House GOP not done with ActBlue after bombshell internal memos raise foreign cash questions
FIRST ON FOX: House GOP investigators are warning that they are not done with ActBlue after a bombshell report fueled questions over whether the Democrat fundraising giant is accepting foreign cash and lying to Congress about it. “Whether it’s allowing fraudsters to steal taxpayer dollars or accepting illegal foreign donations through ActBlue, Democrats have proven themselves to be the party of fraud. Our investigation into ActBlue is far from over. We expect more documents and testimony in the weeks ahead,” House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., told Fox News Digital. ActBlue is a massive platform for campaigns to raise money that’s used by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed and the Democratic leaders of the House and Senate, among others. Republican lawmakers have long accused the company of having lax verification standards for donors, something ActBlue has said it actively improved since the start of the GOP’s probe. But new findings, first reported by Fox News Digital, appear to show employees green-lighting donations despite some questions about where they came from. FAR-LEFT POLITICIANS STILL USING ACTBLUE AS 88-YEAR-OLD DISPUTES DONATING NEARLY $150,000 TO FUNDRAISING GIANT But the company maintains it did nothing wrong and signaled in comments to Fox News Digital that it has no plans to return any donations raised in the report. HOUSE DEM LASHES OUT AT GOP EFFORTS TO PROBE FOREIGN DONATIONS WITH STUNNING CLAIM ON MOTIVE Committee on House Administration Chairman Bryan Steil, R-Wis., told Fox News Digital on Friday, “ActBlue’s own admissions raise serious questions about its fraud prevention practices, including a so-called passport verification process that did not actually verify or check entries against any government database. All options are on the table to ensure we get to the bottom of what is going on at ActBlue.” And a spokesperson for Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, and the House Judiciary Committee confirmed to Fox News Digital that the panel “will continue aggressive oversight of ActBlue, including additional depositions.” All three committees have been responsible for investigating the left-wing fundraising giant. It’s not clear how much those depositions will yield, however. The Judiciary Committee revealed through a series of transcripts on Thursday that all 10 ActBlue employees and board members who appeared for closed-door depositions invoked the Fifth Amendment to avoid answering questions. That includes co-founder Matt DeBergalis, whose invocation was first reported by Fox News Digital. ActBlue CEO Regina Wallace-Jones similarly opted to plead the Fifth during a public hearing. The GOP report cited a letter by Wallace-Jones to Steil, which maintained that donations on the platform made by people with addresses outside the U.S. required a passport number for verification. But the Republicans’ report alleged that the verification “only ensures that the entered passport number contains a certain number of characters, not that it is a valid U.S. passport number,” rendering it an essentially meaningless step. TEXAS AG PAXTON SUES DEM FUNDRAISING PLATFORM ACTBLUE, ALLEGING ‘FRAUDULENT AND FOREIGN DONATIONS’ The report also included excerpts purporting to show ActBlue supervisors green-lighting donations despite “red flags,” including a memo lauding a donation as a “great accept,” but noting, “Donor sometimes has an IP in Hong Kong, but none of their other signals raise any eyebrows.” Another communication appears to show an ActBlue supervisor maintaining that a denied contribution “should have been accepted.” The rest of the memo stated, “It is a foreign contribution, but the name/email match, the IP/billing match, a full address with the correct country code, and there were previously accepted and successful contributions.” “The donor uses an Arkansas state code, which isn’t great, but [the] system can be wonky with requiring state codes for foreign donors,” the rest of the message stated. ACTBLUE SUES TEXAS AG KEN PAXTON, ALLEGING POLITICAL RETALIATION OVER DEMOCRATS’ FUNDRAISING An ActBlue supervisor also allegedly said a contribution “set off a lot of” alarms, but argued the donor should be given the “benefit of the doubt.” Yet another appeared to show an ActBlue employee acknowledging that a donor using a Missouri billing address had “all signs point to this person being from Canada,” but that X (then Twitter) was used to confirm their identity. But despite the GOP’s accusations, the report’s evidence also appears to show ActBlue employees standing by the platform. An email from ActBlue employees shows they believe the company to be “the target of bad-faith political attacks at the hands of ill-intentioned operators.” ActBlue also previously told the committee “there is no evidence that foreign donations through online or small-dollar contributions are a problem in U.S. elections.” The communications excerpts were included in the report and not independently verified by Fox News Digital. It’s prompted a firestorm on the right, with House Republicans‘ campaign arm demanding that Democrats return donations made through ActBlue. “House Democrats cannot claim ignorance while continuing to rely on a fundraising platform facing serious allegations. The [National Republican Congressional Committee] officially calls on every House Democrat to cut ties with ActBlue and return any illegal contributions funneled to their campaigns through the platform,” spokesman Mike Marinella said. But when asked if ActBlue would return any donations, the company pointed Fox News Digital back to its statement on the House GOP report. “There’s nothing to see here. After we released findings of a third-party forensic analysis that completely undermined a central claim that they have made against ActBlue, Republicans are refusing to move on,” ActBlue said. “Instead, they are orchestrating another political stunt before rushing out of town weeks early to go campaign. This coordinated campaign against ActBlue isn’t about the facts, or legislating, it’s about Republicans’ efforts to silence organizations they believe threaten their agenda.”
