Fox News Politics Newsletter: A Primer on Abolishing the Dept of Education
Welcome to the Fox News Politics newsletter, with the latest updates on the Trump administration, Capitol Hill and more Fox News politics content. Here’s what’s happening… -Trump drops Biden-era legal challenge to Texas border security law –ICE arrests Indian Georgetown doctoral student accused of spreading Hamas propaganda -Taliban frees American hostage George Glezmann following negotiations with US, Qatar President Donald Trump could begin to dismantle the Department of Education via an executive order, but he would need congressional approval in order to officially abolish the agency. Trump is expected to sign the order to start dissolving the department in an effort to “turn over education to families instead of bureaucracies,” according to a White House fact sheet previously reported by Fox News Digital. If Trump signs such an order, expected as soon as Thursday, he can significantly diminish the department. However, the entire agency cannot be outright abolished unless Congress passes legislation that addresses the laws establishing the department…Read more A NEW ERA: Trump admin rescinds Biden-era scientific integrity policy that prioritized DEI SIGN OF THE TIMES: What is an autopen? The signing device at the heart of Trump’s attacks on Biden pardons OIL SHIFT: WH may reverse decision to kill Biden-Maduro oil deal, apply tariffs instead to avoid hurting US firms STANDING THREAT: World leader agrees with Vance that mass migration is threat to ‘daily life’ COMING TOGETHER: Military leaders to meet on UK-France ‘coalition of the willing’ plan for Ukraine CRACKING DOWN: Israel reimposes blockade of northern Gaza, including capital Gaza City TROPICAL TROUBLE: Cuban-born rep alerts DHS to alleged Castro-connected ‘refugees’ living in US under federal program LOVE IN THE AIR?: Dem senator refuses to address relationship with founder of Soros-funded ‘propaganda’ news network JUDICIARY IN JEOPARDY: Speaker Johnson says GOP looking at ‘all available options’ to address ‘activist judges’ opposing Trump ‘MISSING’ IN ACTION: Florida Democratic Party uses posters to coax legislators to ‘stand up’ for voters ‘PRESIDENT LIKES IT’: Bill preventing activist judges from blocking Trump’s agenda backed by White House SCHUMER UNSTEADY: Dem senator on minority leader’s future: ‘Important’ to know ‘when it’s time to go’ ‘LEGAL LOOPHOLES’: Can Maine’s high school sports authority dodge Title IX? Conservative legal experts say no ‘WE WILL WIN’: Pentagon to appeal judge’s decision blocking transgender ban, Hegseth says ‘CHARGES MERIT EXPULSION’: Feds accuse Minnesota state senator of soliciting a minor for sex PHONING IT IN: Newsom’s free-phone gambit for state business leaders paid for by nonprofit run by ex-staffers FULL-THROTTLE DESTRUCTION: 10 places where Tesla vehicles, dealerships were attacked this year DETENTION: School choice activists warn parents about blue state’s homeschool bill with jail-time provision Get the latest updates on the Trump administration and Congress, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.
