aged 18–29 trail the next-least religious group, 30- to 49-year-old women, by 18 points and are less than half as likely as senior women to say religion is very important," Gallup said.

The poll also found a spike in young men saying they attend a religious service on at least a monthly basis, jumping from 33% in 2023 to 40% in 2025.

The growth in church attendance and religiosity is most apparent among young Republicans politically, rising from 40% in 2019 to 52% in 2025. That number is still well below the 60% of Republican men who said they attended church monthly in 2007.

Democratic young men have continuously dropped in church attendance since 2000, according to the polling data. In 2000, 40% of Democratic men reported church attendance, compared to just 26% in the latest poll.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Gallup's data on the importance of religion is based on 4,015 interviews with U.S. adults, including 295 men under 30 and 145 women under 30. The data on church attendance is based on reports from over 26,000 U.S. adults, including 1,905 men under 30 and 832 women under 30.

IDF uncovers Hezbollah weapons stash inside hospital in Lebanon

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 09:12:16 -0400

Israeli forces say they discovered a Hezbollah weapons stash inside a hospital in Lebanon this weekend.

The Israel Defense Forces carried out the operation in Lebanon's Bint Jbeil municipality. Images shared with 91�� show weapons, ammunition and explosives that Israel says were found within a hospital in the area.

The IDF says it eliminated "approximately 20 terrorists" inside the hospital compound after Hezbollah was detected conducting surveillance and firing upon IDF troops from a window of the hospital.

"The Hezbollah terrorist organization systematically and repeatedly used the hospital compound and its immediate surroundings for military purposes, constituting a serious violation of international law," the IDF said in a statement.

VANCE WARNS IRAN WILL 'FIND OUT' TRUMP IS 'NOT ONE TO MESS AROUND' IF CEASEFIRE DEAL FALLS APART

"The IDF operates in accordance with international law, and clarified prior to the operation to the relevant Lebanese authorities that all military activity within hospitals in Lebanon must cease, and disseminated these warnings through various channels. Despite this, Hezbollah continued to use the hospital for military activity," the IDF said in a statement.

Israel has continued operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon amid a ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran this week.

GEN JACK KEANE 'SKEPTICAL' THAT IRAN CEASEFIRE WILL HOLD, WARNS TEHRAN WILL 'DELAY AND OBFUSCATE'

The operation comes after U.S. talks with Iranian officials failed to make progress this weekend in Pakistan.

Speaking during a press conference from the Serena Hotel in Islamabad, Pakistan, Vice President JD Vance said Iran has "chosen not to accept our terms."

"The bad news is that we have not reached an agreement," Vance said. "And I think that's bad news for Iran much more than it's bad news for the United States of America."

The vice president said talks with Iranian officials lasted 21 hours, describing them as "substantive discussions," but adding the U.S. was unwilling to compromise on its "red lines."

"So we go back to the United States, having not come to an agreement. We've made very clear what our red lines are, what things we're willing to accommodate them on and what things we're not willing to accommodate them on," Vance added. "And we've made that as clear as we possibly could, and they have chosen not to accept our terms."

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

91�� Digital asked Vance if he had been in contact with President Donald Trump during the talks, and the vice president said he had been "consistently."

"I don't know how many times we talked to him — a half dozen times, a dozen times over the past 21 hours," Vance said, adding that the U.S. team was also communicating with other members of the Trump administration, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.

91��' Preston Mizell contributed to this report.

US Navy requesting $3B to replenish Tomahawk missiles used in Iran war

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 14:43:51 -0400

The U.S. Navy is requesting $3 billion in additional funding to replenish its stores of Tomahawk missiles after depleting its stores in the war against Iran.

The Navy made the order as part of the Pentagon's wider $1.5 trillion budget request for 2027 released this week. The Tomahawk missile request represents a 1,200% increase in production compared to last year.

Last year, Congress approved the Navy to purchase 58 of the missiles at a total price of $257 million. This year's request is enough to finance 785 missiles.

According to a report from the Washington Post last month, the U.S. had launched at least 850 Tomahawk missiles since the war against Iran began on Feb. 28.

IRAN CONFLICT COULD BE PUSH GOP NEEDS FOR 2ND 'BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL'

The Pentagon says its wider $1.5 trillion budget request is needed to address growing threats from China, Russia and other adversaries.

The request includes about $1.1 trillion in base discretionary funding for the Department of War, along with an additional $350 billion in mandatory funding to support priorities such as munitions production and expansion of the defense industrial base.

If enacted, the plan would represent one of the largest increases in U.S. defense spending in decades, though the total includes a mix of discretionary funding and mandatory resources that are not typically combined in standard Pentagon budget comparisons.

A-10 WARTHOG GIVEN NEW MARITIME ROLE TARGETING BOATS IN IRAN AFTER EFFORTS TO RETIRE AIRCRAFT

The budget places heavy emphasis on rebuilding weapons stockpiles and strengthening domestic manufacturing capacity, areas that defense officials have identified as key vulnerabilities in recent years.

Shipbuilding is another major focus, with $65.8 billion requested to procure 18 Navy battle force ships and 16 non-battle force vessels as part of a broader effort to expand maritime capacity.

The proposal also continues funding for the "Golden Dome" missile defense system, which aims to develop a layered homeland defense using space-based sensors and interceptors.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

The budget also highlights investments in artificial intelligence, drones and counter-drone systems, and next-generation aircraft, including continued development of the F-47 — a sixth-generation fighter designed to operate alongside autonomous systems — with the program targeting a first flight as early as 2028.

