Latest Bills News | 91��

Fmr Dem Rep Barney Frank, sharp-tongued liberal trailblazer and Dodd-Frank co-author, dies

Wed, 20 May 2026 10:06:33 -0400

Former Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., whose biting wit, liberal politics and mastery of financial policy made him one of the most recognizable members of Congress for more than three decades, has died at 86.

Frank died late Tuesday, Jim Segel, Frank’s former campaign manager and close friend, confirmed to The Associated Press.

"I have been trying to decide, by the way, personally, whether it's better to be an icon or an emoji," Frank, with his caustic wit, told CNN’s "State of the Union" in a May 3 interview while in hospice for congestive heart failure. He disclosed before his death that his condition had left him with little energy but not much pain.

"Essentially, after 86 years, my heart’s just wearing out," Frank, who appeared gaunt, told Jake Tapper.

Frank represented Massachusetts in the House from 1981 to 2013, serving 16 terms and becoming chairman of the House Financial Services Committee during the 2008 financial crisis. His name became attached to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the sweeping 2010 law he co-authored with then-Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., after the collapse of the housing market and the near-failure of the U.S. financial system.

FORMER NY DEMOCRATIC REP CHARLIE RANGEL DEAD AT 94

The law, signed by President Barack Obama on July 21, 2010, imposed new rules on major financial firms, derivatives, mortgage lending and consumer protection.

For supporters, Dodd-Frank was the most consequential financial regulatory overhaul since the New Deal, an attempt to rein in Wall Street excess and prevent another taxpayer-backed rescue of large institutions. For Republican critics, including President Donald Trump, it became a symbol of regulatory overreach. It was partially repealed in 2018, providing regulatory relief to community and mid-sized banks.

For Frank, it was the capstone of a career built on unapologetic liberalism, legislative detail and a willingness to fight in public.

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS DISCOVER THE BIG SECRET ABOUT CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION

Frank was also a pioneer for gay rights in American politics. In 1987, while already serving in Congress, he publicly came out as gay, becoming the first sitting member of Congress to do so voluntarily. He later became the first sitting U.S. representative to enter into a same-sex marriage when he married his longtime partner Jim Ready in 2012.

He then retired after more than 30 years in the House.

Born Barnett Frank on March 31, 1940, in Bayonne, New Jersey, he graduated from Harvard University in 1962 and later earned a law degree from Harvard Law School. He worked for Boston Mayor Kevin White and Rep. Michael Harrington before winning a seat in the Massachusetts Legislature in 1972. He served there until his election to Congress in 1980.

DEMOCRAT MASSACHUSETTS LAWMAKER ARRESTED FOR FRAUD, USED STOLEN FUNDS TO PURCHASE 'PSYCHIC SERVICES': FEDS

Frank’s first bill as a Massachusetts lawmaker sought to bar discrimination in housing and employment based on sexual orientation, an early marker of the civil rights work that would define much of his public life. The bill failed, but Frank later pointed to the gay rights movement’s incremental strategy as a model for other causes.

While Frank says Democrats and the broader left made progress forcing inequality onto the national agenda, he warned about contentious cultural issues dividing and taking over the party. He wrote a book before his time in hospice, which is due to be released Sept. 15: "The Hard Path to Unity: Why We Must Reform the Left to Rescue Democracy."

America has, he postulated, "enabled people who wanted to use that as a platform for a wide range of social and cultural changes, some of which the public isn't ready for."

KNIVES OUT FOR FETTERMAN: MAVERICK SENATOR JOINS LONG LINE OF DEMS PUNISHED FOR BREAKING FROM LEFT

"Even when I agree with them on the end, I think they make a mistake by taking the most controversial parts of the agenda and turning them into litmus tests," he added.

Even in hospice, Frank remained politically engaged and characteristically unsparing, rejecting the biggest, newest voices in the Democratic Party for turning America away from the standard-bearers.

"I am concerned that, among some in my party, there has been a flavor of the month tendency, so that someone who is new and hasn't been able to do much is somehow preferred over people who understand the importance of hard work to get controversial things adopted," he said.

RESIGNATION IS THE NEW ESCAPE HATCH AS LAWMAKERS FACE EXPULSION

Frank’s career was not without controversy. In 1990, the House reprimanded him for improper use of political influence involving parking tickets and probation officers for a personal friend. The reprimand did not end his career; he won re-election that year and continued to build influence, eventually rising to chair the Financial Services Committee.

Frank was at the center of Congress’ response to the 2007-09 financial crisis, helping negotiate legislation aimed at tightening oversight of banks and nonbank financial firms, increasing transparency in derivatives markets, creating the Financial Stability Oversight Council and strengthening mortgage-lending standards.

His papers, held by the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, document a career that touched financial reform, gay rights, housing policy, immigration, military spending, environmental protection and local Massachusetts issues, including fishing regulation and commuter rail.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Asked what he wanted people to remember about him, Frank deflected with the dry humor that made him a favorite of political reporters and a feared opponent in hearings.

"Oh, that I was smart enough and learned enough about the reaction not to answer that question," he said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Duffy unleashes on Buttigieg with swipe over which admin has accomplished more: 'Moved like a sloth'

Tue, 19 May 2026 07:00:27 -0400

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy called his predecessor, Pete Buttigieg, a "sloth" on Sunday while laying out accomplishments under President Donald Trump’s second term through a video interspersed with footage from multiple iconic movies.

"Pete Buttigieg moved like a sloth," Duffy wrote in a post to X. "I’m moving at the speed of Trump!"

"He did nothing. He spent $80 billion on DEI and on climate change. We did more in one year than the last administration did in all four," Duffy added.

Like other issues, such as border security, the video from Duffy highlights the Trump administration’s eagerness to use distance from former President Joe Biden as a benchmark for success.

BUTTIGIEG 'GOT NOTHING DONE,' DUFFY DECLARES: 'PETE APPEARS UNBURDENED BY NO LONGER BEING A CABINET SECRETARY'

When approached by 91�� Digital about Duffy's "sloth" comments, Sean Manning, a spokesperson for Buttigieg, referred reporters to a list of published accomplishments the department reported from 2021-2025.

"Sean Duffy is looking more desperate by the day. The American people would prefer that he do his actual job instead of making up lies on social media or going on a seven-month vacation paid for by the companies he’s supposed to regulate," Manning said in a statement to 91�� Digital.

In particular, Duffy’s video took aim at Buttigieg’s track record on trucking certification and air travel even as it touted other developments such as clearing the way for "air mobility" vehicles and investments in engineering through the Maritime Academy.

"Buttigieg spent billions of dollars trying to patch together our air traffic control system," Trump said in one of the clips featured in the montage.

The video, which included Lightning McQueen, the fictional Pixar race car, clips from Marvel’s "Iron Man" and even a scene from "The Terminator," highlighted the $12 billion in funding for new air traffic controllers included in Trump’s signature Big Beautiful Bill as well as 12,000 applicants that, according to the administration, had set records for interest in air safety work.

DUFFY URGES SENATE TO PASS BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL'S $12.5B AIR TRAFFIC SYSTEM FIX

The video dovetails with announcements from Duffy last week outlining $750 million efforts to replace eight air traffic control towers with "state-of-the-art" facilities. Additionally, Duffy announced an $85.8 million investment to upgrade Federal Contract Towers at 41 airports in 24 states.

But more than improvements to the control centers, Duffy drew attention to ways the administration had bolstered licensing requirements for truckers.

"Buttigieg did not enforce the law," Duffy said. "The wild West era of truck driver training — it’s over."

DUFFY SAYS ‘TIME’S UP’ FOR NEWSOM AS FEDS WITHHOLD $160M OVER ILLEGAL TRUCKING LICENSES

The video reminded viewers of efforts by the administration to withhold funding from states for lax standards in states like New York and California.

In particular, it recounted how California had removed 17,000 trucker licenses from "dangerous foreign drivers" after Duffy threatened to withhold $160 million in federal funding.

It also highlighted $73 million in withheld funds from New York after the agency found that over 50% of its non-domiciled trucking licenses were issued illegally.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Buttigieg, who served as Transportation secretary in the Biden administration from 2021 to 2025, has been discussed as a potential Democratic candidate for president in 2028.

Before his tenure under Biden, Buttigieg himself ran for president in 2020, but eventually dropped out and endorsed Biden.

Dem Senate candidate pushing water affordability agenda racked up unpaid bills on $1.28M home

Fri, 15 May 2026 14:04:54 -0400

Democrat Senate candidate Mallory McMorrow accrued nearly a year's worth of unpaid utility charges on her million-dollar home while campaigning on affordability.

Until Friday, McMorrow and her husband, former Gawker executive Ray Wert, had not paid water or sewer charges on their home in Royal Oak, Mich., since June 2025, according to records reviewed by 91�� Digital. The property had accrued $3,000.37 in unpaid bills and late fees.

The debt was paid shortly after 91�� Digital reached out for comment.

"The bills in question have been paid," the spokesperson said. "We respect the commitment to covering anything other than the fact that every single American’s bills – from gas to groceries to electricity – are going way up because of Donald Trump and his enablers like Mike Rogers."

DEM SENATE HOPEFUL RIPPED FOR TRASHING MIDDLE AMERICA IN UNEARTHED SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS: 'TICKS ME OFF'

McMorrow, a state legislator vying for the Democratic nomination in one of the country’s top Senate races, has repeatedly fallen behind on payments in recent years.

Records show the couple has been fined 10 times totaling more than $400 in late fees for nonpayment since late 2021, when they purchased a $1.28 million home in the Detroit suburb. A report in the Detroit Metro Times that year described the property — with a pool and outside courtyard — as a home "to marvel at."

McMorrow and Wert also let overdue water bills pile up on the home in the latter half of 2024, when they went five months without making a payment. When the couple finally paid $917 in January 2025, records showed an unpaid balance of $45 in late fees.

Royal Oak Township sends water bills quarterly and assesses a 5% late fee on unpaid balances. If McMorrow had failed to pay the balance by June 1, another 5% penalty would have been added, according to a billing notice.

Under Royal Oak policy, unpaid water and sewer bills can eventually be added to the couple’s property tax bill and prolonged nonpayment can result in water shutoff.

The delinquent payments come as recent disclosures show McMorrow and her husband may be millionaires.

She estimated her net worth between $588,041 and $1.87 million last year, Michigan Advance reported. Up to $1.15 million was reported under her name or as a joint asset with her husband, according to a financial disclosure filed last year.

McMorrow earned $101,554 from her state senator salary, according to the filing. She also reported just over $106,000 in royalties.

BLUE STATE DEM CANDIDATE WHO MADE 'AFFORDABILITY' A KEY ISSUE IN CAMPAIGN RIPPED FOR CHARGING $13 FOR WATER

While McMorrow and her husband were falling behind on payments, she championed "affordability" legislation that would end water shutoffs for not paying city bills.

McMorrow cosponsored a measure last year that would cap water bills for qualifying low-income residents and offer debt forgiveness for overdue balances. The program would be funded through a regular surcharge on most Michigan water customers.

She has also backed the Human Right to Water Act, which would recognize access to affordable drinking water as a right and direct the state government to develop "affordability criteria."

In a March 2021 Facebook post, she advocated for legislation that would "end water shutoffs."

"Let’s be clear, access to water is a human right, even when there’s not a pandemic," she wrote.

The late utility payments come as McMorrow is running in a combative three-way Democratic primary to succeed Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., who is retiring.

The swing seat is a must-win race for Democrats hoping to retake Senate control, but Republicans also view the contest as a top flip opportunity. Former Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich., cleared the field last year with President Donald Trump’s backing while the Democratic candidates continue to duke it out ahead of the August primary.

McMorrow is campaigning on a progressive platform that includes calling on the wealthy to pay their "fair share" in taxes. Democrat Sen. Bernie Sanders-backed Abdul El-Sayed is running to her left, and Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., a candidate with support from the party’s establishment swing, has espoused more centrist views.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Progressive Sens. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Chris Murphy, D-Conn., have endorsed McMorrow’s campaign.

She recently faced scrutiny for deleting thousands of old social media posts prior to her Senate campaign launch that denigrated "Middle America" and associated Trump and his base with Nazi Germany. CNN first reported on the trove of since-deleted posts.

The Senate hopeful largely defended her posts in an interview with the network, arguing she "tweeted normal things like a normal person."

Omar camp breaks silence on fraud probe, blames Walz, Trump as new claims clash with earlier statements

Fri, 08 May 2026 10:17:40 -0400

FIRST ON FOX: Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., has not publicly or privately responded to a top investigative committee in Minnesota’s request for information on her possible ties to the massive fraud scandal, but a recent email from one of her former top staffers to the committee sheds light on how her camp may view the situation and who they blame.