GOP takes aim at Congress’ next ‘get filthy rich’ loophole after stock-trading ban
EXCLUSIVE: While the House successfully moved to rein in lawmakers’ stock trading, a California Republican is targeting what she says is another avenue for congressional self-enrichment, citing members whose wealth has multiplied over the years. Rep. Young Kim’s Stop Congressional Self-Enrichment Resolution comes after a successful GOP-led effort in July that imposed restrictions on stock purchases and requires several days’ notice before stock sales. It also comes as Americans across the political spectrum remain frustrated by many lawmakers’ rapidly growing wealth while in public office. “It could be earmarking a nonprofit organization where a member’s spouse sits on the board of directors or board of trustees, so it will indirectly benefit the family. Or it could earmark for a park at, let’s say, an apartment building that a member or member’s spouse or member’s children owns,” Kim told Fox News Digital. SENATE QUIETLY BANS LAWMAKERS FROM BETTING ON PREDICTION MARKETS “And with the federal funds that the member brings and build the park nearby or community center nearby, it could increase the property value and therefore indirectly benefiting the member and their family members. Maybe asking to build a road up to rural land the member owns.” Her new push would cover all material financial interests — direct or indirect — that benefit people beyond the lawmaker themselves. UNLIKELY BIPARTISAN SENATE DUO SEEKS TO PERMANENTLY BAN EX-LAWMAKERS FROM LOBBYING Current House rules require members requesting an earmark to certify that neither they nor their spouses have a financial interest in the recipient. Kim’s bill would extend that requirement to immediate family members and indirect financial interests, such as nearby property values. “The days of members thinking that ‘I can use the community project funding request or bringing the earmarks for my district and get filthy rich off of it’— those days are numbered.” WATCH: DEM CANDIDATE GRILLED ON STOCK TRADING AFTER BEING DUPED WITH SELFIE REQUEST “This is a good time because we see Americans are sick and tired of watching politicians getting filthy rich while average Americans are worrying about making ends meet and stretch every dollar that they earn.” Citing the “Bridge to Nowhere” project in Alaska’s Inside Passage in the early 2000s as a symbol of concerns over earmarks, Kim said the ensuing decade-long moratorium curbed abuse. Kim said safeguards put in place after the moratorium have helped, but argued members are still able to provide themselves with indirect benefits. She reiterated that she is not targeting any individuals. While there are now apps out there like the “Pelosi Stock Tracker” and others that let retail investors see which stocks are being bought or sold by which members, Kim said her effort does not target any one colleague. ‘SQUAD’ DEM DISMISSES FRAUD PROBE SPECULATION AFTER $29M NET-WORTH DROP “And, this is not in any way discouraging members to fight for their districts and bring in the appropriate taxpayer dollars for projects near their districts,” she said. “That is so important,” she said, pointing to funding she brought to Orange County to prevent and recover from recent wildfires, among other interests for her constituents. “That’s what we are sent to do, fight for our district, but not at the expense of, you know, enriching. I mean, not at the expense of hurting our very constituents that we are trying to support while we are lining our pockets, because there are too many career politicians in Washington looking out for no one but themselves.” Innumerable lawmakers have come under fire over the decades for their earmarking prowess. In one notable case, then-House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., faced criticism in 2006 over a $207 million earmark to build a parkway near property he owned. Amid the kerfuffle, an attorney for the leader pushed back on what he called a “libelous” allegation from a good-government group about it at the time. The attorney said criticizing Hastert for the project was akin to “complaining about a purchase in Alexandria based on renovations at the Capitol.” GOP LAWMAKER UNDER HOUSE ETHICS REVIEW BLASTS ‘BASELESS’ INVESTIGATION In 2023, the Boston Globe reported that earmarks secured by Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-Mass., benefited a health center in Boston where his wife was employed. Two million dollars went to the South Boston Community Health Center, and another $1 million went to a foundation where Lynch’s wife was an unpaid director. Fox News Digital reached out to Lynch for comment. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., previously secured earmarks totaling $3.5 million for George Mason University, where his wife had served as interim president and later as a professor. The earmarks “are in no way influenced by Secretary Holton,” a Kaine spokesperson told The Messenger news outlet at the time — referencing former Virginia Education Secretary Anne Holton. “Secretary Holton has no involvement in the [Congressionally Directed Spending] CDS process, and no involvement in the George Mason CDS requests,” the spokesperson added. “Senator Kaine and Secretary Holton have not discussed the requests.” SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER With the Senate next to take up stock trading prohibitions, Kim’s bill stands as a gap closer, she said, on a practice that has rare emphatic bipartisan support. Fox News Digital’s Aaron Kliegman contributed to this report.
