Daughter of late House Dem loses runoff bid to finish father’s term
Marcye Scott, the daughter of late Rep. David Scott, D-Ga., fell short Tuesday in her bid to succeed her father in Congress for the final few months of his term, despite leading the first-round of voting last month. Former teacher and Gwinnett County school board chairman Everton Blair defeated Scott in the special election runoff for the remainder of David Scott’s term in Georgia’s heavily Democratic 13th Congressional District, which covers parts of metro Atlanta. Blair will hold the seat only through early January, when the winner of November’s regularly scheduled general election takes office. Blair also ran in the primary to compete for a full-term, but lost to Democratic Georgia state representative Jasmine Clark in the primary earlier this year. Clark will battle Republican Jonathan Chavez in November for the seat, the official term for which will start in January 2027. AFTER LINDSEY GRAHAM’S DEATH, SISTER JOINS LONG LIST OF RELATIVES WHO REPLACED LATE FAMILY MEMBERS IN CONGRESS David Scott represented the district for more than two decades before dying April 22 at age 80. At the time of his death, he was seeking a 13th term and facing a competitive Democratic primary challenge from Clark and others. In 2024, he carried the district with roughly 72% of the vote, while then-Vice President Kamala Harris won about 71% there in the presidential race, compared with roughly 28% for President Donald Trump. UNEARTHED INTERVIEW EXPOSES DEM SENATOR’S PAST SUPPORT FOR REPARATIONS: ‘THERE IS A DEBT UNPAID’ Marcye Scott entered Tuesday’s runoff after leading the July 28 special election with roughly 46% of the vote, compared with about 38% for Blair, but fell short of the majority required to win outright, leading to the runoff against Blair. Blair’s victory would restore voting representation to Georgia’s heavily Democratic 13th District and add another Democratic vote to the narrowly divided House for the final months of the 119th Congress. Georgia’s 13th District has been without voting representation since David Scott’s death, although his former congressional offices have remained open under the supervision of the House clerk to provide constituent services, according to the Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives. According to his campaign’s website, Blair earned graduate degrees from Stanford and Harvard, previously worked with the Obama administration’s White House Initiative on Educational Excellence and, in 2018, was the first Black and youngest-ever member elected to his county’s school board.
Clinton-appointed judge triggers appeal after blocking key voter citizenship law
A Clinton-appointed judge in Ohio is blocking the implementation of an Ohio law that requires voting registrants to provide photo ID proof of their citizenship before enrollment. In a decision delivered on Tuesday, Judge Solomon Oliver Jr. stayed the law, citing what he saw as a conflict with federal requirements. “The court grants plaintiff’s motion for preliminary injunction … from relying on House Bill 54’s amendment to require any driver’s license or renewal to produce documentary proof of citizenship before offering the opportunity to register to vote,” Oliver wrote. The decision is just the latest development in the national debate over state-level voting requirements designed to prevent non-citizens from participating in U.S. elections — and how far those requirements can go without overarching federal reforms. FEDERAL APPEALS COURT RESTORES TEXAS MAIL BALLOT ID REQUIREMENTS IN MAJOR ELECTION INTEGRITY RULING Most immediately, the decision means that voter registrants in Ohio can once again enroll without a passport, a current driver’s license, a certification of naturalization, or a birth certificate. Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose announced on Tuesday that his office plans to appeal the decision. “We strongly disagree with that decision, and I’ve asked our legal team to file an immediate appeal. I will vigorously defend our legal authority to safeguard our voter rolls and protect the integrity of Ohio’s elections,” LaRose said in a statement. In the case of Red Wine & Blue v. the Ohio Secretary of State, the court was asked to weigh whether requirements under the new Ohio law conflict with the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA), also known as the “Motor Voter Act.” That law, passed in 1993 under the Clinton administration, instructs states to give voters the opportunity to register to vote using the same information they use when applying for a driver’s license. The bill was originally intended to increase voter participation. NEW JERSEY REMOVES 6,600 PEOPLE FROM VOTER ROLLS WHO WERE ELIGIBLE TO CAST A BALLOT FOR 2024 ELECTION It states that “the voter registration application portion … for a driver’s license may not require any information that duplicates information required in the driver’s license portion of the form.” Notably, the NVRA doesn’t explicitly prohibit states from requiring proof of citizenship. But because virtually all driver’s license forms ask about citizenship status, Oliver believes further proof amounts to redundancy. He laid out his view in Tuesday’s decision. “As the rest of Ohio’s voter registration scheme demonstrates, election officials do not need documentary proof of citizenship to assess a voter registration applicant’s citizenship because signed attestation of citizenship is enough,” Oliver wrote. LaRose, the secretary of state, disagreed. He cited instances of known voter fraud that have escaped detection because of the current enforcement mechanisms. MEXICAN NATIONAL CONVICTED OF ILLEGALLY VOTING IN US AFTER FALSE CITIZENSHIP CLAIMS FACES REMOVAL: DHS “Earlier this year, an Ohio woman admitted to voting illegally as a lawful permanent resident in 2018 because, according to the judge in the case, ‘a [Bureau of Motor Vehicles] clerk, a government official, told her to register.’ The court found her not guilty by reason of entrapment. The judge specifically noted that the voter admitted she knew she was not a citizen when she voted, but he found that the BMV employee misled her into violating the law by implying she was eligible to vote.” “The Franklin County case proves it’s not enough to just have a person’s attestation,” LaRose added. “Ohio has a constitutional requirement to ensure that only U.S. citizens are voting in our elections.”
