Is Trump helping other world leaders gain popularity back home?
From tariffs to the Ukraine war, United States President Donald Trump has picked diplomatic squabbles with leaders worldwide since his January 20 inauguration. However, while Trump has framed his combative approach as putting “America first”, many of these leaders have benefitted politically, too. Data suggests that leaders who are seen to be proactively negotiating with Trump without compromising too much are gaining in polls and in terms of approval ratings. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum is enjoying the highest approval rating of any Mexican head of state since 1985. Canada’s ruling Liberal Party has closed a wide gap with the opposition Conservative Party, which has been leading in polls ahead of national elections. And they are not the only ones. But to what extent are these poll gains because of how these leaders are dealing with Trump? Are other factors at play? Here is what the numbers look like, and what analysts think might be going on. Canada and Justin Trudeau Prime minister since 2015, Canada’s Justin Trudeau stepped down on March 9 to make way for economist Mark Carney – also from his Liberal Party – who was sworn in as the PM of Canada last Friday. Advertisement Trudeau had been under mounting pressure to resign for months before he finally quit, amid rising costs of living, increasing intraparty fights, resignations from his cabinet and questions about his immigration policies. That pressure only grew as Trump threatened hefty tariffs against Canada after he was elected. Trudeau’s longtime deputy and finance minister Chrystia Freeland resigned in mid-December 2024 amid disagreements over how to deal with Trump. Trudeau initially didn’t respond to a series of barbs from Trump, who repeatedly said that he wanted Canada as the 51st state of the US and referred to the Canadian PM mockingly as “governor”. Instead, as Trump accused Canada of allowing fentanyl to enter the US through their border, Trudeau appointed a “fentanyl czar” to tackle the issue. But as Trump – after deferring tariffs on Canada for a month – eventually carried out his threat against most Canadian exports to the US early in March, Trudeau took a more firm, public position. “Canadians are reasonable, and we are polite. But we will not back down from a fight. Not when our country and the wellbeing of everyone in it is at stake,” Trudeau said on March 4. What do Canadian federal polls show? Several polls show that while Conservatives under their leader, Pierre Poilievre, were consistently leading by a considerable margin throughout 2024, the Liberal Party jumped up in the polls starting from February 2025 and significantly closed the gap. Averages of polls by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) show that the Conservatives were leading the Liberals by 24 percentage points in early January. Now that gap has shrunk to just 5.5 percentage points as of March 17, with the Conservatives at 38.9 percent support, and Liberals at 33.4 percent. Advertisement “In Canadian polling history, at least in this century, it is the first time I’ve ever seen this. To come back from a 25-point deficit is very unheard of, especially for a government that’s been in power for almost a decade,” Philippe J Fournier, analyst and creator of electoral projection model and website 338Canada, told Al Jazeera. What explains this? The Liberals closing such a major gap in the polls can be explained by a combination of factors, experts say. The factors include “Justin Trudeau’s departure, the arrival of Mark Carney, the tariff attacks by Donald Trump and discomfort with Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre,” Darrell Bricker, CEO of public affairs at research agency Ipsos, told Al Jazeera. Fournier of 338Canada explained that many Canadian parliamentarians were pressuring Trudeau to step down for months. “When [Trudeau] finally announced that he would resign in early January, the tension eased. Then, Trump got inaugurated and right away, started his threat of tariffs. “More than tariffs, it was the threat to Canada’s sovereignty,” Fournier said, referring to Trump’s calls for Canada to become a part of the US. Fournier also argued that Poilievre’s approach to politics – and similarities some voters have noted with Trump’s style – could be working against him. “Poilievre is using the same style and the same language and the same tactics as Trump,” Fournier said. “With Trump threatening Canada, many swing voters are looking towards the conservative leader and thinking ‘Is that the direction we want this country to be in?’ Advertisement He added that it is not just Conservative voters who are switching sides, but also voters who would typically vote for other parties. “Carney seems to be able to reach people from across the spectrum,” he said. Mexico and Claudia Sheinbaum Sheinbaum was sworn in on October 1, 2024, as the first female president of Mexico, taking over from predecessor and mentor Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. As a response to Trump’s tariff threats, Sheinbaum deployed 10,000 National Guard troops to the US-Mexico border to help curb unregulated immigration. Trump had initially ordered that 25 percent tariffs be imposed on all Mexican and Canadian imports, but these were delayed for a month amid negotiations with Sheinbaum and Trudeau. Days before the tariffs were to be finally imposed, Trump announced further delays on several products from Mexico, and some from Canada, until April 2. These were products that fell under the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), a free-trade agreement. Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform that he had made this decision after speaking with Sheinbaum and “out of respect” for her. What do Sheinbaum’s approval ratings show? Data from different pollsters in Mexico shows that Sheinbaum has enjoyed high approval ratings since her inauguration. The Buendia y Marquez polls show that 80 percent of respondents approved of their president in mid-February. Polls by Mexican national daily newspaper El Financiero show that 85 percent of respondents approved of Sheinbaum in February. This is the highest approval rating achieved in the country in the last 30 years, El Fiannciero reported. Sheinbaum’s approval ratings
Ukraine presses for unconditional ceasefire ahead of Trump-Putin talks
Ukraine’s foreign minister says it is time for Russia to show it ‘wants peace’ as US, Russian leaders set to discuss ceasefire proposal. Ukraine has pressed Russia to accept an unconditional ceasefire ahead of a highly anticipated phone call in which United States President Donald Trump is set to discuss the war with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin. Kyiv and its European allies are demanding that Putin agree to an unconditional US-proposed 30-day ceasefire during the call, which is scheduled to take place later on Tuesday, according to the Kremlin. “We expect the Russian side to unconditionally agree to this proposal,” said Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha ahead of the meeting. “It is time for Russia to show whether it really wants peace.” Trump said on Monday that Washington and Moscow had already discussed “dividing up certain assets” – including territory and power plants – between Ukraine and Russia as part of the ceasefire deal. In the run-up to talks, the Semafor news website published a report that cited two sources saying the Trump administration was considering recognising Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014, as Russian territory. Advertisement The Kremlin has repeatedly said that Crimea, where Russia’s Black Sea Fleet is based and where the pre-annexation population was mostly Russian speakers, is already formally part of Russia. Kyiv has said it wants the Black Sea peninsula – internationally recognised as Ukrainian territory by most countries – back. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Monday that Putin does not want peace, accusing him of continuing “to drag out this war” in a bid to better the country’s military position ahead of any halt in fighting. Putin’s spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Tuesday that Trump and Putin will discuss the war in Ukraine but added that there are also a “large number of questions” regarding the normalisation of US-Russia relations. Nuclear plant US Secretary of State Marco Rubio persuaded senior Ukrainian officials during talks in Saudi Arabia to agree to the ceasefire framework. In preparation for the Trump-Putin call, White House special envoy Steve Witkoff met last week with Putin in Moscow to discuss the proposal. He suggested that US and Russian officials had discussed the fate of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in southern Ukraine. The plant, caught in the crossfire since Moscow seized it after invading Ukraine in 2022, is a significant asset, producing nearly a quarter of Ukraine’s electricity in the year before the war. Trump claimed on Monday that Russian forces had “surrounded” Ukrainian troops who took control of 1,300 square kilometres (500 square miles) of Russia’s Kursk region last year. Advertisement Zelenskyy has acknowledged that the Ukrainian forces are facing difficulties there, but refutes Russian claims that they have encircled his troops. Adblock test (Why?)
Why is Israel bombing Gaza again?
NewsFeed Hundreds of people have been killed as Israel launched the most intense strikes on Gaza since the ceasefire began. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is accused of shattering the ceasefire. But why now? Soraya Lennie explains. Published On 18 Mar 202518 Mar 2025 Adblock test (Why?)
