Syrian forces in deadly clashes with Assad-linked fighters in Latakia
A Syrian security source told Al Jazeera that 15 security personnel were killed in ‘various armed ambushes’. Gunmen loyal to deposed Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad have killed at least 15 security personnel in ambushes in the coastal province of Latakia, a security source told Al Jazeera. The attacks took place on Thursday near the town of Jableh in the Latakia countryside, part of the coastal area which forms the heartland of the Alawite minority sect to which the al-Assad family belongs. A Syrian security source told the Al Jazeera Arabic network that 15 security personnel were killed in “various armed ambushes”. “The Syrian state will impose its authority on all groups outside the law and will not allow security to be threatened,” said the source. Reporting from Damascus, Al Jazeera’s Resul Serdar, said tensions were running high after the attacks. “Since the fall of the Assad regime three months ago, this is perhaps one of the biggest security challenges that the new government is facing,” he said. The central government had sent reinforcements consisting of “dozens and dozens of military vehicles” to the city of Latakia from several governorates, including Hama, Homs and Idlib, he said. Advertisement Soon after the attack, a video was released by an Assad-era commander, saying that a resistance group called the “coastal shield regiment” had been formed against the new government, said Serdar. The security director of Latakia province had earlier told the Syrian state news agency SANA that security forces were clashing in the Latakia countryside with armed groups loyal to Assad-era special forces commander Suhail al-Hassan. Security forces in Latakia announced that the situation was now under control and that several of the attackers had been killed, with “many more captured”, said Serdar. A curfew was also announced in the coastal city of Tartous. Syria’s Mediterranean coastal regions have emerged as one of the main security challenges for interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa as his government works to consolidate control over the country. Adblock test (Why?)
Hamas treatment of hostages ‘intolerable,’ Trump envoy says
Hamas’ treatment of the hostages it has been holding in captivity in the Gaza Strip is “intolerable,” U.S. envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff said Thursday, warning that “it’s not going to be tolerated by President Trump.” Witkoff spoke outside the White House a day after President Donald Trump met with eight former hostages in Washington and posted what he called a “last warning” to Hamas on his Truth Social platform. “We’re not going to sit here, do nothing and tolerate this kind of inhumane conditions,” Witkoff said. “They lived in a terrible situation. By the way, who keeps dead bodies? Who does that? Who keeps people chained up downstairs? Who murders in front of other hostages? What’s happened here is intolerable, and it’s not going to be tolerated by President Trump.” “We had a wonderful day with the hostages yesterday… they got a treat a lifetime, they got to spend some time with President Trump. And we thought it was going to be a short period of time because his day was busy, but he ended up spending about an hour with them, with each of the hostages, pictures, and spent a lot of time listening to their stories about what happened to them in captivity. And he was clearly emotional about it as anybody would be,” Witkoff also said. AFTER TRUMP THREAT, HAMAS REFUSES TO RELEASE MORE HOSTAGES WITHOUT PHASE 2 OF CEASEFIRE DEAL “The president was pretty blunt,” Witkoff added. “It’s time for Hamas to start acting in a responsible and reasonable way. And we don’t think that they have been doing that.” However, the Palestinian terrorist group on Thursday dismissed Trump’s latest threat and refused to release more Israeli hostages without a permanent ceasefire deal in the Gaza Strip. Hamas spokesman Abdel-Latif al-Qanoua said the “best path to free the remaining Israeli hostages” is through negotiations on a second phase of the ceasefire agreement. TRUMP STICKING TO GAZA RELOCATION PLAN, AS WHITE HOUSE SEEMS TO