Leavitt rebukes media outlets running with Iranian narratives on 10 demands

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 14:22:24 -0400

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt rebuked media outlets for running with an Iranian narrative that President Donald Trump had agreed to a wildly slanted 10-point peace plan from Tehran on Wednesday.

Leavitt made the comments while speaking to reporters at a press conference, saying the version of the 10-point plan Iran had released publicly was very different from the one Trump and the U.S. had agreed to.

"So let me be clear and correct the record," Leavitt said. "The Iranians originally put forward a 10-point plan that was fundamentally unserious, unacceptable and completely discarded. It was literally thrown in the garbage by President Trump and his negotiating team," Leavitt said.

"Many outlets in this room have falsely reported on that plan as being acceptable to the United States. And that is false," she added.

WHITE HOUSE ERUPTS OVER CNN REPORT CLAIMING TRUMP TEAM UNDERESTIMATED IRAN RESPONSE ON HORMUZ

Leavitt said negotiations with Iran are taking place behind closed doors, and she did not offer details about the version of the agreement that Trump described as "workable" prior to the Tuesday night truce.

The plan Iran released publicly makes several eyebrow-raising demands, including that the U.S. end all primary and secondary sanctions against Tehran. The plan also demands that Iran gain full control over the Strait of Hormuz, something it did not enjoy even before the war began.

The plan also demands compensation for damage sustained by Iran during the war and a full withdrawal of U.S. forces from the Middle East.

TRUMP’S APOCALYPTIC IRAN WARNING RAISES STAKES FOR SWEEPING US STRIKE THREAT

Trump publicly blasted that version of the plan in a statement on Wednesday.

"Numerous Agreements, Lists, and Letters are being sent out by people that have absolutely nothing to do with the U.S.A. / Iran Negotiation, in many cases, they are total Fraudsters, Charlatans, and WORSE," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

"There is only one group of meaningful "POINTS" that are acceptable to the United States, and we will be discussing them behind closed doors during these Negotiations. These are the POINTS that are the basis on which we agreed to a CEASEFIRE," Trump wrote.

Iran revealed a 10-point plan for peace with the US--Here's what's in it

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 11:44:49 -0400

The U.S. and Iran have agreed to a two-week ceasefire as both sides engage in talks to secure a wider peace agreement Wednesday.

Iran has proposed a 10-point plan and shared it with President Donald Trump, who said it represents a "workable basis on which to negotiate." The White House says that plan differs with the one Iranian officials released to the public on Wednesday, however, according to the New York Times.

The publicly available plan demands that the U.S. end all primary and secondary sanctions against Tehran, as well as that Iran receive full control over the Strait of Hormuz. The plan also demands an end to U.S. attacks on Iran and its allies, a withdrawal of U.S. forces from the Middle East, the release of frozen Iranian assets and a United Nations resolution stating that the agreement will be binding.

The U.S. would also have to compensate Iran for damage incurred during the war and accept Iran's right to enrich uranium, according to the plan.

TRUMP TELLS 'STRANGE' IRANIAN NEGOTIATORS TO 'GET SERIOUS SOON' OR 'IT WON'T BE PRETTY'

In exchange, Iran would commit not to build nuclear weapons and enter into peace agreements with its regional neighbors.

Trump distanced himself from the plan released to the public on Wednesday.

Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian claimed on Tuesday that the U.S. had accepted the "general principles desired by Iran."

The public plan already has critics within the U.S., however, and some of Trump's allies have voiced opposition to key portions.

TRUMP’S APOCALYPTIC IRAN WARNING RAISES STAKES FOR SWEEPING US STRIKE THREAT

"The supposed negotiating document, in my view, has some troubling aspects, but time will tell. I look forward to the architects of this proposal, the Vice President and others, coming forward to Congress and explaining how a negotiated deal meets our national security objectives in Iran," said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.

"Allowing this regime to enrich in the future would be an affront to all those murdered by the regime since this war started and would be inconsistent with denying Iran a pathway toward a bomb in the future," he added.

Trump has already confirmed that the U.S. will not agree to certain parts of Iran's proposed deal, referencing the country's nuclear program in particular on Wednesday.

Trump said Iran has agreed to allow the U.S. to "dig up and remove" the country's enriched uranium at the site where Operation Midnight Hammer struck last year.

"The United States will work closely with Iran, which we have determined has gone through what will be a very productive Regime Change! There will be no enrichment of Uranium," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

"It is now, and has been, under very exacting Satellite Surveillance (Space Force!). Nothing has been touched from the date of attack. We are, and will be, talking Tariff and Sanctions relief with Iran," Trump wrote.

Hegseth declares 'decisive military victory' over Iran

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 08:18:56 -0400

War Secretary Pete Hegseth declared a "decisive military victory" in Iran on Wednesday after President Donald Trump agreed to a two-week truce.

Hegseth made the comments during a press conference at the Pentagon, telling reporters that the War Department had succeeded in decimating Iran's military capabilities.

"This morning, a big day for world peace. Iran wants it to happen. They've had enough. Operation Epic Fury was a historic and overwhelming victory on the battlefield. A capital V," Hegseth said.

"In less than 40 days, one of our combatant commands…CENTCOM, using less than 10% of America's total combat power, dismantled one of the world's largest militaries," he continued. "The world's leading state sponsor of terrorism proved utterly incapable of defending itself, its people or its territory.

IRAN'S TALLEST BRIDGE COLLAPSES AFTER REPORTED US AIRSTRIKES, IRAN THREATENS AMERICAN ALLIES IN RETALIATION

"We utilized just a fraction of our strength, and Iran suffered a devastating military defeat. Together with our Israeli partners. America's military achieved every single objective on plan, on schedule, exactly as laid out from day one," he said.