‘Operation Take Back America’ results in over 80 illegal alien arrests
Agents with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE) and other federal enforcement authorities arrested 81 illegal aliens in just five days as part of an enhanced targeted enforcement effort titled “Operation Take Back America” in Kentucky. As President Donald Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration continues, ICE announced the arrests in a statement Tuesday, which said that 25 of those arrested are charged with criminal offenses. Among those with criminal charges was an illegal alien who had previously been deported, excluded, removed or denied admission seven times. The agency said those not criminally charged will continue to be held by ICE pending removal proceedings. Offenses include sexual misconduct with a minor, drug trafficking and domestic violence. The statement said the migrants arrested were present in the country illegally and came from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Cuba, India and Palau. ‘CLOSING TIME’: WHITE HOUSE, BORDER PATROL TROLL WITH DEPORTATION MEME VIDEO The Department of Homeland Security also made an announcement in which it said the arrests were part of Operation Take Back America, which, according to the department, involves “multiple federal law enforcement agencies in Kentucky” working together to “repel the invasion of illegal immigration throughout the Commonwealth.” The department said that Operation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative that streamlines efforts and resources within DHS to not only crack down on illegal immigration but also “achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.” The operation was coordinated out of Louisville. Michael Bennett, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky, praised the operation, saying it impacts not just Kentucky but the entire country. “I commend the work of our federal law enforcement partners, prosecutors, and support personnel who worked tirelessly to make this operation a success,” said Bennett. “The aggressive investigation and prosecution of those who violate immigration laws positively impacts the security of our communities and of the Nation.” ‘SAFER WITHOUT HIM’: COLUMBIA STUDENT CLAIMS CLASSMATE ARRESTED BY ICE ‘HATES AMERICA’ According to DHS, several of those arrested had illegally re-entered the country once or several times after being deported. One of those aliens – a 54-year-old Mexican national named Humberto Avila-Duran – was arrested in Jefferson County, Kentucky, around Mar. 14 for possessing a firearm illegally. He was found to have been denied admission, excluded, deported and removed from the United States on or about Jan. 21, 2011, Mar. 3, 2011, Mar. 8, 2011, Aug. 14, 2012, May 9, 2014, May 13, 2014, and Nov. 13, 2020. CLICK HERE FOR MORE IMMIGRATION COVERAGE Another migrant arrested, Edi Diaz-Lopez, 30, a citizen of Mexico, was charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, illegal possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. If convicted, Diaz-Lopez faces up to 40 years in prison. PRESIDENT TRUMP COMFORTS MOTHER WHOSE SON DIED OF FENTANYL POISONING: ‘UP THERE WATCHING YOU’ Another migrant arrested was a 44-year-old Indian national convicted of sexual misconduct with a minor, intimidation and battery. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Chicago Field Office Director Sam Olson also commented on the arrests, saying, “We are committed, as a united group, to removing individuals from our communities who pose a threat to public safety and national security.” “Public safety relies on the expertise of ICE officers who are able to coordinate across federal agencies to accomplish these arrests,” he said. “Operations that lead to the arrest and detention of alien offenders can be complex and may, at times, prove to be challenging. Our agency is more than capable to meet those challenges. I’m grateful for all our federal partners here in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.”
Republicans eviscerate Schumer for ‘mocking hardworking Americans’ on ‘The View’: ‘Seriously Chuck?’
