Trump commutes prison sentence of Hunter Biden’s ‘fall guy’ Jason Galanis
President Donald Trump commuted the sentence of Jason Galanis, a convicted ex-business associate of Hunter Biden, whom Trump officials described as the “fall guy” for the former first son’s business dealings. Galanis was sentenced in 2017 to 189 months, or 14 years, in prison, after pleading guilty to securities fraud based on bonds issued by a company affiliated with a Native American tribe in South Dakota. The funds were reportedly supposed to be used for certain projects, but were instead used for his personal finances. HUNTER BIDEN: A LOOK AT HOW THE SAGA SPANNING OVER SIX YEARS UNFOLDED A Trump administration official told Fox News Digital that Galanis served eight years and eight months of his sentence and had an “unblemished record while in prison.” The official also said Galanis was sexually assaulted by a security guard while in prison. The Trump official told Fox News Digital that Galanis “basically was the fall guy for Hunter Biden and Devon Archer.” The official noted Galanis was “extremely cooperative” during the 2024 House impeachment inquiry into the Biden family. “After serving eight years and eight months in prison on good behavior, the administration felt it was time for him to regain his liberty and go on into his private life,” the official told Fox News Digital. Congressional investigators interviewed Galanis while he was in prison to gather information on the Biden family’s business dealings and any “access” to then-Vice President Joe Biden. Galanis testified that Joe Biden was considering joining the board of a joint venture created by Hunter Biden and his business associates with ties to the Chinese Communist Party after he left the vice presidency. JOE BIDEN ALLEGEDLY CONSIDERED JOINING BOARD OF CCP-LINKED COMPANY, WITNESS TESTIFIES FROM PRISON Galanis said Joe Biden’s involvement would have brought “political access in the United States and around the world.” Galanis testified that he worked with Archer and Hunter Biden between 2012 and 2015. Their business together, he said, included the acquisition of Burnham & Co, a division of Drexel Burnham Lambert, combined with “other businesses in insurance and wealth management.” Galanis testified the three “owned and acquired with total audited assets of over $17 billion.” “Our objective was to build a diversified private equity platform, which would be anchored by a globally known Wall Street brand together with a globally known political name,” Galanis testified. “Our goal — that is, Hunter Biden, Devon Archer and me — was to make billions, not millions.” Galanis testified that “the entire value-add of Hunter Biden to our business was his family name and his access to his father, Vice President Joe Biden. EXCLUSIVE: BIDEN COMMITTED ‘IMPEACHABLE CONDUCT,’ ‘DEFRAUDED UNITED STATES TO ENRICH HIS FAMILY’: HOUSE GOP REPORT “Because of this access, I agreed to contribute equity ownership to them — Hunter and Devon — for no out-of-pocket cost from them in exchange for their ‘relationship capital,’” he told investigators. Hunter Biden served as vice chairman of the Burnham group “and brought strategic relationships to the venture, including from Kazakhstan, Russia and China.” Meanwhile, Archer was tied to the scheme that put Galanis in prison and was convicted in 2018 for defrauding the Native American tribal entity and various investment advisory clients of tens of millions of dollars in connection with the issuance of bonds by the tribal entity and the subsequent sale of those bonds through fraudulent and deceptive means. The president pardoned Archer in March. TRUMP PARDONS FORMER HUNTER BIDEN BUSINESS ASSOCIATE DEVON ARCHER “Many people have asked me to do this. They think he was treated very unfairly. And I looked at the records, studied the records. And he was a victim of a crime, as far as I’m concerned. So we’re going to undo that. … Congratulations, Devon,” Trump said ahead of signing the pardon. Archer thanked Trump ahead of officially receiving the pardon Tuesday, arguing he was “the victim of a convoluted lawfare effort.” “I want to extend my deepest thanks to President Trump,” Archer said in a comment to the New York Post regarding the pardon. “I am grateful to the president for recognizing that I was the victim of a convoluted lawfare effort intended to destroy and silence me. “Like so many people, my life was devastated by the Biden family’s selfish disregard for the truth and for the peace of mind and happiness of others. The Bidens talk about justice, but they don’t mean it,” he said. “I am grateful that the American people are now well aware of this reality.” Galanis and Archer testified as part of the House impeachment inquiry against Joe Biden. The House of Representatives found, after months of investigating, that Biden had engaged in “impeachable conduct.” In their nearly 300-page report, House lawmakers said he had “abused his office” and “defrauded the United States to enrich his family.” BIDEN PARDONS SON HUNTER BIDEN AHEAD OF EXIT FROM OVAL OFFICE Republicans said there is “overwhelming evidence” that Biden had participated in a “conspiracy to monetize his office of public trust to enrich his family.” They alleged that the Biden family and their business associates had received tens of millions of dollars from foreign interests by “leading those interests to believe that such payments would provide them access to and influence with President Biden.” Before leaving office, President Biden announced a blanket pardon that applied to any offenses against the U.S. that Hunter Biden “has committed or may have committed” from Jan. 1, 2014 to Dec. 1, 2024. “From the day I took office, I said I would not interfere with the Justice Department’s decision-making, and I kept my word even as I have watched my son being selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted,” President Joe Biden said. “There has been an effort to break Hunter — who has been five and a half years sober, even in the face of unrelenting attacks and selective prosecution. In trying to break Hunter, they’ve tried to break me — and there’s no reason to believe it will stop here.