"As the District Director for Congresswoman Ilhan Omar from 2019-2022, I read with interest your comments in Session Daily regarding H.R.6187 - MEALS Act," former Omar District Director Kendal Killian wrote in an email, obtained by 91�� Digital, Wednesday afternoon to the Minnesota House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Committee Chair Kristin Robbins. The email was also sent to Rep. Dave Pinto, the lead Democrat on the committee.

Killian wrote, "If the quote is accurate, you said, ‘She passed the MEALS Act in March 2020.’ Given that you were elected in 2018, I find it surprising that I need to explain to you how a bill becomes law, but one person cannot unilaterally pass legislation."

Republicans have long argued that the pandemic-era school meal waivers tied to the MEALS Act, sponsored by Omar, helped create the conditions that enabled the massive Feeding Our Future fraud scheme, which federal prosecutors say totaled roughly $250 million.

OMAR ACCUSED BY GOP OPPONENT OF OPENING UP THE DOOR TO MASSIVE MINNEAPOLIS FRAUD: 'DEEP, DEEP TIES'

Killian went on to explain to Robbins, who has previously served as a legislative director in Congress, that because Republicans controlled the Senate and the White House when the larger bill was passed, that they have "responsibility for implementation" of the legislation.

"So your characterization that Rep. Ilhan Omar passed this legislation unilaterally (and oversaw its execution) is off base," Killian said. Killian went further in his effort to distance Omar from the legislation, claiming that the bill critics have been citing "never even passed."

"Again, it is bizarre to have to explain this to a State Representative, but maybe you need some help," Killian’s email says. He claimed that Robbins is suffering from "confusion," because "similar legislative language to that in the MEALS Act was included in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act."

ILHAN OMAR PRESSED TO EXPLAIN HOW FRAUD IN MINNESOTA GOT 'SO OUT OF CONTROL'

"While the original Meals Act (which never passed) was more similar to universal school meals legislation Omar championed and Representative Sydney Jordan in Minnesota later shepherded, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (supported by McConnell and signed by Trump) added waiver authority that facilitated much of the Feeding Our Future fraud," Killian wrote. "The fraud was not committed under any bill authored by Omar, but rather under broader COVID-19 legislation and by taking advantage of USDA emergency waivers granted by the Trump administration. Those flexibilities, combined with weak oversight and rapid funding expansion, created conditions that were later exploited in the Feeding Our Future fraud scheme."

In bold, Killian wrote that the Families First Coronavirus Response Act was not "chiefly sponsored" by Omar and "thus is grossly inaccurate to claim so" and ended the email saying that "perhaps" the committee should subpoena President Trump rather than Omar.

While the MEALS Act itself did not pass as a standalone bill, it is listed on Congress.gov as related legislation to the broader Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which became law in 2020 and included similar school meal waiver provisions. Robbins told 91�� Digital the former Omar staffer is "lying" about the impact Omar had, arguing the core purpose of the MEALS Act, expanding USDA waiver authority, was part of the broader legislation.

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT MINNESOTA’S ‘FEEDING OUR FUTURE’ FRAUD AT THE CENTER OF TRUMP’S LATEST CRACKDOWN

"I’m talking about the MEALS Act that got incorporated in the larger coronavirus package," Robbins explained. "In the related bills section it links to the Ilhan bill and lists it as one of the bills included in the Act, the language is identical."

Congress.gov, the official legislative database run by the Library of Congress, lists Omar’s MEALS Act (H.R. 6187) as "related legislation" to the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (H.R. 6201).

Robbins pointed to numerous examples of Omar taking credit in messages to her constituents back in Minneapolis for the legislation that did ultimately pass and citing her MEALS Act.

WALZ ACCUSED BY JORDAN OF TRYING TO ‘HIDE BEHIND’ COURT ORDER IN FEEDING OUR FUTURE PAYMENTS

In Omar’s own September 2020 press release, she explicitly says she "passed into law this spring" the MEALS Act provisions and describes them as legislation that "directly authorized these school meal waivers."

"Ilhan’s MEALS Act, a bill aimed at protecting students’ access to school meal benefits during school closures, was passed into law as part of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act," Omar’s campaign website reads.

Additionally, Omar publicly pushed back after the Trump administration signaled in the summer and fall of 2020, after the legislation passed, that it would begin scaling back or letting some of the waivers expire and return programs closer to their pre-pandemic rules.

In August, she again linked the legislation she sponsored in the House to the overall situation, saying in a letter to the Trump administration, "In March, Congress authorized the use of waivers in the MEALS Act and the COVID-19 Child Nutrition Response Act in order to continue to provide school meals for children during the pandemic."

"Absolutely not, it did help feed kids," Omar said in December when asked if she regretted her support for the MEALS Act.

Killian’s email also directly contradicts his own words in a LinkedIn post from a year ago, reviewed by 91�� Digital, in which he characterized the significance of the legislation differently.

"When I worked in Congresswoman Ilhan Omar’s office during the pandemic, she wrote and passed the MEALS Act, a vital bill funding schools and feeding all kids," Killian wrote.

In the same post, Killian described the bill as laying "the groundwork" for a broader school meals policy, a contrast to his email to lawmakers in which he argued the legislation "never even passed" and sought to distance it from the framework later used during the pandemic.

Killian’s email to Robbins also included a P.S. with a link to the well-known Schoolhouse Rock "I’m Just a Bill" cartoon that explains to children how bills become law.

"It’s shameful," Robbins told 91�� Digital about the tone of the email and referred to the situation as Omar’s "henchmen" coming after her.

"We have had no official response from the congresswoman, but they have a former district director, which is the most senior position, and he sent it to me and the Democrat lead on the committee," Robbins said. "So he's clearly wanting to have Democrats push back on me and say, ‘Robbins doesn't know what she's talking about, this wasn't really Ilhan's bill, it never passed,’ which is just BS."

Notably, Killian’s letter does not address the specific questions the committee asked Omar in a recent letter, which the congresswoman has not responded to, related to the several connections between Omar and individuals in the Somali community charged or implicated in the case.

The committee asked Omar to turn over communications showing how she promoted expanded access to federal child nutrition programs, including emails, texts and meeting records with the Minnesota Department of Education and constituents.

The request also zeroed in on Omar’s public promotion of a Minneapolis restaurant that later became linked to the fraud scandal. Robbins cited a Somali-language TV appearance in which Omar highlighted Safari Restaurant as a meal distribution site and asked for all communications related to the video and the restaurant’s participation.

"She fought to keep the waivers in place during the time that Safari and the other fraudsters were making their money," Robbins told 91�� Digital.

MINNESOTA’S FRAUD SCANDAL WAS ‘SHOCKINGLY EASY’ TO PULL OFF, IS LIKELY WORSE THAN REPORTED: EX PROSECUTOR

The committee is also seeking records of any contact between Omar and a long list of individuals charged or implicated in the Feeding Our Future case, including nonprofit founder Aimee Bock and dozens of alleged co-conspirators, as well as information about political donations Omar received from individuals later charged in the case, requesting "any and all" communications with those donors.

In a response to 91�� Digital, Killian did not directly say whether his original email was coordinated with Rep. Omar or her office, instead describing it as his personal "perspective." He acknowledged that "very similar language" from the MEALS Act was included in the broader coronavirus relief package that became law.

Killian also argued that responsibility for the fraud lies with those who implemented the program, placing blame on both federal and state officials, particularly Gov. Tim Walz.

MINNESOTA FRAUD COMMITTEE CHAIR CLAIMS WALZ 'TURNED A BLIND EYE' TO FRAUD WARNINGS FOR YEARS

"It was then overseen by the Trump USDA. And then governors like Walz. Frankly, Governor Walz…deserves the same level of scrutiny as this Fox inquiry," Killian wrote. "At the end of the day, it was Governor Walz who [expletive] this up."

Killian further sought to distance the legislation from the fraud itself, arguing that "no fraud took place at actual public schools" and that "the nonprofits did," adding that "Ilhan’s bill was focused on the former."

But the same waiver authority allowed meals to be distributed far beyond school cafeterias, including at non-school sites such as restaurants and community locations later tied to the fraud scheme, raising questions about how separate the two systems were in practice.

Killian also dismissed inconsistencies over whether the MEALS Act "passed" as a matter of "casual" or imprecise language, without directly reconciling his emailed statement that the bill "never even passed" with his prior description of Omar as having "wrote and passed" it.

Omar’s office did not respond to a request for comment from 91�� Digital.

Omar was given a deadline of May 5 to respond to the committee, which she did not meet, and has yet to give any public response.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

After Omar missed the deadline, the committee attempted to subpoena her for the information but was blocked by Democrats on the committee in a party-line vote.

"It’s the same story every time," Robbins posted on X after the vote. "Fraud is committed, information is suppressed, and the dysfunction continues."

Warren pushed ‘free and easy’ IRS filing system, but docs reveal what she used instead

Mon, 04 May 2026 18:30:19 -0400

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., didn't use the free government tax-filing system she had spent years promoting when it became available in her state, records show.

As far back as 2016, Warren pushed for a free IRS online tax preparation and filing service, a precursor to what became Direct File. The senator touted it as a way for taxpayers to save time and money. When Direct File launched a pilot program serving Massachusetts for the 2024 tax-filing season, however, Warren's publicly released tax return indicated that she opted to use a private accountant instead.

Warren was ineligible to use Direct File during the 2024 tax-filing season because she chose not to take the standard deduction that year. The standard deduction under the program is a restriction critics say illustrates why the program was too limited to serve many taxpayers.

"The Direct File pilot program has been a huge win for taxpayers," Warren said in April 2024. "This year, thousands of taxpayers saved hours of their time and the $150 typically spent on TurboTax and other junk filing fees — money that could be spent on groceries or rent … I’m excited to continue to work with the IRS and the Treasury Department to permanently extend and expand this free and easy tax filing solution for Americans."

HAWLEY, WARREN TEAM UP TO BACK TRUMP, CRACK DOWN ON DEFENSE CONTRACTOR PAYOUTS

Warren has characterized herself as one of the top legislative architects of the Direct File system.

"For years, Senator Warren has been the Direct File program’s biggest champion — yet her own tax returns show she hired a private accountant," David Williams, president of the Taxpayer Protection Alliance (TPA), a right-of-center fiscal advocacy group, told 91�� Digital.

"Direct File was ill-equipped to handle investment, property and interest income — limiting the tax credits and deductions Americans deserve. At its core, the government would not have any incentive — as the tax preparer, collector, and auditor — to maximize those deductions," he added.

The Trump administration moved to suspend Direct File in 2025, and the IRS later told states the program would not be available for the 2026 filing season.

Even after her own return showed she used a private accountant and not Direct File for the 2024 tax-filing season, Warren continued to push for the system. On April 15, Tax Day 2026, Warren took a recently-introduced bill to the Senate floor seeking to revive the program.

"Filing your taxes should be easy and free … Let’s save people time and money, and show the American people that government can work for them," Warren said.

SEN WARREN UNLOADS ON TRUMP’S FED NOMINEE KEVIN WARSH IN EXPLOSIVE HEARING SHOWDOWN

Usage of the Direct File was low during the 2024 tax-filing season, with only 161,042 of the estimated 19 million eligible Americans submitting returns through it, according to an IRS report.

Among those who did use the service, however, 90% rated their experience as "excellent" or "above average," according to the IRS. Large majorities of respondents reported that Direct File was easy to use and had high quality customer service support.

The TPA, however, says that 25% of Direct File users rated their experiences negatively, citing its analysis of user responses obtained via a Freedom of Information Act request.

THE SIMPLE TAX HABIT THAT COULD SAVE YOU THOUSANDS OVER YOUR LIFETIME

Critics of Direct File, such as conservative economist Stephen Moore, have argued that allowing the IRS, which has an incentive to maximize tax revenue, to prepare taxes for Americans creates a conflict of interest and that the program isn’t truly free, given its administrative costs. Proponents like the left-of-center advocacy group Public Citizen, meanwhile, argue that eliminating filing costs could save taxpayers billions of dollars per year at a relatively minor public expense.

Firms such as Intuit and H&R Block lobbied aggressively to kill Direct File, which many believed would cut into their profits.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Warren’s office did not respond to multiple requests for comment sent Monday.

Rashida Tlaib's new 'Unhoused Bill of Rights' would protect homeless camping

Mon, 04 May 2026 10:50:16 -0400

Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., introduced legislation last week that would significantly expand rights for the homeless and overhaul how the government treats Americans living on the streets by siphoning billions from defense spending.

The "Unhoused Persons Bill of Rights" calls for government-led intervention to end homelessness over the next three years and introduces more than a dozen protections for homeless people.

If passed, Tlaib's legislation would include freedom of movement for homeless people in public spaces, affordable housing, "livable" wages, universal healthcare and panhandling.

Under the resolution, homeless individuals would have the "right to uninhibited access" to public parks, transportation, facilities, sidewalks, buildings, restrooms and other spaces — meaning they could legally set up camp in such public spaces.

