Noem calls for ‘full travel ban’ on countries ‘flooding’ US with immigrants after DC attack
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced Monday that, following a meeting with President Donald Trump, she is recommending a sweeping travel ban on every country she claims is sending dangerous immigrants to the United States. Noem made the announcement in a fiery post on X, denouncing certain immigrants as “killers” and “leeches.” “I just met with the President. I am recommending a full travel ban on every d— country that’s been flooding our nation with killers, leeches, and entitlement junkies,” Noem said. She slammed certain immigrants as threats to public safety and accused them of draining resources meant for Americans. ALLEGED DC SHOOTER ENTERED US UNDER AFGHAN RESETTLEMENT PUSH MAYORKAS VOWED WOULD BE DONE ‘SWIFTLY AND SAFELY’ “Our forefathers built this nation on blood, sweat, and the unyielding love of freedom—not for foreign invaders to slaughter our heroes, suck dry our hard-earned tax dollars, or snatch the benefits owed to AMERICANS,” she said. “WE DON’T WANT THEM. NOT ONE.” AFGHAN SUSPECT IN NATIONAL GUARD ATTACK WAS ‘RADICALIZED’ AFTER ARRIVING TO US, NOEM SAYS The announcement came after law enforcement officials reported that an Afghan immigrant allegedly attacked two National Guard members last Wednesday in Washington, D.C., just blocks from the White House. Authorities identified the suspect as 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who entered the U.S. legally in 2021 under the Biden administration’s Operation Allies Welcome, a program that evacuated and resettled Afghan refugees as the Taliban took control of Afghanistan. Noem criticized the process, asserting that Lakanwal was not properly vetted and blaming the Biden administration for what she described as inadequate screening of Afghans and other foreign nationals during former President Joe Biden’s term.
Spec ops chief ordered deadly Caribbean strike ‘in self-defense’ with Hegseth’s sign-off, White House says
The White House confirmed and defended conducting a second strike against alleged drug smugglers in the Caribbean in September, amid the Trump administration’s crusade targeting the influx of drugs into the U.S. The White House’s statement comes after the Washington Post reported Friday that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth verbally ordered that a Sept. 2 attack kill everyone on board the alleged drug boat, drawing scrutiny from lawmakers who are requesting additional oversight into the strikes. The Post reported that a second strike was conducted to take out the remaining survivors on the boat. Although the Pentagon pushed back against the report, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt did not deny that a second strike occurred and told reporters Monday that the strike Sept. 2 was conducted “in self-defense” in international waters “in accordance with the law of armed conflict.” HEGSETH SAYS US CONDUCTED ANOTHER STRIKE IN EASTERN PACIFIC TARGETING ALLEGED NARCO-TRAFFICKERS The White House said Monday that Hegseth authorized the second strike, but the head of U.S. Special Operations Command, Adm. Frank “Mitch” Bradley, ordered and directed it. At the time of the strike, Bradley was serving as the commander of Joint Special Operations Command, which falls under U.S. Special Operations Command. “On September 2nd, Secretary Hegseth authorized Admiral Bradley to conduct these kinetic strikes,” Leavitt said. “Admiral Bradley worked well within his authority and the law, directing the engagement to ensure the boat was destroyed and the threat to the United States of America was eliminated.” When asked to confirm that Bradley was the one who ordered the second strike, Leavitt said that he was “well within his authority to do so,” but declined to disclose whether the second strike was ordered because there were survivors remaining from the first strike. Leavitt also disputed that Hegseth ever gave an initial order to ensure that everyone on board was killed, when asked specifically about Hegseth’s instructions. “I would reject that the secretary of War ever said that,” Leavitt said. “However, the president has made it quite clear that if narco-terrorists, again, are trafficking illegal drugs toward the United States, he has the authority to kill them.” US MILITARY KILLS 2 SUSPECTED NARCO-TERRORISTS IN 16TH EASTERN PACIFIC STRIKE, HEGSETH SAYS The White House’s statements on the matter don’t completely align with the Pentagon’s. On Friday, the Pentagon denied the Post’s reporting in its entirety. “We told the Washington Post that this entire narrative was false yesterday,” Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said in a post on social media Friday. “These people just fabricate anonymously sourced stories out of whole cloth. Fake News is the enemy of the people.” The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital. TRUMP SAYS HE BELIEVES HEGSETH ‘100%’ ON VENEZUELAN DRUG BOAT STRIKE DENIAL AMID ALLEGATIONS Meanwhile, the report has prompted lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to ask additional questions about the operations, and press for additional oversight. “This committee is committed to providing rigorous oversight of the Department of Defense’s military operations in the Caribbean,” Reps. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., and Adam Smith, D-Wash., who lead the House Armed Services Committee, said in a statement on Saturday. “We take seriously the reports of follow-on strikes on boats alleged to be ferrying narcotics in the SOUTHCOM region and are taking bipartisan action to gather a full accounting of the operation in question.” Spokespeople for the committee did not respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital regarding the nature of these additional oversight efforts. Additionally, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., said Monday that she is calling for an investigation into the matter as well, and said that Hegseth “owes answers to the American people immediately.” The Trump administration has carried out more than 20 strikes against alleged drug boats in Latin American waters, and has bolstered its military presence in the Caribbean to align with Trump’s goal to crack down on the influx of drugs into the U.S. The White House also confirmed Monday that Trump is slated to hold a meeting on Monday evening to discuss future actions concerning Venezuela.
Treasury Secretary launches probe into Minnesota tax dollars allegedly funding Al-Shabaab terrorists
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Monday launched a federal probe into claims that Minnesota tax dollars were siphoned to the terrorist group Al-Shabaab under the Biden administration and Governor Tim Walz – an allegation he said demands urgent scrutiny. “At my direction, @USTreasury is investigating allegations that under the feckless mismanagement of the Biden Administration and Governor Tim Walz, hardworking Minnesotans’ tax dollars may have been diverted to the terrorist organization Al-Shabaab,” Bessent posted on X. “Thanks to the leadership of @POTUS @realDonaldTrump, we are acting fast to ensure Americans’ taxes are not funding acts of global terror. “We will share our findings as our investigation continues,” he added. Walz’s office told Fox News Digital that Walz said last week that should a connection be found between Minnesota tax dollars and Al-Shabaab, he welcomed an investigation. MINNESOTA TAXPAYER DOLLARS FUNNELED TO AL-SHABAAB TERROR GROUP, REPORT ALLEGES Last month, an investigation conducted by Ryan Thorpe and Christopher F. Rufo of the Manhattan Institute uncovered a web of fraud involving Minnesota’s Medicaid Housing Stabilization Services program, Feeding Our Future and other organizations in a bombshell report. Thorpe and Rufo noted that, in many cases, members of Minnesota’s Somali community were perpetrators of fraud. They added that federal counterterrorism sources confirmed that millions of dollars in stolen funds were sent back to Somalia, which is how Al-Shabaab got the cash. FOOD-STAMP FRAUD NUMBERS EXPOSE WHICH STATES ARE DRAINING THE MOST TAXPAYER DOLLARS Thorpe and Rufo sought to answer a bigger question when looking into the schemes: “Where did the money go?” As it turned out, the Somali fraud rings sent money transfers from Minnesota to Somalia and, according to reports, approximately 40% of households in Somalia get remittances from abroad. Thorpe and Rufo state that in 2023, the Somali diaspora sent $1.7 billion to the country, which was higher than the Somali government’s budget that same year. Thorpe and Rufo discovered that the funds were being funneled to Al-Shabaab, an al Qaeda-linked terror organization. Multiple law enforcement sources informed the duo that Minnesota’s Somali community sent millions of dollars through a network of money traders known as “hawalas” that wound up in the hands of the terror group. SOCIAL MEDIA ERUPTS AFTER FAR-LEFT MAYOR GIVES VICTORY SPEECH IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE: ‘HUMILIATING’ Glenn Kerns, a retired Seattle Police Department detective who spent 14 years on a federal Joint Terrorism Task Force, told Thorpe and Rufo that the Somalis ran a complex money network and were routing cash on commercial flights from the Seattle airport to the hawala networks in Somalia. “We had sources going into the hawalas to send money. I went down to [Minnesota] and pulled all of their records and, well s—, all these Somalis sending out money are on DHS benefits,” Kerns told Thorpe and Rufo. A confidential source told Thorpe and Rufo that “The largest funder of Al-Shabaab is the Minnesota taxpayer.” “Every scrap of economic activity, in the Twin Cities, in America, throughout Western Europe, anywhere Somalis are concentrated, every cent that is sent back to Somalia benefits Al-Shabaab in some way,” a former official who worked on the Minneapolis Joint Terrorism Task Force told Thorpe and Rufo. Fox News Digital’s Rachel Wolf contributed to this report.
