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Trump reportedly plans to unleash around 100 executive orders after taking office

Trump reportedly plans to unleash around 100 executive orders after taking office

President-elect Donald Trump indicated that he plans to push 100 — or around 100 — executive orders after assuming office, senators and reports have indicated, with the number varying slightly. Trump, who will take office later this month on Jan. 20, met with Senate Republicans on Wednesday. During a Thursday morning appearance on “Fox & Friends” Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., said that Trump indicated that there are almost 100 executive orders to address issues like border security and U.S. energy. “He threw that out — 100 — there could be like 100 EOs, yeah. I believe him.” Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., noted to The Hill. TRUMP PLANS TO ‘IMMEDIATELY’ REVERSE BIDEN’S ‘RIDICULOUS’ BAN ON NEW OIL AND GAS DRILLING ALONG US COAST Senators were provided previews regarding some of what they were informed would be 100 executive orders, two sources noted to Axios. Stephen Miller, who Trump has tapped to serve in his new administration, discussed plans for using executive authority to tackle border and immigration beginning day one, the outlet reported. The Associated Press claimed that Trump is readying more than 100 executive orders beginning day one, and had informed GOP senators during the meeting. “There will be a substantial number,” Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., noted according to the outlet. Fox News Digital emailed a Trump spokesperson with a request for comment on Saturday, but did not receive a response in time for publication.  TRUMP PRESSES GOP TO SWIFTLY SEND ‘ONE POWERFUL BILL’ FOR HIS SIGNATURE ASAP Signing scads of executive orders would enable Trump to unilaterally push his agenda after returning to the Oval Office, but GOP lawmakers also plan to work with him to enact his legislative priorities as well. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., have both declared their intent to push the president-elect’s agenda. TRUMP CAN DO A LOT THROUGH EXECUTIVE ORDERS, SAYS GOP REP “Biden is doing everything possible to make the TRANSITION as difficult as as possible, from Lawfare such as has never been seen before, to costly and ridiculous Executive Orders on the Green New Scam and other money wasting Hoaxes. Fear not, these “Orders” will all be terminated shortly, and we will become a Nation of Common Sense and Strength. MAGA!!!” Trump declared in a post on Truth Social earlier this week.

Prosecutors seek 15-year sentence for disgraced former NJ Senator Bob Menendez after bribery conviction

Prosecutors seek 15-year sentence for disgraced former NJ Senator Bob Menendez after bribery conviction

Federal prosecutors say disgraced former New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez should be imprisoned for 15 years after his conviction in a “long-running bribery and foreign influence scheme of rare gravity.” On Friday, prosecutors filed a 108-page briefing outlining their arguments for sentencing Menendez, as well as Wael Hana and Fred Daibes, who were convicted alongside the former lawmaker. In their briefing, the prosecutors emphasized the seriousness and profundity of the crimes and noted their historical significance. “As proven at trial, the defendants engaged, for years, in a corruption and foreign influence scheme of stunning brazenness, breadth, and duration, resulting in exceptionally grave abuses of power at the highest levels of the Legislative Branch of the United States Government,” prosecutors wrote. Prosecutors believe that Menendez needs to be thrown behind bars for the “egregious” crimes that they say showed “naked greed” and a “sense of entitlement to convert the public’s trust to private and personal benefit.” BOB MENENDEZ TO RESIGN FROM SENATE AMID DEMOCRATIC PRESSURE AFTER GUILTY VERDICT The disgraced former Democrat was accused and convicted of participating in a yearslong bribery scheme involving the governments of Egypt and Qatar. Menendez’s wife, Nadine, who is set to go on trial on January 21, also allegedly participated in the scheme. She is accused of receiving paychecks for a job that did not exist. “Menendez, who swore an oath to represent the United States and the state of New Jersey, instead put his high office up for sale in exchange for this hoard of bribes,” prosecutors noted in the brief. DEMOCRATIC SEN. BOB MENENDEZ GUILTY ON ALL CHARGES IN FEDERAL CORRUPTION TRIAL Menendez, who was charged in 2023, made history in July 2024 when he became the first US senator to be convicted of acting as a foreign agent. His conviction came after a nine-week-long trial. The former Democratic lawmaker was accused of accepting gifts totaling more than $100,000 in gold bars as well as cash. His sentencing is currently slated to take place on Jan. 29, 2025. Jamie Joseph, Anders Hagstrom, and Maria Paronich contributed to this report.