Blue state sheriff vows to ‘eliminate’ major tax if elected governor: ‘We will work immediately’
A candidate for California governor suggests scrapping the state’s income tax altogether, a move that could send a political earthquake through the Golden State. Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, a Republican, said in a video last week that it could be a strong way to get people and businesses that left in the wake of the pandemic and high costs in the state to return. “What a better way to bring all of my friends back, bring all the businesses back that have left to eliminate California income tax. Other states have done it. There’s nine states that don’t have a state income tax. So why does the greatest state in the country have an income tax?” he asked. BLUE STATE SHERIFF ISSUES STARK WARNING FOR ACTIVISTS WHO DEFY ICE, RIPS MEDIA ‘FEAR MONGERING’ “I believe that our hard workers in California could spend their money far better than our current government,” the sheriff continued. There is a national conversation underway about tax reform, as nationwide cuts are anticipated under the Trump administration and Republican Congress. Additionally, Mississippi just passed a law that will completely eliminate their income tax in the coming years, and Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte is supporting state legislation to cut taxes in his state further. The California legislature currently has a Democratic supermajority, meaning that Bianco could have an uphill battle with his proposal. COMEDY INFLUENCER RIPS CALIFORNIA LAW DOUBLING HIS AMBULANCE BILL AFTER HE PROVIDED PROOF OF INSURANCE Many California taxpayers also deal with high gas taxes at the pump and high property taxes if they are homeowners. Regarding the gas tax, many have called for a holiday to provide temporary relief for drivers in the Golden State. Tennessee, Florida, South Dakota, New Hampshire, Nevada, Wyoming, Alaska, Washington and Texas do not have an individual income tax. “So, as your governor, we will work immediately on eliminating California income tax for all of Californians,” the sheriff said, adding that he plans to announce more details at a later date on the execution of the proposal. California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom is not able to run for re-election in 2026, which is fueling speculation about a potential 2028 White House bid. While the state is largely considered deep blue, a recent poll provided some silver linings for Republicans. TRUMP ALLIES MAKE PUSH FOR PERMANENT TAX CUT PLAN IN CONGRESS Forty-eight percent of “likely voters” said they would consider voting red in the governor’s race next year, according to a survey conducted by Columbia University pollster David Wolfson and Republican firm Madison McQueen, the Sacramento Bee reported. On the Democratic side, former Rep. Katie Porter and Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis are among the names in the race, but former Vice President Kamala Harris could also hop in following her presidential bid loss.
