First on Fox: House Republican campaign arm targets vulnerable Democrats who ‘voted to shut down’ government
EXCLUSIVE — The House GOP’s campaign committee is taking aim at congressional Democrats for voting against a measure to fund the federal government through Sept. 30 and avoid a government shutdown at the end of this week. The National Republican Congressional Committee is launching digital ads against 35 House Democrats who may face challenging or competitive races in the 2026 midterms, when the GOP aims to defend its fragile majority in the chamber. The spots, shared first with Fox News Wednesday morning, are going up hours after the House, almost entirely along party lines, voted 217-213 to pass a Republican-crafted bill that cuts non-defense spending by roughly $13 billion, boosts defense spending by around $6 billion and gives President Donald Trump more leeway in how to spend the funds. Thanks to heavy last-minute lobbying by Trump and his allies inside and outside the chamber, the House GOP didn’t need a single Democrat’s vote to pass the bill. TRUMP-BACKED BILL TO KEEP GOVERNMENT FUNDED CLEARS KEY HURDLE One Democrat, moderate Jared Golden of Maine, who represents a district carried by Trump the past three presidential elections, voted for the Republican measure. And the one Republican to vote against the bill, far right Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, is being threatened by Trump and his allies with a possible primary challenge next year when he’s up for re-election. CLICK HERE TO READ WHAT’S IN THE FULL BILL The digital ads by the NRCC, which are identical for all the targets, will run online in the districts of Democratic representatives Josh Harder (CA-09), Adam Gray (CA-13), Jim Costa, (CA-21), Raul Ruiz (CA-25), George Whitesides (CA-27), Derek Tran (CA-45), Dave Min (CA-47) and Mike Levin (CA-49) of California; Darren Soto (FL-09) and Jared Moskowitz (FL-23) of Florida; Eric Sorensen (IL-17) of Illinois; Frank Mrvan (IN-01) of Indiana; Kristen McDonald Rivet (MN-08) of Michigan; Don Davis (NC-01) of North Carolina; Chris Pappas (NH-01) and Maggie Goodlander (NH-02) of New Hampshire; Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05) and Nellie Pou (NJ-09) of New Jersey; Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) of New Mexico; Dina Titus (NV-01), Susie Lee (NV-03) and Steven Horsford (NV-04) of Nevada; Tom Suozzi (NY-03), Laura Gillen (NY-04), Pat Ryan (NY-18) and Josh Riley (NY-19) of New York; Greg Landsman (OH-01), Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), and Emilia Syles (OH-13) of Ohio; Janelle Bynum (OR-05) of Oregon; Henry Cuellar (TX-28) and Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34) of Texas; Eugene Vindman (VA-07) of Virginia; and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03) of Washington state. The NRCC says there’s a modest ad buy behind the digital spots. “House Democrats threw a tantrum at the expense of the American people, shutting down the government just to score political points. After months of failure, they’ve learned nothing and doubled down on their embarrassing dysfunction.” NRCC spokesman Mike Marinella said. HOUSE GOP CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE CHAIR MAKES PREDICTION ABOUT 2026 MIDTERM ELECTIONS Democrats disagree. “The strong House Democratic vote in opposition to this reckless Republican spending bill speaks for itself,” House Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York, the top Democrat in the chamber, told reporters after the vote. And House Democratic Caucus Chair Rep. Pete Aguilar of California took aim at what he called a “partisan” measure and emphasized that “we put up a strong vote in opposition of this bill because this hurts families.”