Socialists are helping GOP campaigns heading into November
A new number inside the latest Fox News national poll could bolster Republican midterm messaging as they work to hold their fragile congressional majorities amid an extremely rough political climate in this autumn’s elections. The figure: 55% of registered voters hold an unfavorable view of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), while only three in 10 see the DSA in a positive light. The Fox News poll is the latest national survey to show that while the DSA has gained traction among Democrats, the group and the broader socialist movement in America face significant national skepticism. The figures appear to reinforce a key element in the GOP midterm playbook, which aims to turn what’s normally a referendum on the party in power into a choice election. WHAT THE LATEST FOX NEWS POLL SAYS ABOUT THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS Republicans, pointing to the surge this year by progressive and socialist candidates over centrist and establishment-backed rivals in the Democratic Party primaries, are painting all Democrats on the ballot this year as far-left radicals. President Donald Trump, at this month’s GOP midterm convention, argued that there is a “communist” takeover of the Democratic Party. “In state after state, the Democrat establishment has been overthrown and replaced by crazed lunatics and radicals. They call themselves Democrat socialists, but actually, they’re communists,” Trump said. DEMOCRACY ’26: STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE FOX NEWS ELECTION HUB House Speaker Mike Johnson recently told Fox News Digital, “This really is a contrast election between common sense candidates… and crazy, and that’s what the other side represents.” Veteran Republican strategist Erin Maguire said that the new poll numbers on the DSA shows “that Democrats continuing to lurch further and further to the left with their socialist base is not something Americans want.” “I do think it validates Republicans because Republicans are aiming to make this a choice election,” Maguire, a veteran of the 2020 Trump re-election campaign who later steered communications for conservative firebrand Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, told Fox News Digital. SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER Democrats disagree and say the midterms will be won or lost over inflation. “Republicans are facing record-low approval numbers and have no midterm message after spiking costs, raising gas prices, and driving up inflation,” Democratic National Committee Deputy Communications Director Kendall Witmer told Fox News Digital. But some moderate Democrats are concerned. “I think it’s a big problem,” Ty Strong said as he referred to the Republican midterm strategy. Strong, founder and president of the Moderate PAC, told Fox News the midterms “should be a much bigger wave, but I don’t think it’s going to be as big as it could have been if we didn’t have this DSA and attacks that Republicans are going to use.” WHO’S UP AND DOWN IN THE LATEST FOX NEWS MIDTERM ELECTION POWER RANKINGS He warned that the GOP playbook “absolutely could be effective.” But Shannon Jackson, a key consultant and adviser to progressive leader Rep. Ro Khanna of California, said that “Republicans are in a very tough spot right now.” Referring to the Republican strategy, Jackson argued, “I think they’re reaching for things. I think the DSA issue is something they’re trying to make something, but it is not.” “You can do these broad strokes of painting it as communist and things like that. They tried to do that for Bernie, and now he’s the most popular senator and politician in America,” added Jackson, a grassroots organizer best known for his leadership roles in Sanders’ 2016 and 2020 presidential campaigns.
