Exposed Fauci diary shows he estimated COVID-19 death rate to be much lower than what he told Congress
Entries from early 2020 in a now-exposed personal diary kept by Dr. Anthony Fauci during the COVID-19 pandemic show that he privately estimated the death rate from the illness was significantly lower than what he told Congress under oath only weeks later. Fauci, 85, has come under intense scrutiny for years regarding his approach leading the U.S. response to the coronavirus pandemic, and his alleged links to the Chinese lab where the virus originated. He will return to Capitol Hill on Wednesday before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee to speak about his newly publicized personal records. “The stated mortality over all of this when you look at all the data including China is about three percent. It first started off as two and three,” Fauci said in testimony before the House Oversight Committee on March 11, 2020, according to a transcript of the hearing. LEGACY MEDIA IGNORES MASSIVE ANTHONY FAUCI DOCUMENT RELEASE ALLEGING HE MISLED CONGRESS ON COVID ORIGINS During the hearing just weeks into the virus reaching the U.S., he was asked by Rep. Michael Cloud, R-Texas, to compare the mortality from COVID-19 to the mortality of the seasonal flu. “I think if you count all the cases of minimally symptomatic or asymptomatic infection, that probably brings the mortality rate down to somewhere around one percent, which means it is 10 times more lethal than the seasonal flu,” Fauci continued. “I think that is something that people can get their arms around and understand.” But on Feb. 8, 2020, about a month before that congressional testimony, Fauci expressed privately that he believed the virus’s mortality rate was much lower than what he later told lawmakers. “[Former CDC Director] Tom Frieden called me this AM and we discussed various aspects of the outbreak,” Fauci wrote. “He and I are on the same page in thinking tht [sic] this is acting like a bad influenza in its transmissibility and that the denominator is much greater than 34,867 (above) making the case fatality rate (CFR) more like 0.2-0.3 % rather than 2.0%.” FAUCI’S NEWLY RELEASED COVID DIARIES REVEAL BIZARRE FIXATION ON FAME AS PANDEMIC DEATHS MOUNTED At that time, Fauci had counted 34,687 cases of the virus and 724 fatalities, according to his diary, which equals just over 0.2%. Fauci was the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) during the pandemic, and first became the face of combatting COVID-19 at the onset of the pandemic during President Donald Trump’s first term, and remained in the role under President Joe Biden until retiring in 2022. The very influential position wasn’t lost on Fauci. His diary entries tracked his rising influence and press appearances, and he meticulously kept track of how he was portrayed. “Big front page article abut me appeared in the Washington Post. Very flattering. The situation with my national and international fame is explosive and really unimaginable,” he wrote in a diary entry on May 21, 2020. “It is not hyoperbole [sic] to say that today I am the most famous and talked about person in the country and one of the most recognizable peson in the world,” he continued. INSIDE FAUCI’S PRIVATE DIARY: WHAT HE WROTE ABOUT TRUMP, TV PERSONALITIES AND CELEBRITIES Fauci noted that he was developing a “very unique and interesting relationship” with Trump. His diary is adorned with screenshots of headlines that mentioned him, including a New York Times story from March 2020 titled, “Not His First Pandemic, Dr. Anthony Fauci Sticks to the Facts.” He referenced another Washington Post article in his diary on Aug. 8, 2020, titled, “As Fauci battles the pandemic and politics, his grateful neighbors celebrate him as a hero.” Fox News Digital reached out to Georgetown University and the Georgetown University Department of Public Health, where Fauci serves as a distinguished professor at the university’s school of medicine, seeking comment on the journal entries versus public statements. Fox News Digital also reached out to Paul’s office but did not hear back by time of publication.