Hegseth went on to say that Iran had been "obsessed" with attacks on the USS Abraham Lincoln, firing hundreds of missiles and drones as the vessel.

"Every single one of those shots easily shot down, miles and miles away from the Abe Lincoln. They were blowing ammo into Fantasy land," Hegseth said.

Trump agreed to a two-week truce with Iran on Tuesday night, saying Iran had agreed to open the Strait of Hormuz while wider negotiations continue.

U.S. troops will remain in the region to enforce the ceasefire as talks are ongoing.

TRUMP REVEALS IRAN MADE 'SIGNIFICANT PROPOSAL' AFTER ULTIMATUM, BUT 'NOT GOOD ENOUGH'

In a Truth Social post early Wednesday, Trump suggested Iran was ready to reach a peace agreement and said the U.S. would help manage traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.

"A big day for World Peace! Iran wants it to happen, they’ve had enough! Likewise, so has everyone else! The United States of America will be helping with the traffic buildup in the Strait of Hormuz," Trump wrote. "There will be lots of positive action! Big money will be made. Iran can start the reconstruction process."

Trump said the U.S. will be "loading up with supplies of all kinds, and just ‘hangin’ around’ in order to make sure that everything goes well." He added, "I feel confident that it will."

"Just like we are experiencing in the U.S., this could be the Golden Age of the Middle East!!!" Trump added.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Trump later referenced a 15-point peace agreement the U.S. is negotiating for. Iran has previously proposed a 10-point plan.

91��' Michael Sinkewicz contributed to this report.

Vance warns Iran will 'find out' Trump is 'not one to mess around' if ceasefire deal falls apart

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 07:42:14 -0400

Vice President JD Vance says the current ceasefire with Iran is "fragile" but could hold if Tehran negotiates in good faith.

Vance made the comments during a conference in Hungary on Wednesday, saying President Donald Trump won't hesitate to use drastic tools if Iran breaks the truce. Trump has agreed to a two-week ceasefire predicated on Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

"This is why I say this is a fragile truce," Vance said. "You have people who clearly want to come to the negotiating table and work with us to find a good deal, and then you have people who are lying about even the fragile truce that we've already struck."

"If the Iranians are willing in good faith to work with us, I think we can make an agreement," Vance continued. "If they're going to lie, if they're going to cheat, if they're going to try to prevent even the fragile truce that we've set up from taking place, that they're not going to be happy."

TRUMP TO ADDRESS NATION ABOUT IRAN AS HE SIGNALS WAR COULD END WITHIN WEEKS

"What the president has also shown is that we still have clear military, diplomatic and, maybe most importantly, we have extraordinary economic leverage," he added. "So the President has told us not to use those tools. He's told us to come to the negotiating table. But if the Iranians don't do the exact same thing, they're going to find out that the president of the United States is not one to mess around. He's impatient. He's impatient to make progress."

News of the truce came Tuesday night, barely an hour before Trump's 8 p.m. ET deadline, at which he had threatened to begin targeting Iranian energy infrastructure.

The president said the postponement is subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to "the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz."

VANCE SAYS IRAN HAS '2 PATHWAYS' AS 12-HOUR DEADLINE LOOMS, PRAYS US ON 'GOD'S SIDE' IN NIXING NUCLEAR THREAT

The administration also received a 10-point proposal from Iran for a wider peace deal, and officials "believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate."

The Supreme National Security Council of the Islamic Republic of Iran responded in a statement, thanking Pakistani mediators for their "tireless efforts" to end the war in the region, and agreeing to cease defensive operations if attacks against Iran are halted.

For a period of two weeks, Iran said safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz "will be possible via coordination with Iran's Armed Forces" and with "due consideration of technical limitations."

MARCO RUBIO WARNS IRAN WANTED TO BE THE 'NEXT NORTH KOREA' AS HE SEES 'FINISH LINE' IN CONFLICT

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif wrote in a statement the ceasefire will apply "everywhere," including Lebanon, effective immediately.

"I warmly welcome the sagacious gesture and extend deepest gratitude to the leadership of both the countries and invite their delegations to Islamabad on Friday, 10th April 2026, to further negotiate for a conclusive agreement to settle all disputes," Sharif said. "Both parties have displayed remarkable wisdom and understanding and have remained constructively engaged in furthering the cause of peace and stability. We earnestly hope, that the ‘Islamabad Talks’ succeed in achieving sustainable peace and wish to share more good news in coming days!"

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Further talks between the U.S. and Iran are set to begin on Friday.

91��' Alexandra Koch contributed to this report.

Supreme Court declines to hear 'Tiger King' Joe Exotic's challenge after murder-for-hire conviction

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 10:04:06 -0400

The U.S. Supreme Court declined to review the case of Joseph Maldonado-Passage, commonly known as Joe Exotic, a pop culture icon from Netflix's "Tiger King" documentary on Monday. The case stems from his conviction for a murder-for-hire plot.

Maldonado-Passage is currently serving a 21-year prison sentence for the conviction, which he is seeking to have overturned. He has also repeatedly called on President Donald Trump to pardon him, claiming there were issues with his trial.

Maldonado-Passage lost his last appeal before the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in July.

"I lost my appeal for a new trial today. The United States Government wants me to die in prison even though they know their witnesses were lying under Oath," he wrote in a post on X at the time. "In fact, their witnesses all admitted to perjury on world television on season 2 of Tiger King."

‘TIGER KING’ JOE EXOTIC PLANS TO MARRY FELLOW INMATE IN PRISON, HOPES THEY 'CAN WALK OUT’ TOGETHER

He followed up the statement with a request for a pardon from Trump.