Radical ‘feminist’ group in the hot seat after anti-ICE ad goes viral: ‘BEYOND evil’
The Women’s March is facing backlash online for releasing an “insane” ad attacking U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, including critics suggesting the group has turned its back on its feminist mission. An ad, released by Women’s March last week, shows a fictional ICE agent returning home and being asked by his daughter, “How was your day?” Scenes of masked agents smashing windows and women and a little girl crying flash across the screen while screams can be heard. A narrator says, “A mask can’t hide you from your neighbors, your children, from God. They’ll know.” “You can walk away, before the shame follows you home,” the narrator continues, while text fills the screen, reading, “What will you say?” SANCTUARY POLITICIANS’ RHETORIC LED TO 1,150% SURGE IN VIOLENCE AGAINST ICE AGENTS: DHS In the video’s caption, Women’s March wrote, “A mask can’t hide your shame forever. ICE agents are being recruited everywhere online and in person. Immigrants are being kidnapped, families are being ripped apart, communities are living in fear. Before you accept the sign-on bonus to terrorize families, ask yourself: When your kids ask what you did at work today, what will you say? When your neighbor is dragged away in handcuffs, what will you say? When you’re asked what you did to protect your community from fascism, what will you say? Because history never forgets. And neither will we.” The caption also includes a hashtag calling to end ICE. Conservative commentator Matt Swol ripped into the Women’s March for airing the ad in Charlotte, North Carolina, while ignoring the recent killings of two women, Logan Federico and Iryna Zarutska, in North Carolina. “This ad is BEYOND evil,” wrote Swol. “The Women’s March org NEVER ran a single ad after Iryna Zarutska was stabbed to death on the light rail by a repeat offender. Nor did they run a single ad on Logan Federico who was murdered by a man with 39 previous charges,” said Swol. NOEM SAYS AFGHAN NATIONAL ACCUSED OF SHOOTING NATIONAL GUARD SOLDIERS WAS RADICALIZED IN US “What happened to the feminists? What happened to actually caring about women? I don’t understand,” he added. GOP operative Sarah Fields pointed to large numbers of arrests of non-citizen sexual predators and the trafficking of women and girls by cartels, saying, “Ironically, this was paid for by Women’s March, a feminist group against s*xual oppression.” “The Women’s March is running an INSANE ad that demonizes ICE with fictional scenes and emotional manipulation,” wrote California conservative commentator Elizabeth Barcohana. “Defund the Police and police abolitionism never went away. It just took a new form,” added Barcohana. “Feminists against those who protect women. Great call, ladies,” commented Los Angeles GOP leader Lisa Cusack. BONDI DECLARES ‘NEW ERA OF POLITICAL VIOLENCE’ AS FEDERAL AGENTS DEPLOY TO ICE FACILITIES NATIONWIDE Founded during the first Trump administration, the Women’s March rose to prominence due to its heavily covered marches in Washington, D.C. On its website, the group says it is working to build a “base of feminists to end sexism, sexist exploitation, and oppression.” It has been a vocal critic of President Donald Trump during his second term, as well as ICE. Fox News Digital reached out to the Women’s March for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.