Massachusetts’ plan to offer postpartum screening home visits sparks online debate
Massachusetts is expanding a taxpayer-funded program that sends nurses into the homes of new parents after childbirth, fueling debate over the government’s role in family health care. Gov. Maura Healey recently announced plans to invest $2 million to expand the state’s Welcome Family program, which offers voluntary home visits from registered nurses after the birth of a child. Healey also proposed an additional $250,000 to strengthen the Massachusetts Child Psychiatry Access Program for Moms, which provides mental health support to providers caring for pregnant and postpartum patients. “Everybody in the state, when you have a baby, you’re going to have a home visit within days, weeks and that will be an opportunity for a healthcare provider to make an assessment to see if you need some additional support and resources,” Healey said during an interview last week on Boston Public Radio. CLANCY HOLDOUT JUROR TAPS FORMER TRUMP LAWYER TO FIGHT BACK AS HE’S ‘DRAGGED THROUGH THE MUD’: ATTORNEY Healey also said the state is investing in training healthcare providers to better identify the signs of postpartum mental health conditions. The announcement comes amid heightened public attention to postpartum mental health in Massachusetts during the high-profile trial of Lindsay Clancy, the former labor and delivery nurse accused of killing her three young children in January 2023. In a case ultimately declared a mistrial because of a deadlocked jury, Clancy’s defense argued she was suffering from severe postpartum mental illness. The case has reignited debate over how postpartum mental health conditions are identified and treated. LINDSAY CLANCY’S FAMILY WAS ‘VERY CONCERNED’ ABOUT HER MENTAL HEALTH IN THE MONTHS BEFORE SHE KILLED HER KIDS State officials say the program is intended to improve maternal health outcomes by connecting families with additional support. The announcement also sparked debate on social media, where some users questioned whether the program represented an appropriate role for government. “Doctors and pediatricians are more than capable to conduct appropriate screenings for their patients. Say no to home visits,” one user wrote on X, while another called the program “creepy” and “massive government overreach.” Not everyone opposed the proposal outright. “More overreach. However, if it’s an offer, and not a mandate, it could be a good thing for some young families and single moms,” comedian Bob Phillips wrote on X. The reaction reflects a broader national debate over how states should balance maternal mental health, taxpayer costs, individual privacy and the role government should play in supporting new families. Fox News Digital reached out to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and Healey’s office for additional comment.
Trump to meet with Mamdani in New York amid high-stakes midterm push
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani will meet with President Donald Trump at Gracie Mansion on Monday to discuss issues affecting New York City and its residents, the mayor’s office confirmed to Fox News. The discussion will take place at Gracie Mansion, the official residence of New York City’s mayor. City Hall said it will focus on issues affecting America’s largest city. DSA-BACKED CANDIDATES ARE WINNING PRIMARIES AND THEIR VISION FOR AMERICA IS VERY DIFFERENT A time for the meeting has not been announced, and the White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for additional details. Monday’s sit-down will mark the third face-to-face meeting between Trump and Mamdani. The two first met in the Oval Office in November 2025, shortly after Mamdani won New York City’s mayoral election, and met again at the White House in February. DSA-BACKED CANDIDATES ARE WINNING PRIMARIES AND THEIR VISION FOR AMERICA IS VERY DIFFERENT It also comes as New York City prepares to host world leaders for the United Nations General Assembly and the campaign for November’s midterm elections enters its final weeks. Mamdani has become one of the nation’s highest-profile progressive mayors as progressive Democrats and Democratic Socialists of America-backed candidates have won several high-profile primaries this election cycle, fueling a broader debate over the Democratic Party’s direction ahead of the midterms. During their first Oval Office meeting in November, Trump and Mamdani said they had discussed housing, affordability and other issues affecting New Yorkers despite their political differences, and both expressed optimism about working together where they could. Monday’s meeting will be their latest opportunity to continue those discussions.
