US moves to extradite 3 alleged Tren de Aragua members to Chile
The U.S. declared that three alleged members of the violent transnational gang Tren de Aragua (TdA) are “alien enemies” and plans to extradite them to Chile, where they are wanted for numerous violent crimes, officials said Monday. The Justice Department said the three gang members were Adrian Rafael Gamez Finol, 38, Miguel Oyola Jimenez and Edgar Javier Benitez Rubio, both aged 37. All three men entered the U.S. illegally after committing “brutal” crimes, including murder, kidnapping, extortion, human and drug trafficking and other offenses, in Chile. “The Justice Department will work expeditiously to return these Alien Enemies to Chile to face justice,” the department said. Gamez Finol is a dual Venezuelan and Colombian citizen who was deported from the U.S. to Venezuela in August 2023 and later allegedly re-entered the U.S. illegally. He is currently in Texas county prison serving a sentence for human smuggling. EXCLUSIVE: GOP MOVES TO AUTHORIZE TRUMP TO WAGE WAR ON CARTELS THROUGH MILITARY FORCE Oyola Jimenez, a dual Venezuelan and Ecuadorian citizen, is in custody in Washington after Chilean authorities requested his arrest and return to Chile to stand trial on kidnapping charges. Benitez Rubio, a Venezuelan citizen, is in immigration custody in Indiana. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a written statement that the men would have already been removed if not for an injunction against the Alien Enemies Act. “In fact, we would have already removed these violent gang members to Chile to face justice were it not for the nationwide injunction imposed by a single judge in Washington, D.C., which we are challenging today in the D.C. Circuit,” Blanche said. “We hope common sense and justice will prevail.” HIGH-RANKING TREN DE ARAGUA GANGSTER MURDERED TWO AMERICAN WOMEN, CAPTURED ACROSS COUNTRY: FEDS The Alien Enemies Act of 1798, which allows deportation of natives and citizens of an enemy nation without a hearing, has been invoked three times, during the War of 1812, World War I and World War II. Chief U.S. District Judge James Boasberg of the D.C. Circuit granted a temporary restraining order preventing the deportations under the act. The Trump administration has appealed the order. A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit is scheduled to hear arguments on the matter on Monday afternoon. TdA is a narco-terrorism enterprise based in Venezuela. It was designated a foreign terrorist organization on Feb. 20 by the Department of State.
Homan blasts blue state as report shows it releasing illegals charged with ‘horrific’ crimes on low bails
Following a Massachusetts law barring law enforcement cooperation with ICE, illegal child rapists and other serious criminal illegals charged with “horrific crimes” are being released on to the streets on bail as low as $500 and, in some cases, no bail at all. Responding to these releases, Tom Homan, President Donald Trump’s border czar, said that Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healy and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, both Democrats, “should be ashamed” and that despite their actions, deporting criminal illegals “will be done.” Healey has previously said that Massachusetts is not a sanctuary state. However, a 2017 ruling by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, Lunn vs. Commonwealth, bars local and state law enforcement from coordinating with ICE to assist with deportation operations. The ruling stipulates that law enforcement cannot comply with ICE detainers, forcing agencies to release criminal migrants onto the streets. Last week, Wu renewed her pledge to resist Trump’s deportation efforts, saying, “We stand with immigrants,” and “No one tells Boston how to take care of our own, not kings, and not presidents who think they are kings.” BLUE CITY MAYOR RIPPED BY LOCAL LEADERS FOR PRIORITIZING POLITICS OVER SAFETY: ‘UNDERMINING PUBLIC TRUST’ However, at least seven illegal immigrants charged with serious crimes, including child rape and fentanyl trafficking, were released by local law enforcement agencies in Massachusetts in recent months, according to CBS. The outlet reported that in one instance, a 39-year-old Honduran national named Juan Alberto Rodezno-Marin, who was charged with indecent assault and battery on a person over 14, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, masked armed robbery and assault to rape, was released on his own recognizance without having to pay bail. According to an ICE statement, immigration officials had previously arrested and removed Rodezno-Marin twice for illegally re-entering the U.S., in 2008 and 2009. Despite these crimes and an ICE detainer being filed against him, the