"Make this right and allow me to go home," he wrote. "8 years of my life I have lost."

BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP SUPPORTERS GET THE LAW WRONG BY IGNORING OBVIOUS EVIDENCE

Maldonado-Passage was convicted in 2019 of hiring two men to kill Carole Baskin, another prominent character in the viral documentary who had criticized his big cat zoo for years.

He sought a retrial in 2023, claiming new evidence had come forward and that witnesses had recanted their testimonies. That effort failed at the district level when U.S. District Judge Scott Palk noted that Maldonado-Passage's own words had served as "the most credible and damning evidence" against him.

Maldonado-Passage last made national headlines in April last year, when announced he had married one of his fellow inmates at the Federal Medical Center in Fort Worth, Texas. The 62-year-old shared details of his romance with Jorge Marquez Flores in an interview with 91�� Digital from prison in 2024.

JUSTICE JACKSON AUTHORS UNANIMOUS SCOTUS OPINION HANDING TRUMP AN IMMIGRATION WIN

"From the very day we met, we've spent every minute of every day together," he said. "And it just clicked so fast and so sincere, and it's amazing.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

"I wished I would have met Jorge months ago or a couple of years ago, but God had a plan, I guess."

GOP senator launches effort to close Medicaid loophole allowing fraudsters to rake in millions

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 10:20:20 -0400

Sen. Ashley Moody, R-Fla., is introducing new legislation aimed at closing a legal loophole protecting the beneficiaries of Medicaid fraud from prosecution, 91�� Digital has learned.

Moody's STOP FRAUD in Medicaid Act is routed in her experience as Florida's attorney general, where she was limited to prosecuting Medicaid fraud only on the provider side. The legislation would grant state attorneys general and their Medicaid Fraud Control Units to investigate and prosecute the recipients of fraudulent benefits as well.

"I fought fraud as Florida’s Attorney General, recovering millions of dollars for taxpayers, and I’m fighting it now as a U.S. Senator: finding and closing gaps in our laws to increase enforcement," Moody said in a statement to 91�� Digital on Tuesday.

"The STOP FRAUD in Medicaid Act gives State AGs the authority to pursue and prosecute not just providers but recipients looking to bilk taxpayers. This will go a long way to winning our War on Fraud," the statement continued.

COMER TO SAY TIM WALZ 'ENABLED FRAUD,' FAILED WHISTLEBLOWERS IN BOMBSHELL MINNESOTA HEARING

Moody's office says federal prosecutors can go after fraud recipients under anti-kickback laws, but said federal groups often let the "small fish" skate by. Empowering MFCUs would go a long way toward picking up the slack, they say.

The proposed law could be particularly effective in states like Minnesota, where years of apparently rampant fraud has led to a quagmire of investigations and finger-pointing.

A new state audit investigating the fraud in Gov. Tim Walz's Minnesota revealed that the state's Department of Human Services (DHS) failed for years to properly investigate Medicaid kickback allegations.

SENATE DOGE LEADER MOVES TO FORCE ‘RECEIPT’ FOR EVERY TAX DOLLAR AFTER MINNESOTA FRAUD SCANDAL

Kickbacks were a key component of fraud schemes uncovered in the state’s autism services program, with prosecutors describing how providers used financial incentives to attract and retain families in order to maximize Medicaid billing, CBS News reported in December.

In one case, investigators said an autism center operator fraudulently billed millions while using tactics that included offering payments or benefits tied to enrollment, illustrating how kickbacks helped drive inflated claims and contributed to large-scale misuse of public funds intended for children with autism.

The audit recommended that DHS "should amend its administrative rule defining ‘fraud’ to clearly include kickbacks" and said the legislature should intervene if that doesn’t take place.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

In a press release, Minnesota House Fraud Prevention Committee Chair Kristin Robbins, a Republican state representative running for governor, wrote, "The continued lack of accountability for the rampant fraud in this state is astounding."

READ MOODY'S BILL – APP USERS, CLICK HERE:

91��' Andrew Mark Miller contributed to this report.

Schumer knocks Trump on Iran, plan to send ICE to airports: 'Asking for trouble'

Sun, 22 Mar 2026 14:30:59 -0400

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., condemned President Donald Trump's plan to deploy U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to U.S. airports on Sunday.

Schumer made the comments while speaking on the Senate floor Sunday, saying Trump's decision is "impulsive" and could make the situation at airports worse.

"Today, Donald Trump and [Tom] Homan are saying they will deploy ICE agents to airports starting on Monday. This is really disturbing. ICE agents who are untrained and have caused problems everywhere they've gone lurking at our airports. That's asking for trouble, and it will certainly make the chaos at the airports even worse," Schumer said.

"No one has any faith in ICE agents. They haven't received training. They don't know what it is to be a TSA person and do what you need to do," he continued. "And the real problem here is they have no plan for using these ICE agents. Trump says, send them there. They send them there. And Homan says they're still drawing up plans with less than a day's notice. What is this? We know what it is. It's another impulsive action by Donald Trump."

SCHUMER GAMBIT FAILS AS DHS SHUTDOWN HITS 36 DAYS AND AIRPORT LINES GROW

"Some idea pops into his head and he announces it. And then the people working for him, a few of whom do have some degree of talent and ability. Not many underlings. They have to rush to try and implement what they know is an idiotic plan," he said.

The ICE deployment is Trump's latest move in the battle with Democrats over funding for the Department of Homeland Security.

Schumer also used his time on the Senate floor Sunday to criticize Trump's actions in Iran.