Why Trump zeroed in on Greenland, the world’s largest island, mostly covered in ice — in 3 charts
President Donald Trump’s Greenland push has moved from threats to a new security agreement with Denmark and Greenland that he says will give the United States “permanent control” over the island’s security and allow Washington to expand its military presence there. The agreement still requires approval from Danish and Greenlandic lawmakers. Its full terms have not been made public, but officials say it would leave Greenland under Danish sovereignty while barring China, Russia and other non-NATO adversaries from establishing military bases or making certain sensitive investments on the island. TRUMP THREATENS TARIFFS ON COUNTRIES OPPOSING GREENLAND TAKEOVER PLANS Greenland rarely draws global attention. But as Arctic ice melts and great powers compete for influence, the world’s largest island has become a strategic prize. A semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, Greenland is home to a key U.S. military base and sits near emerging shipping routes and critical mineral deposits. Greenland’s roughly 56,000 residents are spread across five municipalities, with most living in small coastal towns. About 80% of the island is covered by an ice sheet, leaving much of its vast interior uninhabited. Despite its small population, Greenland is nearly the size of Alaska and Texas combined. Its location off Canada’s northeastern coast places Greenland at the heart of Arctic defense planning. The U.S. has maintained a military outpost in northwestern Greenland since 1953 at Pituffik Space Base, now operated by the U.S. Space Force. Russia also maintains military installations in the region, while China has sought greater access since declaring itself a “near-Arctic state” in 2018. Retreating Arctic ice is opening shipping lanes around the island that could shorten trade routes between North America, Europe and Asia. The changing landscape has also drawn attention to Greenland’s rare earth elements and other critical minerals used in technology, renewable energy and military systems. CHINA’S GRIP ON RARE-EARTH MAGNETS COULD CRUSH US DRONE INDUSTRY BEFORE IT GROWS Rare earth elements are especially important in high-performance magnets used in electric vehicles, wind turbines, generators and precision-guidance systems. They are also used in missile guidance, radar, sonar, satellites and advanced aircraft. China dominates the global rare-earth supply chain, accounting for roughly 60% of mining and more than 90% of processing capacity. As the U.S. and European Union seek to reduce their reliance on Beijing, Greenland has emerged as a potential counterweight. Trump’s agreement may fall short of his earlier goal of bringing Greenland under U.S. control, but it could still give Washington a larger military and strategic foothold in the Arctic. As competition over shipping routes, defense positioning and critical minerals intensifies, Greenland’s importance is likely to grow.
Trump says new arch will also deploy drones, position snipers and store ammo
President Donald Trump said Sunday that his planned triumphal arch near the Arlington Memorial Bridge will be converted into a military complex capable of housing drones, deploying snipers and storing ammunition. “At the strong request of the United States Military, and for National Security purposes, I have agreed to convert the magnificent Triumphal Arch … into a top grade Military Complex/Triumphal Arch,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. TRUMP REVEALS ARC DE TRIOMPHE-STYLE MONUMENT FOR AMERICA’S 250TH ANNIVERSARY Trump said the 250-foot structure would have the “rapid ability” to deploy large numbers of drones, as well as snipers positioned on the roof and plaza areas. He also said the complex would store “large quantities of sniper ammunition.” “There will be no facility like this anywhere in the World,” Trump wrote. The monument, inspired by Paris’ Arc de Triomphe, is intended to welcome visitors crossing the Memorial Bridge from Arlington National Cemetery into the nation’s capital. The proposed structure would be clad in granite and topped with three golden statues. FROM THE GILDED OVAL OFFICE TO A NEW BALLROOM: A LOOK AT TRUMP’S WHITE HOUSE PROJECTS The project has drawn criticism from preservationists, lawmakers and veterans, who argue that it could disrupt views of the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery. Opponents have also questioned whether the project requires congressional approval under federal law. The National Capital Planning Commission has approved the site and preliminary plans, but the project still requires additional review. Construction was previously expected to begin this month. The arch is one of several major construction and renovation projects Trump has pursued in Washington. TRUMP GAVE THE OVAL OFFICE A GILDED MAKEOVER – AND COVERED THE COST HIMSELF The administration has also begun work on a 90,000-square-foot White House ballroom. The sprawling addition, announced last July, will accommodate approximately 650 seated guests and follow the White House’s classical design. The White House currently lacks a formal ballroom, and the new structure is expected to replace the existing East Wing. Then-White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the ballroom is estimated to cost $200 million and will be financed by Trump and private donors. The ballroom is not the only update. Trump has introduced gold accents in the Oval Office and Cabinet Room, lined the “walk of fame” with portraits of former presidents, including a photo of the autopen representing former President Joe Biden’s time in office, added stone pavers to the Rose Garden lawn and installed two 88-foot flagpoles. The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for additional comment.