LEFTIST LAWMAKERS WANT TO MAKE HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS A NATIONWIDE CRISIS

The homeless population would also be given the right to internet access and the necessary technology to achieve that.

A spokesperson for Tlaib did not immediately respond to 91�� Digital's request for comment regarding how that provision would work in practice.

While the resolution is nonbinding, meaning it does not carry the force of law, Tlaib’s recommendations indicate how the left could push for changes to homeless policy if Democrats retake power in Washington after the 2026 midterms.

Tlaib's proposal would, however, grant the homeless population "freedom from harassment" by law enforcement, private businesses, property owners and "housed residents."

Specifically, homeless individuals would be given protections against "banishment" from private property, which the Michigan Democrat's measure characterizes as a violation of an individual’s "fundamental civil and human rights."

The homeless population grew to more than 771,000 in January 2024, its highest-ever recorded level, according to a Housing and Urban Development (HUD) report released that year.

EX-'SQUAD' DEM APPEARS TO BE LEANING ON RADICAL ACTIVIST AT CENTER OF DAMNING TLAIB REPORT IN COMEBACK BID

Several provisions of Tlaib's resolution appear to directly challenge a Supreme Court ruling in 2024 that made it easier for cities to crack down on homelessness by allowing local ordinances to enforce bans against camping on public property.

More than 100 local governments across the United States prohibited homeless camping following the court’s decision, NPR reported.

Tlaib’s measure sharply criticizes state and local governments that have banned "panhandling, loitering, sleeping in tents or vehicles," among other activities associated with the homeless population.

The resolution also directs the federal government to achieve a long-shot goal of ending the "unhoused crisis" by 2029.

Among Tlaib's recommendations is requiring the Trump administration to siphon off at least $168 billion in defense spending to "permanently end and prevent" individuals from experiencing homelessness.

Her resolution does not specify what the nearly 20% of annual defense spending would be used for.

"Having access to a safe place to live is a human right," Tlaib said in a statement upon introducing the legislation. "Every year, Congress passes another record-breaking military budget, and President Trump just requested a $1.5 trillion Pentagon budget this year. Experts say it would cost a fraction of this to end homelessness in our country."

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Tlaib’s measure is similar to a resolution first introduced by former Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., in 2021. Bush, a one-time member of "the Squad," is mounting a comeback bid to reclaim her St. Louis-based House seat in November’s midterm elections.

Spanberger won't rule out taxes on gym memberships, streaming services: 'Should be discussed'

Mon, 04 May 2026 08:00:34 -0400

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger left the door open to imposing taxes on services like gym memberships, digital subscriptions and dog grooming when asked about the possibility during a recent interview.

"I think every idea, as long as it’s reasonable and makes some amount of sense, should be discussed," Spanberger told a local ABC affiliate.

"I think there are worthy conversations to be had about what revenue generation looks like into the future as our economy changes in so many ways."

The comment comes as Spanberger tries to leave the door open to exploring new sources of revenue for Virginia while also fending off accusations from the White House that have painted her as a tax-happy Democrat.

‘NUDE MEN IN LOCKER ROOMS’: EARLE-SEARS BLASTS SPANBERGER OVER TRANSGENDER LOCKER ROOM STANCE IN HEATED DEBATE

"So sad! She is adding so many taxes: a food and beverage tax, digital services tax, utilities tax and more. People are leaving that would never have even thought of doing so!" Trump said in a post to Truth Social.

"This went from a thriving and powerful place to a commonwealth run by a person who has no concept of low taxes and economic strength."

Those criticisms stemmed from a handful of bills introduced in the Virginia state legislature that, if implemented, would extend taxes to: storage facilities, counseling, dry cleaning, vehicle repair, website design, data storage and digital subscription storage.

The bills, which were first introduced by lawmakers during the tenure of Spanberger’s predecessor, Gov. Glenn Youngkin, never reached the floor of the General Assembly for a vote before the end of the state’s legislative session on March 14.

GOP OVERPERFORMS IN VIRGINIA SPECIAL ELECTION, FUELING EARLY MOMENTUM TALK IN BLUE-TRENDING STATE

Notably, apart from a bill that will raise the minimum wage incrementally to $15 an hour by 2028, Spanberger has yet to sign off on any new state-based increases — a record she believes Trump is misrepresenting.

"The array of taxes that the president asserts move forward in Virginia is sort of ludicrous," Spanberger said.

SPANBERGER DESCRIBES AG CANDIDATE JAY JONES' VIOLENT TEXTS ABOUT GOP COLLEAGUE AS 'POOR CHOICE'

But Spanberger also noted that she could revisit ways to raise revenue from shifting industries that have changed the tax calculus.

"You used to buy a DVD; there used to be sales tax. Streaming is different. So, I recognize there’s value in having these conversations," Spanberger said, highlighting one such area of change.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Spanberger said that any decision along those lines would ultimately depend on the specific language of a proposal.

"Whether I would ever sign a bill is wholly dependent on what is actually in the bill and how it is outlined," Spanberger said.

Senate quietly bans lawmakers from betting on prediction markets

Mon, 04 May 2026 07:30:10 -0400

Senators can no longer use insider information to profit on emerging prediction market platforms.

The Senate, before leaving Washington, D.C., for a weeklong recess, quietly passed legislation that would prevent senators and their staff from betting on prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket.

On those platforms, users can bet on nearly anything, from world events and political races to the outcome of a war or whether a notable figure will get a divorce.

CONGRESS EXTENDS CONTROVERSIAL SPY LAW FOR 45 DAYS AFTER SENATE REJECTS HOUSE BILL

The move, pushed by Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, passed the upper chamber unanimously and immediately changed the Senate’s rules.

Moreno said his legislation was meant to erase concerns of "side hustles" by lawmakers and increase faith in the institution. It comes as lawmakers have tried and failed to police themselves with bans on stock trading while in office.

"I don't believe we should trade stocks at all. It’s completely insane," Moreno said. "I think we should focus on our jobs and have our voters go, ‘Hey, this guy's voting this way, because this is the right thing for the state.’"

DEMOCRATS FAIL TO SHATTER REPUBLICANS' RESOLVE ON EVE OF CRUCIAL IRAN DEADLINE

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., lauded the move on the Senate floor and called for similar guardrails to be installed in the House.

"Speaker Johnson should immediately do the same thing in the House," Schumer said.

There is an effort bubbling in the House to do the same, led by Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, who is running to replace retiring Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa.

HEGSETH TESTIFIES AT SENATE AS IRAN WAR'S $25B PRICE TAG AND 60-DAY WAR POWERS DEADLINE LOOM

The most popular prediction market companies are backing the move, too. Polymarket said in a statement on X, "We’re in full support of this."

"Our Rulebook & Terms of Service already prohibit such conduct, but codifying this into law is a step forward for the industry," the company said. "Happy to help move this forward however we can."

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Tarek Mansour, the co-founder of Kalshi, similarly pushed for the House to do the same.

"Kalshi already proactively blocks members of Congress and enforces against insider trading," Mansour said on X. "This is a great step to increase trust in our markets by making it an industry standard."

We can't let RI's 'assault weapons' ban become the US gun seizure blueprint

Mon, 04 May 2026 05:00:02 -0400

Rhode Island lawmakers are back at it — pushing a sweeping gun ban that should set off alarm bells far beyond the Ocean State. Their latest proposal, SB 2710, would outlaw the possession of some of the most commonly owned firearms in America, targeting semi-automatic rifles, pistols and shotguns that millions of law-abiding citizens rely on for self-defense, sport and tradition.

What makes this proposal especially alarming is not just what it bans, but how it leaves enforcement hanging in the air. The bill is conspicuously silent on how the state intends to deal with currently owned firearms that would suddenly become illegal overnight.

That silence is not reassuring. It opens the door to exactly the kind of heavy-handed enforcement Americans have long rejected — the forced surrender or even door-to-door confiscation of legally acquired property.

For those trying to comply with forced confiscation, the so-called "sales option" is no option at all. Lawful owners would be forced to sell their firearms to federally licensed dealers or qualified out-of-state buyers by the end of the year, triggering a rushed liquidation that will inevitably drive down prices.

VIRGINIA SENATORS WANT TO INFLICT THEIR TYRANNICAL GUN STRATEGY ON ENTIRE COUNTRY

If gun owners comply with this law, they would sell their property at a substantial loss, and if they want to rearm after the law is struck down, they would end up paying twice for a gun they already owned.

In plain terms, the government would be engineering a fire sale of constitutional conduct, stripping citizens not only of their rights, but of their property value as well.

And if the potential of forcible confiscation were not enough, Rhode Island lawmakers are also advancing schemes to require gun owners to carry million-dollar liability insurance policies. This has nothing to do with safety and everything to do with cost. It is a calculated effort to price ordinary Americans out of exercising a constitutional right — turning the Second Amendment into a luxury good reserved for those who can afford to comply.

RED STATE OFFICIAL RECOUNTS PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OF BEING 'DEBANKED' AND WHY IT 'HAS TO BE STOPPED'

We’ve seen this playbook before. Just last year, Rhode Island banned the manufacture, sale and purchase of these firearms but allowed owners who previously acquired them to keep them. Now legislators want to finish the job — give gun control advocates an inch, and they take a mile, targeting commerce in firearms today and the firearms already in your safe tomorrow.

As detailed in reports from the NRA Institute for Legislative Action, including Rhode Island’s Senate Judiciary attack on the Second Amendment and extreme gun bill package, this coordinated push threatens every Ocean State gun owner — and sets a precedent that could ripple outward nationwide. The slippery slope is unmistakable, and it will spread, as do all ill-conceived gun control schemes, to other states that ignore the Constitution.

Anti-gun politicians understand they may someday lose in court. It was, after all, sweeping bans on handguns in Washington, D.C., and Chicago that ushered in the Supreme Court’s Second Amendment renaissance, and the reasoning of those cases applies equally well to common semi-automatic long guns Americans choose for defensive purposes.

'EXCESSIVE' STATE TAXES ON GUNS, AMMUNITION SALES ARE TARGET OF NEW GOP CRACKDOWN EFFORT

But for the firearm prohibitionist, the courtroom loss is beside the point. The process itself — passing the law, enforcing it until it’s struck down and forcing taxpayers to foot the legal bill — is the strategy.

It drains resources from their opponents, chills lawful conduct and advances their agenda by attrition. It also diverts attention from an endless succession of lesser infringements that seek the death of the Second Amendment by a thousand cuts.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION

Meanwhile, the real-world impact falls on the very people whose gun ownership poses no threat to public safety: responsible gun owners who follow the law, safeguard their firearms, and take seriously their duty to protect themselves and their families. Disarming them does nothing to stop violent criminals, who, by definition, do not comply with gun bans. It simply leaves good people more vulnerable.

The Second Amendment does not change when you cross a state border. The right to defend oneself and one’s family is not dependent on a particular ZIP code, income level or the shifting political winds in a state legislature.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Yet that is exactly what Rhode Island lawmakers are trying to impose — a patchwork of rights where some Americans are treated as less deserving than others. Cases like these demand the Supreme Court settle them once and for all, as in Bruen and Heller. Until then, state capitols remain the battleground where Second Amendment rights hang by a thread.

Rhode Island may be small, but the implications of this legislation are anything but. This is a test case for how far lawmakers can go in dismantling a fundamental right — and how much Americans are willing to tolerate before pushing back. The 2026 midterms are coming. Voters in every state must remember which lawmakers treat the Second Amendment as optional — and hold them accountable at the ballot box this November.

Veterans could decide the midterms, and the VA is why

Sat, 02 May 2026 21:25:15 -0400

Veterans helped deliver Republican victories in 2024. In 2026, VA reform could decide whether they show up again. Two bills before Congress would fix the system that has failed them: the Veterans' ACCESS Act and the Veterans' Bill of Rights Act. Yet Democrats in Washington have a different priority: using the VA as a blueprint for nationalized healthcare.

They aren't hiding it. Progressive influencer Ezra Klein called Phillip Longman's "Best Care Anywhere: Why VA Health Care Would Work Better For Everyone" one of the most important social policy books of the last decade. Read that subtitle again. The left isn't just defending the VA — it wants to impose that model on every American.

In 2014, a major scandal rocked the Phoenix VA Health Care System. Officials there ran a deliberate criminal scheme, creating secret unofficial waiting lists to hide how badly the system was failing. As many as 1,700 veterans were kept off the official electronic wait list to inflate reported wait times and protect bonuses. Veterans were forced to wait months — in some cases up to 115 days or longer — for basic primary care. At least 40 veterans died while waiting on these hidden lists.