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NASA spent $13M on DEI under Biden while critical mission, quality controls flailed, watchdog group says
While issues at NASA grew under former President Joe Biden, the space agency prioritized embedding diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives into its workforce, according to a new report from watchdog group OpenTheBooks. Amid preparations for its Starliner capsule mission — which ultimately went awry, leaving two astronauts stranded in space — NASA spent more than $13 million on related efforts between 2021 and 2024. During the ongoing Starliner spaceship debacle, an Inspector General report highlighted even further shortcomings by the agency, particularly related to quality control around NASA’s efforts to return astronauts to the moon. Simultaneously, while NASA was facing these mission-critical deficiencies, it was also reportedly taking substantial steps to embed DEI into agency practices through a variety of avenues, including grants, contracts, employee guidance, agency-wide strategic equity commitments, book talks and more. NEW STUDY REVEALS ‘STAGGERING’ SCOPE OF HOW MUCH DEI WAS INFUSED INTO GOVERNMENT UNDER BIDEN During President Donald Trump’s first term, he sought to root out DEI programs in the federal government, similar to his efforts today. Before ending his first term, in September 2020, Trump signed an executive order to combat race and sex stereotyping within federal government programs. His order was rescinded just a few months later by the Biden administration. During former President Joe Biden’s first few days in office, he signed several executive orders aimed at embedding the equity considerations Trump sought to get rid of in federal government programs. Following Biden’s directives, NASA went full force at embedding these principles into its day-to-day operations, OpenTheBooks’ report illustrates. At the same time, NASA was preparing its Starliner capsule to transport two astronauts to the International Space Station for what was intended to be a week-long mission. Instead, due to multiple malfunctions with the rocket that carried them there, the astronauts were stranded in space for months. Elon Musk’s SpaceX was ultimately tapped to help bring the astronauts home, and they are expected to return sometime this month. In 2021, the same year NASA’s Starliner capsule was undergoing test flights, NASA employees were engaged in a book talk about “open[ing] the lines of communication on anti-racism,” alongside author Uju Asika. Asika, who was also invited back the following year, spoke to parents at NASA about her book, “Bringing Up Race: How to Raise a Kind Child in a Prejudiced World,” in which she laments her “Eurocentric” education in the U.K., “colonialism,” and the results of the 2016 election. An earlier book talk at the space agency in 2020 included talks by infamous anti-racist scholar Ibram X. Kendi. NASA ASTRONAUTS NOT ‘FRETTING’ OVER EXTENDED MISSION, ‘GRATEFUL’ FOR MORE TIME IN SPACE AFTER STARLINER WOES Around the same time as Asika’s talks to NASA employees, the agency also unveiled its 2022-2026 “Strategic Plan for Diversity, Equity Inclusion & Accessibility.” Major goals of the plan included race and sex-based hiring and promotion initiatives. The same year, NASA unveiled its 2022 Equity Action Plan, which included new DEI-related contractor policies. Those policies, among other things, included “a requirement for contractors to provide a DEIA plan upon award to demonstrate commitment to diversifying their workforce.” The Equity Action Plan also retooled NASA’s grant and procurement process, aimed at encouraging grant proposers to consider DEI principles, even when seemingly unrelated. In 2022, employees were also provided guidance “for Supporting Gender Transition/Affirmation in the Workplace.” The guidance encouraged employees to “be willing and available to collaborate with the transitioning employee on the development, implementation, and evolution of a Workplace Gender.” It added that any “transitioning employees” should be allowed to use the restroom, locker room, or other facility of their choice, and not compelled to use one that does not align with their choice. In total, NASA spent at least $13 million on DEI-related programs under Biden, according to OpenTheBooks. One contract uncovered by the organization provided more than $2.3 million for a consulting group to help “incorporate and deeply engrain diversity, inclusion, equity, and accessibility in the culture and business” at NASA. ‘GUTFELD!’: HOLLYWOOD DITCHES DEI “NASA’s mission is too risky to get distracted by identity politics,” John Hart, CEO at OpenTheBooks, said. “Newtonian physics and atmospheric reentry do not care about antiracism talks and gender ‘affirmation’ policies,” Hart added. “NASA has an opportunity to take one small step toward fiscal responsibility and one giant leap toward common sense.” Beyond the Starliner mission debacle that left two astronauts stranded in space, a report from the Inspector General last year detailed widespread quality control issues in NASA and contractor Boeing’s efforts to return astronauts to the moon. The report pointed out that workers on NASA’s Space Launch System program lacked sufficient experience, among other issues. This week, the Trump administration began a “phased reduction in force” at NASA, which included shuttering the agency’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility branch in the Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Acting NASA administrator Janet Petro said in a memo to employees at NASA this week that while the force reduction, which includes the closure of multiple offices, will mean “difficult adjustments,” the agency is viewing it as an opportunity to “reshape” its workforce and ensure it is “doing what is statutorily required … while also providing American citizens with an efficient and effective agency.” “NASA is committed to engaging the best talent to drive innovation and achieve our mission for the benefit of all,” Cheryl Warner, a NASA spokesperson, told Fox News Digital when reached for comment. “As new guidance comes in, we’re working to adhere to new requirements in a timely manner. Our agency has complied with the requirements of executive orders and additional guidance from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.”
