Georgia gubernatorial hopeful vows to ‘ban DEI’ but his own company touted diversity and inclusion
FIRST ON FOX: Rick Jackson, who is seeking the Republican nomination in the Georgia gubernatorial race, appeared to support Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) policies at Jackson Healthcare, according to unearthed audio of a former DEI executive at his company, but Jackson is now promising to put an end to the DEI push if he becomes the governor. “We’ll ban DEI insanity and criminalize reverse discrimination,” Jackson said in a campaign ad last month. Jackson’s calls to end DEI appear to run counter to praise he received from Matthew Harrison, who formerly served in multiple executive-level roles leading DEI initiatives at Jackson Healthcare between early 2018 and Aug. 2022, according to his LinkedIn profile and University of Georgia bio for an adjunct assistant professor role. “I think it really reinforced for our associates that certainly, from a leadership perspective, our leaders get and see the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion in our workforce at Jackson Healthcare in I mean, and it really is emulated as a part of our values,” Harrison, who has a PhD in workplace diversity and who did his thesis on “Colorism,” said during a 2020 podcast interview. WATCH: DEI STILL IN PLACE AS COLLEGE ‘FINDING WAYS’ AROUND BAN, OFFICIAL ADMITS: ‘PROUD OF THE FIGHT’ Harrison described that the company’s leadership had taken steps to disseminate DEI principles through a “Conversations” series the company allegedly held at Jackson’s direction. “We created what we call our ‘Conversations,’ a learning experience about race. That was something we launched in October of 2019, and that is something that really kind of started due to the history of our CEO and founder, Rick Jackson,” Harrison said. “I think Rick felt that it was important enough, and we had a culture in place where we could establish that safe space and create those ground rules on the front end to where he felt comfortable with us doing that,” Harrison added. Harrison further described the “Conversations” series in a 2022 interview. “I think oftentimes we shy away a little bit at work, and we don’t have these discussions, and really, the workplace is the exact place where we should … So we created a ‘conversation on race’ series where people were brought together with their colleagues to talk about race, to talk about prejudice, to talk about microaggressions,” Harrison said. Jackson’s campaign pushed back on the characterization that the “Conversations” series meant that Jackson’s company had implemented or supported DEI principles. “The most pathetic attack yet from Burt Jones’ failing campaign,” Dave Abrams, a spokesperson from the Jackson campaign said, referring to Georgia’s current Lt. Governor and one of Jackson’s political opponents. “Jackson Healthcare had a black pastor speak to a voluntary group of employees. That doesn’t change the fact that Jackson Healthcare has always only hired the best.” Jackson, 71, announced his dark-horse candidacy on Feb. 3, joining an already-crowded pool of Republican candidates. Not including Jackson, eight other Republicans have also announced their candidacy. He is the billionaire founder of Jackson Healthcare, a healthcare recruiter and staffing company that services facilities nationwide with over 1,500 employees, according to its website. INVESTIGATION OF NIKE’S DEI PRACTICES COULD HAVE MAJOR NATIONWIDE IMPACT ON HIRING, SAYS ALAN DERSHOWITZ Since entering the race, Jackson has made ending DEI a fixture of his campaign alongside other policy stances like freezing property taxes, slashing income tax and continuing the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration. “I’ll ban DEI and focus on merit,” Jackson said in an interview he highlighted on X, where he laid out his plans. Despite the Jackson campaign’s pushback, a Fox News Digital review found several Facebook posts where Jackson Healthcare touted Harrison’s work at the company and his goal to implement DEI principles in the workplace. “Senior Vice President of Talent & Development, Matthew Harrison, recently participated in a Tech Alpharetta panel about building diversity, equality and inclusion into business operations. Click the link below to download and watch. Skip to 21:41 to hear Matthew highlight some of Jackson Healthcare’s key DE&I approaches,” a 2021 Jackson Healthcare Facebook post said. “Business RadioX talked with Matthew Harrison, our VP of Human Resources, and