Harvard tops nation in foreign cash haul as Cotton demands probe into China funding
FIRST ON FOX: One Ivy League institution has taken in more money from foreign countries, including China, than any other university in the country. The U.S. Department of Education has, for years, compiled a list of federally funded universities that have taken in funding from abroad. The Trump administration sought to revamp the agency’s online reporting portal, and, in doing so, it has shown that one institution, Harvard University, has scored more foreign funding than any other college in the country. Harvard is in the crosshairs of Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., for its ties to China and other foreign nations because of the reams of outside cash the university has taken in. And the Senate Republican, who chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee, wants Education Secretary Linda McMahon to open an investigation into China’s cash flow into higher education. REPUBLICANS TARGET TRUMP’S CRYPTO EMPIRE WITH NEW PLAN, DEMS SAY IT FALLS SHORT “I remain concerned that millions in additional transactions with sanctioned Chinese entities may not have been reported,” Cotton wrote. “Therefore, I encourage additional scrutiny of financial ties between American universities and Communist China.” Harvard did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Cotton noted that since the portal was relaunched in January, reporting data has shown that federally funded universities accepted more than $6.8 billion from “Communist China — including more than $300 million from sanctioned entities.” “Harvard, for instance, has received more than $630 million from Chinese entities,” Cotton wrote. “This includes roughly $418,000 from organizations participating in foreign talent programs and nearly $420,000 from entities allegedly supporting unauthorized military advancements.” KHANNA DEMANDS ANSWERS FROM CCP-LINKED COMPANY ACCUSED OF UNDERCUTTING US MANUFACTURERS More money from foreign countries flows to Harvard than any other college on the Education Department’s list, to the tune of nearly $4.5 billion across 7,089 transactions. Of that, $634 million is from countries of concern. Notably, China is not the only country of concern that has sent money to Harvard. A country of concern is one that the federal government designates as engaging in conduct that is detrimental to U.S. national security, foreign policy, or the safety of U.S. citizens. Venezuela and Russia have also both sent money to the university, with $3.3 million and over $750,000, respectively, flowing to the Ivy League institution. CALIFORNIA MAYOR ACCUSED OF SECRETLY WORKING FOR CHINA, SPREADING PROPAGANDA WHILE IN OFFICE: FEDS China’s alleged influence doesn’t stop at Harvard, either. Broken further down, there are four Chinese entities in the top five funders on U.S. watch lists that have provided a total of about $119 million to universities across the country. That list includes the Beijing Institute of Tech, Air China, Ltd., Huawei Technologies Co., and Ocean University of China. The Education Department late last year announced that it would be revamping the portal and charged that the Biden administration had neglected the system. “After years of neglect by the Biden Administration, the new portal will assist our institutions of higher education in fulfilling their statutory responsibilities and enable us to protect our national security by facilitating improved compliance,” McMahon said in a statement at the time. “America’s taxpayer-funded colleges and universities have both a moral and legal obligation to be fully transparent with the U.S. government and the American people about their foreign financial relationships,” she continued.
EXCLUSIVE: Trump admin fast-tracks asylum cases, bypassing interviews to slash backlog
FIRST ON FOX: The Trump administration is changing how some asylum claims move through the immigration system, allowing U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to refer certain applications directly to immigration judges without first interviewing applicants in an effort to reduce the nation’s asylum backlog. The interim final rule, which takes effect immediately, gives USCIS the authority to send some asylum applications to immigration court without conducting an affirmative asylum interview, eliminating what the administration called an unnecessary step in the adjudication process. The change applies to affirmative asylum claims, which are filed by immigrants who are not in removal proceedings. Defensive asylum claims, in contrast, are raised before an immigration judge after the government has initiated removal proceedings. TRUMP PUTS ASYLUM LAWYERS ‘ON NOTICE’ WITH NEW FRONT IN WAR ON FRAUD Currently, USCIS generally interviews affirmative asylum applicants before either granting asylum or referring the case to an immigration judge for a separate review. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) told Fox News Digital the process can result in some applications being reviewed twice — first by USCIS and then again by an immigration judge — adding to the agency’s growing backlog. Under the new rule, USCIS can refer certain asylum applications directly to immigration court without first conducting an interview, a change administration officials said will allow both asylum officers and immigration judges to process cases more efficiently while directing resources toward applicants with legitimate claims of persecution. The rule is the latest step in the Trump administration’s broader effort to tighten the asylum system and speed up immigration enforcement, with officials arguing the current process has been exploited by immigrants seeking to delay removal proceedings and obtain work authorization. HOUSE REPUBLICANS MOVE TO MAKE TRUMP’S BORDER POLICIES PERMANENT “For far too long, the asylum system has been exploited for purposes of delay and work authorization, not legitimate claims of protection,” USCIS Director Joseph Edlow told Fox News Digital. “America’s asylum system exists to protect individuals who genuinely fear persecution and this rule will help ensure that resources are directed to the timely adjudication of those claims instead of to those seeking to use the system as a loophole.” DHS general counsel James Percival said delays within the asylum system have hindered immigration enforcement. “One of the greatest barriers to effective immigration enforcement is intentional delay by illegal aliens and the open borders attorneys who represent them,” Percival told Fox News Digital. “My office works every day with the immigration components of DHS to improve efficiency and fulfill the president’s mandate. The rule would do just that.” The rule takes effect immediately, though USCIS said it will continue accepting public comments before issuing a final version, responding to the feedback it receives.