House GOP leaders privately wary of push to impeach federal judges blocking Trump agenda
House GOP leaders have little appetite to launch a full-scale impeachment process against judges who have been blocking President Donald Trump’s agenda, sources said Thursday. Three people – two senior House GOP aides and one source familiar with leadership’s discussions – told Fox News Digital that House leadership does not see impeachment as the most effective way to hold accountable those they view as “activist” judges. Republican leaders are still looking into it, however, after Trump himself called for the impeachment of U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg over the weekend. Boasberg issued an emergency 14-day injunction on the Trump administration’s deportation of suspected Tren De Aragua gang members under the Alien Enemies Act. But impeachment would largely be a symbolic gesture, even if such a move passed the House. INJUNCTION LIFTED ON TRUMP EXECUTIVE ORDERS SLASHING FEDERAL DEI SUPPORT “I don’t think we know if we have the votes, and it’s another intense whipping process for something that won’t move at all in the Senate,” one senior House GOP aide said. “I think our focus is to do something that is easier to get votes for and could actually get all the Republicans in the Senate.” A second senior House GOP aide was more blunt with Fox News Digital: “It’s likelier that President Trump will acquire Canada as our 51st state than the U.S. House of Representatives impeaching federal judges.” “This is an impossible task,” the second senior aide said. A third source familiar with House GOP leadership discussions said, “The impeachment route isn’t anyone’s favorite on this.” It’s being pushed by a faction of conservatives primarily in the House Freedom Caucus, however – and they appear buoyed by Trump’s support for impeaching Boasberg. Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas, introduced a resolution to impeach Boasberg for abuse of power. Gill told Fox News Digital earlier this week that Boasberg was a “rogue” judge who was “overstepping” his authority. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, who previously told Fox News Digital that all options were on the table, suggested in multiple media interviews this week that the committee could hold a hearing on the matter. Reps. Andrew Clyde, R-Ga., Eli Crane, R-Ariz., and Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., are pushing resolutions to impeach other federal judges who blocked Trump policies as well. However, with just 53 Republican senators, any impeachment resolution would need the help of Democrats to reach the two-thirds threshold required for removal after a Senate trial – which is highly unlikely to happen. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee’s subcommittee on the Constitution, said all options should be available to Republicans. TRUMP ASKS SUPREME COURT TO REVIEW BAN ON BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP “We ought to look at [impeachment], we ought to look at jurisdiction-stripping, we ought to look at every option that needs to be addressed about judges that are actively taking steps to try to undermine the presidency,” Roy told Fox News Digital in a brief interview on Thursday. He also pointed out that an impeachment by the House is in itself a punishment, although symbolic – though Roy noted he was not “for or against” any one specific path right now. It’s worth noting that former Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas remains the second-ever Cabinet secretary impeached, a permanent note on his legacy even though the then-Democrat-controlled Senate quickly dismissed a trial. But getting the Mayorkas impeachment resolution passed through the House was a messy political affair, when the GOP was dealing with a similarly slim margin. It took two House-wide votes to pass that measure, with Republicans falling one vote short on the first attempt and then narrowly passing the resolution with three GOP defections on the second. GOP leaders have had more success with critical votes this year, however, with Trump in the White House pressing holdouts on key legislation. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is not ruling anything out right now, at least publicly. A spokesperson for Johnson told Fox News Digital that he would look at all options available to take on “activist judges.” “Activist judges with political agendas pose a significant threat to the rule of law, equal justice, and the separation of powers. The speaker looks forward to working with the Judiciary Committee as they review all available options under the Constitution to address this urgent matter,” the spokesperson said. Two other sources told Fox News Digital that another option Trump showed support for was a bill by Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., to block federal district court judges from issuing nationwide injunctions.
Biden’s former spokesman slams Trump and GOP for ‘colluding to impeach’ judges