some of the leaders from our Associate Network Groups to hear about workplace diversity and how we’re creating an environment that welcomes everyone,” a 2019 Jackson Healthcare Facebook post said. “Our president, Shane Jackson, joined academic and business leaders during this week’s 2022 Business School Diversity Conference, sharing insights on how to create cultures where people thrive,” a 2022 Jackson Healthcare Facebook post said, referring to Jackson’s son. “The conference, hosted by the University of Georgia Terry College of Business and sponsored by the Business School DEI Collaborative, covered a variety of topics aimed at helping professionals advance DEI programs within their organizations.” In his time at Jackson Healthcare, Harrison recalls leadership, under Jackson’s instruction, taking strides to affirm the necessity of DEI — especially in the wake of several racially-charged incidents like the death of George Floyd that brought about chaos in major cities across the country. He recalled an instance where Jackson had personally attended and led conversation talks about DEI. BLACK REPUBLICAN CALLS FOR TOTAL, PERMANENT ABOLITION OF DEI: ‘I WANT TO EARN EVERY OPPORTUNITY ON MERIT’ “And I think more than anything, what it did illustrate with particularly, our president sitting through all six sessions and our CEO actually kicked off the session and came in the final session to again, talk about why he thought this was so important to our organization,” Harrison said. “And I think with them having the sessions, it really helped our associates even better understand what our president and CEO really mean by ‘others first,’ and that that is also inclusive of diversity and inclusion being something that’s really important to our organization,” he recalled. Jackson’s campaign once again denied that DEI had ever been implemented as a policy at his company. “Jackson Healthcare has never had DEI requirements,” Abrams said. Fox News Digital reached out to Harrison and
Trump threatens key Iranian gas field after Israeli strike
President Donald Trump warned in a Truth Social post that the U.S. will powerfully attack Iran’s South Pars natural gas field if the Islamic Republic targets a Qatari liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility again. “Israel, out of anger for what has taken place in the Middle East, has violently lashed out at a major facility known as South Pars Gas Field in Iran. A relatively small section of the whole has been hit. The United States knew nothing about this particular attack, and the country of Qatar was in no way, shape, or form, involved with it, nor did it have any idea that it was going to happen. Unfortunately, Iran did not know this, or any of the pertinent facts pertaining to the South Pars attack, and unjustifiably and unfairly attacked a portion of Qatar’s LNG Gas facility,” Trump declared in the Truth Social post. “NO MORE ATTACKS WILL BE MADE BY ISRAEL pertaining to this extremely important and valuable South Pars Field unless Iran unwisely decides to attack a very innocent, in this case, Qatar — In which instance the United States of America, with or without the help or consent of Israel, will massively blow up the entirety of the South Pars Gas Field at an amount of strength and power that Iran has never seen or witnessed before,” he continued. GOP BLOCKS BOOKER-LED PUSH TO CURB TRUMP’S MILITARY AUTHORITY IN IRAN Trump warned that while he does not want to take such action, he would be willing to do so. “I do not want to authorize this level of violence and destruction because of the long term implications that it will have on the future of Iran, but if Qatar’s LNG is again attacked, I will not hesitate to do so,” he declared in the post. Trump’s threat comes as the U.S. and Israel are deep into the third week of their controversial war with Iran. DNI TULSI GABBARD SAYS TRUMP ACTED BECAUSE HE CONCLUDED THE IRANIAN REGIME ‘POSED AN IMMINENT THREAT’ Earlier this week, Joe Kent resigned from his position as National Counterterrorism Center director due to his opposition to the war. “Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby,” Kent declared in his resignation letter. FORMER COUNTERTERRORISM CHIEF JOE KENT UNDER FBI INVESTIGATION FOR ALLEGED CLASSIFIED LEAKS Trump pushed back on Tuesday, saying that “it’s a good thing that he’s out because he said that Iran was not a threat. Iran was a threat. Every country realized what a threat Iran was. The question is whether or not they wanted to do something about it.”