Monfils becomes the oldest player to win an ATP Tour singles title

Monfils becomes the oldest player to win an ATP Tour singles title

At 38, Gael Monfis becomes the oldest winner of an ATP title by beating Zizou Bergs in New Zealand. French veteran Gael Monfils has become the oldest player to win an ATP Tour title after beating Zizou Bergs 6-3, 6-4 in Auckland. Monfils claimed his 13th tour title 20 years after his first and at the age of 38 years, 132 days. He took over from Roger Federer, who was 38 years, 74 days old when he won the final tour title of his career, the Swiss Indoor title at Basel in 2019. Monfils is currently ranked 52 and is the oldest player in the ATP Tour’s history to be ranked in the top 100. Pancho Gonzalez was 44 years, 7 months and 4 days old when he won a Kingston, Jamaica singles title in 1972, before the formation of the ATP Tour in 1990. Gael Monfils won his first ATP title at the age of 18 [Phil Walter/Getty Images] The Auckland final was delayed on Saturday by a medical emergency in the crowd, but Monfils showed the same mixture of aggression and tenacious defence to claim his first title since the Stockholm Open in 2023. Prior to the start of the Auckland tournament, Monfils spoke about how his love of tennis kept him going. “I love tennis. I love what I’m doing so, of course, all the sacrifices you do, they are a little bit easier. When you love something, it’s easier to keep pushing,” he said. “I’ve been enjoying myself since the first day I played tennis and [at] 60 years old I will still have this joy. Practice, it’s easy. It’s in the DNA. Stay in shape, it’s easy. It’s more the travel.” Advertisement After collecting the Auckland trophy, Monfils headed straight to the airport for a flight to Melbourne where he will face Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the first round of the Australian Open. Zizou Bergs of Belgium, left, and Gael Monfils of France pose with their trophies following their men’s singles final on Day 13 of the ASB Classic [Phil Walter/Getty Images] Adblock test (Why?)

Israel’s image crisis and the limits of propaganda

Israel’s image crisis and the limits of propaganda

As a growing number of Israeli voices openly condemn the actions of their military in Gaza, the Israeli government is taking extraordinary steps to conceal the identities of soldiers committing war crimes. Contributors: Dahlia Scheindlin – Fellow, Century InternationalDana Mills – Writer, +972 MagazineMaha Hussaini – Strategy director, Euro-Med Human Rights MonitorMohamad Elmasry – Professor of media, Doha Institute for Graduate Studies On our radar: Mark Zuckerberg announces a pivot in Meta’s content moderation policies, in a move widely seen as designed to appease incoming President Donald Trump. Meenakshi Ravi has the details. With just days remaining before Donald Trump is inaugurated for a second term, we speak with three journalists about what his presidency means for the media. Featuring:Amy Goodman – Co-founder, Democracy Now!Ben Smith – Founder, SemaforOsita Nwanevu – Contributing editor, The New Republic Adblock test (Why?)