Newsom promises new legal fight after Trump gets Supreme Court victory on mail-in voting
California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced plans to sue the Trump administration over its push to restrict mail-in voting after the Supreme Court allowed the administration to enforce challenged provisions of President Donald Trump’s executive order for “election integrity” while litigation continues. The announcement sets up the next phase of the legal fight after the Supreme Court (SCOTUS) ruled 6-3 in favor of the Trump administration Monday, lifting an injunction that had blocked the order in 23 states ahead of November’s midterm elections. SCOTUS stressed that its decision addressed the injunction rather than the ultimate legality of the order, leaving the door open to additional challenges. Newsom criticized the decision in a statement released by his office. JACKSON RIPS INTO SUPREME COURT COLLEAGUES’ ‘SERIOUS LEGAL ERROR’ ON TRUMP MAIL-IN VOTING ORDER “The Supreme Court just let the Trump administration move ahead (for now) with its plan to disenfranchise voters across the country,” Newsom said. “California will be suing AGAIN to block these Orwellian rules from being implemented.” Newsom’s office also highlighted two election-related bills moving through the California Legislature that the governor says would protect the state’s elections from interference. According to the governor’s office, AB 282 would establish new felonies involving the seizure of ballots, election records or certified voting technology before election results are certified. SB 259 would establish criminal penalties for interfering with the delivery or return of mail-in ballots, including a felony carrying up to four years in prison in certain cases. CALIFORNIA ACCUSED OF BLOCKING FEDERAL VOTER ROLL AUDIT AS DOJ ESCALATES PROBE OF ELECTION FRAUD CLAIMS The governor’s office described the measures as an “Election Protection” package and said they build on election-related legislation Newsom signed earlier this summer. The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) and Department of Justice said they would move to implement the revised mail-ballot restrictions following Monday’s ruling. Trump’s executive order directs federal agencies to compile citizenship-based lists of eligible voters and directs the USPS to deliver mail-in ballots only to people appearing on approved lists. USPS WOULDN’T DELIVER BALLOTS IN STATES THAT REFUSE TO FORK OVER MAIL-IN VOTER INFO UNDER PROPOSED RULE In explaining its decision, the Supreme Court concluded that the challenged provision directing the Department of Homeland Security to create and distribute state citizenship lists imposed obligations on federal agencies rather than the states themselves. The court wrote: “[It] directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to take appropriate action to create and distribute State Citizenship Lists. This provision is an internal directive from the President to a subordinate. It imposes no obligations on the States, so they ‘suffer no concrete harm from’ it, and without concrete harm, there is no standing.” Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented. A representative for Newsom did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Georgia redistricting battle revived after appeals court overturns federal court decision
Georgia secured a major victory Tuesday in its long-running redistricting battle after a federal appeals court overturned a lower court ruling that the state’s 2021 maps violated the Voting Rights Act, sending the case back for a complete re-evaluation. The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the lower court must determine whether there was a “strong inference” that the maps were intentionally drawn to dilute Black voting power, rather than simply finding that the maps had a discriminatory effect under permissible partisan gerrymandering. The decision follows a major Supreme Court ruling in a similar Louisiana case that significantly modified the legal framework for determining racial discrimination in redistricting. The high court said plaintiffs must provide evidence of “present-day intentional racial discrimination.” “Plaintiffs must be able to show