The deadly failures continue. In 2025 alone, two veterans took their own lives at the Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital in San Antonio while desperately trying to get mental health care. In April, Navy veteran Mark Miller killed himself there. He had battled depression and anxiety since leaving the service in 2007, and co-authored a book with his father chronicling that fight: "Suicide Stalks the Sniper." During his final visit, he told his father the staff were "just like robots handing out pills, poisoning our people." His father, Dr. Larry Miller, blamed the VA directly: "I lay the blame on the VA system and the psychiatrist who drugged him instead of helping him."

HIDDEN CAUSE OF VETERANS' STRUGGLES DRIVES RENEWED URGENCY IN VA MESSAGING

In December, Marine Corps veteran Enrique Ramos Jr. called 911 from the same parking lot, stated his location and his intent, and then took his own life. Both men died at the doorstep of the facility that was supposed to care for them.

This is the system the left wants to expand nationwide. A new poll from Veteran Action and Rasmussen Reports shows that supporting veteran healthcare isn't just good policy — it's good politics heading into the 2026 midterms. Ninety-four percent back the Veterans' Bill of Rights Act, which requires the VA to plainly inform veterans of their existing rights to healthcare, benefits and community care options. Seventy-five percent say they would be more likely to support a congressional candidate who backs the Veterans' ACCESS Act (H.R. 740) — the bill that guarantees timely VA care or the immediate right to seek outside care at no extra cost when the VA can't deliver. These numbers cut across party lines — among the voters who know the VA best.

The political math is clear: The poll shows military voters gave President Donald Trump 60% support — but the Republican generic congressional ballot sits at just 57%. That gap could decide control of the House in key districts. Republicans cannot take their loyalty for granted. Candidates who lead on these issues will earn veteran support. Those who don't risk losing it — and with it, their seats.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Congress has two practical solutions ready to pass. The Veterans' ACCESS Act guarantees timely care — or immediate community care when the VA falls short. The Veterans' Bill of Rights Act requires the VA to tell veterans, plainly, what rights they already have. These bills don't dismantle the VA. They force it to do its job.

The case is straightforward. These reforms are popular with veterans. They will save lives. They could help Republicans hold the House. Republican leadership just needs to make these bills a priority.

Congress extends controversial spy law for 45 days after Senate rejects House bill

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 15:11:49 -0400

Congress punted a long-term fix for a controversial spy law for the second time in a month as lawmakers raced to avoid a lapse in the government's warrantless surveillance powers set to expire Friday at midnight.

Both chambers approved a 45-day extension of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) before leaving Washington on Thursday, allowing lawmakers more time to negotiate reforms to the hotly contested program.

President Donald Trump, who wants a clean extension of the surveillance program, is expected to sign the measure into law.

The Senate first agreed to extend the law to mid-June by voice vote, which was quickly followed by the House of Representatives clearing the extension measure in a bipartisan manner.

HOUSE PASSES FISA RENEWAL IN BIPARTISAN VOTE, PUTTING PRESSURE ON SENATE BEFORE LOOMING DEADLINE

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and the majority of GOP lawmakers argued the spy authority was too critical to lapse.

"If we go to bed tonight and we don't have that program in place, I fear there will be blood on our hands," Rep. Mike Flood, R-Neb., said earlier on Thursday.

"We can't have FISA go dark," House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., told reporters prior to the vote.

The bicameral agreement for a short-term fix came after the Senate swiftly rejected a House bill extending the Section 702 program for three years. The lower chamber's measure included modest reforms to the program and a permanent ban on central bank digital currencies (CBDC) — a priority of conservatives associated with the House Freedom Caucus.

But the inclusion of that provision was a nonstarter in the Senate, given that it was unrelated to the underlying bill and was already baked into a housing affordability package passed by the Senate in March that the House has yet to move on.

"We'll kick it over there and process it quickly, and we'll kick the can down the road again," Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., told 91�� Digital.

More than two dozen GOP privacy hawks voted against the Senate-passed measure. The group sharply criticized the Senate for quashing the House proposal and argued the upper chamber was trying to jam them with a clean extension including none of their reforms.

"The House needs to stand strong and send it back and say we won't accept that," Rep. Keith Self, R-Texas, a GOP privacy hawk, told 91��. "You need to have a warrant or CBDC on it."

"Everything that we did yesterday, the Senate has said we won't take," the Texas Republican added. "That's what the Senate thinks of the House."

House Democrats were split over the 45-day extension with 94 lawmakers voting in the affirmative and 85 opposing the measure.

The process in the upper chamber was nearly derailed when Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., announced that he planned to block the Senate's alternative plan in favor of a shorter, three-week extension.

HOUSE PUNTS TRUMP SPY POWERS EXTENSION AFTER CONSERVATIVES BLOCK DEAL, FORCING END-OF-MONTH SHOWDOWN

The spy law fight is one of the few horseshoe issues in Congress that blends Democrats and conservatives in a push for stronger privacy protections. That's because of the Section 702 spying powers, which allow the government to spy on foreign nationals abroad.

However, nothing in the law prevents it from collecting data on Americans if they happen to be involved in those communications. To stop that, Wyden and others are demanding warrant requirements to add a layer of protection for Americans' whose conversations are ensnared under Section 702.

The House's version lacked that reform, but Wyden agreed to an extension after working with Sens. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., and Mark Warner, D-Va., the top lawmakers on the Senate Intelligence panel, to send a letter to Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and the acting Attorney General to declassify a FISA court ruling to show how the program is being used against Americans.

Meanwhile, conversations on reforms are still ongoing.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Thune said that there was "already a pretty substantial dialogue" between Cotton, Warner, their House counterparts and the White House to address reforms while ensuring that the "program works."

"So we're entertaining those ideas at the moment, and we'll see where that conversation goes," Thune said. "We got 45 days. I don't like kicking the can down the road, not my jam."

The Trump administration has lobbied Congress for weeks to pass a long-term FISA renewal bill with little to no modifications, but has repeatedly failed to make headway.

"This department strongly supports the reauthorization of FISA 702," Department of War Secretary Pete Hegseth told lawmakers Wednesday. "It is not hyperbole to say many of the most important missions we have executed could not have happened without the intelligence gathered through FISA 702."

'America First' immigration overhaul bill would codify Trump's campaign promises once and for all

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 16:13:57 -0400

FIRST ON FOX: President Donald Trump's 'America First' immigration overhaul would be codified into law under a House Republican bill that would significantly narrow legal immigration pathways by shifting the system toward high-skilled workers, eliminating most family sponsorship categories and ending the diversity visa lottery.

Immigration — both illegal and legal — remains a contentious topic in Washington, with Democrats pushing to expand pathways for migrants to obtain citizenship, while Trump and his Republican allies are seeking to restrict migration, including proposals such as ending birthright citizenship.

Rep. Barry Moore, R-Ala., introduced the Americans First Immigration Act, which would amend several key provisions in the Immigration and Nationality Act, in an effort to "putting American citizens first."

"My bill draws a hard line - the days of putting illegals, random diversity lotteries and foreign labor ahead of American workers are over," Moore said in a statement to 91�� Digital. "Our immigration system should serve the American people, not undercut them, and that means selecting individuals who will strengthen our economy, respect our laws, and share our values."

FEDERAL JUDGE THROWS OUT BIDEN ADMIN PROGRAM TO LEGALIZE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT SPOUSES OF US CITIZENS

The 70-page bill seeks to codify many of the actions already taken by the Trump administration to tighten legal immigration pathways. In December 2025, President Donald Trump paused the green card lottery program in the wake of two shootings on college campuses, and last September, Trump signed an executive order placing restrictions on the issuance of H1B1 visas, a work visa offered for specialty occupations.

"If you want to come to the United States, you should earn it through merit, not diversity lotteries or loopholes. The Americans First Immigration Act restores fairness and accountability by protecting American jobs, prioritizing the nuclear family and ensuring that every immigrant admitted is prepared to contribute and succeed," Moore told 91�� Digital.

While Moore's bill seeks to end the diversity lottery visa, it includes a provision to ensure that the allotment of visas for religious workers, equal to 3,000 a year, is preserved.

‘SHAMEFUL’: LEGAL IMMIGRANTS FACE UPHILL BATTLE AMID ONGOING BORDER CRISIS

Julie Kirchner, a senior advisor at the America First Policy Institute, supports Moore's bill, particularly the measure to eliminate lottery visas.

"The Visa Lottery has a long, documented history of fraud and national security concerns and should be abolished. Under a merit-based, America First system, any immigrant would have to demonstrate their skills, ability to assimilate, and how they will contribute to the U.S.," Kirchner told 91�� Digital.

One of the other provisions in Moore's bill seeks to put "American workers first" by overhauling the current employment-based immigration visa program and replacing it with a points-based merit system. Under the new points-based system, applicants are ranked and will receive points on factors such as their level of English proficiency, education, their level of compensation, military service and age. All applicants must have a salary that is at least 200% above the median wage of the state they'll reside in, and they must meet English proficiency requirements.

REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK: GOP PUSHES ELECTION SECURITY BILL DESPITE SLIM ODDS, AS TRUMP PRESSURE LOOMS

Employers must also prove that they "took good faith steps" in recruiting American workers for the job offered to the foreign worker for equal compensation. The legislation also requires employers to share with the government the name and contact information of American workers who were offered the job and their offered wage. The Department of Labor will oversee and investigate compliance.

And migrants offered a visa are required to sign a petition pledging they support the U.S. Constitution and its values. The pledge also includes a requirement to disavow political groups or social groups that partake in honor killings, female infanticide or genital mutilation.

"Ideally the government has the information in advance to bar these people from immigrating to the U.S.," Kirchner said. "However, if a newly-arrived immigrant engages in behavior that demonstrates the statements he made to our immigration agencies were false, that can become the basis for deportation or denaturalization."

The act would also curtail family-sponsored immigration to only be accessible to spouses of U.S. citizens, minor children, spouses of green card holders and children of green card holders. Parents, siblings, and adult children of U.S. citizens are barred.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

"What the bill does is eliminate the ability of extended family members to get a preference under the law," Kirchner said. "Extended family members can still apply - but they would have to do so based on their own skills, merit, and ability to assimilate."

Senators unveil bill to combat financial aid fraud by 'ghost students'

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 10:36:48 -0400

FIRST ON FOX — A bipartisan batch of senators is introducing a measure that seeks to prevent fraudsters from sapping federal student aid.

The proposal aims to block fraudsters, often referred to as "ghost students," from utilizing stolen or fake identities to file Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) applications and obtain federal student aid money, Sen. Ashley Moody's, R-Fla., office said in an announcement obtained by 91�� Digital.

Sens. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., and Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., are joining Moody on the introduction of the "No Aid for Ghost Students Act of 2026."

TRUMP ADMIN TIGHTENS VISE ON STUDENT AID FRAUD IN 'GHOST STUDENT' CRACKDOWN

"Taxpayer-funded student aid should go to students — not fraudsters gaming the system. This legislation takes common-sense steps to verify identity, strengthen oversight, and ensure federal dollars are not wasted," Moody noted in a statement.

The senator, who previously served as Florida's state attorney general, joined the U.S. Senate last year to fill the vacancy caused by Marco Rubio's departure from his seat to serve as President Donald Trump's secretary of state.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Moody to the Senate seat in January 2025, and she is now seeking to win the seat in a November 2026 special election to serve the remainder of the term.

TRUMP ADMIN SAVES TAXPAYERS $1 BILLION IN FRAUD CRACKDOWN OF STUDENT AID PROGRAMS

"Our young students work night and day to earn their spot on campus. Zero federal student aid should go towards ghost students who are stealing money from Americans. As Co-Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions task force to root out waste, fraud, and abuse in education, I am proud to introduce this bill and will not stop until we eliminate all fraud," Tuberville said in a statement obtained by 91�� Digital.

"Scammers are deploying increasingly sophisticated tactics to steal money and federal financial aid from hardworking Americans. In the face of these scams, we need to do more to protect students and taxpayer dollars," Hassan added. "This bipartisan bill will require that the federal government establish an identity fraud detection system during the student financial aid process, catching scammers on the front-end before tax dollars leave the government’s bank account. I will continue to combat the scourge of scams and ensure that higher education is accessible for all Americans."

GOP DISRUPTOR COUNTERS BIDEN'S STUDENT LOAN BAILOUTS WITH PLAN TO SHIFT COSTS AWAY FROM TAXPAYERS

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

The U.S. Department of Education recently "launched a new, real-time fraud detection capability" pertaining to the FAFSA form. The department noted that "fraud detection is built directly into the FAFSA itself, with every applicant evaluated in real-time using risk-based identity screening."

"Applicants who display a certain level of fraud risk will now be required to present government-issued identification before accessing federal student aid funds such as Pell Grants and federal student loans," the department said.

WATCH: Hearing erupts after Dem chair tries to sidestep GOP transgender sports bills: ‘They’re petrified’

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 06:00:32 -0400

A Pennsylvania hearing on transgender sports legislation erupted in chaos Monday, as Republicans accused Democrats of trying to sidestep votes on two related bills.