Republican lawmakers are calling out Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., for “mocking hardworking Americans” during an appearance on “The View,” where the Democratic leader criticized individuals who want to keep more of the money they make. House Majority Whip Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Minn., wrote that Schumer “is so out of touch with the American people that he would MOCK hardworking taxpayers for wanting to keep more of the money THEY EARN and run the businesses THEY OWN.” “Seriously Chuck?” Emmer said in a post on X. Schumer, during his appearance on the daytime talk show on Tuesday, criticized individuals who want more control over running businesses they “built” with their “bare hands.” SCHUMER PRESSED ON WHETHER HE SHOULD STEP DOWN AMID SPENDING BILL FALLOUT DURING ‘THE VIEW’ “Their attitude is, ‘I made my money all by myself. How dare your government take my money from me? I don’t want to pay taxes. Or, I built my company with my bare hands. How dare your government tell me how I should treat my customers, the land and water that I own, or my employees,” Schumer said on “The View” on Tuesday. “They hate government. The government’s a barrier to people, a barrier to stop them from doing things. They want to destroy it,” Schumer said. “We are not letting them do it and are united.” “You know it’s bad when even Whoopi Goldberg tries to get Schumer to stop talking,” Rep. Pat Harrigon, R-N.C., reacted to the interview. Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., said Schumer was “mocking hardworking Americans who want to keep their own money is exactly what’s wrong with the left” and that he is “out of touch.” SCHUMER DISMISSES POSSIBLE AOC PRIMARY CHALLENGE, SAYS HE’S FOCUSED ON BRINGING TRUMP’S NUMBERS DOWN “Chuck Schumer’s at it again, mocking hard-working Americans for wanting to keep more of their own money,” wrote Rep. Kevin Hern, R-Okla. “He can keep pushing his government-first agenda, but Americans know better. They don’t need Washington to tell them how to spend their dollars.” “Spoken like the leader of a party with an 29% approval rating,” wrote Rep. Burgess Owens, R-Utah, in a post on X. Schumer also defended his reasoning for breaking with members of his party to help pass the Republican-led government funding bill on Friday and said that he wakes up “at 3 in the morning, sometimes so worried about the future of the country under these oligarchs.” “Chuck Schumer says he wakes up at 3am thinking about Elon. Rent free,” said Libs of TikTok in a post on X alongside a clip of the Democratic leader’s media appearance. “The absolute horror of returning to government spending levels from a few years ago!” Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, wrote in a post on X in response to the Democratic leader. “Chuck Schumer says he’s dealing with a ‘different, horrible kettle of fish’ because President Trump and Republicans want to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse from government,” Trump’s Rapid Response team said on X. Schumer was also asked by the hosts if it was time for him to step aside as the Senate Minority Leader, to which he responded, “No.” Fox News Digital reached out to Schumer for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.
Trump, Putin on same page about Iran’s nuclear weapon capabilities, White House says
President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are in sync when it comes to Iran obtaining nuclear weapons, according to the White House. Trump and Putin, who spoke over the phone Tuesday morning about how to draw an end to the war in Ukraine, agreed that Iran must not obtain access to weapons permitting Tehran to obliterate Israel, the White House said. “The leaders spoke broadly about the Middle East as a region of potential cooperation to prevent future conflicts,” the White House said in a statement after the call. “They further discussed the need to stop proliferation of strategic weapons and will engage with others to ensure the broadest possible application. The two leaders shared the view that Iran should never be in a position to destroy Israel.” TRUMP REINSTATES ‘MAXIMUM PRESSURE’ CAMPAIGN AGAINST IRAN Meanwhile, Russia is urging the U.S. to loosen its sanctions on Iran, which have crippled Tehran’s economy. Representatives from Russia met with Chinese and Iranian counterparts in Beijing Friday, and pressed the U.S. to withdraw the “unlawful” sanctions and resume nuclear discussions, according to a statement from the three countries. “The three countries reiterated that political and diplomatic engagement and dialogue based on the principle of mutual respect remains the only viable and practical option in this regard,” China’s Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu read aloud in a joint statement Friday. Russia has maintained a cozy relationship with Iran and has utilized Iranian drones in the war against Ukraine. For example, Russia started to employ the Iranian-made Shahed-131 and Shahed-136 series drones in 2022 to hit Ukrainian artillery targets and areas of Ukraine’s electricity distribution grid, according to the nonprofit organization Washington Institute