that voters are engaged in racial-bloc voting because of race, not partisan affiliation,” the ruling stated. BLOCKBUSTER SUPREME COURT VOTING RIGHTS RULING IGNITES REDISTRICTING WAR ACROSS SOUTHERN STATES In 2023, a federal judge ruled that Georgia’s congressional and state legislative maps drawn after the 2020 census violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act and issued a permanent injunction barring Georgia from using the maps in future elections. The lower court specifically ordered the state to create additional majority-Black districts across the state Senate, state House of Representatives and U.S. congressional districts. Meanwhile, a similar redistricting battle was unfolding in Louisiana, where Robinson v. Ardoin challenged the state’s congressional map, which initially included just one majority-Black district out of six. FEDERAL JUDGE BLOCKS ALABAMA REDISTRICTING PLAN IN BLOW TO TRUMP A federal court later ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, ordering Louisiana to create a second majority-Black district after finding that the original map violated the Voting Rights Act. However, a group of non-minority voters later challenged the new map, arguing that the newly created district amounted to racial gerrymandering and violated the 14th and 15th Amendments. In the second lawsuit, Louisiana v. Callais, the Supreme Court ultimately upheld the constitutionality of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act while clarifying how courts should evaluate claims of racial discrimination in redistricting. The ruling emphasized the need for evidence supporting a “strong inference” of intentional discrimination, rather than relying solely on the effects of a map. WHY THE SUPREME COURT GUTTED THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT AFTER SIX DECADES IN A BLOW TO BLACK POLITICIANS The decision also altered the legal framework federal courts have used for decades to evaluate racial vote-dilution claims. Established in the Supreme Court’s 1986 ruling in Thornburg v. Gingles, the Gingles framework generally did not require plaintiffs to prove that lawmakers acted with racial intent and instead focused on whether a voting system had discriminatory effects. The Georgia case will now return to the district court for reconsideration under the Supreme Court’s framework established in Louisiana v. Callais.
Secret Service aware of Iranian video threat targeting Barron Trump, agency says
The U.S. Secret Service said it was aware of a video aired on Iranian state media threatening President Trump’s youngest son, Barron Trump. “The U.S. Secret Service is aware of the video and investigates anything that can be perceived as a threat toward our protectees,” Nate Herring, a Secret Service spokesperson, told Fox News Digital. “Out of concern for operational security, we do not discuss matters of protective intelligence,” Herring added. TRUMP HAS BECOME AMERICA’S MOST TARGETED LEADER, FACING THREATS EVERY FEW MONTHS The video depicts locations associated with the younger Trump’s whereabouts. It ends with a suggested $10 million reward for his location. Iranian state media has aired content on multiple occasions threatening Trump and his family following the assassination of Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, which came at the start of the war between the United States and Iran, as well as the U.S. airstrike that killed Iranian General Qasem Soleimani in 2020. ISRAEL SHARES INTELLIGENCE WARNING IRAN PLOTTED NEW ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT AGAINST TRUMP: REPORT “I don’t think it’s any secret, it’s been in the media, that Iran has publicly said they want to kill President Trump,” Deputy Director of the U.S. Secret Service Matt Quinn told reporters at an event last month. The video came amid threats from the Trump administration to nations that fail to sever their economic ties with Tehran and an ongoing naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. In July, Trump secretly switched planes from Air Force One to another aircraft in Turkey via a catering truck due to a credible Iranian surface-to-air missile threat. The White House referred any questions about the matter to the Secret Service.