House unanimously approves barring anyone tied to Hamas’ Oct 7 attack from entering US
The House unanimously passed a bill on Monday barring anyone linked to Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel from moving to the United States. It’s a rare moment of bipartisanship on the topic of Israel, an issue that’s otherwise exacerbated deep fractures within both parties in the House of Representatives — particularly for Democrats. The Republican-led legislation is called the “No Immigration Benefits for Hamas Terrorists Act of 2025” and was introduced by Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Calif. CHIP ROY AND OTHER REPUBLICANS PUSH BILL TO BLOCK AND DEPORT SHARIA LAW-ADHERENT ALIENS: ‘EXISTENTIAL THREAT’ It passed the House by voice vote on Monday afternoon, meaning it advanced with unanimous approval without lawmakers taking individual votes on the bill. “There are still some things we can come together on in this body, and one of them is opposition to Hamas and the terrorism they unleashed on civilians in Israel more than two years ago,” McClintock told Fox News Digital. “What this does is place them in the same category as Nazi collaborators in the Holocaust, which are also referenced in the Immigration Nationality Act.” NEARLY 200 HOUSE DEMS VOTE AGAINST HIKING CRIMINAL PENALTIES FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT FELONS The bill now heads to the U.S. Senate, where a parallel effort was introduced earlier this year by Sens. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., and Jacky Rosen, D-Nev. McClintock told Fox News Digital he was hopeful the Senate would take up the bill — while noting it passed the House last term as well without the upper chamber taking action. “The repeated actions of the House in passing this bill, I think, will hopefully inspire the Senate to take it up this year and send it to the president,” he said. “It’s important for two reasons. Number one, to prevent a future Joe Biden from admitting such people, and to empower a future Donald Trump presidency to keep them out.” The legislation would amend existing U.S. immigration law to deem “any alien who carried out, participated in, planned, financed, afforded material support to, or otherwise facilitated any of the attacks against Israel initiated by Hamas beginning on October 7, 2023” inadmissible to the country. It would also add Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad to the list of terror groups whose members and supporters are barred from the U.S. under the Immigration and Nationality Act. It comes after a Gazan native, Mahmoud Amin Ya’qub Al-Muhtadi, who was residing in Louisiana, was arrested earlier this year over his alleged involvement in the Oct. 7 attack.
Fox News Politics Newsletter: Trump admin ‘re-examining’ all Afghans imported after DC shooting
Welcome to the Fox News Politics newsletter, with the latest updates on the Trump administration, Capitol Hill and more Fox News politics content. Here’s what’s happening… -Trump, Speaker Johnson, AOC, blitz campaign trail on eve of crucial congressional showdown -Trump hit with setback as court rules Alina Habba unlawfully served as top federal prosecutor in New Jersey -Freedom Caucus joins progressives in rare bipartisan push targeting ‘insane’ federal laws White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday that the Trump administration is “actively re-examining” all the Afghan nationals who entered the United States during former President Joe Biden’s administration. “Any individual who threatens our national security or our citizenry will be subject to removal,” Leavitt told reporters during a White House press briefing. “President Trump has already permanently paused the migration of foreign nationals from Third World countries that pose a very high risk to the United States. For too long, past American presidents supported self-destruction, self-destructive immigration policies that allowed foreigners who outright hate our country and have no interest in assimilating into our culture.” The announcement comes after the death of 20-year-old National Guardsman Sarah Beckstrom, who was allegedly shot in the nation’s capital last week by Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national…READ MORE. NEXT IN LINE: Trump says he has decided on next Fed chair as affordability crisis looms MEDICAL UPDATE: Trump MRI results drop as White House confronts mounting questions over president’s health FRANKLIN ATTACKS: War Sec. Pete Hegseth shares meme of children’s book character firing on narco terrorist drug boat A NATURAL NO: Trump says he would ‘absolutely’ revoke citizenship from naturalized criminals — if he has the authority MADURO ON NOTICE: Venezuela White House meeting kicks off Trump’s high-stakes week as Cabinet huddle looms ‘VERY SATISFIED’: Trump declares importance of not derailing ‘Syria’s evolution into a prosperous State’ PICK A SIDE: GOP senator moves to end dual citizenship, says Americans must choose UNDER FIRE: Lawmakers skeptical of alleged Hegseth kill orders in Venezuela — but issue stark warning BULLY PULPIT: Trump forces Indiana GOP into redistricting reversal in race to draw new MAGA map HERO FIGHTS ON: WV gov gives update on wounded Guardsman, talks future of DC mission as general says troops are grieving MINNESOTA MESS: Minnesota state government employees say they wrote to Kamala Harris, DNC, ‘warning’ about Walz as VP pick ‘I’M RUNNING’: Democratic DC councilmember Janeese Lewis George mounts mayoral bid to succeed Bowser GUILTY NO MORE: Minnesota judge under fire for tossing $7.2M taxpayer-fraud conviction tied to alleged ‘lavish lifestyle’ Get the latest updates on the Trump administration and Congress, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.