Pennsylvania became a focal point of the transgender sports debate in 2022, as UPenn swimmer Lia Thomas competed against female athletes, including the University of Kentucky’s Riley Gaines. Since then, conservatives have sought to codify the separation of biological sexes in scholastic sports and public restrooms nationwide.

The top Republican on the Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee told 91�� Digital that the scene captured on official video showed the Democratic chairman trying to "re-refer" two bills to the House Health Committee without fully explaining which bills he was citing.

Ranking member Rep. Rob Kauffman, R-Chambersburg, said that Republicans ultimately determined the two bills focused on separating scholastic athletes by biological sex and that Democrats resisted any debate before sending them to another committee to restart the process.

GOP LAWMAKERS, RILEY GAINES SLAM DEMOCRATS FOR VOTING AGAINST PROTECTION OF WOMEN AND GIRLS IN SPORTS ACT

"It's fascinating. But the key is, in the legislative process, whether it be on the House floor or in any committee meeting, they'll say the number of the bill and then they'll give a title or brief description of the bill before anyone votes on it. You don't just call up a bill by number," Kauffman told 91�� Digital in a Tuesday interview.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Timothy Briggs was doing just that in a Monday hearing, Kauffman said.

Briggs, D-King of Prussia, sought to move two bills out of the committee quickly, announcing that all Democrats would vote to re-refer them while identifying the measures only by bill number.

Republicans said they were unaware of the bills’ contents because their titles were not read as Briggs tried to re-refer them to the House Health Committee.

Briggs asked the clerk to call the roll for the "sole purpose of referring [them] to the Health Committee" and added that "all Democrats will be voting ‘Yes.'"

"Could we kinda know what the bills are?" interjected Kauffman, before someone in the gallery called out that they were related to transgender athletes in children’s sports.

HB 158 is the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act from Rep. Barb Gleim, R-Mechanicsburg, and HB 1849 is the related Dads Defending Daughters Act by Rep. Clint Owlett, R-Tioga.

Briggs sighed and began to speak before Kauffman continued.

"We can’t vote on a re-referral when we don't even know what the title of the bill is. Obviously, you don't want us to know what the title of the bill is," he said, chuckling as Briggs cut in that the committee is "running out of time."

Kauffman quipped that if he ever pulled such a move as chairman, Briggs’ caucus would have "lost your mind."

DEMOCRATS HAVE LOST THEIR WAY ON WOMEN’S SPORTS – AND HERE'S THE POLITICAL PRICE THEY'LL PAY

After another pointed exchange between Briggs and Kauffman, the Democrat ordered the clerk to call the roll on the bills and then claimed aloud that some Republicans were refusing to vote.

One of those named, Rep. Stephanie Borowicz of Lock Haven, objected after learning the bills’ true identities:

"Now you’re deciding how we’re voting?" said Borowicz, who co-sponsored Gleim’s bill.

"We might as well be better off in the Russian Duma at this point," Kauffman added as Briggs plowed through their objections and tried to move past the two bills.

The blow-up showed that Democrats are "petrified of this issue [so much] that they broke legislative protocol, parliamentary norms and everything I’ve learned in this legislature in 20 years," Kauffman told 91�� Digital.

He said that if the bills were moved to another committee without first being voted out of his own, the parliamentary "clock" would restart and Democrats could continue moving the measures through committee without taking a direct vote on the underlying transgender sports issue.

Kauffman said the kerfuffle was indicative of the national debate over transgender sports, calling it an "80-90%" issue in favor of separating youth athletes by sex.

ILLINOIS SCHOOL BOARD MEETING MADNESS CONTINUES AS TENSIONS ESCALATE OVER TRANS ATHLETES IN GIRLS' SPORTS

Kauffman added that Democrats will eventually have to confront the issue because the state Senate is advancing its own transgender sports bill, which will be taken up by the House.

"It's a mom and dad issue. It's a biological fact issue. So we're going to keep at it," he said, adding that critics are "cater[ing] to the far-progressive fringe" of their party and "generally don’t care what the people want."

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

91�� Digital reached out to Briggs for a response to the situation.

A representative for the King of Prussia Democrat said he was "regrettably unavailable" for comment.

The clash came just weeks after a Republican lawmaker's attempt to define "woman" in a Women's Month resolution led Democrats to pull the commemoration.

91�� Digital's Kiera McDonald contributed to this report.

Riley Gaines, Nick Shirley ask where 'No Kings' protesters are on California bill they say targets journalists

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 20:29:58 -0400

OutKick host Riley Gaines and independent journalist Nick Shirley agreed Friday that the "No Kings" protesters are oddly silent when it comes to a bill they say would punish citizen journalists.

California Democrats are being ripped over a bill that one state assembly member has dubbed the "Stop Nick Shirley Act", which he argues would "criminalize" investigative journalism.

The controversial AB 2624 bill, officially titled Privacy for Immigration Support Services Providers, creates privacy protections for immigration support service providers, employees and volunteers, including hiding their addresses and imposing penalties on those who publish their image on social media. Democratic lawmakers say the legislation is needed to protect people from targeted political violence.

However, critics, including Republican Assemblymember Carl DeMaio, argue the bill would actually work to "silence citizen journalists and shield taxpayer-funded organizations from public scrutiny."

NICK SHIRLEY RESPONDS TO CNN 'HIT PIECE' ON HIS MINNESOTA FRAUD INVESTIGATION

Shirley, who became a national figure after making videos about fraud in Minnesota and California as he investigated various businesses, blasted the bill during an appearance Friday on Gaines’ show.

"Instead of going after the fraudsters, California is going after the people exposing the fraud," Gaines said, marveling at the situation and asking Shirley to explain the bill.

"And what this will do is it will make it criminal to search and investigate fraud, specifically an immigrant service provider's," and specifically those being funded by taxpayer dollars, he said.

"If you were to go and make a video out front saying how much money this location got, and they said that your visit was unwelcoming, they could then charge you for harassment, and you could then be charged $4,000 for a civil fine or $10,000 for a criminal fine and $50,000 for a felony."

Gaines noted the idea that content would be taken offline for alleging fraud is a violation of the First Amendment.

"They're literally saying you cannot film in public space," Shirley said, noting someone can then give a journalist a piece of paper saying they do not have permission to film and they "would then be able to force your content to be taken down unless you want to receive a $4,000 fine."

CALIFORNIA DEMS RUN ADS AGAINST GOP ON SEX TRAFFICKING BILL AFTER BLOCKING PENALTIES FOR TEEN SOLICITATION

"Feels very authoritarian, which, we see in the news cycle all the time, these ‘No Kings Day’ protesters. Where are they when it comes to a bill like this?" she asked. "Do you find hypocrisy in the general public's response, especially those who are on the very radical fringe side of things? Do you notice the hypocrisy there?"

"Oh, 100%," Shirley said. "And what I'm doing is not like a right or left issue. I'm exposing fraud that's taking place, and now they're trying to censor me for exposing fraud. And they're trying to not just censor me. The bill says ‘people.’ It doesn't say ‘journalist.’

"So, where are the people? Why aren't there other people saying anything?" he asked. "Where's all the protesters that are yelling ‘fascist’ this, ‘fascist’ that, when they are actually trying to suppress our speech by trying to pass a bill that it's a direct attack on our First Amendment?"

CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE

A local California station, KCRA, published a fact-check that said California wasn't trying to criminalize investigative journalism, saying it was about "organizations that provide services to immigrants and protecting them from harassment."

It went on to report Democratic California Assemblymember Mia Bonta wrote the bill to "primarily allow people who work or volunteer at immigration support service organizations to be added to the Secretary of State's ‘Safe at Home’ program."

"The program is designed to protect individuals who fear for their safety," KCRA reported. "Supporters have said this is needed in response to the Trump administration's anti-immigration policies that they say have put workers who provide the services at risk.

"Under the proposal, immigrant support service providers who have certified, documented threats of harassment or threats would have their personal information shielded."

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

91��' Elaine Mallon and Peter Pinedo contributed to this report.

Mamdani in the hot seat after first veto derails bipartisan effort to combat antisemitism: 'Disappointed'

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 19:00:10 -0400

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is sparking backlash after using his first veto to derail a bipartisan bill aimed at combating antisemitism by expanding protest security safeguards for places of education.

"This could impact workers protesting ICE or college students demanding their school divest from fossil fuels or demonstrating in support of Palestinian rights," Mamdani said in a statement Friday.

"It is a piece of legislation that has alarmed much of the labor movement, reproductive rights groups and immigration advocates, among others, across this city."

New York's former Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who ran as an independent against Mamdani in the mayoral race last year, slammed Mamdani's decision on X, saying he "chose the whims of his radical, extreme-left DSA base over the safety of students and Jewish New Yorkers at a time of rising antisemitism."

MAMDANI IS AN EXISTENTIAL THREAT TO JEWISH NEW YORKERS

"Instead of governing for all NYers, Mamdani has repealed the very definition of antisemitism from the city’s books, changed how antisemitic crimes are counted and now vetoed these commonsense security measures when they are needed most," Cuomo continued.

"I proudly stand shoulder to shoulder with my Jewish brothers and sisters — just as the Cuomos always have, and always will."

The bill, Int. 175-B, requires New York law enforcement to develop a plan to contain the risk of physical obstruction, physical injury, intimidation and interference at educational facilities while still allowing for freedom of assembly and First-Amendment events. The plan would then apply to "any building, structure, or place where educational programming takes place."

Julie Menin, the speaker of the New York City Council, had framed the bill as key to warding off threats of antisemitism.

"The legislation is part of the Council-led Five-Point Action Plan to Combat Antisemitism," Menin said in March.

ELITE UNIVERSITY ATTENDED BY TRUMP’S SON CRACKS DOWN ON LEFT-WING STUDENT AGITATORS

"According to the NYPD, antisemitic incidents accounted for 57% of reported hate crimes in 2025, although only approximately 10% of New York City residents are Jewish. Jewish New Yorkers were the targets of hate crimes more than all other groups combined."

The bill passed the New York City Council by a 30-19 vote late last month.

Commentators online criticized the veto, citing a need for enhanced protections.

"We are deeply disappointed by Mayor Mamdani’s veto of legislation designed to help protect students from intimidation and disruption outside schools," the Simon Wiesenthal Center, a pro-Jewish group, said in a post to X.

"The right to protest and the right to an education can and must coexist. We urge the City Council to override this veto and reaffirm a basic principle: protecting students is not politics; it is a civic responsibility."

"Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D- HAMAS) vetoed a bill for buffer zones around schools because it ‘could impact workers protesting ICE, or college students demanding their school divest from fossil fuels, or demonstrating in support of Palestinian rights,’" Ari Hoffman, a political commentator, wrote in his own post.

"All the bill would have done was require clear safety plans around schools with law enforcement."

Mamdani approved a similar bill that applied to religious sites. He explained that he was concerned by the expansive range of what the second bill meant by "educational facilities."

"The problem is how widely this bill defines an educational institution and the constitutional concerns it raises regarding New Yorkers’ fundamental right to protest. As the bill is written, everywhere from universities to museums to teaching hospitals could face restrictions," Mamdani said in a statement.

NYC RABBI WARNS ZOHRAN MAMDANI 'POSES A DANGER' TO JEWISH COMMUNITY'S SAFETY

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

The city council could override a mayoral veto with a two-thirds vote, according to New York City's charter. Doing so would require votes from 33 of the chamber’s 50 members.

Assuming the bill retains the support of the legislators that originally advanced it out of the council, it would require just three more votes to secure its implementation over Mamdani's objection.

James Comer's new bills could curb federal fraud in Minnesota and California

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 13:03:59 -0400

FIRST ON FOX: House Republicans say they’re ready to advance legislation that would crack down on widespread fraud in states like Minnesota and California.

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., introduced legislation on Thursday that would tackle fraud in federal programs by curbing premature disbursement to "high-risk" recipients, 91�� Digital has learned.

His panel will mark up the two bills — the Stopping Fraudulent Payments Act and the Pre-Payment Fraud Prevention and Treasury Data Access Act — as soon as next Wednesday, a House Oversight Committee spokesperson told 91�� Digital.

"Americans are fed up with this abuse and expect action from the government entrusted with their money," Comer said in a statement. "These long-overdue integrity measures will strengthen the federal payment system, and I look forward to advancing these bills next week at the Oversight Committee’s markup."

COMER TARGETS WALZ IN NEW HOUSE INVESTIGATION, CITING NEARLY $1B IN ALLEGED MINNESOTA FRAUD

Comer’s fraud prevention push comes after the oversight panel launched sweeping investigations into state-administered social services programs in Minnesota and California.