Acting Director of National Intelligence announces 4th wave of layoffs
Acting Director of National Intelligence William Pulte announced Sunday that his office has completed a fourth batch of layoffs. “Since becoming Acting Director of National Intelligence, our team has been smartly, and carefully, reducing the size of [the Office of the Director of National Intelligence], re-focusing ODNI on national security, the law, and the statute,” he wrote in a post on X. “As of this evening, we just finished a 4th round of thoughtful, measured layoffs. Thank you!” he noted. TRUMP GREEN LIGHTS NEW DNI PULTE TO ‘START THE PROCESS’ ON MASS INTELLIGENCE FIRINGS Pulte had previously noted in a July 10 post, “U.S. National Intelligence is operating more efficiently and effectively than ever before, and today, we started a third round of reducing redundant, or non-critical, personnel. DNI’s future is exceptionally bright, and will be focused on following the law and the statute.” President Donald Trump chose Pulte, the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, to serve as acting DNI as well. Tulsi Gabbard, who had been serving as DNI, departed the role last month. She had previously announced in May that she planned to exit the role due to her husband’s bone cancer diagnosis. WHY TRUMP PICKED BILL PULTE TO LEAD US INTELLIGENCE AS CRITICS QUESTION HIS QUALIFICATIONS Prior to when Pulte took the reins at ODNI last month, The Wall Street Journal reported that during an interview, Trump said he had informed Pulte that he thought ODNI was “unnecessary and/or too big.” “I’d like to see it smaller. I think there are a lot of people in there that shouldn’t be there,” the president said, pointing to Obama and Biden administration carryovers, according to the Journal. Asked if he was calling for Pulte to engage in firings, the president indicated he wanted Pulte to “start the process,” noting that the eventual DNI nominee should carry on with the effort, the outlet reported. Trump later announced U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jay Clayton as his nominee for the DNI role. TRUMP’S DNI PICK CLEARS KEY HURDLE, REVIVING PATH FOR NATION’S TOP ANTI-TERROR SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM “So deeply grateful to POTUS for letting me be acting Director of National Intelligence. He is, truly, the best, and it is a blessing to work for him. While it’s been only a few weeks, so much has already been accomplished —Operationally, AND, Transparency. Thank you, POTUS,” Pulte wrote in a Sunday post on his personal X account.
Rep Thomas Massie says the Iran war has ‘significantly weakened’ America ‘all for Israel’
Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky argued Sunday that the war with Iran has “weakened” the United States. “The U.S. has been significantly weakened by the war with Iran,” the congressman wrote in a Sunday post on X. “This administration depleted our missile defenses, drained our oil reserves, sacrificed our men & women, inflated the price of consumer goods, increased our debt, and neglected our domestic needs…” he continued, adding, “all for Israel.” Some parts of Massie’s criticism align with publicly reported effects of the conflict. The Energy Department authorized the release of 172 million barrels from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, while news reports and congressional spending measures have pointed to heavy demand for U.S. missile-defense systems and billions of dollars in additional defense funding. His broader assertion that the United States has been “significantly weakened” is a political judgment. HOUSE REPUBLICAN THOMAS MASSIE SUGGESTS OBAMACARE COULD NOW BE LABELED ‘TRUMPCARE’ Fox News Digital reached out to the White House early on Monday morning to request a comment. Massie, who has served in the U.S. House of Representatives for more than 13 years, lost the May Republican primary in Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District to President Donald Trump-backed challenger, retired Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein. MASSIE LASHES OUT WHEN PRESSED ON EX-GIRLFRIEND’S ALLEGATIONS OF AFFAIR WITH GOP FIREBRAND In a Friday post on X, Massie accused Trump of shifting toward a neoconservative foreign policy, writing, “Why did he flip to neocon?” Former National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent, who quit earlier this year due to his opposition to the Iran war, has been calling for President Trump to withdraw U.S. forces from the region. EX-COUNTERTERRORISM OFFICIAL JOE KENT CONTINUES CALLING FOR US MILITARY WITHDRAWAL FROM MIDDLE EAST “The Israelis know they can’t fight this war without the U.S., so their goal is to get us on board with more strikes, ground troops, etc., in the hopes that American causalities will sway public opinion enough to escalate into a chaotic, drawn-out war,” Kent wrote in part of a Sunday post on X. “Our only viable option is to leave now—President Trump should use this pause in fighting to get our troops out & use quiet economic diplomacy to reopen the SOH & BAM.” The Trump administration has defended the military campaign as necessary to destroy Iran’s missile capabilities, cripple its navy, sever its support for terrorist proxies and prevent it from obtaining a nuclear weapon. The White House has also credited what it called “decisive American strength” with producing an agreement intended to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Inside Fauci’s private diary: What he wrote about Trump, TV personalities and celebrities