El-Sayed’s Senate bid raises new concerns over a powerful privilege that comes with the job
Conservatives who spoke with Fox News Digital are raising concerns about what could happen if Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed wins his election and, by virtue of holding office, becomes eligible to receive certain classified information. Unlike congressional staffers and many executive-branch officials, senators are not required to obtain a formal executive-branch security clearance to be eligible for classified information related to their official duties. If El-Sayed wins in November, he would not have to go through the same formal security-clearance process as many other government officials because members of Congress are generally considered eligible for access to classified information by virtue of holding elected office. Those issues have raised concerns among some national security and policy experts. COUNTERTERRORISM EXPERT WARNS ABDUL EL-SAYED SENATE BID RAISES HOMELAND SECURITY CONCERNS “Anyone refusing to disavow America-hater Hasan Piker should never be elected to Congress. El-Sayed will use his perch in the Senate to undermine America and empower its enemies,” Daniel Samet, a research fellow specializing in Middle East policy at the center-right American Enterprise Institute, told Fox News Digital. Samet argued that El-Sayed has associated with people who support the intifada and terrorist causes and that he has shown sympathy for radical Islamist ideology. Fox News Digital and other outlets have reported on El-Sayed’s appearances and political relationships with individuals who have expressed support for or made favorable statements about U.S.-designated terrorist organizations. In April, for instance, El-Sayed was introduced at a campaign rally by Amir Makled, a man who previously celebrated dead members of the terrorist organization Hezbollah as “martyr[s].” A few months later, at a mosque opening, El-Sayed shared a stage with Sheikh Fadhel al-Sahlani, a cleric who has previously praised Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack and made remarks minimizing the number of Jews killed in the Holocaust. EL-SAYED’S ISNA APPEARANCE DRAWS SCRUTINY OVER CONTROVERSIAL SPEAKERS He also accepted an endorsement from Osama Siblani, who has praised both Hamas and Hezbollah. Critics have also pointed to El-Sayed’s relationship with Twitch streamer Hasan Piker, who once said that America “deserved 9/11.” El-Sayed has since called that statement “dumb,” and distanced himself from Piker, though stopped short of totally disavowing him. “Abdul’s running to keep Americans safe and bring down costs for Michigan families. Mike Rogers spent his entire career selling out Michigan, and has directly profited off shady business dealings with foreign companies,” campaign spokesperson Cole Wozniak told Fox News Digital. “Rogers made hundreds of thousands of dollars working for companies that partnered with Chinese firms posing ‘national security threats’ to the US, and worked for a Saudi-linked company that pushed for regulations that could have ‘enabled Saudi Arabia to develop nuclear weapons.’ Mike Rogers got rich selling out Michiganders and he can’t be trusted to keep us safe,” the statement continued. On China, the El-Sayed spokesperson was apparently referencing Rogers’ work in the telecommunications industry at companies that had business dealings involving Huawei. While serving in the House, Rogers was a vocal critic of Huawei. The Saudi Arabia jab was a reference to Rogers’ work with a Saudi-linked company that drew criticism over its efforts to transfer nuclear energy technology to the Middle Eastern kingdom. The Rogers campaign did not respond to a request for comment when reached by Fox News Digital on Thursday. Beyond El-Sayed’s professional relationships, critics have also pointed to statements and past employment involving members of his family. FATWAS, HOLY WARS AND SOCIALISM: INSIDE THE ISLAMIC CONFERENCE WHERE EL-SAYED DREW A HERO’S WELCOME “His affiliation with communists like Hasan Piker who claimed America deserved 9/11 combined with repeated calls to abolish ICE compound these concerns. Senators handle sensitive intelligence with major national security implications; Giving someone like El-Sayed access would put American lives at risk,” Heritage Action government relations director Chip Wyatt, who previously served as a mid-level staffer to Sen. Mike Lee, told Fox News Digital. The Senate hopeful’s half-sister has also been criticized over an “October 7th blessing” she posted on the first anniversary of the 2023 Hamas attack. El-Sayed previously told Fox News Digital that, while he loves his sister, the two have disagreements as it relates to foreign policy. His campaign has also stressed that no one speaks for El-Sayed except for the man himself. Some have suggested that, with the crop of Democratic Socialists of America affiliated candidates making runs for office in 2026, the alleged problem could be much bigger than just El-Sayed. “I think it’s a huge issue, and I don’t think it stops at just him,” America First Works president Ashley Hayek told Fox News Digital. “You have to look at all the candidates that are being adored by groups like the DSA, the Working Families Party, UnidosUS, the Party for Socialism and Liberation — they’re all tied together. A lot of these groups are also funded by Neville Singham.” A 2023 New York Times investigation identified Singham as a major funder within a network of U.S. activist organizations that the newspaper reported had connections to pro-Beijing messaging. CONGRESS IS A HUGE TARGET FOR SPIES. MEMBERS AND STAFF NEED A WAKE-UP CALL AND TRAINING Concerns that a senator could leak information they’re not supposed to are not merely hypothetical, according to Bryce Poole, a senior legal fellow at Advancing American Freedom, a think tank affiliated with former Vice President Mike Pence. “It was not that long ago, it was 2024, when Robert Menendez was prosecuted and convicted for being a foreign agent of Egypt essentially and in 2025 I believe he was sentenced to 11 years,” Poole, who specializes in national security law, told Fox News Digital. “Now, if I recall correctly none of this stuff that he actually shared with the Egyptians was alleged to have been classified, but it was still non-public information that was sensitive information that he only had access to by virtue of his office as a senator. So it’s not that this is just a hypothetical problem.”