FIRST ON FOX: A top former spokesperson for former President Joe Biden blasted President Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress for proposing potential judicial impeachments as the administration encounters court-imposed obstacles in enacting its agenda. Former White House spokesperson Andrew Bates now advises a group known as Unlikely Allies, which says it is working to create “cross-partisan support for the needs and interests of all Americans.” “Radical, corrupt attacks on judges are putting our Constitution and the freedom of every single American in danger from government overreach,” Bates told Fox News Digital on the group’s behalf. “For the first time in history, our president and members of his party in Congress are colluding to impeach any federal judge who stops the most powerful person in the world from breaking the law. DEM SENATOR ON SCHUMER FUTURE: ‘IMPORTANT’ TO KNOW ‘WHEN IT’S TIME TO GO’ “The president has also called for making dissent illegal, which would trample the First Amendment and threaten the fundamental right of any American to disagree with his agenda — whether it’s cutting taxes for the rich or raising the prices he falsely promised to lower.” According to the group, Unlikely Allies “is made up of everyday citizens, families, communities, and organizations who are committed to solving our toughest problems, together.” SCOOP: BILL PREVENTING ACTIVIST JUDGES FROM BLOCKING TRUMP’S AGENDA BACKED BY WHITE HOUSE “Driven by the values that unite us, our goal is to create unified, cross-partisan support for the needs and interests of all Americans. This isn’t about left or right, Republican or Democrat — it’s about American values and holding our government accountable,” a description of the organization says. The White House responded to Bates’ statement, with deputy press secretary Anna Kelly telling Fox News Digital, “Biden communications alum Andrew Bates has no credibility after lying to the world about Biden’s cognitive decline. Just like these judges, Bates is a left-wing activist masquerading as a nonpartisan as he works to destroy the separation of powers and subvert the will of the American people.” The dispute comes as federal judges across the country continue to impose restrictions on Trump actions until further review and legal determinations. Recently, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg granted an emergency order to temporarily halt the administration’s deportation flights of illegal immigrants. SPEAKER JOHNSON SAYS GOP LOOKING AT ‘ALL AVAILABLE OPTIONS’ TO ADDRESS ‘ACTIVIST JUDGES’ OPPOSING TRUMP The judge granted an order to review the 1798 wartime-era Alien Enemies Act being invoked by the administration to immediately deport Venezuelan nationals and alleged members of the violent gang Tren de Aragua. This only further angered the president, who appeared to call for Boasberg’s impeachment. “This judge, like many of the Crooked Judges’ I am forced to appear before, should be IMPEACHED!!! WE DON’T WANT VICIOUS, VIOLENT, AND DEMENTED CRIMINALS, MANY OF THEM DERANGED MURDERERS, IN OUR COUNTRY. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!” Trump said on Truth Social. DEM SENATOR REFUSES TO ADDRESS RELATIONSHIP WITH FOUNDER OF SOROS-FUNDED ‘PROPAGANDA’ NEWS NETWORK Republicans in general have appeared to scrutinize the ability of federal district judges to make blanket nationwide orders in recent days. “Federal judges aren’t there to replace presidential policy choices,” Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, wrote on X. “Nor is it their job to neuter presidents by delaying presidential decisions. “Their job is to resolve disputes about what the law says.” Lee also said he is working on a bill to address the issue. In the House, Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., has a measure that would prevent federal judges from issuing nationwide injunctions. Multiple sources told Fox News Digital Trump has shown interest in Issa’s bill. Top White House aides shared as much with senior Capitol Hill staff this week, explaining that “the president wants this.”
First Amendment group defends anonymous X account as Maryland Dems file election law complaint
FIRST ON FOX: A prominent First Amendment group is crying foul on an election law complaint filed by Maryland Democrats against the anonymous X account and website NoMoore, which regularly ridicules Democratic Gov. Wes Moore. FIRE, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, told Fox News Digital it has great concern over what it views as attempted regulation of anonymous, free speech that happens to be political in nature. “The First Amendment is at its strongest and most essential when protecting speech about public officials and public affairs,” FIRE’s Aaron Terr said. “Anonymous political speech has been a cornerstone of American democracy since the Federalist Papers, allowing individuals to speak out without fear of government retaliation.” Whoever is behind NoMoore regularly posts memes, charts and editorial content featuring the Old Line State’s governor – and it drew the ire of the state party, which alleged that its activities qualify as campaign activity subject to regulation. MD GOV MOORE SAYS STATE HAS BEEN DOING ‘DOGE’ BEFORE ANYONE ‘KNEW WHAT [IT] WAS’ NoMoore, which has been compared to the anonymous pro-Trump account “Catturd” that rose to nationwide recognition via trolling former President Joe Biden and Democrats, does not identify itself by human name(s). The complaint said the “NoMoore” moniker and efforts that appear to prevent his re-election belie any claims they are issues-based rather than averse to Moore in a campaign-type way. But NoMoore said on Thursday, “Despite what Wes Moore and the MDDEMS think, the First Amendment still exists in Maryland. We will never stop telling the truth.” Some of the postings from NoMoore include a photoshopped image of the governor standing at a presidential podium adorned with a “NOPE” emblem as well as imagery of $100 bills hailing down around Moore superimposed on a Baltimore Sun story about a $1 billion business tax proposal. In recent comments to Semafor, Moore said he has been working to slash Maryland’s $3 billion deficit, which Democrats instead pin on “creative math” from his Republican predecessor, Gov. Larry Hogan Jr. LAWMAKERS FROM STATE WITH MOST FEDERAL WORKERS PER CAPITA WARN AGAINST TRUMP BUYOUT BID “One of the first hires I made was a chief performance officer. We’ve been doing DOGE in Maryland long before anyone knew what that word was,” Moore said over the weekend. In social media commentary, Hogan countered that he warned against profligate spending and said he hoped those now in power in Annapolis looked to his “proven approach” that eschewed tax hikes. NoMoore’s latest post contains a video portraying Moore as the King of Maryland, as a narrator says, “Nothing’s his fault, it’s all just fine.” NoMoore also listed several tax proposals supported by Maryland legislative Democrats – including a Doorstep Delivery Tax and a return of the state’s 1990s-era sugary drink tax, which is currently levied elsewhere in cities like Philadelphia. In comments to Fox Baltimore, Moore was asked about the tax-hike proposals and said he wants to let the legislature run its course and that he has been “very clear” that he wants to see tax cuts and a “release [of the] economic pressure” on Marylanders. A source familiar with the situation warned that First Amendment advocates should be alarmed by the investigation—especially with Democrats pushing for it—pointing out that America’s Founding Fathers used anonymous political speech, via the technology of their time, to advocate for the Constitution itself. Future President James Madison, future inaugural Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton and Supreme Court Justice John Jay collectively wrote under the pseudonym “Publius” in the 1780s – just as “NoMoore” exists today – to garner support for colonial state leaders to ratify the governing document, the source noted. The source also cited the 1995 U.S. Supreme Court decision of McIntyre v. Ohio Elections Commission, in which Ford-appointed Justice John Paul Stevens wrote that a state statute banning anonymous campaign literature violated the First Amendment. A representative for Moore declined comment and directed Fox News Digital to MDDEMS. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP A party official replied that Maryland law is clear: “Any group paying to defeat a candidate’s re-election must disclose its donors.” “This is about transparency. Marylanders deserve to know who’s behind shadow groups spreading disinformation about Governor Moore ahead of the 2026 elections,” said spokesperson Lindsay Reilly. An official at the Maryland Board of Elections confirmed the complaint and the probe: “Our investigation is ongoing,” said candidacy and campaign finance director Allen Norfleet.
95,000 Texas children are waiting for state help to pay for day care
Adding more funding to scholarships is just one way experts say state lawmakers could address Texas’ child care crisis.
Blue state’s top court strikes down law allowing noncitizens to vote
The New York Court of Appeals, the state’s highest court, blocked a law on Thursday allowing noncitizens to vote in local elections. A former New York City Council member responded to the ruling by saying it should have been an “open and shut case” and that the law was “embarrassing.” In a court filing by New York City attorneys, the city said non-U.S. citizens make up about a third of the adult population in the city. The near unanimous, 6-1, decision blocks a law passed in 2021 by New York City’s majority Democratic city council that would have made nearly 1 million noncitizens eligible to vote in municipal elections, including for mayor and city council. BLUE SANCTUARY STATE OPERATING AS ‘CONTROL’ CENTER FOR VICIOUS MIGRANT GANG: ACTING DEA CHIEF Those arguing in favor of the law claimed that a provision in the New York Constitution on the qualifications of voters only guaranteed the right of citizens over 18 to vote while not denying that right to noncitizens. Chief Judge Rowan Wilson wrote in the decision that the New York state Constitution clearly articulates that only citizens are eligible to vote. Wilson wrote that under the appellants’ logic, municipalities would be “free to enact legislation that would enable anyone to vote – including… 13-year-old children.” “The New York Constitution as it stands today draws a firm line restricting voting to citizens,” he said. “It is plain from the language and restrictions contained in that ‘citizen’ is not meant as a floor, but as a condition of voter eligibility: the franchise extends only to citizens whose right to vote is established by proper proofs.” ‘SAFER WITHOUT HIM’: COLUMBIA STUDENT CLAIMS CLASSMATE ARRESTED BY ICE ‘HATES AMERICA’ Joe Borelli, one of the plaintiffs in the case and a former New York City councilman who voted against the law, told Fox News Digital that “the state Constitution and statutes are plainly written and in clear language.” “This has always been an open and shut case, and it’s embarrassing that the city council fought so hard to skirt the law, undermine the Constitution, and weaken the votes of citizens,” he said. The ruling upholds an earlier decision by a lower court invalidating the law. Associate Judge Jenny Rivera was the only member of the court to dissent.