Middlesex Superior Court released Rodezno-Marin in December. He was not arrested by ICE until a month later. He is currently in ICE custody. DEMOCRAT MAYOR BLASTED FOR VOWING TO MAKE MAJOR CITY ‘SAFE HAVEN’ FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS Meanwhile, ABC reported the Worcester County Jail released two illegal immigrant inmates charged with child rape on bail of just $500. Another illegal immigrant, Jose Fernando-Perez, a 49-year-old Guatemalan national charged with three counts of forcible rape of a child and three counts of aggravated rape of a child, was released in 2022 on a $7,500 bail with just an order to “stay in his home.” Fernando-Perez was finally arrested by ICE on Feb. 2 of this year. At the time, Patricia Hyde, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston acting field office director, said Fernando-Perez’s “horrific crimes against a minor in our commonwealth” made him “exactly the type of alien we are targeting with our ‘worst first’ policy.” In northeastern Massachusetts, the Lawrence District Court released another Honduran national, 19-year-old Stivenson Omar Perez-Ajtzalan, on $7,500 bail despite pending charges of aggravated rape of a child with a 10-year age difference. BLUE SANCTUARY STATE OPERATING AS ‘CONTROL’ CENTER FOR VICIOUS MIGRANT GANG: ACTING DEA CHIEF CBS reported that two other inmates charged with cocaine and fentanyl trafficking were released with bail amounts of $500 and $4,000. While speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in February, Homan issued a stark warning to Boston and Massachusetts leaders, saying, “You said you doubled down on not helping the law enforcement officers of ICE. I’m coming to Boston, and I’m bringing hell with me.” Today, Homan renewed his criticism of Massachusetts and Boston’s anti-ICE policies and announced ICE arrested a total of 370 illegal immigrants in the Boston area during a five-day joint federal agency operation last week. “I made a promise at CPAC that I was going to Boston after reading about numerous illegal alien child rapists walking the streets of Boston and Massachusetts,” he wrote on X. “Mayor Chu [sic] later testified that I was lying. Well, I traveled to Boston last Tuesday, as promised, and we kicked off a five day operation with ICE, FBI, ATF, DEA, US Marshals and DSS. These incredible men and women arrested a total of 370 Illegal aliens in Boston and surrounding areas.” PRESIDENT TRUMP COMFORTS MOTHER WHOSE SON DIED OF FENTANYL POISONING: ‘UP THERE WATCHING YOU’ Homan said that a majority of the 370 illegals were “significant criminals,” including four wanted for murder as well as drug traffickers, child sex predators and “numerous other violent public safety threats.” “ICE had to find and arrest these illegal alien rapists because Massachusetts and Boston are sanctuaries that refuse to cooperate with ICE. They would rather release these animals back into the community rather than honor ICE detainers or notify ICE when they are scheduled to be released,” he said. “These officers and agents made the neighborhoods of Boston and Massachusetts much safer. They risked their own safety by arresting these criminals on the street, rather than a jail.” CLICK HERE FOR MORE IMMIGRATION COVERAGE “Releasing public safety threats back into the public, rather than working with ICE at the jails, puts the public at great risk,” he continued. “President Trump’s ‘all of government effort’ to arrest and remove the WORST FIRST is making our communities safer every day. President Trump is a Game Changer who is keeping his promises to the American people. Much more to do, but it will be done!” EXCLUSIVE: GOP MOVES TO AUTHORIZE TRUMP TO WAGE WAR ON CARTELS THROUGH MILITARY FORCE Speaking with Fox News Digital, Logan Trupiano, a representative for the Massachusetts Republican Party, said that while both Healey and Wu “utilize emotion and try to make this an issue of empathy … they’re not utilizing any empathy when they’re allowing illegal immigrants who were arrested for heinous crimes, particularly crimes against children, and released back in the community to re-offend.” “It’s absolutely egregious, absolutely ridiculous, and there’s no decent argument against [deporting criminal illegals],” said Trupiano. “All they’re really doing is just attacking the Trump administration and mischaracterizing the
Canada election 2025: What you need to know