Newly released diary entries by Dr. Anthony Fauci offer an unfiltered look at what the nation’s top infectious disease expert really thought of the politicians, television personalities and celebrities who filled his orbit during the COVID-19 pandemic. Released by Senate Homeland Security Committee Chairman Rand Paul, R-Ky., the diaries chronicle Fauci’s day-to-day role during the COVID-19 pandemic through meetings, phone calls and personal observations. The release comes days before Fauci is scheduled to testify before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee after being subpoenaed by Paul. The entries feature everyone from President Donald Trump to Julia Roberts, Steph Curry, Larry Ellison and Hunter Biden, offering an unusually personal look at the people who crossed Fauci’s path during the COVID-19 pandemic. Early entries portray a warm working relationship between Fauci and Trump. Fauci wrote that Trump repeatedly directed questions to him during White House meetings, called him “the smartest person in the world,” told him, “We are counting on you,” and later appeared “enamored” with him as Fauci’s national profile grew. FAUCI’S NEWLY RELEASED COVID DIARIES REVEAL BIZARRE FIXATION ON FAME AS PANDEMIC DEATHS MOUNTED Fauci’s relationship with White House chief of staff Mark Meadows deteriorated throughout the pandemic. Fauci wrote that Meadows threatened to keep him off television, repeatedly pushed him to soften his public messaging and, in one entry, recounted Meadows “screaming” over his public comments. Fauci, however, repeatedly described then-White House communications director Alyssa Farah as an ally during internal battles over media appearances. In one May 2020 entry, he wrote that Farah admitted White House staff had been “holding me back,” said the situation had “gotten out of hand” and promised to begin clearing his television requests again. Not everyone in the administration’s communications operation earned Fauci’s praise. In a July 2, 2020 entry, Fauci called then-HHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Michael Caputo “a con man who is completely full of sh–,” writing that Caputo publicly claimed to support his television appearances while privately blocking them. Television journalists also became recurring figures in Fauci’s diary. CNN anchor Jake Tapper appears repeatedly, with Fauci documenting phone calls, text exchanges and dinners at the Tappers’ Washington home. LEGACY MEDIA IGNORES MASSIVE ANTHONY FAUCI DOCUMENT RELEASE ALLEGING HE MISLED CONGRESS ON COVID ORIGINS Fauci wrote that Tapper privately checked to make sure a CNN interview hadn’t caused problems with the White House. When The Atlantic’s Peter Nicholas suggested Fauci had been “humiliated” over a canceled Tapper interview, Fauci fired back in his diary: “F— you, Peter.” After Fauci’s heated exchange with Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, Fauci wrote that CNN’s Dana Bash texted him, telling him he was “a better man” and relaying that fellow CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer had joked no one would have blamed Fauci if he had told Jordan to “go f— yourself.” The following day, Fauci wrote that Bash texted him again, this time pointing him to a Vanity Fair headline mocking Jordan’s performance at the hearing. The diary also features colorful asides about billionaire Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, whom Fauci described as “a bit of a loose cannon” while discussing White House efforts to use Oracle technology during the pandemic. Beyond politicians and White House aides, Fauci’s diary reads at times like a Hollywood guest list. Actress Julia Roberts hosted Fauci on Instagram Live, sent him flowers and later presented him with an award, while Vogue editor Anna Wintour, comedian Trevor Noah, NBA star Steph Curry, actors Sean Penn and Matt Damon, and rapper Lil Wayne also make appearances as Fauci documented his growing celebrity during the pandemic. The diary closes with another unexpected cameo. At the 2022 Kennedy Center Honors, Fauci wrote that he hugged Hunter Biden, who joked the internet “would explode” if someone photographed them together because they were both “being attacked by the far right GOP.”