Syrian intelligence says it thwarted ISIL attempt to blow up Shia shrine

Syrian intelligence says it thwarted ISIL attempt to blow up Shia shrine

The Sayyida Zeinab shrine in Damascus has previously been targeted by ISIL and other armed groups in Syria. Syrian authorities have foiled an attempt by ISIL (ISIS) fighters to blow up a revered Shia shrine in a Damascus suburb, state news agency SANA has reported. Intelligence and security forces “succeeded in thwarting an attempt by ISIL to carry out a bombing inside the Sayyida Zeinab shrine”, a source within Syria’s intelligence agency told SANA on Saturday, adding that several people have been arrested. “The General Intelligence Directorate is utilising all its resources to confront all attempts to target the Syrian people in all their diversity,” the intelligence official told SANA. The interior ministry posted pictures of four men it said were members of an ISIL cell who had been arrested in the countryside outside the capital. It also published images of equipment allegedly seized from the suspects, including smartphones, two rifles, three explosive devices and several hand grenades. The photos showed the identity papers of two Lebanese and a Palestinian refugee living in Lebanon. “The shrine they were trying to target is on the southern outskirts of Damascus,” Al Jazeera’s Hamza Mohamed said, reporting from Damascus. Advertisement “It’s an important religious site for Shia Muslims. They believe the granddaughter of the Prophet Muhammad is buried [there].” Mohamed noted that it is not the first time this shrine has been targeted. “In 2008, there was a car bomb … [in which] 17 people were killed,” he said. ISIL also previously targeted the Damascus shrine, Syria’s most visited Shia pilgrimage site, claiming responsibility for a double suicide attack in February 2016 close to the mausoleum that killed 134 people. The group had also claimed a triple blast near the sanctuary several weeks earlier that took the lives of at least 70 people. A July 2023 bombing killed at least six people near the mausoleum. Shia shrines have been a frequent target of attacks by Sunni groups such as ISIL, both in Syria and neighbouring Iraq. Iran-backed guards used to be deployed at the gates of the Sayyida Zeinab mausoleum, but they fled last month, shortly before Sunni-led rebels swept into the Syrian capital and toppled President Bashar al-Assad. Iran-backed fighters had been key supporters of al-Assad since the war broke out in 2011. Adblock test (Why?)

‘Space coast’ congressman sets bold goal for American moon missions

‘Space coast’ congressman sets bold goal for American moon missions

The Space Coast’s new congressman wants the U.S. to set bold goals for exploration beyond our Earth, believing the country’s potential will take Americans sky-high – literally. “We need to do everything we can to make sure it’s safe, but it’s done in a way that removes some of the superfluous red tape so that we can get out there, compete and beat China and beat any other nation,” Rep. Mike Haridopolos, R-Fla., told Fox News Digital in an interview. “Because the moon and beyond is not a cliché from a Disney movie. It is the future.” Haridopolos said he would “love” to see the U.S. return to the moon in the next four years of the Trump administration. The Florida Republican was careful not to speak in absolutes, noting, “We can’t guarantee anything,” but credited billionaires like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos with revitalizing the science and space sector to make such conversations possible. JOHNSON BLASTS DEM ACCUSATIONS HE VOWED TO END OBAMACARE AS ‘DISHONEST’ “It’s a stepping stone,” he said. “For example, as we’re starting to move towards [nuclear power], with the need for more and more energy here in the United States…There’s particles that are on the moon that they would bring back because they’re very scarce here in America [and] around the world.” Helium-3 is a highly coveted resource found on the moon known to be key in nuclear fusion processes. “From that point, you settle the moon, and then you go on to Mars, which has been, of course, Elon Musk’s vision,” Haridopolos said. “When he thought of things like SpaceX, it was, how do I get to Mars? And then how do you pay to get to Mars? That was the inspiration behind a lot of the new technologies he helped create. And now he’s got a fellow zillionaire in Jeff Bezos dreaming of the same type of things. It’s really exciting” DANIEL PENNY TO BE TAPPED FOR CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL BY HOUSE GOP LAWMAKER In Congress, the first-term lawmaker represents part of the country that’s famous for being home to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The Space Coast broke its all-time annual record with 93 orbital launches last year, according to Florida Today. Just this week it’s scheduled to host launches by both Musk’s SpaceX Falcon 9 and Bezos’ Blue Origin rocket. He lauded both President-elect Trump’s vision for space as well as new House Space Science and Technology Chairman Brian Babin, R-Texas. NASA’S MARTIAN HELICOPTER PROMISES UNPRECEDENTED VIEWS OF THE RED PLANET “Donald Trump has proven day-one and officially in 2019 that he loves space,” he said, referring to Trump’s creation of the Space Force. He suggested that the U.S. approach to the final frontier may not be dissimilar to the optimism and pride seen in 1969, when Americans landed a team of astronauts on the moon. “It was an inspiration for my parents’ generation,” Haridopolos said. “Now, of course, Elon Musk gave us this whole new vision of landing potentially, in our lifetime, on Mars. It’s remarkable. And so the president said this is the future.”