Trump-backed bills targeting activist judges, noncitizen voting head for House-wide votes
Two key bills backed by President Donald Trump are expected to get a vote this week as Republican lawmakers continue their first 100-day sprint of trying to enact the White House’s agenda. The No Rogue Rulings Act (NORRA Act) by Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., would limit district court judges’ ability to issue orders blocking Trump policies nationwide. Additionally, the Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act by Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, is aimed at requiring proof of citizenship in the voting registration process. It signifies Trump’s continued dominance over congressional Republicans’ agenda, at a time when Democrats are struggling to coalesce around a singular message or leader. MIGRANT INFLUENCER MOCKS US TAXPAYERS WHO ‘WORK LIKE SLAVES’ WHILE WAVING CASH IN LATEST VIDEOS The former legislation is a response to Trump’s ongoing standoff with judges paralyzing his agenda, while the latter is a bill that the president and his allies have long pushed for. The bills advanced through the House Rules Committee on Tuesday in an expected party-line vote. An original plan to have the bills voted through the panel on Monday night was upended after House GOP leaders attempted to insert language into the joint “rule” that would have killed an unrelated bid by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., to install remote voting for new parents in the House. It led to a brief hold-up on Tuesday morning before the language blocking Luna was ultimately included in the measure. The Rules Committee acts as the final gatekeeper to legislation before it’s considered House-wide. The next step will be a procedural “rule” vote expected on Tuesday afternoon. If passed, that will set up lawmakers to debate both bills before voting sometime this week. Issa’s bill is coming for a House-wide vote on Wednesday afternoon as Trump is pushing his congressional allies to fight back against what Republicans view as “activist judges” trying to block their agenda. Two people familiar with discussions said earlier this month that Capitol Hill aides were told Trump “likes” the bill. Meanwhile, Roy’s bill has been pushed by both Trump and various conservative groups since before the 2024 election. Democrats have argued that if passed, it would disenfranchise women by making it harder for married women who have changed their last names to vote. Republicans say it is a necessary crackdown to prevent illegal immigrants from voting in federal elections, which is already against the law. The SAVE Act passed the House with five Democrats voting in favor of the bill in July last year, but was never taken up by the Senate, then controlled by now-Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. PROPOSED BILL IN CONGRESS TO COMBAT ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS SQUATTING WOULD MAKE PRACTICE A DEPORTABLE OFFENSE House GOP leaders called on lawmakers on both sides to support this bill this week, however. It’s expected to come for a House-wide vote on Thursday morning. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “American citizens – and only American citizens – should decide American elections,” House GOP leaders said in a joint statement. “This legislation cements into law President Trump’s executive action to secure our voter registration process and protect the voices of American voters. We urge all our colleagues in the House to join us in doing what the overwhelming majority of people in this country rightfully demand and deserve.”
SCOTUS rulings this term could strengthen religious rights protections, expert says
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday heard the first of three major religious rights cases this spring, with an expert telling Fox News the high court has the opportunity to further clarify the free exercise clause’s scope in protecting religious Americans from government interference. “I think it’s fair to say here that all three cases involve questions that have been lingering in courts for a long time, or that raise issues that are especially pressing right now around the country,” Thomas More Society attorney Michael McHale told Fox News Digital in an interview. “To me, it seems clear these cases, at least potentially, could stand for the principle that as long as someone’s acting out of a sincerely motivated religious beliefs or sincerely held religious beliefs that triggers the First Amendment, and it requires the government to show a really good reason why the government interests should override that belief,” he added. POPE FRANCIS’ DOCTORS CONSIDERED ENDING TREATMENT, SAID ‘THERE WAS A REAL RISK HE MIGHT NOT MAKE IT’: REPORT On Monday, the high court heard a case brought by a Wisconsin-based Catholic charity group’s bid for tax relief, which could alter the current eligibility requirements for religious tax exemptions. At issue in that case is whether the Wisconsin branch of Catholic Charities, a social services organization affiliated with Catholic dioceses across the country, can successfully contest the state’s high court determination that it is ineligible for a religious tax exemption because it is not “operated primarily for religious purposes.” “Today’s case involving Catholic Charities in Wisconsin involves questions that we’ve seen a number of times in different contexts,” McHale said. “The question is essentially, can states determine how religious an organization is in order to ultimately determine whether they qualify for a religious exemption that’s already available?” SUPREME COURT APPEARS LIKELY TO SIDE WITH CATHOLIC CHURCH AND TRUMP IN KEY RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION CASE McHale said the issue is similar to the one faced during the Obama administration with the HHS contraceptive mandate under the Affordable Care Act, which required most employers, including religiously affiliated organizations, to provide health insurance coverage for contraceptives at no cost to employees. “I think what the Supreme Court says in this case will probably resolve to a great extent, or at least shed a lot of light on how those other issues should be resolved,” he said. The other two cases deal with school choice. One involves a case about whether parents can excuse their children from LGBTQ-themed storybooks on religious grounds, and the other is whether a Catholic online school can become the first religious charter school in the U.S. “Again, we just see these issues arising around the country time and again,” McHale said of the cases. SOTOMAYOR COMPARES TRANS MEDICAL ‘TREATMENTS’ TO ASPIRIN IN QUESTION ABOUT SIDE EFFECTS DURING ORAL ARGUMENTS GOP AG PREDICTS WHICH SIDE HAS ADVANTAGE IN HISTORIC SCOTUS TRANSGENDER CASE WITH ‘DIVIDED’ JUSTICES “The Oklahoma charter school case seems to be a natural development from the religious school choice cases the Supreme Court’s dealt with over the last 10 or so years,” McHale said. Regarding Mahmoud v. Taylor, the Maryland case about excusing children from LGBTQ material, McHale said “while there is an opt-out statute in state law, the school initially abided it,” but “the school decided to yank the opt-out exception, so to speak, and it really triggered the issue of whether the Constitution requires an opt-out in that circumstance.” “For the Fourth Circuit to say there was no religious burden, it really seems radical, and given how pressing that issue of school curriculum on sexual orientation, gender identity is, I think it raises an issue worth the Supreme Court’s attention,” he said. While President Donald Trump signed several gender-related executive orders to stamp out progressive gender ideology from institutions and the federal government earlier this year, McHale said it could likely reduce the infringement on religious rights in situations involving gender ideology, like schools requiring teachers to use students’ preferred pronouns. “The hope is Trump’s executive orders and the shifting political ends ease those burdens outside the courts,” McHale said. “We’ll have to see how it all makes sense.”