This red state is strengthening its grip as America’s next economic heavyweight
The race to become America’s next economic heavyweight may already have a frontrunner. The latest Internal Revenue Service (IRS) migration data show billions of dollars in taxpayer wealth flowing into Texas, while Census figures show the state’s largest metropolitan areas continue to outpace much of the country in population growth, strengthening a decades-long shift in America’s economic center of gravity. What’s more, Texas isn’t relying on a single boomtown. Dallas-Fort Worth added more residents than any metropolitan area in the country over the past year, while Houston, Austin and San Antonio also ranked among the nation’s fastest-growing metros. That unusual breadth gives Texas multiple engines of economic growth, providing businesses with larger labor pools, diversified industries and a broader customer base than states anchored by a single dominant city. BILLIONS IN TAXPAYER INCOME ARE LEAVING TWO ICONIC STATES — AS A NEW ECONOMIC MAP EMERGES The population boom has been accompanied by an influx of wealth. IRS migration data analyzed by the Tax Foundation show the Lone Star State gained more than $5 billion in adjusted gross income from interstate movers, while California and New York recorded multibillion-dollar losses. “Capital follows where there is confidence,” Texas Association of Business Chief Policy Officer Gabriela von zur Muehlen previously told Fox News Digital. “And right now there is a tremendous amount of confidence in Texas.” Von zur Muehlen said Texas’ tax structure and predictable regulatory environment continue to attract businesses and investment from other states, helping reinforce the state’s economic momentum. While Florida attracted the nation’s largest influx of taxpayer wealth and South Carolina posted the strongest inbound migration rate, Texas stood out by combining billions in new taxable income with rapid growth across Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Austin and San Antonio. Economists say that combination matters because higher-income households bring spending, investment, entrepreneurship and tax revenue that can accelerate job creation, fuel commercial development and attract even more businesses. Over time, those forces can transform fast-growing metros into some of the nation’s most influential economic hubs. ONE SOUTHERN CITY YOU’VE NEVER HEARD OF IS GROWING FASTER THAN ANYWHERE ELSE IN AMERICA Unlike simple population counts, adjusted gross income offers a glimpse into the economic resources newcomers bring with them. Higher-income households can contribute disproportionately to consumer spending, investment and local tax collections, making income migration an important measure of a region’s long-term economic strength. The migration data are only part of the story. Earlier federal estimates showed Texas wasn’t just adding residents — it was becoming wealthier on a per-person basis. Despite adding roughly 419,000 residents in 2025, more than any other state, Texas’ economic output climbed to about $2.9 trillion, while per-capita GDP continued to rise, suggesting the state’s economy was becoming more productive rather than simply larger. THE RED STATES RACING AHEAD IN AMERICA’S POWERFUL WEALTH BOOM — AND THE STATES FALLING BEHIND Business leaders say those trends are creating a self-reinforcing cycle. As more workers and higher-income households relocate to Texas, companies gain access to a larger labor pool and customer base, encouraging additional hiring, investment and expansion. That growth, in turn, creates more jobs and opportunities that can attract even more residents. The migration has coincided with years of corporate relocations and business investment across the state, particularly in technology, finance, manufacturing and energy. The influx has also fueled new housing developments, logistics hubs, manufacturing projects and expanding commercial corridors across many of Texas’ fastest-growing metropolitan areas. Supporters of Texas’ economic model argue its lack of a state income tax, relatively affordable cost of living and business-friendly climate continue attracting both employers and workers, reinforcing the state’s long-term growth. California and New York remain among the nation’s largest and most influential economies. But the latest Census, IRS and federal economic data suggest Texas continues gaining ground by attracting people, taxpayer wealth and economic output simultaneously, an uncommon combination that could reshape where businesses invest, jobs are created, and economic influence grows over the coming decade.