Institute that held office standoff against DOGE on ‘right path’ following judge’s order: admin
The Trump administration said the United States Institute of Peace is on the “right path” to enforce the president’s executive actions after a judge ruled in the administration’s favor following the office’s standoff with a Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) team. “The ruling by a U.S. District Court affirms the President’s clear authority to appoint and remove board members, ensuring that the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) operates in alignment with executive directives,” a Trump administration official told Fox News Digital Thursday following the order. “This decision reinforces the President’s commitment to accountability, transparency, and effective governance.” District Judge Beryl Howell on Wednesday denied a request from the USIP to grant a temporary restraining order that claimed DOGE committed “literal trespass and takeover by force … of the Institute’s headquarters building on Constitution Avenue.” The USIP lawsuit sought “the immediate intervention of this Court to stop Defendants from completing the unlawful dismantling of the Institute and irreparably impairing Plaintiffs’ ability to perform their vital peace promotion and conflict resolution work as tasked by Congress.” TRUMP ADMIN GUTS INSTITUTE OF PEACE OF ‘ROGUE BUREAUCRATS’ AFTER DOGE STANDOFF IN GOVERNMENT OFFICE The Institute of Peace is an independent, national institution funded by Congress that was established in 1984 under the Reagan administration to promote peace and diplomacy on the international stage. The institute hit national headlines recently after the Trump administration fired 11 of its 14 board members after the government-funded office failed to comply with a Trump executive order from February requiring it to reduce its size to the statutory minimum. WHITE HOUSE UNLEASHES ON ‘ROGUE BUREAUCRATS’ AFTER AGENCY HEAD REFUSES DOGE ENTRY TO HEADQUARTERS “President Trump signed an executive order to reduce USIP to its statutory minimum,” White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said. “After noncompliance, 11 board members were lawfully removed, and remaining board members appointed Kenneth Jackson acting president.” The remaining board members include Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and National Defense University President Peter Garvin, who on Friday fired acting president and CEO of the institute, George Moose. THE UNELECTED POWER IS THE ROGUE BUREAUCRACY, STEPHEN MILLER SAYS Moose is a Clinton-era diplomat who served as assistant secretary of state for African affairs during the Rwandan genocide in 1994. The board replaced Moose with Kenneth Jackson, a State Department official, as acting president. Jackson and a DOGE team attempted to enter the Institute of Peace’s building in Washington, D.C., over the weekend, but were denied access by employees of the institute, an administration official told Fox News Digital. The standoff heightened on Monday, when Jackson and the DOGE team again attempted to gain entry to the building, while Moose accused them of breaking into the building. The Metropolitan Police Department reported it had received a call from the United States Attorney’s Office at about 4 p.m. that day regarding an ongoing incident at the institute and reported to the scene. “MPD members met with the acting USIP President, and he provided the MPD members with documentation that he was the acting USIP President, with all powers delegated by the USIP Board of Directors to that role,” the police department said in a news release of Monday’s incident. “The acting USIP President advised MPD members that there were unauthorized individuals inside of the building that were refusing to leave and refusing to provide him access to the facility.” TRUMP ORDERS THE DISMANTLING OF GOVERNMENT-FUNDED, ‘PROPAGANDA’-PEDDLING MEDIA OUTLET “MPD members went to the USIP building and contacted an individual who allowed MPD members inside of the building,” the release stated. “Once inside of the building, the acting USIP President requested that all the unauthorized individuals inside of the building leave.” Jackson was able to enter the building upon police intervention. Moose left the building without incident and no arrests were made, police said. “With Mr. Jackson lawfully appointed as Acting President, USIP is now on the right path to fully comply with the President’s February 19th Executive Order and uphold its responsibility to the American people,” the administration official told Fox Digital Thursday. MUSK AND DOGE HAVE ANOTHER PERFECT TARGET: MORE TAXPAYER-FUNDED, ANTI-AMERICAN MEDIA White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said during Wednesday’s news conference that staffers physically barricaded themselves in the building. “There was a concerted effort amongst the rogue bureaucrats at the United States Institute of Peace to actually physically barricade themselves essentially inside of the building to prevent political appointees of this administration who work at the direction of the president of the United States to get into the building,” she said. “They barricaded the doors. They also disabled telephone lines, internet connections and other IT infrastructure within the building. They distributed fliers internally, encouraging each other to basically prevent these individuals from accessing the building,” Leavitt continued. “It’s a resistance from bureaucrats who don’t want to see change in this city. President Trump was elected on an overwhelming mandate to seek change and implement change. And this is unacceptable behavior.” WHITE HOUSE SAYS FEDERALLY FUNDED NEWS SERVICE ‘SPENDS YOUR MONEY TO PROMOTE FOREIGN PROPAGANDA’ A similar standoff recently occurred between DOGE and the U.S. African Development Foundation when bureaucrats barred the acting head of the U.S. Agency for International Development, Peter Marocco, and DOGE members from the building. The foundation is an independent government agency established in 1980 by Congress to support “African-owned and African-led enterprises,” according to its website. U.S. African Development Foundation President Ward Brehm, who was fired by the administration in mid-March, subsequently filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, asking a district court to bar the administration from removing him from his position. A federal judge denied Brehm’s request. Marocco was named acting chairman of the U.S. African Development Foundation’s board.