"Donald Trump said, ‘you know, I may have a plan or I may not for a war,’" Schumer said. "There's people's lives are at stake. Billions are being spent on an almost daily basis. And he says, you know, ‘I may have a plan or I may not.’ These are the words of the commander in chief in the middle of a war involving one of the most dangerous regimes on Earth. ‘I have a plan, or I may not.’"

"That's unhinged and dangerous. Lives are on the line. The president says he may not even have a plan. Tens of billions are being wasted. No plan. Troops being killed and injured, no plan. Civilians being killed and injured. No plan. Gasoline costs $3.94 a gallon on average. And Trump, ‘I have no plan’," Schumer said.

Meanwhile, Schumer and his allies have refused to approve DHS funding without reforms to immigration enforcement.

TSA agents across the country have gone more than a month without a paycheck, with no clear end in sight.

Trump first threatened to deploy ICE to airports on Saturday, demanding that Democrats "immediately sign an agreement" to fund DHS.

DHS SHUTDOWN TRIGGERS TSA ‘EMERGENCY MEASURES’ AS LAWMAKER WARNS AIRPORTS COULD FEEL ECONOMIC PAIN

Airports across the country have reported huge numbers of employees calling out sick or not showing up for work. More than 400 TSA employees have quit their jobs.

"On Monday, ICE will be going to airports to help our wonderful TSA Agents who have stayed on the job despite the fact that the Radical Left Democrats, who are only focused on protecting hard-line criminals who have entered our Country illegally, are endangering the USA by holding back the money that was long ago agreed to with signed and sealed contracts, and all," Trump wrote Sunday on Truth Social.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Trump also predicted blowback from Democrats, saying they would complain "no matter how great a job ICE does."

Far-left activists stay in 5-star Cuban hotel as island suffers total blackout

Sun, 22 Mar 2026 12:33:39 -0400

Far-left activist groups and personalities flocked to Havana, Cuba, this week in an effort to protest the economic sanctions imposed on the country by President Donald Trump's administration.

The far-left group CodePink sponsored flights to the communist-led island, and the group was joined by Isra Hirsi, the daughter of Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., and left-wing Twitch streamer Hasan Piker, an ally of democratic socialist New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. The group has faced heavy backlash for staying in expensive hotels to meet with government officials even as Cuban residents go without electricity.

Trump imposed an oil blockade on Cuba earlier this year after the U.S. captured former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

Some delegates in the "Nuestra America Convoy," including Piker, were staying at the 5-star Gran Hotel Bristol Meliá Collection and similar resorts. Piker defended the move on social media, saying U.S. law required that they stay at the ritzy hotels.

CUBAN EXILES IN MIAMI SAY 'THIS IS THE END' FOR COMMUNISM AS ISLAND TEETERS ON COLLAPSE

"The American government makes it illegal for Americans to stay wherever they want when they're in Cuba," Piker told his followers. "They have to stay in what they've declared as 5-star hotels."

The claim received swift pushback on social media, with an X Community Note saying that U.S. law only prevents Americans from staying at venues owned by the Cuban government or its officials.

CodePink says it delivered thousands of pounds of aid to Cuba as part of the trip, which was organized by Cuban politician Mariela Castro and a nonprofit called Progressive International, according to the New York Post.

TRUMP TOUTS US HAS 'TREMENDOUS' AMOUNT OF VENEZUELAN OIL, VOWS TO 'TAKE CARE' OF CUBA AFTER IRAN FOCUS

The group's arrival to Cuba, and subsequent flood of social media videos, came the same weekend that The Cuban Electric Union announced a total blackout across the island on Saturday.

On Tuesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants, made comments about the island, saying "they have to get new people in charge" in Havana.

Meanwhile, Pentagon officials told lawmakers there are no plans to invade Cuba, even as they described it as a long-standing security concern.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Cuban officials have continued to blame U.S. sanctions for the country’s economic hardships, while analysts say the government is facing mounting pressure from ongoing blackouts, shortages of basic goods and growing public frustration.

91��' Amy Galo contributed to this report.

California sheriff seizes 650,000 ballots in defiance of state officials over election count dispute

Sun, 22 Mar 2026 12:07:44 -0400

A California sheriff and top Republican candidate for governor seized over 650,000 votes from the state's November elections this weekend.

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco launched an investigation into the state's November 2025 special election on Proposition 50 after a third-party organization, the Riverside Election Integrity Team, claimed it found roughly 45,000 excess votes. California elections officials have dismissed the team's findings, but Bianco says his office will conduct another count.

"This investigation is simple: Physically count the ballots and compare that result with the total votes recorded," Bianco told reporters at a Friday press conference.

Proposition 50 was a key proposal seeking to reform California's congressional districts. It was designed to favor Democrats in response to a similar effort by Republicans in Texas.

BIANCO SAYS ‘DEMOCRAT POLICY IS INDEFENSIBLE’ AS GOP CANDIDATES TOP CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR POLLING

Secretary of State Shirley Weber has argued Bianco has no authority to carry out a recount.

"The Riverside County Sheriff's Office has taken actions based on allegations that lack credible evidence and risk undermining public confidence in our elections," Weber told City News Service. "The sheriff's assertion that his deputies know how to count is admirable. The fact remains that he and his deputies are not elections officials, and they do not have expertise in election administration."

Riverside elections official Art Tinoco rejected the Riverside Election Integrity Team's findings earlier this month, saying the group had misinterpreted how votes are counted on Election Day.