Trump mourns Dolly Parton, orders US flags lowered nationwide after country music icon dies
President Donald Trump ordered American flags lowered across the United States for one week Tuesday, as he mourned the death of country music icon Dolly Parton, telling the legendary singer, “The World loves you.” Parton died peacefully Tuesday in Nashville, Tennessee, according to an announcement shared by her representatives. She was 80. “Very sad to report that Dolly Parton, one of the greatest Country singers, and far beyond, EVER, has just passed away,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “This is a true loss for millions of people. There has never been anyone like her, and never will.” DOLLY PARTON’S ONGOING HEALTH BATTLE FORCES COUNTRY LEGEND TO MISS MAJOR DOLLYWOOD EVENT Trump then announced a presidential tribute to Parton. “In her honor, I am lowering the American flag throughout the United States for a one week period beginning tonight at 6:00PM,” Trump wrote. “Rest in Peace, Dolly! The World loves you.” Trump’s tribute came as Parton’s family and representatives remembered a woman whose influence stretched far beyond the country music stages that made her famous. “A rhinestone life that shone bright enough for the world to see, Dolly will forever stand as an inspiration not only through her timeless music and prolific songwriting, but also her wit, warmth, and kindness that made us all feel like family,” the announcement said. “Dolly Parton’s legacy is one of love, compassion, and resilience.” DOLLY PARTON CANCELS LAS VEGAS RESIDENCY AS HEALTH ISSUES FORCE HER TO STEP BACK FROM STAGE PERFORMANCES Parton, born Jan. 19, 1946, had a seven-decade career spanning music, songwriting, acting, writing and philanthropy. She was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, Carl Thomas Dean, who died in 2025, as well as her mother, Avie Lee Caroline Owens, and father, Robert Lee Parton Sr., according to the announcement. DOLLY PARTON’S CALIFORNIA RETREAT WITH WIG ROOM AND DOLLYWOOD BIRDHOUSE LISTS FOR $1.95M At Parton’s request, a small, private service will be held for immediate family. Fans and friends were encouraged to pay tribute on social media or through Parton’s official website. In lieu of flowers, the family asked for donations to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. TAYLOR SWIFT’S VIDEO TRIBUTE TO ALAN JACKSON DIVIDES CROWD AT COUNTRY LEGEND’S FINAL SHOW Parton’s nephew and head of security, Bryan Seaver, also shared a video message following her death. Tributes quickly poured in from Tennessee and across the country. CARRIE UNDERWOOD, GARY SINISE LEAD STARS WHO’VE SHARED WHY THEY’RE PROUD TO BE AMERICANS “There are no words to adequately express the sorrow our family and indeed, all Tennesseans, feel in the loss of Dolly Parton,” Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., wrote on X. “An iconic leader who loved our great state and nation. Her passing leaves a void that no one can ever fill. Dolly, we will always love you.” House Republicans called Parton “an American icon” and “a national treasure,” praising her as “a legendary artist, a generous philanthropist, and a proud daughter of Tennessee whose music and spirit touched generations of Americans.” SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM DEAD AT 71 AFTER ‘BRIEF AND SUDDEN’ ILLNESS, OFFICE SAYS Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., remembered Parton as “an incredible East Tennessean” who “never changed her accent or forgot where she came from.” Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced his state would also lower its flags in Parton’s honor. “So sad to lose this legend,” Abbott wrote on X. “Texas will lower our flags in her honor. God Bless Dolly.” House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said “America has lost a true national treasure,” pointing to Parton’s Tennessee roots, worldwide success and philanthropy. “Dolly Parton’s unmistakable voice, joyful spirit, and remarkable generosity touched generations of Americans and many others around the world,” Johnson wrote. “From the mountains of Tennessee to stages across the globe, she never forgot where she came from, and she used her extraordinary success to lift up countless others.” The Department of the Interior paid tribute to Parton’s deep connection to her Tennessee roots and the Great Smoky Mountains. “Dolly Parton carried the music, stories and spirit of her Tennessee mountain home wherever she went,” the department said. “She was a lifelong champion of the Great Smoky Mountains and proudly shared her love for them with the world.” The Franklin Police Department also mourned the singer, saying her “roots and heart were always deeply connected to Tennessee.” Parton’s family said the music and generosity that defined her extraordinary life would endure. “Her songs will continue to resonate with people of all ages,” the announcement said, “and her philanthropic work will have a lasting impact.”