EXCLUSIVE: House Republicans to hold hearing on DHS shutdown risks amid travel surge
EXCLUSIVE: House Republicans are sounding the alarm about the costs of a prolonged Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown as the funding lapse drags on with no end in sight. The House Homeland Security Committee will hold a hearing next Wednesday examining the security risks and financial hardship many DHS employees are facing as a result of the shutdown, Fox News Digital has learned. Senior officials from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the U.S. Coast Guard and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) — agencies overseen by DHS — are expected to testify about how the funding lapse is impacting their operations and the well-being of their personnel. House Republicans have slammed nearly all Democrats for withholding their support for a full-year DHS measure amid a massive spring travel season and a heightened threat environment amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran. The department is still expected to be shut down next week after Democrats panned the White House’s latest counteroffer on reforms to immigration enforcement, which Democrats have demanded to end the funding lapse. “Amid one of the busiest travel seasons and as we face heightened physical and cyber threats from the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism and other adversaries, it is deeply troubling that DHS’s core mission continues to be undermined by Democrats’ political games,” Rep. Andrew Garbarino, R-N.Y., said in a statement. “Each day this shutdown continues, it jeopardizes the safety of Americans and creates worsening financial hardship for the frontline DHS personnel who work hard every day to protect the homeland.” TSA PAY BILL UNVEILED AS SHUTDOWN LEAVES AGENTS UNPAID, STRAINS AIRPORT SECURITY The shutdown’s impact on air travel has become a growing headache for Americans — 170 million of whom are expected to pass through the country’s airports during the spring travel season this year. More than 50,000 TSA employees have not received their salaries during the prolonged shutdown, leading some to quit their jobs or not show up to work, according to the House Homeland Security Committee. Among that cohort, more than 360 TSA employees have resigned during the 34-day partial shutdown, and roughly 10% of agents did not report to work on Sunday, according to the TSA. MOST VULNERABLE SENATE DEM BLAMES REPUBLICANS FOR UNPAID TSA WORKERS AFTER OPPOSING FUNDING BILL These staffing constraints have led to hours-long security lines in some of America’s largest travel hubs, though some airports still appear to be processing passengers relatively quickly. Lines at New York City’s JFK and LaGuardia airports were under 20 minutes Wednesday evening. FEMA staff, 85% of whom worked through the shutdown in fall 2025, are likely reporting to work in similar numbers without pay. FEMA leadership has warned that the agency could struggle to respond to a major disaster event in a shutdown. The hearing comes as Democrats are proposing legislation that would fund every DHS sub-agency that does not handle immigration enforcement. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., announced Wednesday that Democrats intend to force a vote on the measure by filing a discharge petition. The petition would have to secure a handful of GOP signatures to trigger a vote on the underlying bill. Garbarino criticized Democrats’ proposal in a statement to Fox News Digital. “I hope my colleagues on the other side of the aisle recognize that there is far too much at stake to continue blocking full funding for the department, and that any piecemeal funding efforts simply fail to meet the moment,” Garbarino said. Senate Republicans have blocked similar legislation in the upper chamber, arguing that all of DHS — including its immigration enforcement functions — must receive full-year funding.