for Near East Policy. The Defense Intelligence Agency also released a report in 2023 detailing how Iran had given Russia access to “hundreds” of one-way attack air drones. Although Iran denied that the drones originated from Tehran, the Defense Intelligence Agency said it obtained debris from attacks in Ukraine that “clearly prove Iran’s support to Russia.” Trump cautioned in February he believed that Iran was “close” to developing a nuclear weapon, and his administration reinstated a maximum pressure campaign against Iran through sanctions targeting Iran’s oil exports in February. Additionally, Trump revealed March 7 that a nuclear deal with Iran could emerge in the near future and that he sent a letter to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, urging Tehran to agree to a nuclear agreement. TRUMP SAYS ‘SOMETHING’S GOING TO HAPPEN VERY SOON’ WITH IRAN AS HE PUSHES TO NEGOTIATE NUCLEAR DEAL Failure to do so could mean military intervention, he said. “I would rather negotiate a deal,” Trump told Fox Business in an interview March 9. “I’m not sure that everybody agrees with me, but we can make a deal that would be just as good as if you won militarily.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “But the time is happening now, the time is coming up,” he said. “Something is going to happen one way or the other. I hope that Iran, and I’ve written them a letter saying I hope you’re going to negotiate, because if we have to go in militarily, it’s going to be a terrible thing for them.” The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Judge orders reinstatement of USAID functions, says DOGE effort to shutter agency likely unconstitutional
A federal judge in Maryland has ruled that the Trump administration’s efforts to shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) were likely unconstitutional, and has ordered it to ultimately reinstate the agency’s lawful functions. On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang concluded DOGE’s efforts “to shut down USAID on an accelerated basis, including its apparent decision to permanently close USAID headquarters without the approval of a duly appointed USAID officer, likely violated the United States Constitution in multiple ways.” Chuang said these actions “not only harmed the plaintiffs, but also the public interest, because they deprived the public’s elected representatives in Congress of their constitutional authority to decide whether, when, and how to close down an agency created by Congress.” The judge issued a preliminary injunction blocking DOGE and the administration from further actions against USAID, likely an emergency Department of Justice (DOJ) appeal to the 4th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, then potentially to the Supreme Court. FEDERAL JUDGE ORDERS TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO PAY ‘UNLAWFULLY’ RESTRICTED USAID FUNDS In his ruling, Chuang, a 2014 Obama bench appointee, also ordered immediate restoration of email and computer access to all USAID employees, including those placed on administrative leave. DOGE is now prohibited from any further cuts to USAID. The lawsuit was filed by current and former agency employees and contractors. Chuang’s decision marks the first time a judge has ruled that Musk is likely exercising enough independent authority to require him to be confirmed by the Senate under the Constitution’s Appointments Clause, the Hill reported. SCOTUS RULES ON NEARLY $2B IN FROZEN USAID PAYMENTS This decision comes after a different federal judge ordered the Trump administration to pay the remainder of foreign aid owed to contractors for completed work last week, noting in a new court ruling that the administration likely violated the separation of powers doctrine by “unlawfully impounding” nearly $2 billion in funds appropriated by Congress. U.S. District Court Judge Amir Ali, a Biden appointee, said in the ruling that the Trump administration likely exceeded its constitutional authority in attempting to block the payments owed by the State Department and USAID to grant recipients and foreign aid contractors. “Here, the executive has unilaterally deemed that funds Congress appropriated for foreign aid will not be spent,” Ali said. “The executive not only claims his constitutional authority to determine how to spend appropriated funds, but usurps Congress’ exclusive authority to dictate whether the funds should be spent in the first place.” Ali had previously ordered the Trump administration to pay all owed foreign aid funds for previously completed work, totaling $1.9 billion, by Feb. 26, at 11:59 p.m. USAID HEAD PETER MAROCCO TELLS LAWMAKERS HE’S EYEING POTENTIAL CRIMINAL CHARGES FOR FOREIGN AID FRAUD: REPORT The Supreme Court took up the case for emergency review last week, but ruled 5-4 to reject the administration’s request to extend the freeze. Instead, the court remanded the case back to the D.C. federal court and Ali to hash out the specifics of what must be paid and when. USAID aid became an early target of the Trump administration, with the president being a longtime critic of overseas spending, arguing that it does not benefit the American taxpayer