Montreal, Canada – Canadians will be heading to the polls next month for a federal election taking place in the shadow of a trade war with the United States. Prime Minister Mark Carney on Sunday triggered the vote as he seeks to build on his Liberal Party’s momentum since the start of the year. Experts say Canada-US ties – and a push for strong leadership to counter US President Donald Trump’s tariffs and annexation threats against the country – will dominate the five-week election race. Here’s a look at what you need to know about Canada’s election. When is the election? The parliamentary election will take place on Monday, April 28. Under Canadian election rules, federal campaign periods must be at least 37 days long but no more than 51 days. With Carney triggering the vote on Sunday and Election Day set for April 28, this year’s campaign will be the shortest allowable by law. Carney won the Liberal Party leadership race and became prime minister in March [Evan Buhler/Reuters] How does the election work? Canada has 343 federal electoral districts, which are known as ridings. Advertisement Eligible voters can cast a ballot for their preferred candidate in the riding in which they reside. The country has a first-past-the-post election system, which means that the candidate who secures the most votes in the riding wins – even if they don’t win a majority of the votes. They will then take up their respective seats in Canada’s lower house of Parliament, the House of Commons. Who will be the next prime minister? Under Canada’s parliamentary system, the party that wins the most seats in the House of Commons will typically be asked to form a government. If a party gets the most seats but not enough for an outright majority, it seeks to form an agreement with another party – or parties – to be able to pass legislation. The leader of the single largest party also becomes prime minister; Canadians do not vote directly for prime minister. Poilievre has been the leader of the Conservative Party since 2022 [Patrick Doyle/Reuters] What parties are in the running? Canada has four major federal political parties. The Liberals have been in government since 2015 and had 152 seats in Parliament at dissolution. The party was previously led by Justin Trudeau, who formally stepped down as prime minister on March 14 to allow Carney to take up the post. The Conservative Party served as Canada’s official opposition, with 120 seats in the previous Parliament. The party is led by Pierre Poilievre, an Ottawa-area legislator known for his populist rhetoric. The left-leaning New Democratic Party (NDP), led by Jagmeet Singh, had 24 parliamentary seats before the campaign was launched. The NDP had previously been propping up a Trudeau-led Liberal minority government but withdrew from that deal in September of last year. Advertisement The Bloc Quebecois – which only runs candidates in the French-speaking province of Quebec – had 33 legislators in the House of Commons. They are led by Yves-Francois Blanchet. Apart from the four big parties, there is also the Green Party of Canada, which had two seats in Parliament at dissolution but is not expected to make any major gains in the upcoming vote. Jagmeet Singh’s NDP had 24 parliamentary seats at dissolution [Patrick Doyle/Reuters] What do the polls say? Until as recently as January, the Conservatives had what many believed to be a clear path to winning a parliamentary majority. But Trump’s threats against Canada, coupled with Trudeau’s decision to resign and Carney’s rise as the new leader of the Liberal Party, have changed things: Most recent polls now suggest the Liberals either with a lead over the Tories, or locked in a neck-and-neck fight with their rivals. The CBC News Poll Tracker, which aggregates national polling data, had the Liberals with 37.5 percent support compared with 37.1 percent for the Conservatives on Sunday. The NDP was in third with 11.6 percent, followed by the Bloc Quebecois at 6.4 percent. The Greens had 3.8 percent. “The Liberals and Conservatives are effectively tied in national polls with the New Democrats trailing in a distant third place,” CBC reported as the election race began. “The Liberals would likely win the most seats, and potentially a majority government, if the election were held today due to the more efficient distribution of their support across the country.” Bloc Quebecois leader Yves-Francois Blanchet speaks to reporters in Ottawa [Carlos Osorio/Reuters] What issues will dominate the race? Opposition parties – including, most notably, Poilievre and the Conservatives – had hoped the 2025 election would centre on affordability issues, such as soaring grocery and housing costs. Advertisement But Trump’s tariffs and threats to make Canada into the US’s “51st state” have upended the conversation. Experts now say the central “ballot question” in the election campaign will be which party is best equipped to handle Trump and manage Canada-US ties. Canada’s main political party leaders have acknowledged Canadians’ concerns over Trump’s policies, promising to stand up for the country’s sovereignty. Adblock test (Why?)