Pritzker’s swagger stunt backfires as critics roast viral video: ‘Cringiest thing he’s ever posted’
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker showed off his swagger in a tongue-in-cheek social media video Monday, prompting a wave of mockery from critics online. The video, recorded in black and white and notching more than 1 million views, features Pritzker making a variety of model-like expressions at the camera behind a caption that reads “when you’re in an aura-farming contest and your opponent in JB.” Aura-farming is a common piece of slang used to describe the taking of certain actions with the explicit goal of acquiring swag. Many social media users did not agree with Pritzker’s assessment of himself. PROGRESSIVE MINNEAPOLIS MAYOR’S VIRAL HIP-HOP MOVES SPARK ‘HUMILIATION RITUAL’ MOCKERY ONLINE “Only thing bigger than the ratio this tweet is getting is…well,” White House deputy assistant to the president Kaelan Dorr posted in response to the video. “Pritzker is kind of a medical marvel,” conservative commentator Matt Walsh wrote. “He looks gaunt and frail from Ozempic and also still morbidly obese at the exact same time. He’s taking the concept of ‘skinny fat’ to places never thought possible.” WHITE HOUSE FIRES BACK AFTER ‘SLOB’ JB PRITZKER SAYS TRUMP IS SUFFERING FROM ‘DEMENTIA’ Pritzker wrote the phrase “governor-maxxing” alongside his video on X. “Maxxing” as a suffix denotes that someone is doing something in a highly optimized way. “Looks-maxxing,” for instance, refers to the act of taking one’s appearance, physical fitness, and demeanor seriously as to maximize attractiveness. Some on social media used the governor’s phrasing to poke fun at him. Brian Costin, who is a high-level staffer at a right-of-center advocacy group in Illinois, accused Pritzker of “property-tax-maxxing,” “state-and-local-tax-burden-maxxing,” “cell-phone-tax-maxxing,” “gas-tax-hike-maxxing,” and “blaming-everyone-else-maxxing,” among other things. Others focused on his weight, claiming that Pritzker was “buffet-maxxing” or “waistline-maxxing.” REPUBLICANS RIP 4 BLUE STATES FOR KEEPING TAXES ON TIPS, OVERTIME AFTER TRUMP REPRIEVE Pritzker has a history of making widely mocked social media posts, including his frequent attempts to spar with the president. “Might be the cringiest thing he’s ever posted, and that is saying a lot,” RealClearPolitics president Tom Bevan wrote. Pritzker’s office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
El-Sayed’s defense of Sharia law stance sparks online eruption from Christians, conservatives: ‘He’s done’
Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed sparked controversy on social media Monday night after comparing Sharia law to Christian canon law during an interview with Fox News anchor Jesse Watters. “Getting rid of Sharia law is White supremacy?” Watters said to El-Sayed, bringing up past comments from the Michigan candidate opposing a ban on Sharia law and comparing those efforts to white supremacy. “Can you explain that one?” Sayed responded by comparing Sharia, Islamic law based on religious texts, to Catholic Church law and governance. “Nobody is trying to push Sharia law on anyone else, just like I hope nobody is trying to push Canon law on anybody else, because we live in an America where you should have the freedom of your religion,” El-Sayed said. TRUMP INAUGURATION PASTOR SAYS DEARBORN CHRISTIANS ‘AFRAID’ TO SPEAK OUT IN MUSLIM-MAJORITY CITY The comparison sparked pushback on social media from users highlighting the differences between the two viewpoints and traditions. “He lies and says no one is trying to push Sharia (they are), and draws a false equivalency to Christian Canon law,” Charlie Kirk Show Executive Producer Andrew Kolvet posted on X. “Canon law determines how Christian leaders, churches, and Christians should live, but Canon law is limited to affairs of the Church (spiritual penalties). Canon law grants great autonomy to the state.” Kolvet continued, “Sharia law is MUCH more comprehensive, governing all aspects of life, and historically, and according to many contemporary Islamic clerics, dictates the affairs of the state.” EL-SAYED’S AGENDA PUTS ‘PERMANENTLY’ CHANGED AMERICA ON THE LINE IN MICHIGAN SENATE RACE, GOP FIREBRAND WARNS “Sharia law is incompatible with Western Civilization,” political commentator Carl Jackson posted on X. “I’m tired of El-Sayed playing the victim card in attempt to avoid legitimate scrutiny of Islam.” “Yeah, it’s over for him,” Fox News contributor Kaylee McGhee White posted on X. “Rogers by 6.” “@AbdulElSayed doesn’t get to bloviate about sharia being a mere ‘practice’ of faith when it’s Islamic jurisprudence used to supplant western jurisprudence,” conservative commentator and radio host Dana Loesch posted on X. “‘Jesse, the Catholic Church requires ministers to use plant oils in sacraments with the blessings