Everyday Revolutionary War heroes take center stage in Trump’s ‘Spirit of ’76’ exhibit
EXCLUSIVE: Beneath a towering 23-foot bronze figure holding the Declaration of Independence aloft, designer Matthew Taylor stopped beside an equestrian statue that many Americans have likely never seen, or even heard of. “Most Americans have never heard of Caesar Rodney,” Taylor told Fox News Digital during an exclusive tour of the new Spirit of ’76 exhibition at Freedom Plaza. “But we owe this man an enormous debt of gratitude.” The temporary installation, unveiled as part of America’s 250th anniversary celebration, transforms Freedom Plaza into an open-air gallery honoring Revolutionary War figures whose names rarely appear in history textbooks. Commissioned by President Donald Trump, the exhibition features 22 statues and sculptural installations, including a restored equestrian monument of Rodney, a towering “Spirit of Liberty” centerpiece, bronze figures representing Revolutionary soldiers, and an immersive memorial honoring Americans who died aboard British prison ships during the Revolution. EXPERTS FINALLY SOLVE MYSTERY OF TEENAGE REVOLUTIONARY WAR SOLDIER 246 YEARS AFTER HIS DEATH According to the National Park Service, the exhibit was created to honor the “heroes and martyrs of the Revolution” during America’s semiquincentennial and is intended to celebrate the enduring “Spirit of ’76’ that continues to live on in every American heart.” The centerpiece installations include the Caesar Rodney equestrian statue, the “12 Soldiers of the Revolution,” the Prison Ship Martyrs memorial and the 23-foot Spirit of Liberty statue. ARCHAEOLOGICAL DIG AT BATTLE OF BUNKER HILL SITE UNCOVERS REVOLUTIONARY WAR ARTIFACTS Rather than beginning with George Washington or Thomas Jefferson, however, Taylor chose to introduce visitors to Rodney. The Delaware statesman, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, is remembered for his legendary overnight ride from Dover to Philadelphia in July 1776. Suffering from severe illness, Rodney rode roughly 80 miles through a storm to cast the vote that broke Delaware’s deadlock in favor of independence. “Of all the signers of the Declaration of Independence, Caesar Rodney is one of the most exciting,” Taylor said. “When Delaware’s delegation was deadlocked, he rode through the night to cast the vote that helped secure American independence.” THE REVOLUTIONARY LANDMARKS WHERE WASHINGTON, ADAMS AND JEFFERSON CHANGED AMERICA For decades, the bronze statue stood in Wilmington’s Rodney Square before being removed in 2020. It now occupies one of the most prominent locations in the nation’s capital, just blocks from both the White House and the Capitol. From Rodney’s ride, Taylor naturally guides visitors into the next chapter of the American story. Arranged around the plaza are bronze sculptures representing 12 Revolutionary War soldiers. Rather than depicting famous generals, the statues celebrate ordinary Americans whose individual stories reflect the sacrifices of the Revolutionary generation. “These are ordinary citizens who did extraordinary things,” Taylor said. “Every one of these statues tells the story of someone who answered the call during the Revolution.” Among them is Samuel Whittemore, who fought British troops at age 78. According to Taylor, Whittemore was bayoneted multiple times, shot in the head and left for dead before surviving and living into his 90s. Another figure, Simon Knowles, enlisted at just 15 years old and served alongside George Washington throughout much of the Revolutionary War before returning home to live as a farmer. Taylor said those stories represent the exhibition’s central message. “Unlike monuments to George Washington or Thomas Jefferson, these statues honor ordinary Americans who did extraordinary things,” he said. Nearby, another installation tells one of the Revolution’s lesser-known tragedies. Designed as visitors physically walk through its narrow bronze panels, the Prison Ship Martyrs memorial recreates the outline of a British prison ship. According to the National Park Service, nearly 12,000 Americans died aboard prison ships during the Revolutionary War; even more than were killed in combat during the conflict. Taylor said the memorial is meant to immerse visitors in that experience. “As you walk inside, you hear the water from the fountain,” he explained during the tour. “It helps place you inside the story.” The fountain itself has also become part of the experience. Taylor noted it was recently restored to operation after years of sitting idle, providing the soundscape surrounding the memorial while complementing the plaza’s redesign. Towering above the entire exhibition stands the Spirit of Liberty, a new bronze figure inspired by iconic American monuments while looking toward the country’s next 250 years. Standing 23 feet tall, the statue holds an exact bronze replica of the Declaration of Independence in one hand while raising a sword skyward with the other. Around its base are reliefs depicting three defining moments of the Revolution: the signing of the Declaration of Independence, George Washington crossing the Delaware River and the British surrender at Yorktown. “The Spirit of Liberty represents the sacrifices that gave birth to this nation,” Taylor said. During Fox News Digital’s visit, visitors gathered around the plaza to photograph the statues against the Washington skyline. Low-angle views of the bronze figures framed them against bright summer skies, while Rodney’s horse appeared frozen mid-stride as though continuing the historic ride that helped shape the nation’s founding. For Taylor, whose career has largely been spent both behind the camera and behind the scenes designing historical works, the exhibition is about more than commemorating famous names. Instead, he hopes visitors leave thinking about people they had never encountered before arriving at Freedom Plaza. “When visitors leave here,” Taylor said, “I hope they realize they can do extraordinary things themselves. America was built by ordinary citizens who answered extraordinary moments.” The Spirit of ’76 exhibition is free to the public and is scheduled to remain on display throughout the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration.