West Coast city snubs ‘Christmas’ from tree lighting again while activists wave Palestinian flag onstage
Portland, Oregon, is under fire for again hosting its annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony and nixing any mention of the Christian holiday, while leaders of the event instead waved a Palestinian flag and led the crowd in chants. “Free, free, free Palestine,” a woman holding a Palestinian flag on stage of the lighting event said while leading the crowd in a chant Friday evening, before also singing the “Strong Woman Song” while joined by the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, which is a confederation of three native tribes in Oregon. The event was decked out in Christmas lights, a traditionally decorated tree and a visit from Santa Claus, but did not promote any mention of Christmas, with organizers instead advertising the festive occasion as “Portland’s 41st Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony,” according to social media accounts for Pioneer Courthouse Square, where the tree is displayed. Fox News Digital reviewed the Portland government’s Facebook, X and Instagram accounts and found advertisements and footage showing the tree lighting, but did not include the word “Christmas.” A calendar for the annual event shows organizers have bypassed calling it a “Christmas” tree lighting event going back to at least 2019. ICONIC DC LANDMARK UNVEILS FIRST CHRISTMAS TREE AS PART OF PUSH TO REVIVE HOLIDAY SPIRIT “Portland’s Tree is lit!” one caption on an Instagram video shared by the Portland, Oregon, Instagram account stated. “Portland’s 41st Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony presented by SmartPark is tonight!” another message shared on social media by both the Portland, Oregon, government and Pioneer Courthouse Square stated. “Celebrate the highlight of the Downtown Holiday Season as Santa Claus flips the switch, illuminating more than 9,500 colorful LED lights to shine bright on our City’s 75’ Douglas-fir, generously donated by Stimson Lumber for all to enjoy. SEE YOU TONIGHT, PORTLAND!” it added. Social media commenters sounded off online that the deep blue city refused to mention the word “Christmas.” “The City of Portland and local media outlets are calling this ‘The Tree’ because they despise Christians like me and many of you so much they can’t bring themselves to say the word ‘Christmas,’” independent journalist David Medina posted to X. “They can’t even say Christmas tree in Portland. They call it ‘the tree,’” another conservative account posted to X in response to a video Medina posted. BIRTHPLACE OF JESUS TO RESUME CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS AFTER WAR FORCED A TWO-YEAR PAUSE “Thousands came to the Christmas tree lighting — and many told me parts of the program felt like political messaging that was out of place and inappropriate for a family event. Why are our public traditions being pulled into ideology and virtue signaling instead of serving the community? Portland deserves events that unite us, not moments that push someone’s narrative,” community journalism outlet PDX Real posted to X. “In Portland they’re trying to take the Christmas out of Christmas tree. It’s a Christmas tree, it’s always been a Christmas tree, and it will always be a Christmas tree. These people will slowly take everything until there’s nothing left if given the opportunity,” one social media account posted. A handful of local media outlets described the Christmas tree as a “holiday tree” in headlines, while others did refer to the event as a “Christmas tree lighting,” as did some local officials on their social media accounts, Fox News Digital found. Democratic Portland Mayor Keith Wilson’s office also explicitly called the event a “Christmas Tree Lighting” in response to Fox News Digital while brushing off the criticisms of the event. “Mayor Wilson was delighted to join Portland’s annual Christmas Tree Lighting alongside Christmas carolers and holiday festivities,” Wilson’s office said when asked about the criticisms. “That said, framing it otherwise feels like quite the reach.” ‘ANARCHISTS ILLEGALLY TOOK THEM DOWN,’ NOW PORTLAND IS PUTTING STATUES OF LINCOLN AND ROOSEVELT BACK UP The tree lighting ceremony also included a group of women, including the woman holding a Palestinian flag singing the “Strong Woman Song,” which is an intertribal indigenous song. A representative from the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs championed that the lighting ceremony was held on the same day as Native American Heritage Day. “On this Native American Heritage Day, I hold both gratitude and truth,” one woman said from the stage. “The tree that we stand beside was once rooted in its own home bringing it here holds a complexity that indigenous people, tribal peoples feel deeply in our teachings, the trees, rivers, mountains, all living beings are family more than the objects and more than the symbols that they might stand for.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The Oregon event was attended by thousands, according to local media, with many revelers telling outlets that they were thrilled to take part in the long-running tradition.