of a bishop, so why shouldn’t courts allow Muslim men to have four wives?’” conservative commentator Michael Knowles posted on X. “Canon law applies to Catholics,” conservative commentator Pamela Geller posted on X. “There is no compulsion is Canon law. Jewish law applies only to Jews. There is no compulsion in Jewish law. It is voluntary. The sharia is a comprehensive legal system governing every aspect of human life, and asserts authority over non-Muslims.” “This was a very strange prepared defense from Abdul,” GOP communicator Matt Whitlock posted on X. “I expected him to say it was out of context, not reflective of current views, etc. Instead he accepted the premise and defended promoting Sharia Law – opening that lane up to more attacks.” Fox News Digital reached out to the El-Sayed campaign for comment. Abdul El-Sayed previously said he felt religiously obligated to follow Sharia-compliant practices in a 2009 interview with The New York Times. “Ultimately, the question is, when I die and I stand before God and go through everything I did in my life, I don’t want to say I did it the easy way instead of the Shariah-compliant way,” El-Sayed told the Times. “Not because of fear but because of obligation.” Sharia law traditionally prescribed death for people who leave Islam, placed strict restrictions on what women can do and allowed child marriage. El-Sayed has spoken out against bans on Sharia law, arguing such efforts are rooted in White supremacy. “The state of Oklahoma voted in a referendum to amend the constitution to ban Shariah law. What does that mean? I don’t know. And yet the voters banned it anyway,” he said in 2022. “The same exact forces that drove Native peoples from their land two centuries ago, destroyed Black Wall Street a century ago, bombed a building decades ago and tried to ban Sharia law not a decade ago, those forces are alive and well today. “The reason I wanted to go all the way back to the 1830s is because you can’t understand a Sharia ban without understanding the Trail of Tears. You can’t understand the efforts to uproot Muslim Americans without understanding the Tulsa massacre. You cannot understand the challenges we face today without understanding white supremacy.” Fox News Digital’s Robert Schmad contributed to this report
Antisemitic streamer finally makes Dem leader snap with rare rebuke: ‘Malicious’
House Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York is slamming comments from Hasan Piker after the far-left controversial online streamer suggested that Jewish Americans were inviting violence against themselves over their support for Israel. “The malicious claim that American Jews are inviting violence against themselves is dangerous and antisemitic,” Jeffries charged in a social media post. And he added in a CNN interview on Tuesday that Piker’s comments were “malicious” and “should not be tolerated by anyone in the public square.” While Jeffries became the highest-ranking congressional Democrat to fire back at Piker, the criticism from the top Democrat in the U.S. House comes after he has largely stayed silent on the far-left insurgency, backed in part by Piker, that’s gripped his party this election cycle. Jeffries spoke out after Piker, on his stream last week, featured an image of state Sen. Jeremy Moss, the Democratic nominee in Michigan’s 11th Congressional District. Moss, who is Jewish, has said that people are sharing a fake audio clip of him claiming that his entire reason for running for Congress is to make sure that America continues to support Israel. EL-SAYED TRIES TO DISTANCE HIMSELF FROM HASAN PIKER AFTER LATEST FIRESTORM “If Jews in America keep putting this idea out there that they are singularly invested in Israel, eventually someone is going to come around and take action, not against the state of Israel, mind you, but against American Jews,” Piker warned. Piker, who has over three million online followers, has repeatedly stood by his numerous past comments slamming Israel over its ongoing war against Hamas in Gaza. Jeffries emphasized in his social media post, “There is zero justification for threats against the safety of our Jewish brothers and sisters at a moment of rising hate. We will fight the cancer of antisemitism with the fierce urgency of now.” ABDUL EL-SAYED FACES OFF WTIH FOX NEWS’ JESSE WATTERS IN PRIMETIME Piker’s comments were also blasted by Democratic Rep. Hillary Scholten, D-Mich., who charged that Piker is “a hack who thrives on hate.” Rep. Susie Lee, D-Nev., took to X to write, “Claims that American Jews are responsible for the violence being committed against their communities are unacceptable and cannot be tolerated. It’s dangerous and antisemitic.” “We must stand up to the scourge of antisemitism wherever it rears its ugly head,” Lee added. Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., praised Jeffries’ pushback against Piker. In an interview on Fox News’ “America’s Newsroom,” Gottheimer called Piker’s comments something “right out of the Nazi playbook.” Gottheimer, who is Jewish and a strong supporter of Israel, emphasized, “This is a call for violence against Jews,” He was also critical of Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic Senate nominee in Michigan. DEMOCRATS ‘WHO NEVER VOTED REPUBLICAN’ BACKING THIS GOP SENATE NOMINEE El-Sayed, who is facing off against former Republican Rep. Mike Rogers in battleground Michigan in a high-stakes Senate showdown, on Monday tried to put some distance between himself and Piker, who is a top supporter. “I want to be crystal clear, nobody speaks for this campaign besides me and my campaign spokespeople,” El-Sayed said in a statement. Gottheimer said that El-Sayed insufficiently pushed back against Piker: “El-Sayed’s response was pathetic,” “No Democratic members should allow Piker anywhere near them on the campaign trail,” Gottheimer argued. Piker endorsed El-Sayed for the Democratic nomination and appeared at some of the candidate’s campaign events including a primary night party earlier this month in Detroit, Michigan. Piker’s latest comments were blasted by a growing number of Republicans since they grabbed attention this past weekend, including Rogers, who took aim at both Piker and El-Sayed in a social media post. “More calls for violence coming out of the El-Sayed campaign,” Rogers said on Sunday. And he claimed, “Here is his running mate, Hasan Piker, saying that if AMERICAN JEWS support Israel, they will be violently targeted because of it.” DEMOCRACY ’26: STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE FOX NEWS ELECTION HUB Rogers, who is making a major push to court Democrats in Michigan, added, “Absolutely DISGUSTING. If Abdul El-Sayed had any courage at all, he would call this out and disavow Hasan Piker once and for all. We’re waiting, Abdul…” El-Sayed, in his Monday statement, wrote, “I believe all Americans deserve the right to advocate for what they believe without fear of violence. This is particularly true for communities that have been intimidated for their beliefs in the past.” “My commitment to Jewish safety is the same as my commitment to the safety of my own daughters. Antisemitism is a scourge, and we need to address it in all its forms. And I stand against any rhetoric that puts the community at risk,” he added. WHAT THE LATEST FOX NEWS POWER RANKINGS IN THE MIDTERM RACES SHOW A former Wayne County Health Department director, El-Sayed, if elected in November, would make history as the nation’s first Muslim senator. The epidemiologist who unsuccessfully ran for governor as an insurgent candidate in 2018 has made support for Medicare for all a major component of his campaign and has also called for abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). El-Sayed used the word “bloodthirsty” to characterize Israel’s military moves in Gaza in an MS NOW interview this month and accused Israeli leadership of genocide against Palestinians. He has argued against unconditional U.S. military aid to Israel, as have other progressive politicians. And El-Sayed has repeatedly declined to directly answer whether Israel has the right to exist. But El-Sayed has also repeatedly stated that he stands “in solidarity with my Jewish sisters and brothers” to “condemn antisemitism.”
GOP’s Singer ‘very prepared’ to oust Dem Moskowitz in toss-up Florida race that could determine House majority
Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., a self-described moderate, is facing political headwinds in the race for the newly-redrawn 25th Congressional District in South Florida, as Republican nominee Scott Singer sees a path to pick up a House seat in a narrowly divided Congress. “We’re going to be very prepared to go flip this seat – it is a key targeted seat,” Singer told Fox News Digital in an interview Monday. “This is a key district that may determine the balance of power in the House.” FOX NEWS POWER RANKINGS: DEMOCRATS LEAD IN THE HOUSE, BUT REDISTRICTING KEEPS THE GOP IN THE GAME The race is drawing national attention and, potentially, big Democratic dollars to defend the seat in Democrats’ pursuit of the majority to attack what House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries just called the “cartel” of President Donald Trump. “A lot of people in this district and beyond understand what’s at stake here,” Singer, former Boca Raton mayor, said. Moskowitz, currently seated in the more Democratic-friendly 23rd District, is – like Singer – Jewish and pro-Israel, but he will have to navigate a tougher Republican-friendly map and fend off the “anti-Israel wing” of the Democratic Party, according to to Singer. FLORIDA DEMOCRAT SENDS ‘CONDOLENCES’ TO HASAN PIKER AFTER DEFEATING DSA CHALLENGER IN FLORIDA PRIMARY “His voting record speaks volumes,” Singer