GOP SHERIFF LEADING CALIFORNIA POLL RIPS NEWSOM’S ‘LOVE AFFAIR’ WITH CRIMINALS

Tinoco told county supervisors earlier this year that the initial intake logs by polling workers are meant to be estimates rather than exact tallies of how many votes were cast. Even so, he said the final tally was within 0.16%, or 103 votes, of the original estimate.

The Elections Integrity Team maintains their math is correct, however, and it was this disagreement that led Bianco to open an investigation of his own.

Bianco accused California Attorney General Bob Bonta, a Democrat, of intervening in the investigation. Bonta, however, says his office only sought to learn the basis of the probe.

"We have attempted to work cooperatively with the Sheriff’s Office in order to better understand the basis for their investigation, including by reviewing the warrants themselves and by requesting the Sheriff’s complete investigative file," Bonta's office told 91�� Digital on Sunday. "We made these requests pursuant to the Attorney General’s supervisory authority over county sheriffs."

"During this time, the Sheriff has delayed, stonewalled, and otherwise refused to work with us in good faith. To date, the Sheriff has failed to provide most of the requested documentation. But, what we have been able to learn raises serious questions about the merits of this investigation. We are especially concerned with legal deficiencies in the affidavits underlying the warrants, including the omission of material facts," his office added.

Bianco has also clashed on social media with Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., who is running for California governor as well.

Bianco said Friday that his office had received multiple letters from Bonta ordering him to cease the investigation, according to the Desert Sun.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

"The outrage that an investigation was happening was extremely concerning to me, especially coming from someone who claims to be a law enforcement officer that is, I’ve said this a minimum of a thousand times, he’s an embarrassment to law enforcement," Bianco said.

Bonta and Weber did not immediately respond to a request for comment from 91�� Digital.

Trump says ICE will deploy to airports Monday to assist TSA amid funding standoff

Sun, 22 Mar 2026 08:35:51 -0400

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents will begin assisting TSA agents at airports across the country on Monday, President Donald Trump says.

The move comes as Trump and Republicans battle with Democrats over funding for the Department of Homeland Security. TSA agents across the country have gone more than a month without a paycheck as Democrats hold up funding in hopes of securing immigration reforms.

"On Monday, ICE will be going to airports to help our wonderful TSA Agents who have stayed on the job despite the fact that the Radical Left Democrats, who are only focused on protecting hard line criminals who have entered our Country illegally, are endangering the USA by holding back the money that was long ago agreed to with signed and sealed contracts, and all," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

"But watch, no matter how great a job ICE does, the Lunatics leading the incompetent Dems will be highly critical of their work. THEY WILL DO A FANTASTIC JOB. The great Tom Homan is in charge!" he added.

AIR TRAVELERS ARE HACKING TSA LINES DURING HOURS-LONG MAJOR AIRPORT WAITS

Trump first threatened to deploy ICE to airports on Saturday, demanding that Democrats "immediately sign an agreement" to fund DHS.

TSA WARNS OF SECURITY 'THREAT' AS AIRPORT CHECKPOINT CLOSURES TRIGGER MORE TRAVEL DELAYS

TSA officers are considered essential employees and are required to report to work even during a shutdown, though pay can be delayed.

Airports across the country have reported huge numbers of employees calling out sick or not showing up for work. More than 400 TSA employees have quit their jobs.

Earlier Saturday, Elon Musk offered to cover the salaries of TSA personnel during the ongoing government funding standoff.

VIDEO CAPTURES CRAZY AIRPORT CROWDS AS PASSENGERS POUR INTO TERMINAL AFTER SECURITY CHECKPOINTS CLOSE

"I would like to offer to pay the salaries of TSA personnel during this funding impasse that is negatively affecting the lives of so many Americans at airports throughout the country," Musk wrote on X.

Major U.S. airports have experienced severe delays, with security wait times exceeding three hours in some cases, due to high TSA officer absenteeism. Hardest-hit airports include Houston (HOU, IAH), Atlanta (ATL), New Orleans (MSY), and Philadelphia (PHL).

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Footage from Philadelphia, shot early Thursday morning, showed hundreds of passengers waiting on elevators and escalators to clear a security checkpoint.

91��' Michael Dorgan contributed to this report.

Hawley launches investigation into abortion drug manufacturers over 'grave risks' to women

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 12:40:20 -0400

Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., is launching investigations into two mifepristone manufacturers that he says profited off the abortion drug despite evidence that it "poses grave risks to women."

Hawley notified the two companies, Danco Laboratories and GenBioPro, in letters addressed to the heads of the companies that were obtained by 91�� Digital. The letters notify company administrators that he is opening an investigation via the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism, which he chairs.

"Mounting evidence suggests that mifepristone poses grave risks to women. Yet your company has continued to profit from the widespread distribution of this drug even as serious questions have emerged about hemorrhage, infection, sepsis, and other dangerous complications associated with its use," Hawley wrote to both companies.

"Congress must determine what your company knew about the harms associated with mifepristone, when it knew it, what it told regulators, and what it may have failed to disclose to women and the public," he added.

PRO-LIFE GROUP URGES SENATE TO PRESS RFK JR. ON ABORTION PILL SAFETY, DEMAND SAFEGUARDS RETURN

The letters demand that the companies share documents relating to the investigation by April 24.

Those documents include all adverse event reports relating to mifepristone, relevant internal databases and a litany of other documents.

Neither company immediately responded to a request for comment from 91�� Digital.

The investigation comes roughly a week after Hawley introduced a new bill to strip FDA approval from mifepristone.

The new bill builds upon proposed legislation Hawley introduced last year that would ban mifepristone and allow women to sue manufacturers profiting from what the lawmaker deems an "inherently dangerous" drug.