The committee rolled out an interim report in March that found Gov. Tim Walz, D-Minn., and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison knew for years that their state's federally funded welfare programs were rife with fraud, but alleges they ignored whistleblowers' concerns when they attempted to bring up the problem.

Fraudsters could have stolen at least $9 billion from Minnesota’s welfare programs, according to Comer’s probe. Federal prosecutors have charged at least 92 individuals in connection to the fraud schemes, most of whom are of Somali descent, and secured more than 60 convictions so far.

The oversight panel also opened an investigation into "rampant taxpayer fraud" in California’s hospice programs in March.

Comer’s legislation would seek to better protect taxpayer dollars upfront by stopping "pay and chase" practices, which some fraudsters use as a way to go under the radar since fraud is only discovered after the benefits have been paid out.

MASSIVE MEDICAID FRAUD SCHEME PUTS MINNESOTA’S FEDERAL FUNDING AT RISK — AND FALLOUT COULD WIDEN

If the Kentucky Republican's bills are enacted, federal agencies would be barred from sending out disbursements if they determine that the recipient is at "an elevated risk of fraud," or the transfer is suspected to be an improper payment.

The legislation would also direct the Treasury Department to verify payments and recipient information to catch fraudulent disbursements prior to being issued. Treasury would also be equipped with new authority to block payment requests from federal agencies if it suspects fraud.

Sheila Clark, the CEO of a hospice advocacy group, told House lawmakers Wednesday that fraud is pervasive among some providers in the state.

"You'd be amazed at how many hospices… the door you can walk up to in California and there is nobody there," Clark said at a House Ways and Means Committee hearing, adding there are "months' worth of mail that you can see stacked."

"And that passed a survey. How did that happen?" she questioned.

"How do you put a hospice in a burrito stand in California?" Clark went on, likely referencing a specific incident she encountered. "How do you put a hospice in an entire store in California? That all had to be vetted through licensure and through certification and accreditation."

House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, voiced support for Comer's plans for fraud prevention legislation.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

"Instead of hunting down stolen money after the fact, these bills prevent improper payments and fraud from happening in the first place," Arrington, who is a cosponsor of the two bills, told 91�� Digital.

"If we’re serious about restoring fiscal sanity to Washington, we must get serious about eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse wherever they exist," he added.

‘Stop this insanity’: Angel mom rips Newsom, Dems for bill to use taxpayer dollars for illegals’ defense

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 05:00:36 -0400

California Angel Mom Agnes Gibboney, who lost her son in an illegal alien-involved shooting, is blasting Gov. Gavin Newsom and state Democrats over a proposed bill that would use taxpayer dollars to fund legal defense for immigrants facing deportation. She urged voters to "stop this insanity."

State lawmakers are considering a proposal that would expand access to taxpayer-funded legal representation for immigrants facing deportation proceedings. The measure would build on existing state programs by creating a framework to provide attorneys to adults in immigration court, regardless of legal status, with priority given to those in detention. This comes as California, and other sanctuary states across the country, are facing increasing pressure and scrutiny from the Trump administration for allegedly prioritizing illegal aliens over citizens.

In an interview with 91�� Digital, Gibboney, whose son, Ronald, was shot and killed by an illegal alien, ripped into Newsom and California Democrats over the bill. She claimed that it is further proof that they care for illegal immigrants more than citizens.

"My son was murdered," she said. "Not one politician has ever contacted me. Not one politician said, ‘I'm so sorry that this previously deported criminal illegal alien shot and killed your son.’ Not one of them."

NEWSOM ADMINISTRATION ALLEGEDLY KNEW OF $2B CALIFORNIA BUDGET ERROR FOR MONTHS: REPORT

Gibboney said that since losing her son in 2002, she sent Newsom "many, many emails," and "never once did I get a response, not even from his office, much less from Newsom."

Newsom has not signaled whether he would sign the bill into law. He previously signed legislation that created and expanded a state-funded legal aid program to ensure legal representation for unaccompanied immigrant children in deportation proceedings.

Ronald da Silva, 29, the son of a law enforcement official, was shot and killed by an illegal immigrant gang member while standing in his driveway.

Gibboney asserted that "Newsom doesn't care about citizens of this country, about legal immigrants like myself. He cares about free votes from illegal aliens."

Regarding the legal defense bill, Gibboney said she is "outraged."

"California is about three to 400 billion, with a ‘B,’ dollars in debt. How is that possible? How much more can you milk us citizens?" she railed.

Meanwhile, for citizens, she said, "everything has gotten worse" under Newsom.

ILLEGAL ALIENS ARE GETTING TAXPAYER-FUNDED BOOB JOBS AND SEX CHANGE OPS IN NEWSOM'S CALIFORNIA, WATCHDOG SAYS

"We have the highest tax in the entire country, we have the highest cost of living, the most homeless," she said, adding, "We are number one on everything, and nothing number one in good things, it's always on the bad things."

"We taxpayers keep paying more and more each year for taxes just so our government, actually Gavin Newsom, can hand it out and squander our tax dollars and give it to illegal aliens."

The bill, introduced by Democratic Assembly member Mia Bonta in February, advanced out of two Assembly policy committees and is currently under review in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

In addition to Gibboney, the bill has garnered significant outrage, including from the American Border Story, a group that advocates on behalf of the families of victims of migrant crime. Earlier this month, the group condemned the measure as "a grave affront to Angel Families across the country who have suffered immeasurable loss at the hands of foreign criminals." The group asserted that the bill "actively incentivizes illegal immigration and directly undermines the progress achieved by the Trump administration since the President’s second inauguration."

At the same time, the bill has been lauded by some, such as Abraham Bedoy, manager of California policy and government affairs for the Immigrant Legal Resource Center. Bedoy said in a March statement that "increasing immigrant legal defense is critical to address the mass deportations, unprecedented numbers of people held in detention, and indiscriminate arrests devastating families, communities, and our economy across our state."

He called the measure "another important step in our state’s strong trajectory towards universal legal representation."

DOJ SUES NEWSOM OVER CALIFORNIA MEASURE GIVING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS COLLEGE TUITION BENEFITS

While the bill does not explicitly outline all its exclusions, existing California policy suggests some immigrants with certain criminal histories could be excluded or deprioritized under any expanded program. California has already moved to limit state-funded legal aid in certain immigration cases, particularly for individuals with serious or violent felony convictions.

Bonta, who represents the Oakland area, framed her bill as ensuring "every Californian’s right to a fair hearing."

In a March statement, Bonta's office said the bill "builds on" her earlier bill to expand access to counsel for unaccompanied minors and other young immigrants in removal proceedings. That bill was signed into law by Newsom last year.

"Every person deserves their day in court, with a lawyer by their side. In California, thousands of our neighbors are being swept into one of the most complex legal systems in the country, often in a second language, without an attorney or a fair shot," she said in a March statement.

She decried the Trump administration’s "mass deportation machine," saying it is "accelerating that injustice."

"[The bill] represents California’s chance to stand up for our values: a commitment to due process, dignity, and the principle that justice shouldn’t depend on what you can afford," said Bonta.

Gibboney, however, said California should "use that money appropriately."

"Use it for our education, which is failing… Use it for the veterans for better healthcare and for the seniors for better healthcare," she suggested.

She urged Newsom to "recall his oath of office is to serve us, the public, we the people, not those that broke into our country and came here illegally."

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

"Ronald was my firstborn and only son. He was 29 years old, a father of two. They were 8 and 10," she shared. "The media usually doesn't talk about that kind of family separations, six feet of dirt in a coffin. But they talk about the ones that are deported to their country, where they can go back and visit and be reunited. I can never be reunited with my son."

While expressing she is grateful that Newsom is term-limited, Gibboney urged California voters to vote to "stop this insanity," saying, "Yesterday it was my son that was shot by a previously deported criminal illegal alien. Tomorrow it could be your child."

Reporter's Notebook: House chaos sparks emergency FISA extension

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 16:07:37 -0400

"Never leave that till tomorrow which you can do today," said Ben Franklin.

If sloganeering was left to Congress, the motto might read, "Never do today what you can leave till tomorrow."

That is emblematic of the recent scramble on Capitol Hill to renew the key terrorism prevention program known as FISA Section 702. Congress faced a deadline to re-up the program before 11:59:59 p.m. ET on April 20. Lawmakers fretted that it was risky to let the program expire. They worried that the U.S. may be vulnerable to a terrorist attack because of the war with Iran.

President Donald Trump insisted that Republicans "UNIFY, and vote together" to pass an 18-month extension of FISA without any add-ons. The president argued that the FISA program was among "the reasons we have had such tremendous SUCCESS on the battlefield."

So the House GOP brass planned to pass the 18-month FISA reauthorization last Wednesday. But it’s about the math. An eclectic alliance of Democrats and Republicans both supported and opposed the bill. Either way, the measure lacked the votes to pass.

"The coalitions around FISA have traditionally been kind of scrambled," said Rep. Kevin Kiley, I-Calif.

So despite the promise of a late-night vote Wednesday, the House GOP brain trust punted until Thursday as they scrambled to find the votes and prevent FISA from going offline.

"FISA will not go dark. We have a little slight delay. We're working through and building consensus as we do on all difficult issues, and we'll get there. We'll get it done," promised House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La.

CONSERVATIVE FISA REVOLT POSES FRESH TEST FOR SPEAKER JOHNSON

Some Republicans balked at the 18-month extension.

"I want warrants to surveil American citizens. And the Fourth Amendment is not for sale. I don't want our federal government buying data from private companies on American citizens," said Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo.

FISA is designed to reap foreign intelligence data, but it sometimes vacuums up the telephone communications of Americans — and even documents their locations. Tapping so much metadata is what led to the government trying to tie Trump to Russian interference during the 2016 election cycle. But despite his past opposition, the president did an about-face and demanded passage of this FISA measure.

"The President of the United States has said, ‘This is what I want, this is what I need.’ And there are rank-and-file Republicans bucking him," I pointed out to House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rick Crawford, R-Ark.

"Well, it's a little bit surprising," replied Crawford, since most congressional Republicans routinely line up behind Trump. "I think I think maybe the president's a little bit surprised by that, too."

One Trump ally says if the bill is good enough for the president, it should be good enough for House Republicans.

"This program is critical. It helped us with the operation in Venezuela. It's certainly helping us with the operation going on in Iran as we speak," said House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio.

SENATE COMMITTEE HOLDS HEARING ON CONTROVERSIAL SURVEILLANCE TOOL SET TO EXPIRE UNLESS CONGRESS REAUTHORIZES

But to some Republicans, entreaties by the president don’t matter on this bill.

"Look, he's [President Trump], the executive [branch]. We're the legislative [branch], and we're going to see a little bit of conflict between those two today," said Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md., chairman of the House Freedom Caucus.

But as we said, support or opposition for FISA doesn’t break along party lines. Dozens of Democrats are leery about letting the program go dark.

"This is our single most important collection authority," said Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., the top Democrat on the Intelligence Committee. "If we just go dark on that stuff, a lot of people are going to get hurt. And that's why we just can't let it expire."

But even if the House passed the bill, it still needed to align with the Senate. Alarms were sounding around the Capitol as the Monday night deadline loomed.

So the daylight came and went last Thursday without action on the FISA bill as the deadline approached this week.

Yours truly chased down Johnson in Statuary Hall of the Capitol.

"You’re going to try to move this on the floor tonight?" I asked the speaker about FISA.

"I am. It will be late tonight, but we’ll get it done," replied Johnson.

Fox was told that House Republicans would have an attendance problem on Friday. Some members of the Arizona delegation wanted to head to the Grand Canyon State for Trump’s speech there. Plus, waiting until this week wouldn’t give the Senate much turning radius to align with the House.

JOHNSON FACES GOP REVOLT OVER WARRANTLESS SURVEILLANCE POWERS AHEAD OF KEY VOTE

"And the concern is that you have to get it done today because you might lose some people tomorrow, and the Senate doesn’t come back until Monday and that’s right up against the deadline?" I continued.

"A bird in hand is worth several in the bush. I’ve got them all here and I need to get it done," answered Johnson.

A group of bipartisan lawmakers say an extension is essential to guard against terrorism. Especially as the U.S. fights with Iran.

"My concerns are significant because FISA is the single most important national security asset we have in the intelligence field," said Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, a member of the Intelligence Committee.

"If you want to blind the United States intelligence community and the military, this is a perfect way to do it," added Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas.

But regardless of risks, FISA skeptics demand reforms like warrants and criminal prosecutions for alleged abuses.

"We’re always threatened that there's something very bad is going to happen and people will die if we don't reauthorize (FISA Section) 702," said Boebert.

CONSERVATIVE FISA REVOLT POSES FRESH TEST FOR SPEAKER JOHNSON

But there was concern that even if the House passed something, the Senate wouldn’t have the availability to sync up until Monday. Most senators left Washington for the week on Thursday afternoon. Such a scenario would potentially give the Senate a few hours to align with the House when senators returned to Washington Monday, just hours before the deadline.