Schools nationwide brace for Trump, including measures compelling teachers not to cooperate with ICE

Schools nationwide brace for Trump, including measures compelling teachers not to cooperate with ICE

School districts, universities and state-level education leaders around the country are preparing their schools for the incoming Trump administration, including efforts to protect illegal immigrant children.  Many school districts are focusing on efforts to bolster protections for migrant students and families. These include mandatory teacher training on what to do if immigration officials arrive at their schools and new rules that bar them from showing up in the first place. Other districts are readying measures to guarantee funding in case President-elect Trump cuts it. “We will not allow any law enforcement entity to take any type of immigration action against our students or their families within our care,” Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Alberto Carvalho said Monday at a press conference.  Carvalho has committed to using all legal options available to protect illegal immigrants attending school in the district, according to local reports.  BIDEN EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SPENT OVER $1 BILLION ON DEI GRANTS: REPORT Shortly after Trump’s election victory in November, the district’s governing board passed a resolution prohibiting district employees from voluntarily complying with immigration authorities, including sharing information about a student’s immigration status. Part of the resolution includes teacher training instructing educators on the proper ways to respond to law enforcement.  “Get ready to deal with misinformation. Get ready to deal with any action from Washington, and be prepared,” LAUSD board member Monica Garcia said. Several districts are offering training for immigrant students and families as well. In Washington, the Edmonds School District planned a “Know Your Rights Session” led by officials from the local Mexican consulate for immigrant members of its community.  The event was later canceled due to backlash, but an official flyer for the event said the Mexican consulate would be on hand to share with community members “how to prepare for immigration raids and your individual rights when approached, detained or incarcerated by police or immigration agents.” Oregon’s largest school district, Portland Public Schools, passed a resolution earlier this month reaffirming its commitment to designate itself a sanctuary school for undocumented students. Under the updated resolution, employees are still not permitted to share a student’s immigration status without parental consent. And the district said it would not allow immigration officials into school buildings beyond the front office. FIVE WAYS TRUMP AND MCMAHON CAN MAKE EDUCATION GREAT Nicole Neily, the president and founder of the nonprofit Parents Defending Education (PDE), said “without a doubt” the increase in illegal immigration has put a negative strain on schools, not helped them. She said the incoming administration will not put up with schools ignoring its policies.  “Given the poor state of civics education in America, it’s little wonder that administrators are laboring under the misimpression that they are above the law. But after Jan 20, they should be aware that the incoming administration will not look favorably on these transgressions,” Neily said.  In addition to measures aimed at flouting federal immigration authorities, some schools are preparing for possible funding cuts. Trump has signaled he is open to potentially dissolving the Department of Education and has said in the past he would strip federal funds from schools that do not follow the law. Richmond Public Schools in Virginia is planning to fund student lunches locally over fears the Trump administration could get rid of the Community Eligibility Provision, a  program that helps pay for meals for students. NEW JERSEY ENDS BASIC READING AND WRITING SKILLS TEST REQUIREMENT FOR TEACHERS “We delivered millions of meals during the pandemic,” Superintendent Jason Kamras said. “So, we’ll have to figure this one out, too, if necessary.” In California, state Superintendent Tony Thurmond said his school system is “prepared to introduce legislation that would guarantee funding for California schools and California education” in case Trump gets rid of it.  Colleges and universities are also taking steps to shield their international students from potential deportations under Trump, several of which have encouraged their students from overseas to return to campus ahead of Trump’s inauguration later this month. They have also offered resources for students who are not natural-born citizens. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “A travel ban is likely to go into effect soon after inauguration,” Cornell University’s Office of Global Learning said in a message to students after Trump won.