Mapping the human toll of the conflict in DR Congo
Ongoing violence and instability, including fighting by M23 rebels, has forced millions to flee their homes in Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is facing one of the world’s largest displacement and humanitarian crises. Ongoing violence and instability have forced millions to flee their homes, with at least 7,000 people killed in recent months and many more injured. The violence this year has largely been driven by armed groups, particularly M23 rebels, who have intensified their offensive in eastern DRC. In January, M23 seized control of Goma, the capital of mineral-rich North Kivu province, before capturing Bukavu, the capital of neighbouring South Kivu, in February. They have since continued to advance west. Who are the M23? The M23 rebel group was formed in 2012 by former Congolese soldiers, mainly from the Tutsi ethnic group. The group takes its name from the March 23 Movement, referring to the date peace accords were signed in 2009 between the DRC’s government and the National Congress for the Defence of the People (CNDP) that aimed to integrate its fighters into the Congolese army. Advertisement However, M23 later accused the government of failing to fully implement the agreement, leading them to launch their rebellion. M23 briefly seized control of Goma in November 2012 but was defeated and forced into exile in 2013. After nearly a decade of dormancy, the group resurfaced in late 2021 and has since intensified its military campaign in eastern DRC. According to United Nations experts, Rwanda backs M23 with troops and ammunition. Kigali, however, denies the accusations. M23 rebels’ rapid advance The latest round of conflict escalated in December 2024 after peace talks in Angola between the presidents of DRC and Rwanda were cancelled over disagreements about M23. Rwanda had insisted on direct dialogue between DRC and M23, which the Congolese government at the time refused. January 27, 2025 – M23 captures Goma: In the worst escalation in a decade or more, M23 fighters took control of eastern DRC’s largest city, Goma – a crucial humanitarian hub near the Rwandan border, home to more than 2 million people. February 16, 2025 – M23 captures Bukavu: The rebels advanced into Bukavu’s city centre with little resistance, as DRC accused Rwanda of ignoring ceasefire calls. March 19, 2025 – M23 captures Walikale: The rebels seized the mining hub Walikale in North Kivu, the farthest west they have ever reached, dismissing ceasefire calls from DRC and Rwanda. They later said they would withdraw from the town in a peace gesture. More than seven million people displaced The DRC is home to one of the largest populations of displaced people around the world. Advertisement More than 7 million people are displaced, including 3.8 million in North and South Kivu provinces in the east of the country. Nearly 780,000 people were forced to flee their homes between November 2024 and January 2025 alone. According to the UN Refugee Agency, since January 1, more than 100,000 refugees have crossed into neighbouring countries, with 69,000 seeking refuge in Burundi, 29,000 in Uganda, and about 1,000 in Rwanda and Tanzania. A quarter of the country faces food shortage The security situation in Goma, a key humanitarian hub, remains highly volatile, with movement restrictions hindering aid delivery to those in urgent need. The DRC has a population of some 112 million. Before the latest escalation, 21 million people across the country already needed humanitarian aid – the highest figure globally, according to the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). By the end of 2024, armed conflicts, rising food prices and epidemics had pushed 25.6 million people – nearly a quarter of the population – into acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or worse). (Al Jazeera) According to OCHA, 2.7 million people in North Kivu, South Kivu, and Ituri were already facing severe food shortage before the latest escalation. Looting of humanitarian infrastructure and warehouses has further crippled relief efforts, with large quantities of food, medicine, and medical supplies lost in targeted attacks on humanitarian organisations. Adblock test (Why?)
Israeli air strike targets Nasser Hospital in Gaza kills Hamas official
NewsFeed An Israeli air strike on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, Gaza has killed at least five Palestinians, including senior Hamas official Ismail Barhoum. Several others were injured. The attack targeted the surgical building of the hospital, destroying the second floor. Published On 24 Mar 202524 Mar 2025 Adblock test (Why?)
India will overtake Indonesia as the country with largest Muslim population in…, Hindus will become…
Reports suggest about 80 per cent of people in India are Hindu and 15 per cent are Muslim.