Trump ban on funding for trans procedures would be law under GOP senator’s bill: ‘Permanent fix’
FIRST ON FOX: Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., is introducing new legislation to make President Donald Trump’s executive order banning the use of federal funds for transgender surgical procedures permanent, ensuring it remains in effect long after he leaves office. Marshall’s End Taxpayer Funding of Gender Experimentation Act will prohibit the use of federal funding for gender transition procedures and bars federal healthcare facilities, physicians, and providers from providing such procedures. “Heaven forbid we don’t get a Republican back in the White House here in four years, the next president could end that order just as easily,” Marshall, who is also an OB/GYN, told Fox News Digital in an interview. “So that’s why we need legislation to give this a permanent fix.” HOSPITALS WARNED THEY MUST PROTECT CHILDREN FROM CHEMICAL AND SURGICAL MUTILATION: HHS AGENCY MEMO Marshall’s bill would outlaw federal healthcare facilities, physicians, and providers from providing gender transition procedures. Exceptions to the ban include individuals born with medically verifiable sex-development disorders. Treatments for complications arising from gender transition procedures, regardless of the legality of the original procedure, are also allowed. The bill would cut off federal funding for sex change surgeries for currently serving military or veterans, as well for civilians through Medicare and Medicaid, Marshall said. “Probably about a third of transgender folks are on Medicaid right now, which would be federal taxpayer dollars, so I think this is a big deal. This is a lot of people,” Marshall said. “The military probably is spending $2 or $3 million a year on this particular treatment as well. I don’t think that Americans want federal taxpayer dollars used for this purpose.” NEWSOM’S ‘UNFAIR’ REMARK ON GIRLS’ SPORTS BELIES RECORD AS GOVERNOR: ‘ABSOLUTE BULLS—‘ President Trump has been cracking down on transgender issues since he went on the campaign trail. So far, he’s issued several executive orders dealing with gender-identity, including banning trans women in women’s sports, gender transition treatments and surgeries for children and an order defining two sexes as only male and female. While Marshall’s bill calls for the restriction of taxpayer dollars toward all gender transition surgeries — regardless of age — he reiterated that children are the most vulnerable. “I just think the last thing we want to do is on a young person that’s going through puberty to make irreversible changes,” Marshall said. “I just don’t think that they’re ready to make those decisions yet, and they’d be better to hold off at least till adulthood, and maybe treat some of the other underlying challenges going on in their life as well.” Even Democratic voters appear moderate on the issue, recent polling suggests. A January New York Times/Ipsos poll found that 67% of Democratic respondents opposed transgender athletes competing in women’s sports, but the issue remains a central party platform issue. NEWSOM CALLS BIOLOGICAL MEN IN WOMEN’S SPORTS ‘DEEPLY UNFAIR’ IN PODCAST WITH CONSERVATIVE ACTIVIST “But the Democrats are so dug in, they just won’t give an inch on this particular issue,” Marshall said, referring to elected Democratic Party leaders. The bill is co-sponsored by Republican Sens. Jim Risch of Idaho, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Kevin Cramer of North Dakota, Tim Sheehy of Montana, Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, Mike Lee of Utah, Ted Budd of North Carolina, Josh Hawley of Missouri, Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, Roger Wicker of Mississippi, Jim Banks of Indiana, and Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi. Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Calif., will introduce the companion legislation in the House.