Barron Trump, celebrating 19th birthday, praised as ‘smart guy’ by his father
President Donald Trump praised his youngest son, Barron Trump, as a “smart guy” with an affinity for technology ahead of Barron’s 19th birthday on Thursday. The president said his teen son has a knack for technology when asked whether Barron had more of a talent for business or politics during an exclusive interview on “The Ingraham Angle” this week. “Maybe technology,” Trump said. “He can look at a computer. I try I turn it off. As I turn it off I turn off his laptop. I said, oh good. And I go back. Five minutes later, he’s got his laptop. I say, how did you do that? None of your business, dad. No. He’s got an unbelievable aptitude in technology.” “Barron’s a very smart guy,” the president said. BARRON TRUMP SPOTTED ON NYU CAMPUS FOR FIRST TIME SINCE INAUGURATION Barron Trump is a first-year student at New York University (NYU) in the Stern School of Business. During the inaugural parade at Capital One Arena, Barron Trump was acknowledged by his father for his role in the 2024 presidential election results — as he reportedly guided the president on how to target the youth vote through podcasts hosted by Joe Rogan, Theo Von and others. ‘CLASS ACT’: BARRON TRUMP SETS SOCIAL MEDIA ABLAZE FOR SHAKING HANDS WITH BIDEN AT DAD’S INAUGURATION The 2024 presidential race was the first election in which Barron Trump was eligible to vote and his mother, First lady Melania Trump, shared a photo of her son on Election Day while he was casting his ballot at the voting booth. Trump went on to praise all his other four children – Eric, Donald Jr., Tiffany and Ivanka – during the interview, telling Ingraham that they’re “very smart” and were “always good students.” “I’m lucky,” the president said. “Look, you have to be a little bit lucky, too. Fox News Digital’s Ashley J. DiMella contributed to this report.
Dean Phillips calls out ‘great way to lose even more Democrats’ as Tim Walz bashes Elon Musk
Former Rep. Dean Phillps, D-Minn., has suggested that bashing billionaire business magnate Elon Musk will not be a winning political strategy. “Objecting to his initiative is one thing, but calling @ElonMusk, a US citizen who’s built some of the most innovative companies in world history, a ‘South African nepo baby,’ is a great way to lose even more Democrats,” Phillips noted in a Wednesday post on X. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz recently used that phrase to refer to Musk, who is spearheading an effort to expose government waste and fraud. ELON MUSK CONGRATULATES SPACEX, NASA FOR ‘EXCELLENT WORK’ RESCUING STRANDED ASTRONAUTS “And there’s nothing conservative about an unelected, South African nepo baby firing people at the VA,” he said last week during remarks in Iowa. He also deployed the phrase while speaking in Wisconsin on Tuesday, according to the New York Times, which also reported that he had called Musk a “dips—.” ELON MUSK CALLS JIMMY KIMMEL AN ‘UNFUNNY JERK’ AFTER HE APPEARS TO MAKE LIGHT OF TESLA ATTACKS Walz was Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate when she sought the presidency last year, but the Democratic duo lost to the Republican ticket headed by political juggernaut, now-President Donald Trump. “Regardless of one’s opinion of Musk, this is a great strategy for further alienating center right and center left Americans and losing federal elections,” Phillips opined earlier this month when retweeting a post that featured footage of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., calling Musk a “billionaire con man with a lot of money.” ‘SQUAD’ DEM AYANNA PRESSLEY TRASHES ELON MUSK, CALLING HIM A ‘NAZI NEPO BABY’ CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., has called Musk a “Nazi nepo baby.” Phillips mounted a Democratic presidential primary bid in 2023 but ultimately dropped out in 2024.