DISMISS EGYPTIAN PROPOSAL The first phase of the ceasefire, which lasted 42 days, ended on Saturday. A second phase was supposed to begin in early February, though only limited preparatory talks have been held so far. “‘Shalom Hamas’ means Hello and Goodbye – You can choose,” Trump said on Wednesday. “Release all of the Hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you.” Trump added that he is “sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job,” and that “not a single Hamas member will be safe if you don’t do as I say. “Also, to the People of Gaza: A beautiful Future awaits, but not if you hold Hostages,” the president wrote. “If you do, you are DEAD! Make a SMART decision. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW, OR THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY LATER!” Fox News’ Stephen Sorace and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
Trump cuts off federal resources for law firm that helped fuel 2016 Russia hoax
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday that would rescind security clearances and access to certain federal resources for Perkins Coie, the law firm that hired the company responsible for crafting the so-called “Steele dossier” containing alleged salacious material and Trump’s alleged connections to Russia, which the president has denied. “This is an absolute honor to sign,” Trump told reporters Thursday. “What they’ve done, it’s just terrible. It’s weaponization, you could say weaponization against a political opponent, and it should never be allowed to happen again.” Specifically, the executive order suspends security clearances for Perkins Coie employees until a further review evaluating its access to sensitive information is complete to determine if it aligns with the national interest. Additionally, the order cuts off access to sensitive compartmented information facilities for Perkins Coie employees, and will limit the company’s access to government employees. Additionally, the order bars the federal government from hiring Perkins Coie employees without specific authorization. JUDGE DISMISSES TRUMP’S LAWSUIT ALLEGING INFAMOUS DOSSIER AND ITS ‘SCANDALOUS CLAIMS’ DAMAGED HIS REPUTATION Likewise, the federal government is prohibited from hiring contractors that use the law firm, amid a review of all federal contracts associated with Perkins Coie that agency heads will be ordered to terminate to the fullest extent lawfully permitted. The international law firm represented Hillary Clinton’s campaign and the Democratic National Committee in the 2016 election, and former President Joe Biden after Trump challenged Biden’s win in the 2020 election. Perkins Coie first came under scrutiny after Marc Elias, the former chair of the firm’s political law practice, hired opposition research firm Fusion GPS to conduct opposition research against then-presidential candidate Trump in April 2016 for his opponent, Clinton, and the Democratic National Committee. Fusion GPS then hired former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele, who composed the so-called “Steele dossier.” The document included scandalous and mostly unverified allegations, including details that Trump engaged in sex acts with Russian prostitutes. CARTER PAGE FISA WARRANT LACKED PROBABLE CAUSE, DOJ ADMITS IN DECLASSIFIED ASSESSMENT Trump repeatedly denied allegations included in the dossier, and filed a lawsuit against Orbis Business Intelligence, a company that Steele co-founded. Trump’s legal team claimed that he “suffered personal and reputational damage and distress” as a result of the dossier, but a judge in London pitched the lawsuit in February 2024. The dossier first became public in 2017 when BuzzFeed News published it. The Justice Department’s inspector general lambasted the agency and the FBI in 2019 for using the document to make a case in securing surveillance applications against former Trump campaign adviser, Carter Page, as part of the agency’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. Still, the inspector general determined that no political bias motivated the surveillance of Page or the launching of Russia investigations. Requests for comment by Perkins Coie were not immediately answered.