"Is that responsible by the Senate to leave?" I asked Sen. John Kennedy, R-La.

"Well, there's no reason to stay if we're not going to have votes," replied Kennedy.

By nightfall, everyone watched to see if Johnson could make good on his promise of passing the 18-month extension. But not long before 11 p.m. ET, the House lurched from that plan to a five-year reauthorization.

The House blocked that plan. Then backpedaled and adopted an emergency bill to salvage FISA for a scant 13 days.

"What was Churchill's line? ‘Democracy is the worst form of government except for all the others?’ So sometimes it gets kind of messy when you're trying to craft together an agreement," said Jordan.

Democrats were appalled at the nocturnal whiplash.

"Are you kidding me? Who the hell is running this place?," asked an incensed Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., the top Democrat on the Rules Committee, on the floor. "Republicans threw it together on the back of a napkin in a back room in the middle of the night."

SENATE TEMPORARILY EXTENDS NATION’S CONTROVERSIAL SPYING POWERS AFTER HOUSE FUMBLES

Staunch conservatives argued for muscular spy powers.

"Failing to reauthorize this statutory authority would be a massive setback, and one that our adversaries would exploit immediately," said Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga.

And liberals worried about government overreach.

"There have been so many abuses lately. And this is only going to grow with artificial intelligence," said Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., a member of the Intelligence panel.

So congressional leaders are trying to strike a balance.

"What we're trying to do is thread the needle of ensuring that we have this essential tool to keep Americans safe but also safeguard constitutional rights," said Johnson.

FISA skeptics insist on warrants.

"We just want to make sure that the guardrails are there," said Rep. Mark Harris, R-N.C., who voted to block the five-year extension early Friday.

So the House passed the Band-Aid bill by unanimous consent around early Friday morning. The Senate cleared the same package by unanimous consent later the same morning.

Wyden came to the floor Friday morning but didn’t object. The Oregon Democrat believes it would be harder to impose reforms had FISA lapsed. So he’s willing to keep it going, for now. However, Wyden made clear that he expected to see reforms between now and the new deadline. Otherwise, he might stand in the way next time.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Another punt. Another new deadline. More parliamentary procrastination.

And at the rate Congress is going these days, if they didn’t delay issues, they might not have anything to show for their efforts at all.

Nick Shirley confronts California Democrats over 'Stop Nick Shirley Act,' pressing on First Amendment rights

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 13:30:07 -0400

California lawmakers were confronted at the state Capitol in Sacramento as independent journalist Nick Shirley filmed a video published this week questioning Assembly Bill 2624, a proposal California Republicans have dubbed the "Stop Nick Shirley Act," during interviews with Democratic and Republican legislators about the bill's scope and intent.

"If this bill were to get passed, instead of going after the fraudsters, they’re trying to make it criminal to go after the people that are committing this fraud," Shirley said in the video posted to his YouTube page.

The video centered on California Assembly Bill 2624, authored by Assemblymember Mia Bonta, D-Oakland, which seeks to restrict the public posting of personal information of individuals connected to immigration support services, including nonprofit organizations, legal clinics and health care providers.

VANCE REVEALS $19B FRAUD UNCOVERED IN MINNEAPOLIS, HINTS CALIFORNIA IS NEXT TARGET

"I think that that’s a misinterpretation of the bill, but I’m happy to talk with you more about it," Sen. Sasha Renée Pérez, D-Alhambra, told Shirley when pressed about whether the measure would restrict fraud investigations.

The legislation also drew scrutiny in Shirley's video because Assemblymember Bonta is married to California Attorney General Rob Bonta. Shirley repeatedly framed that relationship as a potential conflict of interest while questioning lawmakers about whether the bill would make it harder to expose fraud involving taxpayer-funded immigration services.

"I actually don’t think that this bill violates the First Amendment," Pérez said when asked about constitutional concerns.

"We have ledge [legislative] counsel and ledge attorneys that talk with us about this. Constitutionality is really important to the work."

NEW EXPOSÉ CLAIMS CALIFORNIA LOST AT LEAST $180B TO FRAUD UNDER GAVIN NEWSOM

Shirley’s video showed several encounters in which lawmakers declined to discuss the bill in detail, with some saying they were unfamiliar with its contents or needed to review it further.

"I need to read the bill," Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal, D-Long Beach, said after Shirley told him he had signed onto the measure.

One of the most pointed exchanges came when Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, was approached and asked for his opinion on the legislation.

"I think you’re a psycho scam artist," Wiener said on camera before closing the door on Shirley.

Shirley also approached Speaker of the Assembly, Robert Rivas, D-Salinas, and asked about the legislation directly.

"I don’t know anything about it," Rivas said, before also closing the door on Shirley.

"That just shows you everything you need to know," Nick Shirley said, after Rivas ignored the rest of his questions. "These people won't even answer the questions."

JOE ROGAN RIPS GAVIN NEWSOM FOR MOCKING NICK SHIRLEY OVER HIS 'BILLION DOLLAR' FRAUD INVESTIGATIONS

CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE

Republican Assemblymember Carl DeMaio, R-San Diego, who appeared in the video opposing the measure, argued the bill's language could impact independent reporting on alleged fraud.

"You read the bill, and you realize that it's against the First Amendment," DeMaio said. "It criminalizes citizen investigative journalists who take video and expose fraud."

"That's what the bill is designed to do," he said. "It's designed to keep secrets, to keep the public from knowing what's going on. They don't want to end their fraud racket."

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

91�� reached out to the California Democrats for comment, but did not immediately hear back.

A detransitioner confronted a California lawmaker on the harms of gender transition. Here's why he spoke out

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 06:00:56 -0400

A young man who went viral for confronting California lawmakers about harms he says he faced from childhood medical transition is speaking out against a bill he believes could make it harder for vulnerable minors to get proper counseling.

Jonni Skinner, a detransitioner and ambassador for Genspect, testified at a California Senate Judiciary Committee hearing last week against SB 934, a bill sponsored by Democratic state Sen. Scott Wiener that would let victims of "conversion therapy" seek damages through malpractice lawsuits, even years after the counseling occurred. Wiener’s office defines conversion therapy to include "sexual orientation or gender identity change efforts."

Critics, including the California Family Council, say SB 934 is so broadly written that it could expose therapists to lawsuits for talk therapy on sexuality and gender identity.

Skinner says he grew up in a small town in Michigan in a religious family and was diagnosed with high-functioning autism at a young age. He said he struggled with feeling different from other boys and was bullied for having stereotypical feminine interests. As he reached puberty, he became increasingly uncomfortable with his body and carried shame that he might grow up to be gay or an effeminate man. After seeing online influencers he admired undergo gender transitions, he said he found the idea appealing.

CHLOE COLE REVEALS INTENSE PRESSURE TO TRANSITION AS A MINOR, PARENTS WERE TOLD SHE'D 'PROBABLY DIE’

Skinner told 91�� Digital that he was referred to a gender therapist and an endocrinologist who affirmed his feelings and suggested medically transitioning would be a way he could feel "normal."

"The medical and mental health providers didn't bother to ask why I felt the way I did," Skinner told Wiener at the hearing. "They poisoned my body with blockers and hormones, arresting my puberty and messing with my development. The result is I'm a 23-year-old gay man who's never had an orgasm and may never experience one. Let that sink in."

Though his mother resisted the idea of making permanent changes to his body, Skinner said the medical professionals told her that his gender dysphoria originated in the womb from a hormonal imbalance, claiming he had a "girl brain in a boy body." He said they were told that transitioning with hormones was the only solution to his problems.

But the drugs left him with fainting spells, painful muscle spasms and urinary problems.

I WAS A CHILD AND BELIEVED GENDER TRANSITION WOULD HEAL MY PAIN. IT BECAME A NEW TRAUMA

In 2023, a new endocrinologist suggested he stop taking the drugs to see whether that would resolve his problems. Around the same time, he began questioning what doctors had told him over the years after reading leaked internal reports from the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, or WPATH, which he said revealed doubts about the science behind the treatments.

This led Skinner down "a rabbit hole of research essentially."

"And I had found that there was, you know, no — low quality to no evidence to doing this to me," he told 91�� Digital.

Skinner said he eventually stopped treatment, but years later still suffers from urinary problems and sexual dysfunction that he attributes to the drugs. He said those lasting effects are part of what now drives him to speak out.

SUPREME COURT OVERTURNS BAN ON SO-CALLED 'CONVERSION THERAPY' ON FIRST AMENDMENT GROUNDS

He believes the California bill targeting "conversion therapy" as it relates to gender identity is one that would "actually end up harming gay people."

"For me, it did very much act as a chemical conversion therapy," he told 91�� Digital.

Skinner argued that therapists should be allowed to explore the underlying causes of a minor’s distress before steering them toward a gender identity outcome.

"In all those years, if one therapist would have just talked with me about the origins of my distress, instead of just affirming me and suggesting, you know, further medical intervention is the only solution to me, perhaps I could have been spared much of what I'm suffering with today," he said.

"And this bill, SB 934, would criminalize therapists for questioning that," he continued. "They're not able to, under this bill, question gender identity or really delve with these patients into the underlying causes of their dysphoria. That would be considered conversion therapy under SB 934."

TEXAS DETRANSITIONER SHARES HOW DOCTORS AND INTERNET ‘COSPLAY’ GROOMED HER INTO PERMANENT SURGERY

DETRANSITIONER PREDICTS MASSIVE WAVE OF LAWSUITS AFTER LANDMARK $2 MILLION VERDICT

Skinner believes lawmakers are not fully grappling with the permanent consequences of these treatments for minors.

"They feel like they're doing it out of compassion because that's what they're being told... but no one is thinking along the lines of, well, what is making these kids distressed in their bodies? No one is trying to delve in and understand where they're coming from or how they're arriving at these conclusions," he added.

Wiener's office disputed Skinner's claims in a statement to 91�� Digital defending the bill.

"Conversion therapy is psychological torture and quack science that does nothing but harm vulnerable young people," Wiener said. "SB 934 cracks down on that horrifying practice, but makes clear that therapists will not be penalized for good faith explorations of a patient’s gender identity or sexuality. They will be penalized if they attempt to intentionally change a patient from any one gender or sexual orientation to another, such as from gay to straight, straight to gay, trans to cis, or cis to trans."

The bill is currently pending in the California Senate after passing one committee and is scheduled for another hearing on April 20.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

The California bill comes following the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision in Chiles v. Salazar last month, where the court ruled that a Colorado law banning so-called "conversion therapy" violated the First Amendment because it discriminated against certain viewpoints.

Tennessee governor signs nuclear family month resolution as critics push back on exclusions

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 19:20:03 -0400

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has signed a resolution declaring June Nuclear Family Month as an alternative to the usual LGBTQ+ Pride Month.

Lee, a Republican, signed House Joint Resolution 182 April 9 after it passed the House in April 2025 and the Senate last month.

The legislation highlights the importance of celebrating the traditional family unit, described as "consisting of one husband, one wife, and any biological, adopted, or fostered children."

"The nuclear family is under attack in our beloved State and nation, and it is our responsibility to uplift, protect, and support values that help Tennessee prosper," the resolution adds.

NASHVILLE TEACHER HAS RECORD CLEARED AFTER REFUSING TO READ SAME-SEX MARRIAGE BOOK TO FIRST-GRADERS

A spokesperson for the governor did not immediately respond to 91�� Digital's request for comment.

LGBTQ+ advocacy groups have begun to speak out against the resolution, and a representative for GLAAD gave 91�� Digital its opinion on the bill.

OHIO TEACHER SUES HIGH SCHOOL FOR DEMANDING HE REMOVE LGBT POSTER INSIDE CLASSROOM

"The strongest families are grounded in love, not legislative definitions. It is disturbing to see lawmakers use their platform to intentionally exclude their own constituents," the organization wrote in a statement.

"Instead of drafting resolutions that aim to divide Tennessee families, Gov. Lee should be focused on building a state where every family is treated fairly, and every child has the opportunity to succeed."

The news of the legislation comes a few days after the pride flag at Stonewall National Monument’s federal flagpole in New York City, a well-known symbol for the LGBTQ+ community, was restored after a two-month legal battle and settlement with the Trump administration.

"This is a victory for the LGBTQ+ community and for our entire city," Mayor Zohran Mamdani wrote in an X post Monday. "It’s a reminder that New Yorkers won’t let our history be rewritten.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

"Our administration will keep working to ensure LGBTQ+ New Yorkers can live safely and with dignity in our city."

91�� Digital's Ashley J. DiMella contributed to this report.

Didn’t file your taxes on time? Here’s what a tax expert says you should do next

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 09:30:06 -0400

If you missed the April 15 tax deadline, the clock is already ticking on penalties and interest — but there are still steps you can take to reduce the damage.