Melania Trump to focus on love as a ‘universal language’ at International Women of Courage Awards
EXCLUSIVE: First lady Melania Trump will recognize courageous women from all corners of the world at the State Department Tuesday and is expected to celebrate “the extraordinary strength of women who embody love in action around the globe.” The first lady is returning to the State Department for her fifth year participating in the Secretary of State’s International Women of Courage Awards. MELANIA TRUMP SPEAKS ON CAPITOL HILL FOR FIRST TIME IN ROUNDTABLE FOCUSED ON PUNISHING REVENGE PORN The event will recognize women from around the globe who have “bravely stood up for many of the values we cherish here in the United States.” The first lady is expected to focus on “love as a source of strength” during her remarks Tuesday and is expected to call love a “universal language.” The first lady is also expected to honor the courageous and “extraordinary” women who will receive the annual awards. “Mrs. Trump will highlight the profound connection between the love and courage shown by this year’s honorees,” first lady spokesman Nick Clemens told Fox News Digital. “She looks forward to celebrating the extraordinary strength of women who embody love in action around the globe.” MELANIA TRUMP ANNOUNCES RETURN OF WHITE HOUSE EASTER EGG ROLL Recipients include women from Burkina Faso in West Africa, Israel, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, South Sudan, Sri Lanka and Yemen. One of the recipients, Amit Soussana, was taken hostage by Hamas in Israel during the Oct. 7, 2023 attack. Soussana is an advocate for the hostages that remain under Hamas control. The IWOC Award is in its 19th year and recognizes women from around the world who have demonstrated “exceptional courage, strength, and leadership — often at great personal risk and sacrifice.” The State Department said that since 2007, it has recognized more than 200 women from more than 90 countries with the IWOC Award. U.S. diplomatic missions overseas nominate one woman of courage from their respective host countries, and finalists are selected and approved by senior Department officials.
Trump threatens Iran over nukes as DNI Gabbard claims Tehran is not building bombs
As President Donald Trump edges closer to potentially bombing Tehran, Iran, the intelligence community does not yet believe Iran is moving toward a nuclear weapon. “If they don’t do a deal, there will be bombing,” Trump said Sunday. It was not clear whether that meant Israel or the U.S. would bomb Tehran. “There’s a chance that if they don’t make a deal, that I will do secondary tariffs on them like I did four years ago,” he added. Secondary “tariffs,” or sanctions, would mean slapping financial penalties on any country that does business with Iran. TRUMP CAUTIONS ‘BAD THINGS’ IN STORE IF IRAN WON’T NEGOTIATE AS ISLAMIC REPUBLIC TOUTS ‘MISSILE CITY’ However, Trump’s threat of direct war on Tehran comes just after Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard insisted last week Iran is not building a nuclear weapon – at least not yet. “The IC [intelligence community] continues to assess that Iran is not building a nuclear weapon and Khamenei has not authorized the nuclear weapon program that he suspended in 2003,” Gabbard told a worldwide threat hearing held by the Senate Intelligence Community last week. Experts believe Iran is enriching uranium to 60%, which puts it just below the 90% needed for a nuclear weapon, and have said there is no civilian use for 60% enriched uranium. “The IC continues to monitor closely if Tehran decides to reauthorize its nuclear weapons program. In the past year we’ve seen an erosion in the decades-long taboo in Iran of discussing nuclear weapons in public, likely emboldening nuclear weapons advocates within Iran’s decision making apparatus,” Gabbard said. She added that Iran’s uranium enrichment was “at its highest levels” and is “unprecedented for a state without nuclear weapons.” The IC’s annual threat assessment, released in conjunction with the hearing, predicted Iran would continue efforts to threaten U.S. citizens and conduct operations inside the U.S. “Tehran will try to leverage its robust missile capability and expanded nuclear program, and its diplomatic outreach to regional states and U.S. rivals to bolster its regional influence and ensure regime survival,” the report said. “However, regional and domestic challenges, most immediately tensions with Israel, are seriously testing Iran’s ambitions and capabilities.” The report detailed the “lethality” of Iran’s missiles and UAV systems but said little else about the threat of Iran’s nuclear program. TRUMP THREATENS TO BOMB IRAN UNLESS THEY END NUCLEAR WEAPONS PROGRAM AND BEGIN TALKS ON NEW DEAL It assessed Iran’s capabilities, degraded by Israel, would be able to deter further offensive Israeli actions. “The IC assesses Iran’s prospects for reconstituting force losses and posing a credible deterrent, particularly to Israeli actions, are dim in the near-term,” the report said. JINSA President and CEO Michael Makovsky offered a separate assessment, telling Fox News Digital, “Their enrichment program is about as far as you can get, so that part is done. So the question is the weapons part.