The Safeguarding Women from Chemical Abortion Act was introduced in the Senate Tuesday and would prohibit the use of mifepristone for ending pregnancies.

SOUTH CAROLINA GOP LAWMAKERS INTRODUCE BILL TO CRIMINALIZE ABORTION AS MURDER

"The science is clear: The chemical abortion drug is inherently dangerous to women and prone to abuse. Yet major companies like Danco Laboratories are making billions off it," Hawley told 91�� Digital in a statement. "That's why I am introducing new legislation to ban the use of mifepristone for abortion and empower women to sue its manufacturers. Congress must act now to protect the health and safety of women."

If passed, the legislation would withdraw FDA approval for the drug and classify its distribution for abortion as a violation of federal law. In 2023, mifepristone was used in 63% of all abortions in the U.S., according to data from the Guttmacher Institute.

The Guttmacher Institute, a nonprofit research organization formerly affiliated with Planned Parenthood, also estimates there were 1,038,100 clinician-provided abortions in 2024. However, that figure accounts only for states without abortion bans and does not include abortions performed outside the formal healthcare system or in states where abortion laws differ.

Hawley raised concerns about the abortion pill last May when he introduced a separate bill that would direct the FDA to create safeguards on mifepristone, allowing women who suffered complications the right to sue telehealth providers and pharmacies for damages.

Research by the Ethics and Public Policy Center (EPPC) in Washington, D.C., showed the rate of side effects when using mifepristone is 22 times higher than indications from the FDA-approved drug label.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

The study revealed more than one in 10 women have reported experiencing "infection, hemorrhaging, or another serious or life-threatening adverse event."

READ THE LETTERS TO DANCO LABS AND GENBIOPRO – APP USERS, CLICK HERE AND HERE:

91��' Preston Mizell contributed to this report.

Georgia sheriff arrested on DUI charge after blood alcohol content was allegedly almost triple legal limit

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 14:15:57 -0500

A Georgia sheriff was arrested last week after he was allegedly found swerving "all over the roadway" in a county-issued vehicle.

Hall County Sheriff Gerald Couch had a blood alcohol content nearly three times the legal limit at the time of his arrest, which was 10:30 a.m. Feb. 27, police say. Hall was arrested and taken to jail, but he was released on bond that night.

According to a police report obtained by local Fox 5 Atlanta, a Hall County deputy recognized Couch's vehicle and said the sheriff "could not maintain lane at all."

Knowing it was his boss's vehicle, the deputy then reached out to the Georgia State Patrol and asked them to lead an investigation, though he continued following the vehicle, the outlet reported.

ATLANTA-AREA POLICE BLAST PARENTS OVER VODKA MARTINI PACKED IN SCHOOL LUNCH: 'THAT IS NOT APPLE JUICE'

Once the sheriff was pulled over, the deputy noted the smell of alcohol, and another responding state trooper reported a "strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from his breath." According to the police report, Couch's blood alcohol content was 0.212%, nearly three times the legal limit of 0.08%.

Under questioning from officers, Couch allegedly admitted he had been drinking and said he "screwed up," claiming to have started drinking at 6 a.m. but that he had not had another drink since 8 a.m.

The officers allegedly found two open alcoholic drinks inside the vehicle.

VIRGINIA SCHOOL SAFETY DIRECTOR CHARGED WITH DUI AFTER WINTER STORM

Details of Couch's arrest came just days after a Pennsylvania school bus driver was accused of driving 54 elementary school children while over four times the legal alcohol limit.

On Tuesday, Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele and Douglass Township Police Chief Robert B. Evans announced an arrest warrant for Kelly Weber, 46, of Boyertown.

Weber was charged with driving under the influence, 54 counts each of endangering the welfare of children and reckless endangerment and related summary offenses.

Authorities said police were alerted around 4 p.m. Feb. 6 that a school bus was traveling erratically and narrowly missing other vehicles.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

A responding officer later found the bus stopped in a snowbank.

Investigators said officers found an open 750-milliliter bottle of Tito’s vodka, two empty 50-milliliter bottles and a receipt showing the alcohol was purchased earlier that morning.

US government contractor accused of stealing $46M arrested on small island, FBI announces

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 12:37:16 -0500

U.S. and French authorities arrested a former U.S. government contractor accused of stealing $46 million in cryptocurrency, the FBI announced on Thursday.

FBI Director Kash Patel highlighted the arrest in a statement on X, saying the arrest of John Daghita on the island of St. Martin was a joint operation between the FBI and the French Gendarmerie.

"Last night, John Daghita – a U.S. government contractor who allegedly stole more than $46 million in cryptocurrency from the U.S Marshals Service – was arrested on the island of Saint Martin by the French Gendarmerie’s premier elite tactical unit in a joint operation with the FBI," Patel wrote.

"Thanks to the International Cooperation Team Serious Crime Unit of the French Gendarmerie National in Saint Martin, and the Groupe d’intervention de la Gendarmerie nationale of Guadeloupe for the outstanding coordination," he continued.

TEXAS COUPLE LABELED FAKE ‘CHIP AND JOANNA GAINES’ ADMITS $5M DREAM HOME RENOVATION SCAM

LISTEN TO THE NEW 'CRIME & JUSTICE WITH DONNA ROTUNNO' PODCAST

"FBI will continue working 24/7 with our international partners to track down, apprehend, and bring to justice those who attempt to defraud American taxpayers—no matter where they try to hide," he added.

Daghita's recently-deleted LinkedIn page said he worked for Command Services & Support, a Virginia-based firm run by his father, Dean Daghita, according to the New York Post. The company held contracts with the U.S. Marshalls Service that allowed them to manage digital currency seized by the law enforcement agency.