Top GOP governor makes key endorsement in border state gubernatorial race: ‘Deeply honored’
EXCLUSIVE: Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders is endorsing Karrin Taylor Robson in the Arizona 2026 gubernatorial Republican primary. Robson is seeking to unseat Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs in what’s expected to be one of the most competitive races in the country. “I am proud to join President Trump in endorsing Karrin Taylor Robson for Governor. Karrin is the conservative outsider and business leader Arizona needs. I know she will join me in partnering with the Trump Administration to secure our borders, create a strong economy, and say NO to the Woke Agenda. Join me in supporting Karrin today!” Sanders said in an exclusive statement to Fox News Digital. REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS CAN’T WAIT FOR TRUMP TO UNLEASH PROSPERITY IN THE STATES Sanders was a press secretary for President Donald Trump during his first term, and then followed in her father Mike Huckabee’s footsteps and became governor in 2023, succeeding Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson. “I am deeply honored to have Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ support. Her leadership in Arkansas and her dedication to President Trump’s America First agenda is an example for every Governor in the country to follow. I’m thrilled she’s joining President Trump in supporting my campaign to deliver results for Arizona by defeating radical Katie Hobbs, locking down our border, and building a stronger, safer state,” Robson said in response to the endorsement. SARAH HUCKABEE SANDERS ON TARIFF THREAT: TRUMP IS TIRED OF AMERICA GETTING RIPPED OFF At Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest in December, Trump said he planned on backing her campaign if she jumped in. “Are you running for governor? I think so, Karrin, ’cause if you do you’re gonna have my support, OK?” Trump said during his speech. In 2022, she mounted a primary bid for the governor’s office and narrowly lost to Republican Kari Lake, who serves as a senior advisor to the U.S. Agency for Global Media. Lake and Robson had a bitter primary battle in 2022, but Robson ultimately endorsed both Trump and Lake in their 2024 general election bids. ‘I WILL NOT REST’: BORDER STATE GUBERNATORIAL HOPEFUL LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN WEEKS AFTER TRUMP BACKED HER Rep. Andy Biggs, who also supports Trump, threw his hat into the ring, and he’s racked up the endorsements of fellow Republican Arizona Reps. Eli Crane and Paul Gosar, as well as Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert. Critics of Robson believe that Biggs will have a better shot of winning over the Republican base and hope that the president will have a change of heart. Meanwhile, there’s a long way until the primary, which is scheduled for Aug. 4, 2026. It’s unclear if any other major contenders will enter the race on either side. Cook Political Report ranks the general election race as a toss-up. Other statewide offices, including secretary of state and attorney general, will be up for grabs as well in the battleground state that Trump won in 2024.
Youngkin efforts lead slew of VA colleges to nix DEI, as Hokie alums reportedly push back
FIRST ON FOX: Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Monday praised the domino effect of Virginia colleges nixing their diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) departments and initiatives, just weeks after President Donald Trump issued a nationwide order to that effect. “Discriminatory DEI policies are being dismantled across Virginia’s colleges and universities,” Youngkin told Fox News Digital. “This is a win for common sense, for civil rights, and for students and faculty at some of the world’s most premier institutions of higher learning we proudly have in Virginia. I am pleased our college and university boards continue to prioritize merit-based opportunity over race-based discrimination.” Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, along with Virginia’s community college system, Longwood University in Farmville, and Radford University in Radford, all announced or passed resolutions Friday to end such policies. DEI CHARGED CLAIMS FLY OVER CONTRACT FOR MILITARY SCHOOL’S LEADER AS LAWMAKER DEMANDS ETHICS PROBE Those announcements follow the Old Dominion’s “flagship” university, UVA – founded by President Thomas Jefferson himself – which made its move on March 7 along with its satellite institution, UVA-Wise, near the Kentucky border. Youngkin has been one of few governors publicly leading such efforts to bring an end to DEI practices at educational institutions. Sources familiar with Youngkin’s work said Virginia – where the governor is uniquely limited to one consecutive term by law – will see the effects of the Republican’s board of visitors appointments at colleges across the commonwealth for many years after he leaves office in January. Youngkin added in a recent interview with Fox News’ Laura Ingraham that Virginia is leading the way on “ending illegal discrimination and restoring merit-based opportunity.” The governor made education a priority issue in his administration, telling the Ronald Reagan Foundation last year that proper schooling is the “bedrock to attaining the American dream.” As for the newest DEI departures, Virginia Tech in Blacksburg is also primed to end DEI by midweek – with its board expected to vote Tuesday on the matter. Virginia Tech is