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Arrests at Trump Tower as Mahmoud Khalil demonstrations continue

Arrests at Trump Tower as Mahmoud Khalil demonstrations continue

Demonstrators have flooded the lobby of Trump Tower in New York City, in a show of solidarity with student protest leader Mahmoud Khalil, a permanent resident of the United States. Thursday’s protest is the latest in a string of demonstrations after immigration authorities arrested Khalil on Saturday evening. The administration of President Donald Trump has said it intends to deport Khalil, who is Palestinian and married to a US citizen, over his role in pro-Palestine protests at Columbia University. Khalil’s lawyers and supporters, however, believe the Trump administration is wilfully conflating criticism of Israel’s war in Gaza with support for “terrorism”. The arrest has been roundly condemned by civil liberty groups, who have called Khalil a “political prisoner”. The leaders of Thursday’s demonstration said they chose Trump Tower to send a message to the president. The high-rise houses both the Trump Organization and Trump’s personal New York residence. “As Jews, we are taking over the Trump Tower to register our mass refusal,” Jewish Voice for Peace, which organised the protest, wrote in a post on the social media platform X. Advertisement “We will not stand by as this fascist regime attempts to criminalise Palestinians and all those calling for an end to the Israeli government’s US-funded genocide of the Palestinian people. And we will never stop fighting for a free Palestine.” Demonstrators from the group Jewish Voice for Peace wear red shirts emblazoned with the slogan ‘Not in our name’ as they protest in Trump Tower in New York City [Yuki Iwamura/AP Photo] Among the protesters was actress Deborah Winger, who told The Associated Press news agency she was “standing up for my rights”. “I’m standing up for Mahmoud Khalil, who has been abducted illegally and taken to an undisclosed location,” she added. “Does that sound like America to you?” Reporting from New York, Al Jazeera’s Kristen Saloomey said there were several “dramatic moments” as police arrested 98 of the protesters while clearing the lobby. “The demonstrators basically went in nonchalantly, dressed as normal tourists,” Saloomey said. “Then they took off their jackets, wearing red T-shirts that represented their cause. On behalf of Mahmoud Khalil, they said, ‘Not in our name’.” “Ninety-eight of them who were dragged out in handcuffs are being processed and charged with misdemeanour crimes.” New York Police officers arrest a demonstrator from the group Jewish Voice for Peace at Trump Tower in New York City [Yuki Iwamura/AP Photo] Detention continues While a federal judge has blocked Khalil from being removed from the US, pending a legal challenge, he remains in detention in Louisiana. Advertisement His lawyers have requested he be moved to New York for the proceedings and to be closer to his wife, who is eight months pregnant. Speaking during a court hearing yesterday, Khalil’s lawyer Ramzi Kassem said he was “identified, targeted, detained and is being processed for deportation on account of his advocacy for Palestinian rights”. For its part, the Trump administration has remained defiant in its efforts to expel Khalil. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt has told reporters Khalil was subject to removal under a law that allows for the deportation of green-card holders deemed by the US secretary of state to be “adversarial to the foreign policy and national security interests” of the country. She repeated the claim that Khalil supported “terrorists”, without offering any evidence. Trump, meanwhile, has said Khalil’s arrest is the “first of many to come”. Police officers detain protesters during a rally at Trump Tower in New York City [Jeenah Moon/Reuters] In a separate court proceeding on Thursday, eight Columbia students – including Khalil – were named as plaintiffs in a petition seeking to bar the university from complying with an order to share student disciplinary records with the government. The House Committee on Education and Labor has sought records for students involved in pro-Palestine protests, as part of its attempts to crack down on anti-Semitism on campus. The students said the congressional committee’s request violated the First Amendment and their privacy rights under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, a US law that governs how universities handle student information. “Entities like the university feel pressure to cooperate with the government in its efforts to chill and punish protected speech,” the lawsuit stated. Advertisement Adblock test (Why?)