… the issue today is less weaponization and more about opportunity.” Behnam Ben Taleblu, an analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, added a broader critique. “When the IC, reporters or open-source analysts fail to connect the dots between strategy, capability and intention when looking at Iran’s atomic infrastructure … they do a public disservice to the public national debate.” He said that worldwide threat assessments “should but be politicized,” but “intelligence officials must be asked, if Iran isn’t building a weapon, why has it invested so much time, labor and capital into this quest?” Tehran’s moves toward an atomic weapon is not a dash, but a “slow and steady quest to develop the world’s most dangerous weapons as safely as possible,” said Taleblu. The renewed threat comes as the U.S. is bolstering its forces in the Middle East. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth recently sent a second aircraft carrier, USS Carl Vinson, to join the USS Harry S. Truman carrier strike group, whose deployment was also extended. The U.S. also recently deployed two B-2 stealth bombers to the Diego Garcia base in the Indian Ocean, a warning to Iran and Yemen’s Houthi militia. The planes are capable of carrying 30,000-pound “bunker buster” bombs and are now situated within range of Iran. In his first term, Trump withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal signed by then-President Barack Obama, deeming it a “bad deal” that did not curb Iran’s nuclear program. He has already ordered his administration to bring “maximum pressure” back to Tehran, choking them financially from every lever of government.
First major swing state election of 2025 turns into referendum on Trump, Musk
MADISON, WI – Voters head to the polls in Wisconsin on Tuesday to decide if conservatives or liberals will control the majority on the key Midwestern battleground state’s supreme court, which is likely to rule on crucial issues including congressional redistricting, voting and labor rights, and abortion. However, with a massive infusion of money from Democrat and Republican-aligned groups from outside Wisconsin – which turned the race into the most expensive judicial election in the nation’s history – the contest has turned into a referendum on President Donald Trump’s sweeping and controversial moves during the opening months of his second tour of duty in the White House. Also, front and center in the electoral showdown is someone else, who, along with Trump, is not on the ballot – the president’s top donor and White House adviser – billionaire Elon Musk. WHY ELON MUSK HANDED OUT MILLION DOLLAR CHECKS IN WISCONSIN Musk, the world’s richest person and chief executive of Tesla and SpaceX, has taken a buzzsaw to the federal government workforce as he steers Trump’s recently created Department of Government Efficiency. Through aligned political groups, he has dished out roughly $20 million in the Wisconsin race in support of Trump-backed Brad Schimel, the conservative-leaning candidate in the election and a former state attorney general who currently serves as a state circuit court judge in Waukesha County. BATTLEGROUND STATE SHOWDOWN: DEMOCRATS TARGET ELON MUSK Musk, in a controversial move, handed out $1 million checks at a rally in Green Bay on Sunday evening to two Wisconsin voters who had already cast ballots in the contest and had signed a petition to stop “activist judges.” Wisconsin’s Democratic state attorney general sued to block the payments, but the state Supreme Court refused to weigh in. “It causes the legacy media to, like, kinda lose their minds. And then they’ll run it on every news channel,” Musk reasoned as he told the crowd the motive behind his million-dollar giveaways. “It would cost, like, 10 times more … to get the kind of coverage that it gets.” Calling the election a “super big deal,” Musk emphasized it was critical to the Trump agenda. “I think this will be important for the future of civilization,” he said. “It’s that significant.” TRUMP, OBAMA, WEIGH IN ON HIGH COURT SHOWDOWN IN KEY BATTLEGROUND Musk is not the only mega donor on the right playing in the Wisconsin showdown. Shipping magnates Richard and Elizabeth Uihlein, who are among the biggest conservative contributors in the nation, have also dished millions in support of Schimel and the Wisconsin GOP. “If you told me six months ago this was what was going to happen, I would not have believed it. But yeah….some