Moderates reveal why they didn’t join fellow Dems to censure Al Green
Two moderate Democrats who voted against censuring Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, suggested they did not believe Congress should be focused on such matters. Ten Democratic lawmakers broke from their party to vote on a House GOP-led resolution to formally admonish Green for protesting during President Donald Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night. The majority of those 10 are considered frontline Democrats in more moderate districts, while others, like Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., are generally known to cross the aisle and work with Republicans. Fox News Digital reached out to nine other Democrats representing moderate areas, who were part of the 198 total who opposed censuring Green. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP CONCLUDES REMARKS AFTER DECLARING ‘AMERICA’S MOMENTUM IS BACK’ Of those, just two – Reps. Jared Golden, D-Maine, and Josh Riley, D-N.Y. – offered responses. “In today’s environment, censure tends only to give a greater platform to the censured legislator. So I tend to lean in favor of free speech unless a clear red line is crossed,” Golden told Fox News Digital. The Maine Democrat’s written statement also included a link to a reference of his vote in favor of censuring “Squad” member Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., over her anti-Israel comments. He did, however, offer criticism for Green’s interruption of Trump’s speech. “I voted against censuring Rep. Green because I don’t believe he crossed that line – and I don’t believe it’s in the House’s interest to draw even greater attention to his misguided behavior,” Golden explained. Riley’s statement did not remark directly on Green but more broadly dismissed attention-seekers in Washington. “Upstate New Yorkers sent me to Congress to lower costs, create jobs, and ensure they get a fair shot. I wish we’d spent this morning focused on that instead of the drama and political theater in Washington,” the first-term House Democrat said. Riley won his seat in November by unseating former Rep. Marc Molinaro, R-N.Y., in a district that spans much of central New York state. TOP 5 MOMENTS FROM TRUMP’S ADDRESS TO JOINT SESSION OF CONGRESS Green was censured in a 224 to 198 vote on Thursday morning after repeatedly disrupting the beginning of Trump’s primetime speech. He shouted, “You have no mandate!” at Trump and shook his cane in the air as the president touted Republican victories in the House, Senate and White House. Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., after giving a warning, had Green removed from the chamber. The 77-year-old Democrat was unrepentant, posting on X on Thursday afternoon, “Today, the House GOP censured me for speaking out for the American people against [Trump’s] plan to cut Medicaid. I accept the consequences of my actions, but I refuse to stay silent in the face of injustice.” The 10 Democrats who voted to censure Green are Reps. Ami Bera, D-Calif.; Ed Case, D-Hawaii; Jim Costa, D-Calif.; Laura Gillen, D-N.Y.; Jim Himes, D-Conn.; Chrissy Houlahan, D-Pa.; Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio; Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla.; Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Wash.; and Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y. Green himself voted “present,” as did first-term Rep. Shomari Figures, D-Ala.
Trump to put tariff exemptions on certain goods from Canada, Mexico
President Trump on Thursday exempted certain goods from Canada and Mexico covered under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) from his 25% tariffs for a month. The tariffs were imposed earlier this week, and will be reinstated on April 2. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Trump had previously mentioned an exemption for Mexico, but the amendment signed on Thursday covers Canada also. Reuters contributed to this report.
Texas Senate advances bill to start a $3 billion dementia research fund
The legislation would require voters to approve the $3 billion start-up cost, and then the fund would be maintained at no more than $300 million annually.
Meet the Army veteran running to unseat emerging Trump resistance leader Crockett: ‘Tearing our country down’