Trump salutes ‘fearless’ military, police dogs on K-9 Veterans Day: ‘canine courage’

Trump salutes ‘fearless’ military, police dogs on K-9 Veterans Day: ‘canine courage’

President Donald Trump on Thursday saluted the heroic canines who “defend our citizens and our homeland.”  National K-9 Veterans Day is an annual March 13 celebration of “canine courage,” and the bravery of military and police dogs. “Serving on the front lines, in combat zones, and at our borders, these fearless four-legged fighters are an invaluable part of protecting America,” Trump said in a Thursday message to commemorate the day.  In the military, more than 30,000 “dedicated working dogs” — with 1,600 working dogs actively serving — have provided frontline support to U.S. service members, according to the White House.  These warriors are trained in detecting explosives and drugs, and assisting in search and rescue operations.  Famous military working dogs include Army Special Operations Forces dog Conan — the 50-combat-mission veteran named after late-night talk show host Conan O’Brien — who helped track Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi when he was killed in October 2019 in Syria. Conan was injured on the mission but made a full recovery.  CONAN, A DOG INJURED IN AL BAGHDADI RAID, HONORED BY PRESIDENT TRUMP AT WHITE HOUSE In 2019 at the White House, Trump gave a medal and plaque to Conan, who had been assigned to 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta. The doggo later was adopted by his former handler and passed away in 2023.  White House protector and most decorated K-9 in U.S. history, Hurricane, died in February after more than a decade in the Secret Service.  The 16-year-old Belgian Malnois — whose accolades included a Secret Service Award for Meritorious Service, Distinguished Service Medal and Department of Homeland Security Secretary’s Award for Valor — made a national name for himself after taking down an intruder who had breached the White House gate in 2014.  Mere yards away were former President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama, watching a movie in the White House theater, according to The New York Times.  WHITE HOUSE PROTECTOR AND MOST DECORATED K-9 IN US HISTORY DIES: ‘A VERY GOOD BOY’ In 2022, Hurricane was one of three dogs to become the first recipients of the Animals in War & Peace Distinguished Service Medal on Capitol Hill — earning him a spot among the famed Guinness World Records.  He received the award alongside Yorkshire Terrier and World War II Army Air Corps veteran Smoky, who helped lay communication wires in the Philippines, and Coast Guard explosive detection dog Feco, a Hungarian Vizsla who at the time had conducted more than 365 bomb searches, according to the records book.   Trump also nodded to now-deceased SEAL Team Six operator veteran Cairo, who played a significant role in the raid that killed al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in May 2011, and Marine veteran Rex, who “saved countless lives by detecting explosives in combat in Iraq.”  The German shepherd served alongside Corps Cpl. Megan Leavey, whose heroic service with the dog was depicted in the 2017 film namesake.  DOG THAT SERVED OUR NATION IS REUNITED WITH ITS FORMER AIR FORCE HANDLER: ‘IT’S BEEN A BLESSING’  Trump said Thursday, “As we remember the fallen, we thank all of the brave veterans of the K-9 Corps who protect the American people and our way of life, living up to the name of man’s best friend.”  Fox News Digital’s Emma Colton contributed to this report. 