Fauci’s newly released COVID diaries reveal bizarre fixation on fame as pandemic deaths mounted
Newly released diary entries reveal that as COVID-19 deaths mounted around the world, former White House COVID advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci became increasingly fixated on his newfound celebrity. Released by Senate Homeland Security Committee Chairman Rand Paul, R-Ky., the journals chronicle Fauci’s day-to-day role during the COVID-19 crisis through conversations with President Donald Trump, governors and world leaders, media appearances, and his personal observations as the pandemic unfolded. Paul, a longtime Fauci critic who frequently clashed with Fauci over the federal response and the origins of the virus, made the diaries public as part of the committee’s ongoing oversight investigation. The release comes days before Fauci is scheduled to testify before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee after being subpoenaed by Paul. GABBARD SAYS DECLASSIFIED BIOLAB RECORDS VALIDATE CONCERNS PREVIOUSLY DISMISSED AS MISINFORMATION A surprising recurring theme throughout the diaries is Fauci’s growing awareness of his own public profile during the most intense months of the pandemic, which ultimately claimed more than 7 million officially reported lives worldwide, including roughly 1.2 million in the United States. On April 7, 2020, after recording the latest pandemic developments, Fauci wrote: “Press still hot and heavy about me. Multiple stories per day directly or indirectly involving me.” SLACK MESSAGES RELEASED BY RAND PAUL APPEAR TO SHOW AUTHORS OF KEY COVID-19 ORIGIN PAPER HELD PRIVATE DOUBTS By May 21, after recording the latest pandemic figures — nearly 98,000 global deaths and more than 27,000 U.S. deaths — and documenting the day’s White House coronavirus task force meetings, Fauci wrote that his “national and international fame is explosive and really unimaginable” and that it was “not hyperbole” to say he was “the most famous and talked about person in the country.” He added that Trump “seems to be enamored of me even though I am taking the spotlight away from him,” writing that the two were developing “a very unique and interesting relationship.” Fauci also noted that Secret Service agents had become so familiar with him they often waved him through White House security without checking his identification. As the attention continued to grow, the diary increasingly documented how Fauci’s prominence had expanded beyond public health. A month later, as the United States recorded what Fauci described as a record 40,000 new COVID-19 cases in a single day, he wrote that he had been invited to appear on “Dancing with the Stars.” LEGACY MEDIA IGNORES MASSIVE ANTHONY FAUCI DOCUMENT RELEASE ALLEGING HE MISLED CONGRESS ON COVID ORIGINS The diaries also document Fauci’s growing frustration with the Trump White House. On July 2, 2020, after warning that the country could be entering an “exponential” increase in COVID-19 cases heading into the Fourth of July weekend, Fauci wrote, “POTUS and his people have essentially dropped out and do not even recognize that an outbreak is ongoing.” He also complained that the White House was denying requests for him to appear on major television programs. Across multiple entries, Fauci criticized White House communications officials for restricting his television appearances, questioned the administration’s public messaging and expressed frustration that media coverage increasingly portrayed him as being at odds with Trump. ANTHONY FAUCI DELIVERED ONE OF THE WORST FIRST PITCHES IN BASEBALL HISTORY SIX YEARS AGO Fauci also repeatedly defended himself against what he described as the “countless” profiles written about him. He wrote that White House officials were upset because the coverage made it appear he was becoming “a star that outshines” the president. He also insisted several of the profiles had been written without interviewing him and wrote that he had “no desire to conflict with, embarrass or show up the POTUS,” later deciding to stop participating in profile interviews altogether. Taken together, the entries offer an unusually personal account of Fauci’s role during one of the most consequential public health crises in modern U.S. history, capturing not only the government’s internal deliberations but also his private concerns about the pandemic, his increasingly complicated relationship with the Trump White House and the extraordinary public attention that followed.