Thousands mourn victims of North Macedonia nightclub fire
Ceremonies held across the country, but main funeral was in Kocani, where 30 victims were buried. Thousands of mourners have flocked to funerals in North Macedonia for the dozens of victims of last weekend’s devastating nightclub fire. The fire broke out during a concert by the hip-hop duo DNK at the Pulse nightclub in the town of Kocani about 3am (02:00 GMT) on Sunday when sparks from flares set the ceiling alight. At least 59 people were killed and 155 were injured in the fire, triggering an outpouring of grief in the Balkan country. Burials were held in several cities and towns, but the main funeral was in Kocani, a town of about 25,000 people located 100km (62 miles) east of the capital Skopje, where 30 of the victims were buried. Thousands of mourners walked solemnly along dirt paths to newly dug graves marked with paper signs. Many carried baskets of white flowers or clutched photographs of their loved ones. Many wore T-shirts and badges with pictures and names of the deceased. People attend a funeral ceremony for the victims of a fire at the Pulse nightclub, in the town of Kocani, North Macedonia [Valdrin Xhemaj/Reuters] Several people overcome by grief required medical attention. A weeping man rested his head on the edge of one of the coffins. Advertisement Ana Kostadinovska, a backing vocalist for the band DNA, who survived the fire, wrote in an online post: “A part of my second family has left. Along with them, my soul. “All that remains is ashes and emptiness … and who would have thought that emptiness could hurt so much,” she wrote. The fire, and emerging stories of the harrowing scenes at the nightclub, have triggered an outpouring of grief and protests, led mostly by young people. Thursday’s religious service at the cemetery in Kocani was led by clergy from the country’s Orthodox Church, while Red Cross and emergency personnel were present to support grieving families. Workers prepare graves for a funeral ceremony at a cemetery, following a fire at Pulse nightclub that resulted in dozens of deaths, in the town of Kocani, North Macedonia [Valdrin Xhemaj/Reuters] Before the funerals, the country’s spiritual leader, Orthodox Archbishop Stefan, called for national unity in prayer for the victims and their families. “We pray constantly for the salvation of the innocent victims, holding memorial services for the deceased and offering prayers for the healing of the injured, as well as for the comfort of their families and loved ones,” he said. “National solidarity and unity are most needed in such difficult times,” he added. “We call on all the faithful to preserve peace within ourselves and peace among ourselves, and, praying diligently, to mourn with dignity.” Stefan presided over the Kocani funerals. Separate funeral services took place in the capital, Skopje, and five other towns – several neighbouring Kocani – where many businesses closed as a sign of respect. Advertisement Public tributes were also made for Ile Gocevski, a Kocani ambulance driver who died of apparent heart failure after completing 11 hospital runs on the night of the fire. Families and friends attend a joint funeral for the victims of the fire that erupted at the Pulse nightclub in the town of Kocani, North Macedonia [Fatos Bytyci/Reuters] The investigation into the tragedy continues to widen. Seven police officers are among more than 20 people detained as authorities probe the lack of fire safety measures at the Pulse nightclub, as well as allegations that the club’s permits had been obtained illegally. Health Minister Arben Taravari said 72 people remain hospitalised across the country, while 101 patients are receiving treatment abroad. He described the condition of those being treated for burns, smoke inhalation, and trampling injuries as “stable or improved”, easing earlier concerns that the death toll could rise further. The ministry on Thursday released the names of the 59 victims. They included 41 who were in their 20s or younger and three 17-year-olds. Adblock test (Why?)