parts of this are way beyond my control anymore,” Schimel said in a Fox News Digital interview during a bus tour stop Monday just outside of Green Bay. However, Schimel, who launched his bid 16 months ago, added that “other people can treat this how they want, if they think they want to make it a referendum on the president or Elon Musk, so be it.” “This is a referendum on Wisconsin,” he emphasized. “Can we restore objectivity to the Wisconsin Supreme Court?” Schimel has also leaned in to the endorsement from Trump. A TV ad running in the closing stretch of the race spotlighted that voting for Schimel would protect Trump’s agenda. Additionally, the candidate wore a “Make America Great Again” hat at some campaign stops during the final weekend ahead of the election. BIG-MONEY WI HIGH COURT RACE WILL HAVE NATIONAL EFFECTS, AS REDISTRICTING, UNIONS, TRANS ISSUES AT STAKE Schimel spotlighted his final blitz to reach out to voters. “We are doing 6-8 rallies every single day in cities across the state,” he said. “People are turning out in huge numbers, and we’ve got other surrogates going out around the state where we’re not, doing the exact same thing. It’s absolutely about getting those voters out.” Trump, who narrowly carried Wisconsin in both of his White House victories, spelled out why the contest was so important, because the state supreme court can settle disputes over election outcomes. “Wisconsin’s a big state politically, and the Supreme Court has a lot to do with elections in Wisconsin,” the president said Monday at the White House. “Winning Wisconsin’s a big deal, so therefore the Supreme Court choice … it’s a big race.” Tuesday’s election, the first statewide contest held since Trump returned to the White House, is an opportunity for voters to vent against the president and his policies. The liberal-leaning candidate in the race, Dane County Circuit Court Judge Susan Crawford, has enjoyed a surge in fundraising, thanks in part to an energized base eager to resist Trump and Republicans. “People are really motivated and want to make sure that we protect the Wisconsin Supreme Court,” Crawford said in a Fox News Digital interview on the eve of the election following a rally in Madison. Crawford argued that voters “don’t want to see some outsider, some billionaire, come in and try to buy a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, which is what Elon Musk is trying to do.” At her rally, Crawford emphasized that “this election is going to determine all of our fundamental rights and freedoms.” Crawford has also benefited from roughly $2 million infused into the race by left-leaning financier George Soros, long a boogeyman of the right. Billionaire progressive Gov. JB Pritzker of neighboring Illinois has also dished out big bucks in the race in support of Crawford. “I have gotten some generous contributions, and we’ve raised a lot of money in this race,” she acknowledged. “But just to put that in perspective, in the last two months, Elon Musk has spent more than we have raised over the 10 months of this entire campaign, so his spending dwarfs that of any individual in any state supreme court ever and certainly one in Wisconsin.” Crawford and Schimel are battling to succeed liberal-leaning justice Ann Walsh
What to know about Senator Booker’s overnight speech
The Democratic base has howled for weeks at congressional Democrats to “fight” and stand up to President Donald Trump. Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., tried to address that with his overnight speech, railing against Trump and Elon Musk. What you are also seeing is a proxy battle for the eventual fight to succeed Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. Schumer isn’t going to be ousted anytime soon, but moves like this by Booker are ways that senators with high aspirations make a mark and win the support of their colleagues. BOOKER DELIVERING MARATHON SENATE SPEECH AGAINST TRUMP ADMIN, ELON MUSK: ‘INFLICTED SO MUCH HARM’ Late Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., gave a similar stemwinder of a speech when he was the whip. That won Reid plaudits from his Democratic colleagues. Booker began speaking around 7 p.m. ET Monday. The question is whether this constitutes a “filibuster” or is just a really long speech. From a parliamentary standpoint, a long speech does not necessarily constitute a filibuster. A filibuster is used to block or delay something on the floor, and it may not require a speech at all. The filibuster is sometimes misconstrued, thanks to Hollywood and “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.” Technically, Booker is not delaying anything. The Senate had no pending debate or vote to get to right away. So, he’s actually not filibustering; he’s just making a long-winded speech. HOUSE REPUBLICANS TO GO TO WAR WITH ‘ROGUE JUDGES’ BLOCKING TRUMP’S AGENDA: HERE’S THEIR PLAN The Senate voted last night to overcome a filibuster on the nomination of Matt Whitaker to become Ambassador to NATO. By rule, opponents have up to 30 hours to burn before the Senate must vote to confirm him. The Senate was expected to confirm Whitaker today, but that vote was not on the books yet. So, technically Booker had until 1 a.m.