Trump hit with setback as court rules Alina Habba unlawfully served as top federal prosecutor in New Jersey
An appellate court found on Monday that Alina Habba is unlawfully serving as the top prosecutor in New Jersey, delivering a blow to President Donald Trump as he fights to keep his preferred nominees in charge of U.S. attorneys’ offices in blue states. A three-judge panel for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit said in a unanimous order that a lower court was correct to disqualify Habba, a fiery Trump loyalist who previously served as the president’s personal defense lawyer. The Trump administration’s argument would “effectively [permit] anyone to fill the U.S. Attorney role indefinitely,” the panel wrote, adding that “this should raise a red flag.” The administration could ask for a full panel of 3rd Circuit judges to reconsider the decision, or it could turn to the Supreme Court to weigh in. Fox News Digital reached out to the Department of Justice and a Habba spokesperson for comment. TRUMP APPOINTS HABBA AS ‘ACTING’ US ATTORNEY AFTER JUDGES OUSTED HER The three-judge panel heard arguments on Habba’s appointment in October and grilled a DOJ lawyer over the unconventional way Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi reinstalled Habba as U.S. attorney after her initial, temporary appointment expired. Habba is one of several names who became jammed up in court proceedings over allegations that Trump sidestepped the Senate and improperly exploited loopholes in federal vacancy laws to keep his preferred prosecutors in place. Habba’s case was the furthest along in the court process, but Lindsey Halligan and Bill Essayli, temporary U.S. attorneys in Virginia and California, respectively, are among those also facing high-stakes court challenges to their appointments. A federal judge found last week that Halligan was unlawfully serving in her role, but the administration has vowed to appeal the decision. The panel that heard Habba’s case comprised two appointees of former President George W. Bush and an appointee of former President Barack Obama. TRUMP’S US ATTORNEYS IN BLUE STATES FACE LEGAL CHALLENGES THAT COULD UPEND KEY PROSECUTIONS The judges had voiced skepticism of DOJ lawyer Henry Whitaker’s claims that Bondi had authority to fill the vacancy for the U.S. attorney of New Jersey after Trump fired the court-appointed one. Whitaker said the administration simply took advantage of “overlapping mechanisms” afforded to it by Congress. “In this case, the executive branch admittedly took a series of precise and precisely timed steps not to evade or circumvent those mechanisms but rather to be scrupulously careful to comply with them,” Whitaker said. One of the judges said during the oral arguments that he viewed Habba’s case as unusual and possibly unconstitutional. “Would you concede that the sequence of events here, and for me, they’re unusual, would you concede that there are serious constitutional implications to your theory here, the government’s theory, which really is a complete circumvention, it seems, of the appointments clause?” the judge asked. Veteran D.C. lawyer Abbe Lowell, known for his involvement in lawsuits challenging the Trump administration, represented the defendants contesting Habba’s appointment. Two sets of defendants facing run-of-the-mill charges brought the challenge to Habba, saying she should not be allowed to prosecute them because she was an invalid U.S. attorney. TRUMP NOMINEES SQUEEZED BETWEEN ‘BLUE SLIPS’ AND BLUE OBSTRUCTION Habba had no path to Senate confirmation, in part because New Jersey’s Democratic senators, Cory Booker and Andy Kim, did not approve of her through the Senate’s blue slip tradition. That precedent has drawn Trump’s ire as Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, stands firmly behind blue slips, which require home state senators to approve of U.S. attorney and district judge nominees. Trump recently conveyed, through his firing of former U.S. Attorney Erik Siebert, that earning Democratic senators’ approval could be disqualifying in his view, setting up a stalemate with the upper chamber over his nominees in blue states.