EXCLUSIVE: Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett is becoming one of the most prominent faces of the resistance movement against President Trump, but she faces a Republican challenger who says voters are “chomping at the bit” to remove her from office. “She’s not really a leader. She’s not really a representative. Jasmine Crockett is more of a performer or an influencer,” Dallas area attorney Sholdon Daniels, who is running as a Republican to unseat Crockett in Texas’ 30th Congressional District, told Fox News Digital. “She’s wholly ineffective as a legislator. She wasn’t able to pass any laws when she was in the Texas State House, and we don’t anticipate that she’ll be able to have any effect while she’s on Capitol Hill.” Daniels added that it is “unfortunate” that the “hardworking people” of his district aren’t receiving leadership from Crockett, who he said is “spewing all this racist divisiveness” and is “hell-bent on tearing our country down.” ‘SHE’S REALLY THIS DUMB’: HOUSE DEM RIPPED AFTER CALLING TRUMP ‘ENEMY OF THE UNITED STATES’ “So somebody has to stand up to that and God blessed me with the ability to do the job, and so I feel the responsibility to act right now,” Daniels said. Crockett has skyrocketed into the spotlight as one of the most outspoken critics of the Trump administration while routinely going viral, drawing the ire of conservatives on social media for her heated rhetoric. Leading up to and after Trump’s address to Congress on Tuesday, Crockett made several derogatory comments that earned headlines, including calling the president “Putin’s ho” and suggesting that he is attempting to bring Black people back into slavery. Daniels told Fox News Digital comments like that are “utterly disrespectful” and “unbecoming of the office.” REP. JASMINE CROCKETT SAYS TRUMP VOTERS ‘DON’T WANT TO READ’ ABOUT FACTS, RACISTS SUPPORT ‘THE OTHER RACIST’ “To be a member of the U.S. House of Representatives is one of the most prestigious honors and privileges that could be bestowed on any of us and she treats it like it is a given,” Daniels said. “She takes it for granted, and every opportunity she takes, she just denigrates our country and our president. And as a veteran and as somebody who actually loves America, I can’t sit around and do nothing. So I’m going to fight back. We are fighting back, and we are going to win.” Crockett, 43, has cruised to victory in her previous campaigns for the House of Representatives, including in November when she defeated her Libertarian challenger in the general election by 70 points after defeating her primary challenger by over 80 points. However, Daniels told Fox News Digital that the district is more conservative than those results show. “She has her sycophants, for sure, but she grows more and more unpopular in our district every single day,” Daniels explained. “You know, the thing about TX-30 is it’s way more diverse and way more conservative than everyone thinks, and people are chomping at the bit to have an election, because they cannot wait to see this girl replaced by Sholdon Daniels.” Daniels told Fox News Digital that being a dad, husband, veteran, and “somebody that cares about the community” is what inspired him to run for Crockett’s seat because it doesn’t feel right to “sit around while people are trying to tear our country down.” “Becoming a dad and concern for my daughter and one of the issues surrounding biological males being allowed in restrooms and locker rooms and girls private spaces, and then biological males competing against girls in sports, that’s when it hit home for me,” Daniels said about his decision to run. “I have a five-year-old daughter who loves to play sports. I fully anticipate she’s going to be an athlete, and I just want to pave a way for her to make sure that she’s safe and that covers all other little girls in America.” If elected, Daniels told Fox News Digital he will bring “professionalism and decorum” back to the office while focusing on issues that his constituents care about. “I’m going to focus on lowering taxes so that we can bring down the cost of living for Americans. We’re going to focus on securing the border and supporting our president and his policy of keeping the border secure so that we can ensure safer communities here in TX-30,” Daniels said. “We are also going to focus on providing some support for small businesses and make sure that they get to keep more of the money that they earn in their pockets so that they can invest and hire more people. And then we’re obviously going to focus on all the new revelations that are coming out with the DOGE effort to uncover the government waste, fraud and abuse. And we’re going to try to hold whoever is responsible for that accountable.” Daniels has been active on social media, calling out Crockett, including a post challenging her to a debate next month. Fox News Digital asked Daniels whether the voters in his district support DOGE’s goals of slashing government waste, given Crockett’s vocal opposition to the endeavor. “There was a study that came out from the Congressional Management Foundation that found that 90% of voters want their representatives to be focused on policy and not social media, essentially on doing the job and not grandstanding for the cameras and that translates over into TX-30,” Daniels said. “People want a representative in 2025 that’s going to provide tangible and effective change that they can see in their community. Gone are the days where we just elect someone out of TX-30 and set it and forget it, and we don’t hear about them again until they’re getting ready to retire.”