Trump’s SAVE America Act stalls as McConnell’s absence complicates Senate path
One key Republican’s extended absence and unclear timetable for return is slowing down several legislative priorities, and could impact President Donald Trump’s Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act in an unexpected way. And while sparse statements from Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and his office say he’s on the mend, there has yet to be a hard date for when he’ll come back to Congress. It comes as Republicans are twisting and contorting Trump’s top election priority into something that could pass the Senate. Though McConnell has voted against the bill before, he would be a key player in crafting what it would look like in the upper chamber. TRUMP’S VOTER ID BILL CATCHES UNLIKELY BREAK AS MCCONNELL REMAINS SIDELINED “That could be an issue,” Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., told Fox News Digital. “I think there are a lot of issues.” That’s because McConnell is chair of the Senate Rules Committee, which will likely be responsible for drafting the version of the SAVE America Act that could pass muster in budget reconciliation, the process that Trump is pushing the GOP to use to pass the bill. The uncertainty around McConnell, coupled with the late Sen. Lindsey Graham’s recent death, throws a wrench into the process. Graham was chair of the Senate Budget Committee, and acted as quarterback through two dances with reconciliation over the past year. SENATE RETURNS TO PACKED AGENDA AFTER GRAHAM’S DEATH SHRINKS GOP MARGIN But Graham’s replacement on the panel, Johnson, could step in and draft language for SAVE America as chair of the Budget Committee — Graham leapfrogged Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Chair Rand Paul, R-Ky., in 2025 to draft his portion of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. “That’s my understanding — it actually falls to budget,” Johnson said. “So, again… this is still really early in the process, so I don’t have all the answers by a long stretch. Plus, we’ve got to find out what the conference wants to do, and what Leader John Thune wants to do.” Senate Majority Leader Thune, R-S.D., is focusing on preventing a government shutdown, and is encouraging ongoing bipartisan negotiations on a funding deal to continue. And he has threatened to press pause on reconciliation by holding the House’s own budget framework until that objective is accomplished. GOP RIFT GROWS AS THUNE HITS BRAKES ON TRUMP’S ELECTION BILL TO AVERT SHUTDOWN He reiterated to Fox News Digital that Republicans don’t have the votes to pass the SAVE America Act, and may not have the votes to pass a budget resolution in the upper chamber. And he noted that the SAVE America Act would have to comply with the Senate’s strict rules for reconciliation that unlock the 50-vote threshold, which the current version of the bill does not. Getting the legislation to a point where it wouldn’t slam into those guardrails has remained an open and difficult question for Republicans — Thune suggested that it could work if it’s “very carefully structured based upon incentive, mostly grant money,” for states. “So, you know, we’re gonna do everything we can to move that forward,” Thune said. “But as I told you before, the math on that hasn’t changed yet. It’s still likely to be a 60-vote exercise, even if it’s done with a budget resolution.” Trump demanded Republicans ram through their own budget resolution before they leave Washington, D.C., until after Labor Day on Truth Social Friday to fund defense, agriculture and pass “as much of the SAVE AMERICA ACT as possible.” “Our voters will be extremely happy — And even impressed,” Trump said. Meanwhile, Thune has received criticism from Republicans for his plan to hold up the reconciliation process in favor of averting a shutdown. Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., told Fox News Digital the only option to pass SAVE America was through reconciliation, and he’s been working on his own plan in the background, and believes it could survive the Senate’s “Byrd” test. “I can’t guarantee it, but it’s a — I consider it to be a credible argument,” Kennedy said. “And I will try to do that, and I will try to, at the right time, bring my colleagues, and, more importantly, the parliamentarian, along. But if we don’t do it through reconciliation, through the House reconciliation, we won’t get it done.” “And I’m not sure it will work, but I think it might,” he continued. “It’s at least a 50/50 shot.”