said. “Since he’s gotten to Congress, he’s been locked up with the Democrats on almost every issue.” “This is not the sort of record of bipartisanship he once had. He’s been much more partisan because he has to be,” Singer claimed. “He has to appeal to a more far-left socialist led Democratic Party if he’s going to have any influence. And that’s going home to roost in November.” When reached for comment, the two-term Moskowitz stressed he fought off the Democratic Socialists of America’s maximum pressure campaign in his primary, while keeping $2 million cash on hand for the general election and expecting “we’ll have the national resources” in the fight to keep the seat blue. “I go after my party all the time and fight within,” Moskowitz, who was twice appointed to positions by Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in a show of bipartisanship, told Fox News Digital, noting Singer has been “awfully silent” on social media amid his own vocal defense against the “anti-Israel” political factions. FROM WASSERMAN SCHULTZ TO GOLDMAN, DEMOCRATIC INCUMBENTS ARE FIGHTING FOR SURVIVAL “Scott just has talking points, which is why he’s the masked singer. You hear a voice behind a mask. He says things to all sorts of people, tells people what they want to hear, but nobody really knows where he stands because he never really takes positions.” The heated rhetoric belies a previously tighter relationship. “Scott Singer endorsed me when I ran the first time,” Moskowitz claimed. Singer’s campaign has denied it was anything more than a personal call to generally express support for a fellow Jewish, pro-Israel politician. Singer, though, says he is well-positioned in the newly redrawn South Florida district, with a growing GOP voter-registration advantage and Democratic division working against the “quasi-incumbent.” “People are abandoning the Democratic Party because the mainstream Democratic Party of even a few years ago has abandoned them,” Singer said. “It’s now a socialist-led party and it’s sad for America.” “That’s why we need to band together and make sure independent voters understand what’s at stake,” he added. “We can’t have people talking about communism or new Democrat-incoming members of the House saying horrific things like that they would wipe their hand on the American flag if they didn’t have a napkin. That’s today’s Democratic Party, unfortunately, and it’s not something I want to see.” MOSKOWITZ REJECTS RICK SCOTT’S CLAIMS HE’S ‘SCARED TO DEATH’ OF SOCIALISTS, BEHOLDEN TO HASAN PIKER The race is considered to be one of 19 toss-ups in the nation (seats held by four Democrats and 15 Republicans), according to the Cook Political Report. “It’s now about five points more Republican than Democrat, but even since redistricting, there are Republicans who are registering at a higher rate: People in Florida have seen the success of our state and seen the craziness other places, and they’re voting more conservative,” Singer said. “And we have a great opportunity to pick off disaffected Democrats who are sick with the socialist lean, especially in our community that has a large number of residents who fled communism, like my family, like wife’s family did,” he continued. “They understand that bringing socialism and communism into the United States is a terrible idea. That’s another reason why we’re optimistic about our chances to flip this must-win seat in November.” DESANTIS UNDER PRESSURE AS FLORIDA REDRAW COULD TIP HOUSE BALANCE IN GOP MAP FIGHT The race also presents an unusual political dynamic: Singer and Moskowitz are both Jewish candidates competing in a district where roughly a quarter of the electorate is Jewish, one of the highest concentrations in the country. “The anti-Israel wing, which has taken root in the Democratic Party, is doing the convincing for us,” Singer said. “Because we’ve seen a majority of House members would deny arms sales to Israel, our ally during a time of conflict. “And that’s the party, where it is. We’ve seen three incumbents in the Democratic Party ousted in recent months solely because Israel was the key issue. “Anti-Israel is winning. It’s become the mainstream of the Democratic Party. And longtime Democrats are leaving in droves. Another reason why it’s going to be very hard for Democrats in this district to win with 25% Jewish population and people who understand Israel’s close and long-standing alliance with the United States. We’re going to pick off more of those voters.” 5 TAKEAWAYS FROM FLORIDA SENATE PRIMARY: GOP SEN. ASHLEY MOODY WILL FACE DSA’S NIXON Also, while GOP-leaning, the district is still largely independent. It snakes along South Florida’s Atlantic coast through portions of Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties, encompassing communities around Delray Beach, Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood and Miami Beach. “I