and going so far as to call those who run the top agency “radical lunatics.” Republicans argue it is wasteful, promotes liberal agendas and should be enfolded into the State Department, while Democrats say it saves lives abroad and helps U.S. interests by stabilizing other countries and economies. In all, the Trump administration said it will eliminate 5,800 of 6,200 multi-year USAID contract awards, for a cut of $54 billion. Another 4,100 of 9,100 State Department grants were being eliminated, for a cut of $4.4 billion, according to a State Department memo reviewed by the Associated Press. Several examples of questionable spending have been uncovered at USAID, including more than $900,000 to a “Gaza-based terror charity” called Bayader Association for Environment and Development and a $1.5 million program slated to “advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in Serbia’s workplaces and business communities.” Fox News Digital’s Michael Dorgan and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
New GOP proposal unshackles victims of sanctuary policies to demand accountability: ‘Reset our system’
EXCLUSIVE: Victims of sanctuary policies could soon be able to sue the state, county and local governments that enacted them, according to a new proposal by Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif. The Sanctuary City Accountability Act (SCAA) would allow Americans nationwide to sue over the policies that limit the ability of local law enforcement to comply with federal immigration laws. Specifically, the bill would permit victims and their immediate families to take legal action over crimes that impacted them as a direct result of the policies. “For years, sanctuary cities have openly defied federal law and endangered the American people by not only shielding illegals from the consequences of their crimes, but also ensuring they are allowed to remain free to victimize even more innocent Americans,” Issa told Fox News Digital in a statement. “It’s time to reset our system and put the law on the side of American citizens, not criminal illegals. ‘BRING IT ON’: SHERIFF PUSHES BACK AFTER BLUE STATE LEADERS SUE TO STOP IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT The legislation is expected to go through the House Judiciary Committee, of which Issa is a senior member. “Any individual who is a national of the United States may bring a civil action in an appropriate district court of the United States against a sanctuary jurisdiction in which an alien was located if that alien commits a crime against that individual, or an immediate family member of that individual, in the sanctuary jurisdiction, or in any other jurisdiction to which the alien later relocates, for such injunctive relief or compensatory damages as may be appropriate,” the bill’s text states. In the legislation, sanctuary policies are considered ones that limit Immigration and Customs Enforcement “detainer compliance” and not allowing ICE “access to interview incarcerated aliens.” RED STATE HUNTS TREN DE ARAGUA TERRORISTS AS JUDGES LIGHT ‘CREDIBILITY ON FIRE’ FIGHTING DEPORTATIONS: SENATOR CLICK HERE FOR MORE IMMIGRATION COVERAGE It is also meant to build on the proposed Clear Law Enforcement for Criminal Alien Removal (CLEAR) Act, which would make it federal law to allow local authorities to work with the federal government on illegal immigration issues. The proposal comes as San Diego County, which Issa represents parts of, failed to scrap its “super sanctuary” policy established in December during a vote earlier this month. “This is deeply disappointing,” Republican Supervisor Jim Desmond said in a statement about the failed repeal vote. “This was not about politics. This was about ensuring that criminals—rapists, child abusers, burglars, and violent offenders—are removed from our communities. Instead, fear and misinformation won the day, leaving law-abiding residents at greater risk.” LAKEN RILEY ACT UNLEASHES FEDS TO HUNT VENEZUELAN GANG MEMBERS IN FLORIDA: LAWMAKER Desmond and Supervisor Joel Anderson voted to get rid of the policy that was put in place by the board’s Democratic majority in December, Democratic Supervisor Monica Montgomery Steppe argued that repealing it would then give a role outside the scope of the county’s purview. The vote for the repeal was 2-1-1, meaning that nobody reached the necessary majority, as there was also a vacancy on the five-person board. “Even in the very wording of policy L-2, it doesn’t protect criminals. What it was about is ensuring that this county stays in its lane and protects our region and that the federal government stays in its lane,” Montgomery Steppe said before voting “no.” Her Democratic colleague, Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer, abstained. Recent legislative policy changes have been prompted by crimes committed by illegal immigrants, including the Laken Riley Act, which prompts the Department of Homeland Security to detain illegal immigrants facing charges or conviction for a range of crimes, including burglary, assault and “any crime that results in death or serious bodily injury to another person.” The bill passed with some bipartisan support.