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Elon Musk, lightning rod, who calls an opponent ‘traitor,’ becomes a high-profile target
Sen. Mark Kelly, a decorated Navy veteran as well as a former astronaut, just finished a visit to Ukraine. While the country invaded by Russia is surviving through American and allied aid, the Arizona Democrat says, “I saw how cutting it off now risks everything so many Ukrainians have laid down their lives for. And while our support hasn’t been free, we haven’t sent even half of what President Trump says. “Hospitals should never be targets in war, but Putin is a war criminal who targets hospitals routinely. I visited one in Kyiv. Injured soldiers told me how they want to get back to the fight. Nurses there shared their stories of the invasion with me through tears. Stories of violence that women and children of Ukraine suffered during the invasion.” Elon Musk had a venomous reaction: “You are a traitor.” DONALD TRUMP, FACING TERRIBLE COVERAGE, SOFTENS TONE AND TACTICS FOR ELON MUSK’S DOGE CRUSADE Seriously? A traitor? To whom? America? Donald Trump? The world’s richest man just loves to pick fights. Kelly punched right back: “Traitor? Elon, if you don’t understand that defending freedom is a basic tenet of what makes America great and keeps us safe, maybe you should leave it to those of us who do.” As a United States senator, Kelly was doing his job and posted a moving account of the toll of the war. He also criticized Trump for cutting off military aid to Ukraine after that Oval Office slugfest which Volodymyr Zelenskyy botched, trying to talk over Trump as he was scolded, and ended up being evicted from the White House. We all know that Musk is a business genius and an impulsive guy. He often delivers punches on the X platform he has transformed, with a post-first-ask-questions-later approach. He clearly relishes political combat. Musk has engaged in bitter exchanges with Marco Rubio (though they’re playing nice now) and with Steve Bannon. But Elon has become a lightning rod, especially since his DOGE team has made a series of high-profile mistakes, firing and rehiring crucial experts. Trump decided to stand by his man, and posted this: “To Republicans, Conservatives, and all great Americans, Elon Musk is ‘putting it on the line’ in order to help our Nation, and he is doing a FANTASTIC JOB! But the Radical Left Lunatics, as they often do, are trying to illegally and collusively boycott Tesla, one of the World’s great automakers, and Elon’s ‘baby,’ in order to attack and do harm to Elon, and everything he stands for…In any event, I’m going to buy a brand new Tesla tomorrow morning as a show of confidence and support for Elon Musk, a truly great American. Why should he be punished for putting his tremendous skills to work in order to help MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN???” I get Trump’s defense, but he’s also opposed to electric cars and concentrates on saving American auto jobs for gas-powered vehicles. VANCE PITCHES GOP REBELS ON DOGE, BORDER IN 11TH-HOUR PLEA FOR UNITY AGAINST SHUTDOWN Musk goes off the reservation at times, such as calling Social Security, which Trump has vowed to protect, a “Ponzi Scheme” on Joe Rogan’s podcast. And he told former Trump economic adviser Larry Kudlow, on Fox Business, that $500 to $700 billion in so-called “waste” needed to be cut from Social Security: “Most of the federal spending is entitlements. That’s the big one to eliminate.” Perhaps Musk should concentrate on the plunging stock market, caused primarily by uncertainty over Trump’s tariff wars but also by worries about the impact of DOGE’s mass firings. People pay into Social Security over a lifetime with the expectation it will be there when they retire. It’s the main source of income for many elderly people. Of course the program eventually has to be rescued from insolvency, but talking about “the big one to eliminate” – including Medicare – seems rather callous. And in case you think the market is only for elite investors, if you have a 401-K, the calamity on Wall Street affects you, and your retirement fund just lost a helluva lot of value. EXPERT CALLS OUT MEDIA FOR NEGATIVE COVERAGE OF TRUMP’S ADDRESS: ‘THAT MAKES YOU LOOK LIKE A JERK, NOT TRUMP’ The market dropped again yesterday when Trump, responding to retaliation by Ontario taxing electricity to the U.S., raised the tariff on all Canadian steel and aluminum exports from 25 percent to 50 percent. The Ontario premier reacted by dropping the electricity threat. Tesla stock has tanked since its mid-December high, with a 16 percent decline Monday, causing Musk’s net worth to plunge by $140 billion. But don’t worry–he’s still the richest guy on the planet. He’s also become a highly visible target. As the New York Times notes, “Someone set fire to Tesla charging stations near Boston; shots were fired at a Tesla dealership in Oregon; and protesters were arrested at a nonviolent protest at a Tesla dealership in Lower Manhattan.” Tesla cyber trucks were also torched in Seattle. I don’t care what you think of his politics, this kind of targeted violence is completely unacceptable, not to mention illegal. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Trump is still backing his high-profile colleague, while quietly trying to rein him in and shift power to his agency heads. Elon Musk is a guy who wants to colonize Mars. But he often seems detached from the political realities here on Earth.