Maine GOP urges Dems to repeal transgender athlete policy following federal Title IX violation finding
Republican state lawmakers in Maine are urging Democrats to repeal the state’s policy allowing transgender women to compete in women’s sports, warning that failure to act could jeopardize hundreds of millions in public education funding. The pleading comes after a spokesperson for Maine’s attorney general confirmed Thursday that the Trump administration had formally issued a “Notice of Violation against the Maine Department of Education” for violating Title IX federal law, which is meant to protect the rights of women. The “official” notice follows an investigation launched by the Health and Human Services Department’s (HHS) Office of Civil Rights, which had been probing the Maine Department of Education (MDOE) for several weeks. The probe stemmed from reports that transgender women were continuing to compete in women’s sports in the Pine Tree State, despite an executive order from President Donald Trump mandating the practice end nationwide. SENATE BID TO PREVENT BOYS FROM PLAYING GIRLS’ SPORTS GETS STUCK ON FILIBUSTER The strength of Trump’s executive order lies in its power to withhold federal education funding from states that do not comply with his directive. Such an action to slash federal education funds in Maine – as is expected to happen unless something changes – would amount to a potential loss for MDOE of more than $700,000 annually from HHS agencies alone, based on 2024 funding numbers provided in HHS’s notice of violation. In total this school year, the U.S. Department of Education provided roughly $250 million strictly to K-12 schools in Maine, according to recent numbers obtained by the Portland Press Herald. “If Maine Democrats continue to double down on allowing biological males to participate in girls’ sports, our students stand to lose hundreds of millions of dollars of federal funding. Gov. [Janet] Mills and legislative Democrats have a renewed opportunity to do the right thing, to ensure restored funding and a fair and level playing field for Maine girls,” said state Rep. Laurel Libby, R–Bangor. “Enough is enough, it is time to put away radical ideology and put the future of our kids first,” added Assistant House Minority Leader Katrina Smith, R–Palermo. “The Mills administration’s policy of allowing biological boys in girls’ sports has physically and mentally mistreated our young ladies and now this same policy will harm every child and teacher with the loss of federal funds to our schools.” MAINE STATE REP ‘EXPLORING OPTIONS’ TO REGAIN VOICE AFTER CENSURE OVER TRANSGENDER ATHLETE POST In addition to the remarks from Libby and Smith, the broader coalition of Maine House Republicans put out a “public call to action” for Mills’ administration to reverse its current policies allowing sports eligibility to be determined by one’s self-stated gender-identity. Mills told Trump to his face during a meeting with governors at the White House last month that she had no intention of following his order aiming to rid female sports of transgender competitors. Mills told Trump during the meeting, which was broadcast live, that she would “see [him] in court.” MARYLAND SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER TARGETED WITH TITLE IX INVESTIGATION AFTER SPEAKING OUT AGAINST TRANS POLICY Based on an analysis by Sarah Perry, a civil rights attorney who has extensive experience litigating Title IX issues, Maine would be successful in court on this matter as Mills might hope. “Maine entered into a contract with the Department of Education, promising to follow that federal civil rights law. [Mills’] reliance on contrary state law will prove fatal to any continued recalcitrance,” Perry wrote on social media. She added in an interview last month with Fox News Digital that in addition to federal law, Maine is also flouting directives from the Department of Education and previously established precedent from a slew of cases that overturned former President Joe Biden’s Title IX regulations allowing athletic eligibility to be determined by one’s preferred gender identity. Fox News Digital reached out to Mills and Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey for comment on these calls from Republicans but did not receive a response by publication time.
Dem senator behind social media fail responds to Elon Musk’s offer
Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., who is taking credit for a recently criticized Democratic mashup of identical social media posts, turned down Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s extravagant offer to the mind behind the “cringe video.” At least 22 Democratic lawmakers participated in a “S— That Ain’t True” social media campaign ahead of President Donald Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress, posting identical videos to social media in a mashup against the president. Musk made fun of the synchronized mashup on social media, offering in a post on X to buy a Cybertruck for anyone who can “provide proof of who wrote this particular piece of propaganda.” Booker eventually took credit for it. Asked on Capitol Hill if he wanted the Cybertruck offered by Musk, Booker burst into laughter and said, “No, I don’t.” ‘COULDN’T CLAP FOR A 13-YEAR-OLD BOY’: GOP SLAM ‘CHILDISH’ DEM SILENCE ON SUPPORTING CANCER SURVIVOR The video begins with a clip of Trump vowing to “bring prices down starting on day one” followed by a cut-in of the Senate Democrats saying in unison, “S— That Ain’t True? That’s what you just heard.” CONSERVATIVES FLIP SCRIPT ON SENATE DEMS PUSHING IDENTICAL TALKING POINTS AGAINST TRUMP: ‘LIKE ROBOTS’ “Since day one of Donald Trump’s presidency, prices are up, not down. Inflation is getting worse, not better. Prices of groceries, gas, housing, rent, eggs — they’re all getting more expensive. Meanwhile, Donald Trump has done nothing to lower costs for you,” the Democrats, including senators Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., said in the video. Booker said the video was created with the intention of reaching more people online. “We’re trying to do more things as a caucus that break through. Clearly, this was very successful,” the senator said. The video drew criticism from Republicans on social media, including Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., who called it “weird” in a post on X. However, Booker thanked conservatives for sharing the post. “In this world where people are competing for attention, it got attention and got many more views, especially because people on the right kept elevating our content, which I appreciate,” Booker said. Fox News’ Deirdre Heavey and Andrew Mark Miller contributed to this report.