Reporter’s Notebook: Tennessee special election eyed as Trump referendum ahead of midterms
We’ll know Wednesday morning if a special election in Tennessee is truly a referendum on country music, pedal taverns and bachelorettes. Or, we can divine a deeper political meaning from the results of the special election in Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District. Democrat Aftyn Behn is trying to tip the scales in favor of her party in a district which President Donald Trump carried by about 20 points and former Rep. Mark Green, R-Tenn., won by a similar percentage last fall. Behn faces GOPer Matt Van Epps. It’s a Republican district. But political observers are watching the race to gauge potential weakness by Trump, a softness in the Trump coalition, issues with the Republican brand or early indications of a possible blue wave in the 2026 midterms. TENNESSEE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE DODGES QUESTIONS ON PAST SUPPORT FOR DEFUNDING POLICE IN CONTENTIOUS INTERVIEW It was Behn who proclaimed that she abhorred Nashville several years ago. “I hate the bachelorettes, I hate the pedal taverns, I hate country music. I hate all the things that make Nashville apparently an ‘it city,’” complained Behn. About all Behn left out in her animus toward Music City was dissing The Grand Ole Opry, hot chicken and Goo Goo Clusters. But if voters go goo goo over Behn Tuesday, Republicans face a cluster of another sort. A Behn victory may signal major problems for Republicans and President Trump heading into the midterms. Behn is characterized as the “AOC of Tennessee,” a reference to progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. Republicans have been sure to boomerang that against Behn, suggesting she’s not in tune with the district, leans too far to the left, and is closer to the liberal values of New York or Los Angeles than Nashville. Republicans believe Behn is just a bad fit for Nashville. Kind of like having Bad Bunny perform at the Ryman Auditorium. “It shouldn’t even be close, but it is,” mused Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., on Fox. So Republicans are pouring in money to protect the seat. Democrats are pouring in money to steal the seat. If Democrats pull off the upset, the party should uproot the goalposts at FirstBank Stadium in downtown Nashville and dump it in the Cumberland River. Kind of what Vanderbilt fans did last year when the Commodores upset No. 1-ranked Alabama. FIRST ELECTION TEST FOR TRUMP’S TERM SURPRISINGLY CLOSE IN FL, GOP LOOKS TO INCREASE RAZOR-THIN HOUSE MAJORITY Let’s explore what a Behn win might mean for Republicans. It could indicate that voters are tiring of Trump. Or that the GOP brand is toxic. Or perhaps it’s the continuation of a trend which Democrats enjoyed this fall: near blowout wins by New Jersey Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill and Virginia Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger. But there’s a downside for Democrats. Yes. They may flip the seat. But a win may also show that the party is tilting more to the left. It would be hard to argue with success if Behn prevails, regardless of her progressive streak. But this may give other liberals ideas that they can win in other red or purple districts. That may work against Democrats — especially since every Republican, except President Trump, has highlighted the left-wing politics of New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani. Democrats probably need to run more centrist candidates in purple areas to regain control of the House. A Behn victory could open the floodgates for a host of progressive candidates in competitive House districts nationwide. Behn’s message — or that of Ocasio-Cortez or Mamdani — won’t work in most places where Democrats need to be successful to seize control of the House. But what if Republicans hold the seat and Van Epps wins? It probably depends by how much. TRUMP IGNORES ELECTIONS AS DEMOCRATS STUMBLE ON THE WAY TO LIKELY VICTORIES Yes, there