Oscar Piastri signs new F1 contract with McLaren
The Australian driver commits his long-term future to McLaren after signing a multiyear contract extension beyond 2026. Formula One champions McLaren have secured Oscar Piastri for the long term after announcing a multiyear contract extension ahead of the 23-year-old driver’s home Australian Grand Prix. The news, released on Wednesday, followed similar extensions for chief executive Zak Brown, team principal Andrea Stella, Piastri’s teammate Lando Norris and senior staff. Norris, the overall runner-up last season to Red Bull’s four-time world champion Max Verstappen, signed his extension in January 2024. A race winner in Hungary and Azerbaijan last season as McLaren took their first constructors’ title since 1998, Piastri made his F1 debut with the British-based team in 2023 and already had a contract that ran until the end of 2026. The terms of his new contract extension beyond 2026 were not disclosed. “Not only is he an incredibly talented driver, but his work ethic and cultural fit within the team made it a no-brainer to extend his time in papaya (McLaren’s colours),” said Brown in a statement. “We’ve got the best driver line-up on the grid, and in the past two seasons, we’ve seen how much of an asset to the team Oscar is both on and off track. Advertisement “He was absolutely fundamental in adding to our legacy with the 2024 Constructors’ Championship last season, so we’re all excited to see what we can do in the years to come as we continue to fight for World Championships together.” First practice for Sunday’s season opener at Albert Park is on Friday. Piastri, who turns 24 next month and hopes to be fighting for the title this year, said it was great to be part of McLaren’s long-term future. “The team had the belief in me when we signed in 2022, and the journey we’ve gone on over the past two seasons to help return McLaren to the very top of the sport has been incredible,” he said. “There are so many talented and special people working at (the factory) who have helped me to become a Formula One race winner very early in my career. “Therefore, I’m very proud to be continuing to represent this legendary team for many years to come.” Oscar Piastri of Australia driving the (81) McLaren MCL39 Mercedes drives during the first day of F1 testing at the Bahrain International Circuit on February 26, 2025 in Bahrain [Clive Mason/Getty Images] Adblock test (Why?)