considered the commonwealth’s flagship land-grant university and the collegiate anchor of Southside Virginia. VCU’s resolution read that the college will continue to be an “open-admission institution” for every learner, and that its mission seeks to “give everyone the opportunity to learn and develop the right skills so lives and communities are strengthened.” It shuttered all systems, programs, procedures and initiatives that failed to comply with federal civil rights protections, across its 23 institutions. UVA ENDS DEI Longwood did the same, as well as blocking out any use of third-parties to try to circumvent the new prohibitions, according to an appendix in the college’s resolution. The VCU Board of Visitors’ vote favored ending its Division of Inclusive Excellence, but it was not unanimous. Two former Gov. Terry McAuliffe appointees – Edward McCoy and the Rev. Tyrone Nelson – joined two Youngkin appointees – Dr. Clifton Peay and Gurpreet “P2” Sandhu – in voting “nay.” Virginia Tech’s quarterly board meeting was listed for 1 p.m. ET on Tuesday at an inn in Montgomery County, as some critics said it should be made more public. “Permissible programs” affected by the potential end to its DEI department will be moved to “a new organizational home,” according a copy of the resolution published by the Augusta Free Press paper of the Staunton-Waynesboro area. The paper separately reported that an alumni group is warning against adopting the resolution, warning future students would not have the same opportunities as past graduates. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The Hokie alums are also demanding a town hall-style meeting to address the issue and be able to speak with administrators. Dr. Tekisha Dwan Everette, vice president of the Trust for America’s Health policy organization in Washington, D.C., and a Hokie alum, told the paper she and others are “deeply disappointed and concerned about the tactics used to challenge Virginia Tech’s commitment to creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive learning environment.” The petition itself will be delivered to Virginia Tech President Timothy Sands, and reads in part that “DEIAB programs are not only valuable—they are essential to ensuring that Virginia Tech remains a place where all students, regardless of their background, have a chance to succeed and make meaningful contributions to society.” Christopher Newport University in Newport News, the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, James Madison University in Harrisonburg and George Mason University in Fairfax are all set to hold board meetings in April. Fox News Digital reached out to Virginia Tech for comment.
RFK Jr.’s former running mate rules out 2026 CA governor run, hints at activism: ‘Watching closely’
Nicole Shanahan, Silicon Valley philanthropist and Robert F. Kennedy’s running mate during his 2024 presidential race, has ruled out a gubernatorial run in California for the 2026 election to replace the termed-out liberal Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom. Shannahan made the announcement Friday on Steve Hilton’s podcast when asked about her priorities in the Golden State. “My priorities are and, you know, Steve, I’m just gonna share with you now; I’m giving you the exclusive. I’m not running for governor in 2026,” Shanahan told Hilton, a Fox News contributor. SCORCHED-EARTH SHANAHAN: RFK JR’S FORMER RUNNING MATE THREATENS POLITICAL WAR AGAINST CONFIRMATION OPPONENTS “I believe that my job in 2026 is to get people to break out of their political orthodoxy, to think about what is really in the best interest of California,” she said. “I am not a Democrat, I am not a Republican, I am an independent, and I’m here to support the revival of California.” She continued, saying “now is the time for people to step up” and that she will be “watching closely” and “supporting” individuals who “continue to be brave enough to stand up against harmful political ideology to do what is right for the people.” Shanahan has been involved in several political efforts in California, including being a major donor in the effort to recall Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. TRUMP SURROGATE CORRIN RANKIN PICKED TO LEAD BLUE STATE’S GOP: ‘MAKE CALIFORNIA GREAT AGAIN’ As Kennedy faced high-stakes congressional confirmation hearings to lead the Health and Human Services (HHS) Department, Shanahan singled out several senators, warning that she would financially support primary challengers if they voted against his confirmation as secretary. “Dear U.S. Senators, Bobby may play nice; I won’t,” she wrote in a post on X. WHO IS NICOLE SHANAHAN? MEET THE WEALTHY ENTREPRENEUR RFK JR SELECTED AS HIS VP RUNNING MATE Several candidates have announced their intentions to run for governor of California in the 2026 election, while others are still considering their options. Katie Porter, the former liberal congresswoman, has launched her bid, focusing on advocating for working families and opposing former President Trump’s policies. Eleni Kounalakis, California’s lieutenant governor, has officially entered the race, seeking to continue Newsom’s policies. Other candidates include Chad Bianco, the Riverside County sheriff who is running on the Republican ticket. Bianco’s platform centerson law enforcement issues and border security. Former Vice President Kamala Harris is also rumored to be considering a 2026 run, and her decision could have a major impact on the race, particularly among Democratic voters.