WATCH: Exclusive look at blue-collar workforce fueling America’s AI boom
EXCLUSIVE: Fox News Digital got an inside look at a Houston training site preparing blue-collar workers for construction jobs tied to the massive infrastructure buildout powering America’s artificial intelligence boom. The site will host a new training program under America’s Workforce Academy, a Meta-backed initiative aimed at expanding the skilled-trades workforce needed for data centers and other infrastructure projects. Meta is investing an initial $115 million in the academy and working with Associated Builders and Contractors, CBRE, the National Urban League and local organizations on workforce-training programs around the country. In Houston, Meta is partnering with Associated Builders and Contractors on a general construction training program scheduled to begin Nov. 2. AI ‘DOOMERS’ RISK KNEECAPPING US VS CHINA, BUT EX-PENTAGON VET SAYS BOTH EXTREMES MISS THE MARK Separately, the academy launched its fiber technician training program, developed with CBRE, in July in Indianapolis and Columbus. The first class graduated in August, and new classes begin every week. In an interview with Fox News Digital at the Houston training site, Joel Thames, ABC vice president of health, safety, environment and workforce development, described America’s Workforce Academy as “the largest workforce development investment in history.” He said that while blue-collar workers are often left out of the debate over artificial intelligence, the academy will give everyday Americans a stake in the data-center buildout while preparing them for jobs in construction. “This program is heavily weighted towards the worker,” he explained. “There’s a lot of controversy that surrounds data centers and we encourage folks to get involved and really question and understand what’s being built in their backyards,” he said. “But if they are going to be built, our goal is to ensure that the worker is safe, they go home safe every night, that they build them correctly, and that they earn credentials that they can take into other facets of construction.” Announced earlier this year, America’s Workforce Academy has been praised by blue-collar advocate Mike Rowe for working to “completely rethink the way we train the next generation of skilled workers.” According to Meta, graduates of the Houston program’s four-week intensive training will earn an industry-recognized National Center for Construction Education and Research credential and an America’s Workforce Certificate. Thames said the program is responding to demand for skilled workers as construction expands around data centers and other infrastructure projects. He cited a shortage of approximately 349,000 U.S. workers needed to meet current construction demand. Meta has framed the broader workforce initiative in similar terms. “The United States labor market needs hundreds of thousands of fiber technicians, welders, plumbers, electricians and other skilled trade workers,” the company said in a news statement. “At Meta, we see this as an incredible opportunity for these American heroes to power America’s future.” TRUMP FIRES BACK AT AI SAFETY CROWD WITH BLUNT ‘WHOEVER WINS AI WINS’ WARNING Thames said Meta approached ABC with a plan that included job opportunities for workers and funding for the training, while ABC would handle instruction and credentialing. The Houston-area program will operate out of an approximately 20,000-square-foot facility near the Houston Ship Channel equipped with classrooms, a computer lab and two bays for hands-on practical training. The facility is operated by the Construction & Maintenance Education Foundation, a nonprofit educational affiliate of ABC Greater Houston that will host the Houston-area training for America’s Workforce Academy. Houston is one of several locations involved in Meta’s workforce initiative, with additional programs underway in Ohio and Indiana, and another program scheduled to start in Louisiana in November. A Meta spokesperson said 277 students have already graduated in Ohio and Indiana, with more classes graduating every week. According to Thames, the workforce is rising to meet the need. “As soon as [Meta] announced it, we had thousands of applicants,” he said. Thames said the academy is expected to graduate about 300 people per month across its programs, with plans to expand. He emphasized that the Houston curriculum is designed around construction skills and worker safety rather than instruction about artificial intelligence itself. DEMOCRATS SOUND ALARM OVER AI JOB APOCALYPSE — BUT LABOR MARKET ISN’T FOLLOWING SCRIPT “Even if the data center bubble burst and there’s no more data center work, they’re going to have credentials that they could build off of,” he said. The growth of AI data centers has increased demand for electricians, plumbers, heavy-equipment operators and other skilled tradespeople needed to build and maintain the infrastructure supporting the technology. SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER Rather than taking a position on the pace of AI development, Thames said ABC’s focus is on ensuring workers are prepared for the construction jobs being created. “At the end of the day, if the data centers are being built, we want them built correctly, we want them built safely, we want to ensure that these workers have what they need to continue and build a long career in construction,” he said. “If the data centers are going to be built, we want to make sure that those jobs land with Americans and American workers and keep those in house,” Thames concluded.