Iran, Russia, China conduct joint naval drills in Gulf of Oman
The exercises are aimed at strengthening cooperation between the three countries, and get under way as Iran accuses the US of ‘bullying’. Iran, Russia and China have begun joint naval drills in the Gulf of Oman, marking the fifth year the three countries have conducted military drills together. China’s CGTN news said that the Marine Security Belt 2025 exercises began near the Iranian port of Chabahar on Tuesday and were aimed at strengthening “cooperation among the naval forces of the participating countries”. The naval drills will involve “striking maritime targets, damage control, and joint search and rescue operations”, according to CGTN. “Over the course of two days, the ships’ crews conducted daytime and nighttime fire from large-calibre machine guns and small arms at targets simulating unmanned boats and unmanned aerial vehicles of a mock enemy,” Russia’s Interfax news agency reported, citing a statement from the Russian Ministry of Defence. Iran’s Press TV said naval groups from Azerbaijan, South Africa, Oman, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Qatar, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates and Sri Lanka were also observing the drills. Advertisement Although China and Russia do not typically patrol waters in the Middle East, the region’s waterways have become increasingly militarised in recent years. The Chinese, Iranian, and Russian navies kicked off a joint exercise near the Iranian port of Chabahar. Codenamed “Security Belt-2025”, the exercise will include drills on striking maritime targets, damage control, and joint search and rescue operations. It aims to strengthen… pic.twitter.com/YqoHwhOeor — CGTN Europe (@CGTNEurope) March 11, 2025 In late 2023, Yemen’s Houthis began attacking ships linked to Israel in the Red Sea, in what they say is an act of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. The Houthis paused their attacks after a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel began in January but have threatened to resume military operations if Israel does not lift its renewed siege of Gaza, in which it has been blocking food, medicine and other essential supplies from entering the war-torn territory for 10 days. The United States and other Western countries have also increased their presence in the Red Sea, with a 10-nation force announced in December 2023 to counter Houthi attacks. The US Navy also has a fleet based in Bahrain. Iran nuclear programme This year’s naval drills come as US President Donald Trump said he had sent a letter to the Iranian leadership seeking to revive talks on a nuclear deal, years after Trump withdrew the US from a previous deal during his first term in office. “There are two ways Iran can be handled: militarily, or you make a deal,” Trump told Fox Business last week. Advertisement Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has accused Washington of seeking to impose even greater restrictions on Iran than in previous negotiations. “Some bully governments insist on negotiations,” he said, according to state media. “But their negotiations are not aimed at solving issues, but to dominate and impose their own expectations.” “For them, negotiation is a means to introduce new demands. The issue is not just about nuclear matters, they raise new expectations that Iran will certainly not accept,” Khamenei said. Trump unilaterally withdrew from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal in 2018 and re-imposed sanctions on Tehran. Despite complying with the nuclear agreement for more than a year after the US withdrawal, Iran gradually reduced its commitments, citing the failure of the deal’s remaining signatories to protect its interests. Unlike Israel, which is thought to have some 90 nuclear warheads, Iran is not thought to have developed any of its own nuclear weapons. Adblock test (Why?)
US’s Rubio hails Syria deal with Kurds, calls for non-sectarian governance
Top US diplomat endorses agreement to integrate Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces into state institutions. The United States has welcomed Syria’s agreement to integrate the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) into state institutions. Washington’s endorsement comes after the Syrian presidency and the US-backed SDF announced a deal granting the Syrian central government full control of a semi-autonomous region that has been administered by the Kurdish-led alliance since 2015. “The United States reaffirms its support for a political transition that demonstrates credible, non-sectarian governance as the best path to avoid further conflict,” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement on Tuesday. “We will continue to watch the decisions made by the interim authorities, noting with concern the recent deadly violence against minorities.” On Monday, Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa and SDF commander Mazloum Abdi said they had struck a deal to merge “all civil and military institutions in northeastern Syria” into the national administration, including an airport and oil and gas fields. Advertisement The agreement has been viewed as one of the most significant political developments in the country since the fall of longtime President Bashar al-Assad at the hands of Syrian opposition forces led by al-Sharaa in December. The accord comes at a critical juncture for Damascus as it grapples with the fallout of a wave of violence that erupted last week in the heartland of the Alawite minority. The deal includes a ceasefire in all of Syria, SDF support in combating pro-Assad fighters, and an affirmation that the Kurdish people are integral to Syria and have a right to citizenship and guaranteed constitutional rights. While discussions about integrating the SDF into the Syrian state had been ongoing since the fall of al-Assad, efforts to reach an agreement were hampered by perceptions that the group was less committed to opposing the deposed regime than other opposition forces. The US partnered with the SDF in its fight against the ISIL (ISIS) armed group, whose so-called caliphate in Syria was overthrown in 2019. Washington’s support for the SDF has placed a strain on its relations with Turkiye, which views the group as an extension of the Kurdish nationalist Kurdistan Workers’ Party, which Ankara considers a “terrorist” organisation. Adblock test (Why?)