Barely: House GOP passes government funding bill without help from Democrats

Barely: House GOP passes government funding bill without help from Democrats

We learned something on Capitol Hill this week. House Republicans can pass a government funding bill without Democratic assistance. Barely. 217-213. Republicans could only lose one vote. And that’s all they lost: Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky. THE HITCHHIKER’S GUIDE TO WHERE WE STAND WITH A POTENTIAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN The GOP bill even picked up one Democratic yea: Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine. Passing government funding bills on their own wasn’t always the case for the House GOP. Republicans have held the House majority for more than two years now. The GOP majority consistently leaned on Democrats – serving in the minority – for many of the votes to keep the government open and lift the debt ceiling. But that changed late Tuesday afternoon as House Republicans approved their own bill to keep the lights on. But before the vote, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., berated Democrats for opposing the temporary spending package, known as a “Continuing Resolution” or “CR.” “If Congressional Democrats refuse to support this clean CR, they will be responsible for every troop who misses a paycheck. For every flight delay from reduced staffing at TSA. For every negative consequence that comes from shutting down the government,” said Johnson. It was unclear if Johnson could pass the bill with just Republicans. Especially as the Speaker upbraided Democrats for vowing to vote nay. “You continually criticize the Democrats,” yours truly said to the Speaker. “Doesn’t that imply that you don’t have the votes on your side? Because you wouldn’t need Democratic assistance to keep the government?” “No. We will have the votes,” responded Johnson. “We’re going to pass the CR and we can do it on our own.” A few hours later, the Speaker made good on his promise. But he had an assist. Vice President JD Vance came to the Capitol to assuage fears of skeptical House Republicans Tuesday morning. But Vance didn’t quite close the deal. “I saw some looks in there that didn’t leave me feeling good as to securing the votes of those who may be having questions,” said Rep. Mark Alford, R-Mo., after the House Republican conclave with Vance. Rep. Kat Cammack, R-Fla., and others said they needed more assurances about future spending cuts. Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., said he would “pray” about how to vote on the bill. But heading into the meeting, Burchett conceded he hadn’t yet experienced any political intercession. “I’m uncomfortable with giving the Pentagon more money, even though overall, we’re cutting,” said Burchett. By afternoon, Burchett told me he was “closer,” but still not there. And when the House voted, it passed the bill. REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK: HERE WE GO AGAIN (AGAIN) But what made the difference when it came to convincing skittish Republicans to vote yes? Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Mo., told Fox he was “barely” for the CR. “What’s the ‘barely’ part?” I asked. “The ‘barely” is Donald Trump. He is the difference maker. I would never support this language. But I do trust Donald Trump,” said Burlison. “He’s not let me down. I think that he is a man of his word. And so I believe him when he’s when he says he’s going to get it done.” But that was only half of the battle. The bill earned the support of all but one Senate Republican. But 60 votes are necessary to break a filibuster. Republicans only have 53 GOP members. So that would entail assistance from Democrats. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., said he opposed the bill because it didn’t cut spending. Paul said he didn’t get any blowback from the President or fellow Republicans on his position. “People know kind of where I am. I’m pretty consistent on opposing debt and opposing spending,” said Paul. Contrast the silence Paul has heard to how President Trump unloaded on his Bluegrass State colleague, Thomas Massie. Mr. Trump argued that Massie should face a primary for his defection. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Penn., is the only Democrat on the record support the stopgap spending bill. So, it’s about the math. With only 52 Republicans primed to crack a filibuster, that means the Senate needs eight Democrats to vote yes. That includes Fetterman. Note that they don’t have to vote yes on the bill. Just to overcome the filibuster. Republicans can pass the bill on their own with a simple majority. This leaves Democrats as badly torn as any party in recently on any issue. On one hand, Democrats don’t want to shutter the government. They fear that will imperil already skittish federal workers. And it could lead to additional cuts from Elon Musk and DOGE if federal workers aren’t on the job. On the other hand, they want to be seen as fighting for their base and rally against President Trump and Musk. But it is often the darkest before the dawn. TRUMP’S UNION-ENDORSED PICK CONFIRMED BY SENATE TO LEAD LABOR DEPARTMENT Democrats must either go to the mat or try to salvage something before the 11:59:59 pm et government funding deadline Friday. There are rattlings that Democrats may ask for votes on a universe of amendments – none of which would pass. But at least Democrats could save face – telling their loyalists that they fought for their values and tried to stand up to the President and Musk. They could also make the case that a shutdown is worse than keeping the government open. Fox is told senators would be interested in votes on the following subjects: Fetterman appeared to be the only Democrat willing to vote for the GOP interim spending bill, but Thursday, Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) announced he would vote for it. And it’s possible that a vote on a set of amendments could unlock a few Democratic votes to break a filibuster on the bill. But tensions are now running high. Reporters staking out a meeting of Senate Democrats talking about the shutdown heard who they believe was Sen. Kirstin Gillibrand, D-N.Y., screaming at her colleagues through he thick Capitol walls. Multiple Senate Democrats

Chuck Schumer will vote to keep government open: ‘For Donald Trump, a shutdown would be a gift’

Chuck Schumer will vote to keep government open: ‘For Donald Trump, a shutdown would be a gift’

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., says he will vote to keep the government open, warning that a shutdown has worse consequences for Americans and would only empower President Trump and Elon Musk further. “I believe it is my job to make the best choice for the country to minimize the harms to the American people. Therefore, I will vote to keep the government open and not shut it down,” Schumer said while speaking on the Senate floor on Thursday.  Democrats have criticized Republicans for their hesitation to pass government funding legislation, while their own party is currently on the brink of allowing a federal shutdown. On Wednesday, Schumer said that his party would oppose the spending bill that Republicans drafted and passed through the House, as the Friday midnight deadline looms for Congress to take action to avoid a government shutdown.  Schumer called for a one-month spending bill to keep the government open until April 11 so that Democrats can better negotiate a deal. The continuing resolution, which passed through the House on Tuesday on a nearly party-line vote of 217-213, would keep the government open for the next six months, for the rest of the fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30. Fox News Digital’s Danielle Wallace contributed to this report.