-ish Wednesday to speak. By rule, the Senate would automatically vote on confirming Whitaker. That’s why this wasn’t TECHNICALLY a filibuster. The Senate allows for virtually unlimited debate, so Booker is taking advantage of that prerogative. If Booker wants to maintain the floor, he must remain standing at all times. Otherwise, he could lose control of the floor. Note that Booker did not speak the entire time. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., has given Booker a periodic time out. Murphy himself gave an all-night speech about guns in 2016. He is also someone to watch as a potential, eventual successor to Schumer. In order to keep the floor, Booker has occasionally yielded to Murphy “for a question.” Yielding “for a question” allows a senator to keep control of the floor. Murphy has then enjoined Booker by also giving rather lengthy speeches – so long that there is an interrogative at the end. In Senate terms, this is akin to calling in a relief pitcher from the bullpen for a batter or two. Kind of like a double switch. In baseball, a manager occasionally pulls a pitcher, brings someone in from the bullpen and puts the original pitcher in a fielder’s position – then returns them to the mound after a batter. That keeps the original pitcher in the game. Thus, Booker remains “in the game.” Late Sen. Strom Thurmond, R-S.C., holds the record for the longest filibuster: 24 hours and 18 minutes on a piece of civil rights legislation in 1957. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP However, Thurmond’s filibuster was “wind assisted.” There was no television or social media. Most reporters didn’t realize he had been on the floor all night until the next day. He left the floor to use the restroom. Get a sandwich. Allowed Senate Majority Leader Lyndon Johnson, D-Texas, to pass bills by unanimous consent and swear-in a new senator. But because watchful eyes weren’t on the Senate, no one called Thurmond on it.
Israeli air strike on Beirut raises concerns over shaky ceasefire
An Israeli air strike on a building in the Lebanese capital Beirut targeting a member of Hezbollah has killed at least four people. The surprise attack came at about 3:30am (00:30 GMT) on Tuesday during the Eid al-Fitr Muslim holiday marking the end of the Ramadan fasting month. The second strike on the city in three days has raised fears that the shaky ceasefire between Israel and the armed Hezbollah group that took effect four months ago could collapse. The Lebanese Ministry of Health said the four people killed included a woman and that seven others were wounded. Israel’s military said in a statement that it had targeted Hassan Bdeir, a member of a Hezbollah unit and Iran’s Quds Force, who was assisting the Palestinian armed group Hamas in planning a “significant and imminent terror attack against Israeli civilians”. The Israeli army did not offer any evidence for the statement. There was no immediate comment from Hezbollah. The strike followed just days after a previous hit on the southern suburb of Dahiyeh, a Hezbollah stronghold. Advertisement Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun condemned the latest assault, calling it a “dangerous warning” of Israel’s intentions against his country. “Israel’s persistence in its aggression requires more effort from us in addressing Lebanon’s friends around the world and rallying them in support of our right to full sovereignty over our land,” Aoun said in a statement. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam also condemned the Israeli strike and said it was a flagrant breach of United Nations Resolution 1701 and the ceasefire arrangement. Salam said he has been closely monitoring the aftermath of the strike in coordination with the ministers of defence and interior. Al Jazeera’s Resul Serdar, reporting from Beirut, said rescue operations were ongoing and added that the latest attack is “extremely worrying” for the Lebanese government, as it comes just three days after Israeli forces bombed Beirut for the first time since the ceasefire deal with Hezbollah in November. The agreement, guaranteed by France and the United States, brought a halt to a yearlong conflict and mandated that Israeli ground troops withdraw from southern Lebanon. It also called for Hezbollah fighters to withdraw from the south, and for Lebanese troops to deploy there. Both sides, however, have accused each other of violations. Adblock test (Why?)
Le Pen’s conviction in France: Career-ending or fuel for a new far right?