SAVANNAH GUTHRIE ASKS FOR PRAYER AS HER MOTHER REMAINS MISSING: 'WE NEED YOU'

Authorities who carried out the arrest found a briefcase full of cash as well as multiple USB drives.

Daghita's arrest comes roughly a month after authorities in Arizona arrested two California teens in an Arizona home invasion tied to an alleged $66 million cryptocurrency plot.

The teens, who are not being identified by 91�� Digital because they are both under the age of 18, allegedly posed as delivery drivers to gain access to the Scottsdale home on Jan. 31, before forcing their way inside and duct-taping and assaulting two homeowners inside.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

During the home invasion, one of the victims denied having cryptocurrency, authorities said. An adult son in the home was able to call police from another room. When officers arrived, the teenagers fled but were later caught and arrested.

Obama endorses Virginia redistricting constitutional amendment that could help Dems gain 4 seats

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 10:04:04 -0500

Former President Barack Obama on Thursday endorsed Democrats' redistricting effort in Virginia that could grant the party four additional seats in the House of Representatives.

Virginia is one of several states engaged in a nationwide redistricting battle ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. So far, Obama has thrown his weight behind Democratic initiatives in both California and now Virginia.

"Free and fair elections are the cornerstone of our democracy. But right now, they’re under attack," Obama wrote on X Thursday.

"Several Republican-controlled states have redrawn their congressional maps to give themselves an unfair advantage in the midterm elections. Now Virginia has a chance to help level the playing field. If you live in the Commonwealth, early voting begins March 6, and Election Day is on April 21. Vote YES," he added.

MARYLAND HOUSE APPROVES NEW CONGRESSIONAL MAP AS SENATE LEADERS WARN OF RISKS

Obama urged Californians to back Gov. Gavin Newsom's redistricting effort late last year, arguing it was a "responsible" tactic in response to GOP redistricting efforts in Texas.

His newfound support for redrawing congressional maps comes six years after he and former Attorney General Eric Holder launched All On The Line, a "a grassroots movement to fight gerrymandering and advocate for a fair redistricting process."

Obama also blasted gerrymandering during his final State of the Union address, during which he said the nation must "end the practice of drawing our congressional districts so that politicians can pick their voters, and not the other way around."

VIRGINIA REPUBLICANS CHARGE 'POWER GRAB' AS DEMOCRAT WHO BACKED REDISTRICTING RUNS FOR CONGRESS

The battle over congressional districts has spilled out across the country, with President Donald Trump and top Democrats urging allied state legislatures to take action.

The Supreme Court weighed in on the issue earlier this week, ruling in favor of a Republican representative from New York challenging a Democratic redistricting effort.

Over the dissent of the court's three liberal justices, the conservative majority halted a state court ruling that had ordered New York's redistricting commission to redraw the district held by Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., which covers Staten Island and a small piece of Brooklyn.

A judge had ruled that the district was drawn in a way that dilutes the power of its Black and Hispanic voters and had instructed the state’s Independent Redistricting Commission to complete a new map.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

"Today’s decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to keep New York’s 11th Congressional District intact helps restore the public’s confidence in our judicial system and proves the challenge to our district lines was always meritless," Malliotakis said in a statement on Tuesday.

"The plaintiffs in this case attempted to manipulate our state’s courts to use race as a weapon to rig our elections," she added. "That was wrong and, as demonstrated by today’s ruling, clearly unconstitutional."

Latest Anders Hagstrom News | 91����

Supreme Court hands GOP a redistricting win by striking down lower court block on Texas map

White House Correspondents' Dinner suspect checked into Hilton hotel one day before the shooting: sources

Two gunmen suspected after Indiana University-area shooting leaves 9 injured, police say

Leavitt explains why Iran's seizure of two ships doesn't violate Trump's ceasefire

Trump admin loosens regulations on state-licensed medical marijuana

Xavier Becerra pressed on 'rumors' he knew about Eric Swalwell's alleged misconduct during CA governor debate

Trump says Israel, Lebanon agree to 10-day ceasefire

Hegseth warns Iranian leaders to 'choose wisely' on deal with US: 'We are locked and loaded'

Poll finds sharp rise in young men calling religion 'very important'

IDF uncovers Hezbollah weapons stash inside hospital in Lebanon

US Navy requesting $3B to replenish Tomahawk missiles used in Iran war

Leavitt rebukes media outlets running with Iranian narratives on 10 demands

Iran revealed a 10-point plan for peace with the US--Here's what's in it

Hegseth declares 'decisive military victory' over Iran

Vance warns Iran will 'find out' Trump is 'not one to mess around' if ceasefire deal falls apart

Supreme Court declines to hear 'Tiger King' Joe Exotic's challenge after murder-for-hire conviction

GOP senator launches effort to close Medicaid loophole allowing fraudsters to rake in millions

Schumer knocks Trump on Iran, plan to send ICE to airports: 'Asking for trouble'

Far-left activists stay in 5-star Cuban hotel as island suffers total blackout

California sheriff seizes 650,000 ballots in defiance of state officials over election count dispute

Trump says ICE will deploy to airports Monday to assist TSA amid funding standoff

Hawley launches investigation into abortion drug manufacturers over 'grave risks' to women

Georgia sheriff arrested on DUI charge after blood alcohol content was allegedly almost triple legal limit

US government contractor accused of stealing $46M arrested on small island, FBI announces

Obama endorses Virginia redistricting constitutional amendment that could help Dems gain 4 seats

Latest Anders Hagstrom News | 91��