were five special elections in 2017 — the first year Trump was originally in office — which Democrats made competitive. All were closer than they should have been. But Democrats didn’t win any of them. Still, astute political observers suggested there was unpopularity with the president and the GOP agenda. Democrats won 40 seats and gained control of the House in the 2017 midterms. So, even if Van Epps wins, examine the margin. And if Behn wins, see if Republicans downplay it because it was a special election and the customary electorate just doesn’t turn out for special elections. Especially one wedged between Thanksgiving and Christmas. If Republicans hold the seat, the GOP will argue this was a repudiation of a leftist like Behn and someone who was out of step. They will also suggest that it’s a GOP seat and Republicans should win anyway. That’s what happened earlier this year when there was consternation before two Florida special elections. But Florida Republican Reps. Randy Fine and Jimmy Patronis both won in March. Here’s another factor which bears watching: the message the press corps and political observers glean from the election results. After all, special elections are always special. It’s natural for analysts and journalists to search for particular meanings or signposts in these contests. Such was the case with the off-year elections in New Jersey, Virginia and New York City. Sometimes these observations are spot-on. Other times, they mean nothing. If anything, there is a tendency to over-illuminate the outcomes of these contests. They are moments in time. Kind of like listening to a few bars of a song. Maybe it tells you a lot about the song. Maybe not. SETTING THE STAGE: WHAT THE 2025 ELECTIONS SIGNAL FOR NEXT YEAR’S MIDTERM SHOWDOWNS House Republicans could well freak out if Behn is victorious. There’s lots of grumbling among Republicans. Some are frustrated by how their leadership handled the government shutdown. And others could follow Green and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., and hit the exits early. This is a fragile time for House Republicans. That’s one reason why a flip of this seat could mean a little bit more. Still, it’s rare to flip seats in House special elections. Former Rep.
Trump offers to release his October MRI results, insists scan wasn’t of his brain
President Donald Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One Sunday that he would release the results of an MRI he had done in October. “If they want to release it, it’s OK with me to release it,” Trump said. “It’s perfect.” “If you want to have it released, I’ll release it,” he told reporters as he traveled back to Washington, D.C., after spending the Thanksgiving weekend at Mar-a-Lago. A reporter asked Trump what part of the body the MRI was focused on in the scan. WHITE HOUSE PROVIDES TRUMP HEALTH UPDATE AFTER MRI SCAN CONCERNS SWIRLED “I have no idea,” the president responded. “What part of the body? It wasn’t the brain because I took a cognitive test and I aced it. I got a perfect mark.” The White House released a memo on Oct. 10 from Sean Barbabella, the White House physician, that said Trump underwent advanced imaging as part of a scheduled follow-up evaluation at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Barbabella said the evaluation was part of the president’s ongoing health maintenance plan and included laboratory testing and preventive health assessments. “Comprehensive laboratory studies performed in conjunction with the visit were exceptional, including stable metabolic, hematologic, and cardiac parameters,” the memo read in part. TRUMP SAYS HE WOULD ‘ABSOLUTELY’ REVOKE CITIZENSHIP FROM NATURALIZED CRIMINALS – IF HE HAS THE AUTHORITY A reporter previously asked White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt in early November at a White House press briefing about releasing the results of the MRI because it is a very specific procedure and not generally routine. “As I said, I’ll check back for you,” Leavitt responded.