Paris, France – On Sunday, an opinion poll predicted that Marine Le Pen, the longtime leader of the French far right, would secure up to 37 percent of votes in the 2027 presidential election, more than 22 points higher than in 2022 and 10 points ahead of any other candidate. The “page has definitely turned”, said Frederic Dabi, the head of pollster Ifop Opinion. He saw the poll as confirmation that Le Pen’s rebrand had worked. For years, she has sought to normalise the hard right and distance it from the rule of Jean Marie Le Pen, her late father who founded the National Front, a party that lived on the political fringes. But on Monday, Marine Le Pen and her updated National Rally party were dealt a major blow. She was convicted of embezzling European Union funds, disqualifying her from running for public office for five years – effective immediately. Although Le Pen plans to appeal, the verdict prevents her from participating in France’s 2027 presidential election. ‘We’re very surprised in France’ The criminal court ruling in Paris has shocked France. Advertisement While Le Pen’s supporters are decrying the case as a political assault, her opponents are relieved to see the justice system’s independence prevail. “We’re very surprised in France because it’s very rare for a politician to actually be convicted. It’s happened, but it’s still quite rare, especially at this level of notoriety,” Baptiste Colin, a 29-year-old theatre producer from Lyon, told Al Jazeera. In recent years, voting for National Rally, or RN by its French initials, has become more typical across France, and Le Pen could appeal to voters by spinning the trial in her favour. “I hope people understand the conviction. Ultimately, it’s quite simple: It’s a misappropriation of funds,” Colin said. “I think that the judges were quite unbiased. It’s expected that if you dip into the coffers, you will be convicted.” The far right immediately pushed back against the court ruling. Jordan Bardella, Le Pen’s 29-year-old protege, called her provisional sentence “a democratic scandal”. “Le Pen’s line of defence is that it’s a scandal, and it was done on purpose, that it’s a coup d’etat,” Colin said. “It’s going to be a cultural battle between those on the far right who say it’s horrible and everyone else who thinks a conviction is normal.” The verdict could potentially push France into more political chaos if the far right successfully exploits the narrative, analysts said. “There is a risk that she will be seen as a martyr, as in the victim against the system. She and her party will weaponise this trial,” Rim-Sarah Alouane, a French researcher with a PhD in public law, told Al Jazeera. Advertisement Le Pen’s party runs on a platform against globalisation and immigration, pushing for stricter border control and fewer ecological policies. The 56-year-old has vaulted new faces like Bardella, now party president, so that it resonates with younger voters. Bardella, heir apparent? Alouane said given the normalisation of the far right, she fears mainstream media and politicians could hand Le Pen and the RN undeserved space to criticise France’s legal system. “Le Pen is a politician who has just been condemned by the justice system for a serious crime, and she’s already using one of the main news networks to defend herself,” Alouane said, citing Le Pen’s appearance on French TV channel TF1 on Monday evening. “We need to recentre the focus on what is at stake and not give Le Pen leverage to use this whole thing to solidify her position and her party’s in the mainstream.” Following the verdict, Le Pen can run in 2027 only if she appeals and receives a more lenient sentence, but the appeals process is slow in France. “It seems unlikely because it usually takes around two years to take an appeal to court,” Diane de Vignemont, a French journalist focused on politics and history, told Al Jazeera. “But if Le Pen loses her appeal, the RN will still be able to say that the court was corrupt and kept her from running. Then, Bardella will be the chosen one, the heir apparent.” Bardella is considered the RN’s rising star and would likely step up to replace Le Pen as the party’s next presidential candidate if Le Pen’s conviction is upheld. Advertisement “It’s kind of exactly what the party needs,” de Vignemont said. “Bardella has really mastered social media. And he’s young enough that he doesn’t have too many scandals yet.” He has helped the far right to gain a significant portion of young voters in France – in two years, the proportion of 18- to 24-year-olds voting for the RN in the French parliamentary elections doubled. “There’s hype around the RN. Bardella is young and on TikTok, and there is this idea that it is cool to vote for the RN, whereas before it was considered old-fashioned,” Colin noted. Jordan Bardella, then-newly-elected President of the French far-right National Rally (Rassemblement National – RN) party, holds the hand of Marine Le Pen after the results during the National Rally party’s Congress in Paris, France, November 5, 2022 [File: Christian Hartmann/Reuters] Should Le Pen succeed in expediting the case and win her appeal before the presidential election, she will likely feel emboldened to claim the case was a vendetta against her political agenda, observers said. “She’s going to be able to run on a platform of, ‘They tried to get me over a political witch trial, and they failed because I was innocent,’” de Vignemont said. Presiding judge Benedicte de Perthuis has already refuted that idea. “No one is on trial for engaging in politics,” she said in a statement. Colin said he expects the party will suffer because of the verdict. “I think it’s a catastrophe for her and for the party,” he said. “I think Bardella is much less competent than Le Pen. He’s very young, and he’s not used to this. Bardella hasn’t done many debates yet, and those that