WATCH: AI safety scare sparks Cap Hill fight over guardrails: ‘China’s going to eat our lunch’
President Donald Trump’s dismissal of AI danger warnings as a “hoax” is fueling a Capitol Hill debate over whether Congress can impose new safeguards without slowing U.S. development and handing China an advantage. “I don’t think President Trump really knows what he’s talking about,” Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., told Fox News Digital. “I do think we don’t need to be just complete doomsdayers about it.” “[Trump] says almost everything is a hoax that he doesn’t agree with,” Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said. RESEARCHER WHO DEPARTED AI ROLE OVER FEARS OF RACING INTO EXTINCTION SAYS PEOPLE ARE ‘BEGGING’ FOR REGULATION The comments come after three top leaders in AI called for the slowdown of AI development, insisting the rapid speed at which the technology is developing poses serious safety risks for humans. Some Anthropic researchers even went as far to say that the pace AI is moving at could wipe out humanity. But Sen. Tim Sheehy, R-Mont., warned against allowing safeguards to impede American development. “It’s not unreasonable for us to expect to have some guardrails,” Sheehy said. “I mean, it’s gonna be the most world-changing technology of our era.” He continued, “We don’t wanna slow it down cause if we slow down, China will win,” he added. “But we also need to make sure that it’s being done safely.” Some Democratic lawmakers say the industry’s own warnings strengthen the case for congressional action, arguing that concerns raised by the companies developing AI should be difficult for Washington to ignore. “The American people don’t normally hear from the businesses themselves saying that, ‘You know, we got some concerns about our own products,’ right?” Sen. Andy Kim, D-N.J., said. “So when that happens, I think people are paying attention.” DEMOCRATS EMBRACED AI’S GROWTH BEFORE TRUMP CAME ALONG — NOW THEY WANT TO SLOW IT DOWN “What I would love to see is for my Republican colleagues to realize that when the CEOs of these organizations are saying we need some guardrails, that maybe it’s time to step up and have Congress do its job,” Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., said. The recent widespread panic has intensified an already active debate in Congress, prompting more bipartisan efforts by lawmakers to introduce legislation that enforces guardrails on AI, and control over how quickly it continues developing. These calls for additional safeguards are colliding with the growing concern that slowing AI development in America could allow China to gain ground in the global technology race. “China is the only one that benefits from the United States slowing down AI,” Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., said. “They’re the biggest beneficiary of it. “If we stop now, China’s going to eat our lunch,” she said. Mace, along with other Republican lawmakers, warn that the intentions of AI companies calling for a slowdown and government intervention also may be deceiving. AI ‘DOOMERS’ RISK KNEECAPPING US VS CHINA, BUT EX-PENTAGON VET SAYS BOTH EXTREMES MISS THE MARK “These AI companies are beneficiaries of [a slowdown] too because the big three are cornering the market, and more regulations and slowing it down helps them monopolize the market,” Mace said. The debate is set to move beyond Capitol Hill next week, when Trump hosts Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington for a summit where conversations are expected to be had regarding AI and safety risks. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who agreed a slowdown is needed in AI development, is expected to be among the technology executives attending Trump’s state dinner for Xi.