Schumer says ‘oligarchs’ keep him up at night, despite his own ties to billionaires
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told the hosts of “The View” on Tuesday morning that “oligarchs” running the United States keep him up at night, despite his ties to the billionaire Soros family. “I wake up at 3 in the morning sometimes so worried about the future of this country under these oligarchs,” Schumer said on “The View.” Mega-donor George Soros donated millions to Schumer’s Senate Majority PAC during the 2024 election, and Schumer maintains a well-documented relationship with the billionaire’s son, Alex Soros. Campaign finance reports revealed Democracy PAC II, primarily funded by Soros, gave $2.5 million to Senate Majority PAC in 2024, Fox News confirmed. Democracy PAC II gave $3.5 million in calendar year 2022, and $2.5 million in calendar year 2021, for a combined $6 million, records show. SUNNY HOSTIN SCOLDS SCHUMER THAT HE ‘CAVED’ ON SHUTDOWN FIGHT A 2023 Fox News Digital review of Alex’s Instagram found dozens of pictures with top Democrats in the House and the Senate between 2018 and 2022, including at least nine meetings with Schumer. SOROS, OTHER LEFT-WING BILLIONAIRES POUR TENS OF MILLIONS INTO SCHUMER PAC IN BID FOR DEMS TO HOLD THE SENATE “Good to see majority leader [Schumer] earlier this week! Energized to elect at least two more Democratic senators so we can secure voting rights and a woman’s right to chose!” Soros posted on his Instagram in July 2022 along with a picture of the pair. In a December 2021 Instagram post, Alex called Schumer his “good friend” and said he had a “great meeting” with him at the Capitol. A few months earlier, Alex took a selfie with Schumer wearing a bicycle helmet and said it was “good to see our senate majority leader [Schumer] the other day, biking and in good shape, and so focused on [voting rights] legislation.” A Fox News Digital review of visitor logs found Alex visited the White House six times from October 2021 to December 2022, during former President Joe Biden’s administration. A White House official confirmed to Fox News Digital that two of the visits were with Ron Klain, Biden’s chief of staff. Alex’s social media presence has consistently showcased his relationship with leading Democrats, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and candidates from the most contested down-ballot races of 2024, such as Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz. Biden awarded George Soros with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in January, which Alex accepted in his honor. “His inspiring generosity reminds us all of our capacity and our obligation to stand up to the abuse of power and to be guardians of democracy and all people yearning to be free,” Biden said during the ceremony. GEORGE SOROS’ SON BECOMES KINGMAKER WITH TOP DEMS AS HE MAKES MULTIPLE BIDEN WH VISITS, MEETS WITH LAWMAKERS “A travesty that Biden is giving Soros the Medal of Freedom,” Elon Musk, who has been at the center of Democrats’ accusations of rising oligarchy, posted on X in response to Soros accepting the nation’s highest civilian honor. MoveOn.org, a group that has accepted millions from Soros and his Open Society Policy Center in recent years, led the “Congress Works for Us, Not Musk” initiative that shut down town halls and Republican offices across the country. National Students for Justice in Palestine (NSJP), a national organization on the forefront of the pro-Palestine Columbia University protests, accepted fiscal sponsorship from the Westchester Peace Action Committee Foundation (WESPAC). Fox News Digital reported last year that WESPAC received a six-figure donation from a nonprofit funded by Soros’ network. The Democratic Party also leaned on wealthy surrogates on the campaign trail in 2024. Former Vice President Kamala Harris hosted events with celebrities, including Beyoncé, Eminem, Bruce Springsteen and Mark Cuban. FEC filings show the Harris campaign made two $500,000 payments to Oprah Winfrey’s production company on Oct. 15, a month after Winfrey appeared with Harris at a town hall event and weeks before Oprah was on stage with Harris at a Philadelphia rally before election day. ‘$1 BILLION DISASTER’: HERE’S WHAT FEC FILINGS SHOW ABOUT HARRIS CAMPAIGN’S 3-MONTH SPENDING SPREE Despite the Democrats’ own recorded ties to billionaire donors, the term “oligarchy” has been used by Democrats to describe President Donald Trump‘s second term. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., has drawn thousands of supporters to his “Fighting Oligarchy” rallies across the country, with stops in Michigan and Wisconsin this past weekend. The events are billed as an opportunity to “discuss how we take on the greed of the billionaire class and create a government that works for all and not just the few.” Democrats were outraged by Trump inviting billionaires like Musk, Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg to his inauguration, and Biden used the term “oligarchy” in his farewell address to the nation. “Today, an oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power, and influence that literally threatens our entire democracy, our basic rights and freedoms, and a fair shot for everyone to get ahead,” Biden told Americans on Jan. 13. Schumer defended his leadership on “The View” following his decision to vote for a Republican spending bill to avert a government shutdown and subsequently canceling stops on his book tour over “security concerns.” “We are fighting them tooth and nail in every way we can, but you’ve got to fight them smart and if you led yourself into a shutdown, which, by the way, Musk, DOGE, Vought, they wanted a shutdown. They said they wanted a shutdown, and they thought we’d play into their hands,” Schumer continued to “The View” on Tuesday. Schumer said “MAGA right-wing Republicans,” including Musk and Director of Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Russell Vought, wanted to shut down the government to deliver “tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans.” “The MAGA right-wing Republicans dream of decimating the government. You know why they do it? They want tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans. They want to destroy government, give it all to the wealthy and get rid of any regulations they might
GOP lawmakers praise Trump call with Putin after Biden ‘refused to even pick up the phone’
Republican lawmakers hailed President Donald Trump after a nearly two-hour phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss a peace deal in Ukraine, drawing contrasts between his efforts and those of former President Joe Biden. “I’m encouraged by President Trump’s willingness to engage in diplomacy to negotiate peace between Ukraine and Russia — especially after Biden refused to even pick up the phone to try,” Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa., said of the call. The House Foreign Affairs Committee, in reaction to the discussion, wrote, “President Trump got Vladimir Putin to agree that a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine is necessary,” and that “Iran cannot be in a position to destroy Israel.” “This is called THE ART OF THE DEAL!” the committee wrote. UKRAINE’S ZELENSKYY REPLACES TOP MILITARY OFFICIAL AHEAD OF TRUMP-PUTIN CALL Trump spoke with Putin over the phone earlier Tuesday “about the need for peace and a ceasefire in the Ukraine war,” according to a readout of the meeting shared by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. “This conflict should never have started and should have been ended long ago with sincere and good faith peace efforts. The leaders agreed that the movement to peace will begin with an energy and infrastructure ceasefire, as well as technical negotiations on implementation of a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea, full ceasefire and permanent peace,” it continued. “These negotiations will begin immediately in the Middle East.” Democrats, however, remained skeptical about whether Russia would honor a peace deal. “Imagine a robber breaking into your home twice—each time blaming you for the break-in. Would you trust them to stop?” Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo. said. “Vladimir Putin has never kept a promise or honored a deal. Any deal must be fair & enforceable.” TRUMP ‘HOPES’ PUTIN AGREES TO CEASEFIRE AS MOSCOW SIGNALS NO TRUCE YET Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., said that “from these readouts, it’s clear that Russia remains the obstacle to peace in Europe.” “I’m glad to see a halt on infrastructure strikes, but many of Putin’s ‘requests’ like a ban on arms or intel sharing make clear what he is after—a neutered Ukraine that cannot defend itself,” Coons wrote. National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes, in a statement shared with Fox News Digital in response to the Democratic lawmakers, said that under Trump, a deal is even closer to being reached. “Just two weeks ago, both Ukraine and Russia were miles apart on a ceasefire agreement, and we are now closer to a deal thanks to the leadership of President Trump,” Hughes said. “The goal remains the same: stop the killing and find a peaceful resolution to this conflict.” Trump, in a Truth Social post following the call, described the meeting as “very good and productive.” “Many elements of a Contract for Peace were discussed, including the fact that thousands of soldiers are being killed, and both President Putin and [Ukrainian President Volodymyr] Zelenskyy would like to see it end,” Trump wrote in a social media post. “That process is now in full force and effect, and we will, hopefully, for the sake of Humanity, get the job done!” Fox News Digital reached out to Biden’s office for a response to Perry’s criticism but did not immediately hear back.