Democrats on possible Biden political reemergence: ‘his time has passed’
Former President Joe Biden may want to be back in the political arena to try and help the Democratic Party emerge from the wilderness. However, it does not appear that many Democrats are overly receptive to the offer from the 82-year-old former president, whom many blame for last November’s stinging election setbacks, when the party lost control of the White House and Senate and fell short in winning back the House majority from the GOP. “As far as Biden’s position within the current state of the Democratic Party, I think his time is over. I think his time has passed. The train has sort of moved on,” a Democrat strategist who asked for anonymity to speak more freely told Fox News. Biden met last month with Ken Martin, the newly elected chair of the Democratic National Committee, to offer his help, a source with knowledge confirmed to Fox News last week. Word of the meeting and Biden’s offer to help fundraise or campaign for the party was first reported by NBC News. POLL POSITION: DEMOCRATIC PARTY’S NUMBERS PLUNGE TO ALL-TIME LOWS The offer of assistance by the former president comes as recent polling indicates the Democratic Party brand is in desperate need of repair. The party’s favorable rating sank to all-time lows in separate national polls conducted this month by CNN and NBC News. Those numbers followed a record low for Democrats in a Quinnipiac University survey in the field in February. Additionally, the latest Fox News National poll, which was released last week, indicated Congressional Democrats’ approval rating at 30%, near an all-time low. CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST FOX NEWS REPORTING, ANALYSIS, AND OPINION ON FORMER PRESIDENT BIDEN While some Democrats praise Biden for his past accomplishments, including during his single term in the White House, many say it is time to move on as the party aims to rebound. “President Biden did a lot of remarkably great things for this country,” longtime Democratic consultant John MacNeil told Fox News. “I’m sure there is still some love left for him.” However, MacNeil, who was part of the leadership of Unite the Country, a pro-Biden super PAC that helped boost the then-former vice president to victory in the 2020 Democratic presidential primaries, pointed to the 2024 election and noted that Biden “is unfortunately and unfairly the guy who’s going to get pegged for the loses.” Joe Caiazzo, a veteran Democratic strategist who served on the 2016 and 2020 presidential campaigns of Sen. Bernie Sanders, told Fox News that “there is an appetite for a message anchored in economic populism wrapped in a desire for broad system change. Following November’s results, it is more than fair to say that folks are looking towards the future.” WHAT THE LATEST FOX NEWS NATIONAL POLL SAYS ABOUT CONGRESSIONAL DEMOCRATS Others, who asked to remain anonymous, were more blunt. A longtime Democratic Party bundler and fundraiser argued that “Biden was never a very good fundraiser. Never. He always had difficulty raising money and really didn’t like doing it.” There is still plenty of anger directed at Biden, who dropped his 2024 re-election bid last July, a couple of weeks after a disastrous debate performance against then-former President Donald Trump reignited serious questions and deep concerns over Biden’s physical and mental stamina to handle another four years in the White House. Biden was succeeded at the top of the Democrats’ 2024 ticket by then-Vice President Kamala Harris, with less than four months until Election Day. A national Democrat strategist who was close to the 2024 Biden campaign told Fox News that “it defies belief that the man who cost the Democratic Party the White House, the Senate and the House, believes that he is going to be the Democratic Party savior, but this is also the same person who tried to convince America that he wasn’t too old to continue as President of the United States.” One person who appears enthusiastic about the potential prospect of Biden re-entering the political arena is Trump, who has repeatedly blasted the former president in speeches, interviews and on social media in the two months since returning to power. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “I hope so,” Trump told reporters on Friday when asked about the possibility of a more visible political role for his predecessor.