Experts say taxpayers should file immediately, even if they can’t pay their full bill, and pay as much as they can to avoid the steepest penalties. Those who still owe can apply for a payment plan to manage the remaining balance.

TAX DAY IS THIS WEEK: AVOID THESE 5 COMMON MISTAKES THAT CAN COST YOU MONEY

The IRS says most applicants receive immediate approval or denial when applying for a payment plan online.

"You can still file your return and at least eliminate the failure-to-file penalty, which can reach up to 25% of any tax owed, with interest compounding," said Mark Steber, chief tax officer at Jackson Hewitt Tax Services.

The IRS can impose multiple penalties, including failure-to-file, failure-to-pay and underpayment penalties, which are assessed separately and can accrue interest daily, Steber said.

He added that consulting a tax professional early can help taxpayers navigate their options and potentially reduce the total cost.

THE SIMPLE TAX HABIT THAT COULD SAVE YOU THOUSANDS OVER YOUR LIFETIME

"In many cases, the total cost — including taxes, penalties, interest and professional fees — ends up being higher than if you had sought help earlier," Steber said.

"The worst thing you can do is ignore the deadline," he added. "Many people think they’ll deal with it later, but that can lead to mounting penalties and unnecessary financial risk."

Filing as soon as possible and exploring IRS payment options can help taxpayers regain control of their situation and minimize added costs.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Steber said taxpayers should view filing as part of a long-term financial strategy, not just a once-a-year obligation.

"Your tax return is one of your largest financial transactions each year," he said. "Giving it proper attention can pay dividends over time."

Dems ripped for 'Stop Nick Shirley Act' that could 'shield' fraud and abuse in California

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 12:50:11 -0400

California Democrats are being ripped over a bill that one state assembly member has dubbed the "Stop Nick Shirley Act," which he argues would "criminalize" investigative journalism.

The controversial bill, officially titled "Privacy for immigration support services providers," creates privacy protections for immigration support service providers, employees and volunteers, including hiding their addresses and imposing penalties on those who publish their image on social media. Democratic lawmakers say the legislation is needed to protect people from targeted political violence.

However, critics, including Republican Assembly member Carl DeMaio, argue the bill would actually work to "silence citizen journalists and shield taxpayer-funded organizations from public scrutiny."

The bill has already passed its earliest stages and currently sits in the California Assembly Judiciary Committee.

JOURNALIST WHO EXPOSED ALLEGED MINNESOTA FRAUD SAYS NEWSOM, CALIFORNIA ARE HIS NEXT TARGETS

If the bill is signed into law, the California secretary of state will oversee a program that will conceal from public records the addresses of any person who has provided "designated immigration support services," including services like health care, legal assistance and case management, if they have been subjected to threats, harassment or violence stemming from their work.

The California secretary of state will assign participants a substitute address, which will be used by local and state agencies, and will be tasked with forwarding mail to program participants' real address.

The legislation also prohibits private citizens or businesses from posting the image, personal information or home address of any program participant online or on social media if the intent is to threaten the immigration support services worker or incite violence from a third party.

A participant covered under the program could file a complaint in court against a person or organization that posts their image and could be awarded up to $4,000.

CALIFORNIA FRAUD CONCERNS RAMP UP AS MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO MASSIVE SCHEME USING TAXPAYERS AS HIS 'PIGGY BANK'

Violators of the law could face additional criminal penalties, including a $10,000 fine or up to one year in jail.

"This bill will ensure that we have an opportunity, when people are being harassed, doxed, subjected to violence, to be able to have the ability to protect themselves," the author of the bill, Democratic Assembly member Mia Bonta, the wife of California Attorney General Rob Bonta, said during a legislative session.

Republican lawmakers like DeMaio argue the legislation would have a chilling effect on the work of citizen journalists.

YOUTUBER TO TESTIFY BEFORE CONGRESS ON MINNESOTA'S MASSIVE $9B FRAUD NETWORK INVESTIGATION

"AB 2624 would allow activists and taxpayer-funded organizations to demand the removal of video evidence — even if it captures misconduct in plain view — and threatens journalists with massive financial penalties," DeMaio said in a statement. "That’s not about public safety — it’s about protecting powerful interests."

The bill's introduction follows investigations by independent journalists, including Shirley, that exposed alleged fraud schemes in the Democratic-controlled state. In March, Shirley published a video alleging $170 million in fraud was committed by registered hospice care and healthcare companies. Shirley visited various locations of the registered clinics, showing him interacting with the alleged fraudsters.

Since the report went public, Vice President JD Vance, who also serves as the administration fraud czar, announced the federal government has suspended 447 hospices and 23 home health agencies suspected of fraud in Los Angeles. The total fraud estimated in those schemes is more than $600 million.

FEDERAL PROSECUTOR CALLS NEWSOM 'KING OF FRAUD' AS TRUMP LAUNCHES CALIFORNIA CORRUPTION PROBE

"California Democrats are trying to intimidate citizen watchdog journalists and protect waste and fraud happening in far-Left-wing NGOs," DeMaio said in a statement.

Shirley said it was "absolutely crazy" that fraud organizations, which may allegedly provide services to immigrants, are able to hide under the letter of the law.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

91�� Digital reached out to Bonta, DeMaio and Shirley for comment.

Shirley accused Democrats of trying to scare away independent journalists from looking into fraud during an appearance on "The Will Cain Show" on Tuesday.

"They're trying to make it so citizen journalists or just average Americans who are going about seeing what's happening inside their community — they're trying to scare them from talking about potential fraud taking place inside of these communities," Shirley said.

"They're literally willing to impose a $10,000 fine or imprisonment if you go and seek to find out the truth about a location that could potentially be fraudulent inside your own neighborhood."

91�� Digital's Max Bacall contributed to this report.

Spanberger signs gun bills, makes a proposed gun ban even harsher

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 07:31:53 -0400

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed a series of gun-control bills Tuesday, toughening a proposed assault-firearms ban before sending it back to lawmakers, which drew immediate backlash from Republicans and is likely to draw a constitutional objection from the Justice Department.

The Democratic governor’s changes to House Bill 217/Senate Bill 749 remove the word "fixed" from part of the bill’s definition of an assault firearm, which could sharply expand the range of semi-automatic rifles and pistols swept into the ban, Republicans say.

"If there was any doubt that Gov. Spanberger was coming for our firearms, this substitute removes it," House of Delegates Minority Leader Terry Kilgore, R-Scott, told News WCYB 5 in a statement. "Not only does it keep in place the de facto ban on some of the most common firearms in Virginia, it goes further and appears to create a ban on any firearm that can accept a magazine of more than 15 rounds.

"That includes the vast majority of firearms in Virginia that are in common use for legal purposes."

ATLANTA TEEN ARRESTED FOR MURDER AFTER FATAL SHOOTING OF 12-YEAR-OLD INSIDE HOME

The U.S. Department of Justice warned in a letter released Friday that the measure raises constitutional concerns and threatened legal action if the state enforces a ban that infringes on protected firearms.

"This letter provides formal notice that the Civil Rights Division will commence litigation in the event the Commonwealth of Virginia enacts certain bills that unconstitutionally limit law-abiding Americans’ individual right to bear arms," Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon wrote in the letter to Virginia Democrat Attorney General Jay Jones before Spanberger's moves Tuesday. "Specifically, SB 749, as written, would require Virginia law enforcement agencies to engage in a practice of unconstitutionally restricting the making, buying, or selling of AR-15s and many other semi-automatic firearms in common use.

"The Second Amendment protects the rights of law-abiding citizens to own and use AR-15 style semiautomatic rifles for lawful purposes," she added, citing the unanimous Supreme Court opinion that the AR-15 is "both widely legal and bought by many ordinary consumers."

Dhillon said her division "will seek to enjoin any attempt to infringe the right of law-abiding Virginians to acquire constitutional protected arms[.]"

"@SpanbergerForVA is on notice: 2A rights SHALL NOT BE infringed," Dhillon wrote Friday on X. "We are closely watching—in the event any unlawful legislation is enacted, we will sue. @CivilRights will protect the 2A rights of law-abiding citizens in Virginia."

DESANTIS URGES FLORIDA LAWMAKERS TO BAN COUSIN MARRIAGES, LINKS PRACTICE TO 'STEALTH JIHAD'

Undaunted, Spanberger moved forward framing the law as a public-safety push, saying the state is trying to balance Second Amendment rights with efforts to reduce gun violence.

"I grew up in a family where responsible gun ownership was expected, and I carried a firearm every day as a former federal agent," she wrote in a statement. "I support the Second Amendment. But gun violence is the leading cause of death for children and teenagers in America, and that should motivate all of us to ask ourselves what we can do to mitigate this harm.

"This is why I’ve made amendments to provide clarity for both responsible gun owners and law enforcement, making clear what these changes mean in practice — as Virginians safely purchase and store their firearms," she continued. "These commonsense steps will help keep our families, our communities, and our law enforcement officers safe."

GUNS AND GANJA: SUPREME COURT SKEPTICAL OF FEDERAL LAW BANNING FIREARM POSSESSION FOR REGULAR MARIJUANA USERS

The bill would ban the future sale, transfer, manufacture and importation of covered firearms and magazines over 15 rounds, while exempting firearms legally owned before July 1, 2026. It would create a Class 1 misdemeanor for violations and impose limits on how grandfathered firearms could later be transferred or sold.

The legislation now heads back to the General Assembly, which must decide whether to accept Spanberger’s amendments.

DESANTIS CALLS FOR IMPEACHMENT OF JUDGE FOR RELEASING SEX OFFENDER WHO THEN ALLEGEDLY KILLED STEPDAUGHTER

Spanberger also signed several other gun-related bills without changes, including House Bill 21, which requires firearm manufacturers, dealers and distributors to adopt "reasonable controls" aimed at preventing illegal sales and misuse. The law also opens the door for civil action by the attorney general, local governments and private individuals if a firearm industry member’s actions or omissions are alleged to have contributed to public harm.

She also signed House Bill 110, which bars leaving a firearm in plain view inside an unattended vehicle, and House Bill 40, which bans the manufacture, sale, transfer and possession of unserialized homemade firearms, commonly known as ghost guns.

"In all, the General Assembly has forwarded to you over 20 bills that restrict Second Amendment rights," Dhillon's warning to Jones concluded. "I urge you to reconsider allowing any bill that would infringe on the lawful use of protected firearms by law-abiding citizens to become law.

"In an effort to avoid unnecessary litigation, the Second Amendment Section stands ready to meet and confer with attorneys in the Virginia Attorney General's Office.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

"The Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens shall not be infringed."

Latest Bills News | 91����

Fmr Dem Rep Barney Frank, sharp-tongued liberal trailblazer and Dodd-Frank co-author, dies

Duffy unleashes on Buttigieg with swipe over which admin has accomplished more: 'Moved like a sloth'

Dem Senate candidate pushing water affordability agenda racked up unpaid bills on $1.28M home

Omar camp breaks silence on fraud probe, blames Walz, Trump as new claims clash with earlier statements

Warren pushed ‘free and easy’ IRS filing system, but docs reveal what she used instead

Rashida Tlaib's new 'Unhoused Bill of Rights' would protect homeless camping

Spanberger won't rule out taxes on gym memberships, streaming services: 'Should be discussed'

Senate quietly bans lawmakers from betting on prediction markets

We can't let RI's 'assault weapons' ban become the US gun seizure blueprint

Veterans could decide the midterms, and the VA is why

Congress extends controversial spy law for 45 days after Senate rejects House bill

'America First' immigration overhaul bill would codify Trump's campaign promises once and for all

Senators unveil bill to combat financial aid fraud by 'ghost students'

WATCH: Hearing erupts after Dem chair tries to sidestep GOP transgender sports bills: ‘They’re petrified’

Riley Gaines, Nick Shirley ask where 'No Kings' protesters are on California bill they say targets journalists

Mamdani in the hot seat after first veto derails bipartisan effort to combat antisemitism: 'Disappointed'

James Comer's new bills could curb federal fraud in Minnesota and California

‘Stop this insanity’: Angel mom rips Newsom, Dems for bill to use taxpayer dollars for illegals’ defense

Reporter's Notebook: House chaos sparks emergency FISA extension

Nick Shirley confronts California Democrats over 'Stop Nick Shirley Act,' pressing on First Amendment rights

A detransitioner confronted a California lawmaker on the harms of gender transition. Here's why he spoke out

Tennessee governor signs nuclear family month resolution as critics push back on exclusions

Didn’t file your taxes on time? Here’s what a tax expert says you should do next

Dems ripped for 'Stop Nick Shirley Act' that could 'shield' fraud and abuse in California

Spanberger signs gun bills, makes a proposed gun ban even harsher

Latest Bills News | 91��