Warren explains her applause to Trump’s ‘Pocahontas’ jab during his speech to Congress
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., said her resistant applause when President Donald Trump called her “Pocahontas” during his address to a joint session of Congress was to affirm “American support for Ukrainians.” Warren told Nicholas Ballasy for Fox News Digital she was communicating the importance of American support for Ukraine, following Trump’s contentious meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office last Friday. “What I was talking about is the importance of American support for the Ukrainians, who are fighting on the front lines for democracy and fighting back against an autocrat,” Warren told Fox News Digital. Warren, a loyal Ukraine supporter since Russia’s invasion in 2022, said Russian President Vladimir Putin’s line does not stop with Ukraine. TRUMP READING ZELENSKYY LETTER MET WITH SUPPORT FROM GOP, INDEPENDENT VOTERS “Everyone needs to understand: They take a bite out of Ukraine, they’re not giving up there. They’re coming for the rest of Europe, and we need to fight it,” Warren said. TOP 5 MOMENTS FROM TRUMP’S ADDRESS TO JOINT SESSION OF CONGRESS Warren told Fox News Digital on Tuesday night she “hit a nerve” by applauding U.S. support for “Ukrainian patriots” during President Donald Trump‘s speech. “Sen. Warren, what did you think of President Trump calling you out by name?” Fox News Digital asked Warren. “I actually hit a nerve when I applauded the United States’ support of Ukrainian patriots. If that hits a nerve for Trump, then it’s worth sitting through the rest of that speech.” “Millions of Ukrainians and Russians have been needlessly killed or wounded in this horrific and brutal conflict, with no end in sight. The United States has sent hundreds of billions of dollars to support Ukraine’s defense with no security,” Trump said during his joint address. Responding to the loud applause from Warren and her fellow Democrats, Trump said “Pocahontas,” a nickname Trump uses to mock Warren for claiming Native American heritage, wants “another five years” of war in Ukraine. “Do you want to keep it going for another five years? ‘Yeah, yeah,’ you would say. Pocahontas says yes,” Trump said. Warren was one of several Democrats who slammed Trump after the meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office last Friday. “Donald Trump is treating the destruction of a democracy as a political show — throwing Ukraine to the wolves and doing a favor for Putin. It’s shameful and dangerous. I’ve been to Ukraine, as have many Senate Republicans. I hope they speak up. Millions of lives are at stake,” Warren said on X. Warren and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., have visited Zelenskyy in Kyiv in a bipartisan show of American support for Ukraine. Throughout the war, Warren has not waned in her support of funding for Ukraine. However, Graham said after the “complete, utter disaster” in the Oval Office that he didn’t know “if we can ever do business with Zelenskyy again.” Graham said Zelenskyy needs to resign or “send somebody over that we can do business with, or he needs to change.” Zelenskyy was asked to leave the White House after his public disagreement with Trump and Vice President JD Vance, a visit that was intended to result in the Ukraine-United States Mineral Resources Agreement. Trump ordered a suspension of all U.S. military aid to Ukraine on Monday. Zelenskyy then sent a letter to Trump affirming his commitment to a peaceful negotiation and thanking the U.S. for its service to Ukraine.