State Department to ask for bonds of up to $15,000 for visa applications from a dozen more countries
The U.S. State Department on Wednesday expanded its list of countries whose citizens will be required to post bonds of up to $15,000 to apply for U.S. business or tourist visas. The department added 12 nations to the growing list — Cambodia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Grenada, Lesotho, Mauritius, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Seychelles and Tunisia. Starting April 2, passport holders from these countries must pay a bond of $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000, which is refunded if the visa application is denied or, if granted, the traveler complies with the terms of the B1 or B2 visa. TRUMP ADMIN EXPANDS VISA BOND REQUIREMENT TO 38 COUNTRIES, WITH FEES UP TO $15K The cost of the bond depends on the applicant’s circumstances and is determined at the discretion of a consular officer during the visa interview. The requirement was first rolled out by the Trump administration last year, as part of an effort to crack down on visa overstays and illegal immigration, according to officials. TRUMP ADMIN HIT WITH FEDERAL LAWSUIT OVER IMMIGRANT VISA BAN AFFECTING 75 COUNTRIES WORLDWIDE With the latest additions, citizens from 50 countries will be subject to the bond requirement beginning April 2, although the policy has already been in effect for most of them. The majority of the countries are in Africa, which officials say have higher visa overstay rates, though the list also includes nations in Asia, Latin America and elsewhere. “The visa bond program has already proven effective at drastically reducing the number of visa recipients who overstay their visas and illegally remain in the United States,” the department said in a statement. Nearly 97% of the roughly 1,000 individuals who posted bonds complied with visa terms and did not overstay, according to the department. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Former counterterrorism chief Joe Kent under FBI investigation for alleged classified leaks
The FBI is investigating former National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent over allegations that he leaked classified information, according to three sources familiar with the matter. The probe predates Kent’s departure from government, sources told Fox News Digital. The FBI declined Fox News’ request for comment. Fox News Digital has reached out to Kent by phone and email for comment. TOP COUNTERTERRORISM OFFICIAL RESIGNS IN PROTEST OF US WAR AGAINST IRAN Kent resigned Tuesday from his role as the nation’s top counterterrorism official, citing opposition to the U.S. war against Iran. In a public statement, Kent said he “cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war,” arguing that Iran posed no imminent threat and that the conflict marked a break from the administration’s prior approach to avoiding prolonged wars in the Middle East. A senior administration official previously told Fox News Digital that Kent was a “known leaker” who had been cut out of intelligence briefings months before his resignation. OUSTED HEGSETH AIDE RESURFACES IN INTEL ROLE AS IRAN WAR SPARKS INTERNAL STRAIN It is unclear whether the FBI investigation is related to those concerns or to a separate matter. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Kent, a former Army Green Beret and CIA paramilitary officer, was appointed to lead the National Counterterrorism Center in early 2025. He is a Gold Star spouse. This is a developing story. Check back for updates. Fox News Digital’s Ashley Carnahan and Morgan Phillips contributed to this reporting.
Immigration judge orders deportation of NYC Council employee after ICE arrest; city leaders push back
An immigration judge has ordered the deportation of a former New York City Council employee federal officials said in January was an undocumented immigrant with a prior assault arrest. City Council Speaker Julie Menin announced the deportation ruling on Wednesday, condemning it as a “miscarriage of justice and wholly deplorable” and pledging to fight back by filing an appeal. Two months ago, Rafael Andres Rubio Bohorquez, 53, was detained during an immigration appointment and was identified by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as a Venezuelan “criminal illegal alien” who overstayed his visa. Federal officials said despite having no work authorization, Rubio Bohorquez was employed by the New York City council as a data analyst for roughly one year. DHS EXPOSES BACKGROUND OF NYC COUNCIL EMPLOYEE AFTER MENDINI FUMED OVER ARREST Local officials, including Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Menin, strongly disputed DHS claims, stressing that Rubio Bohorquez had legal authorization to remain in the U.S., including the right to work. “Today, Judge Conroy ordered the removal of Rafael Rubio, our City Council employee, from the United States,” Menin said. “We are outraged and will continue to pursue every legal avenue to secure his release and ensure his case is properly heard on appeal.” “This is an affront to justice,” Mamdani added in a post on X. “A dedicated public servant with legal authorization to remain in the country, Rafael showed up for a routine immigration appointment and, despite following the rules, he was detained and has now been held for months.” DHS DEMANDS LETITIA JAMES TAKE ACTION OVER NEW YORK’S REFUSAL TO HONOR ICE DETAINERS Rubio Bohorquez entered the United States on a B2 tourist visa in 2017, which required him to depart the same year, according to DHS. Menin said the staff member had been cleared to remain in the country until October 2026. She further called his immigration order a “technical error” related to his asylum application. The staffer reportedly had a missing signature on his papers and was denied the opportunity to rectify it, a process Rubio Bohorquez’s lawyer said would only take one hour, the New York Post reported, citing Menin. “Today’s ruling appears to hinge on a procedural issue related to his asylum application,” Menin added. “That is extremely troubling. A technical error should not determine the fate of a man who has done everything right and poses no risk to anyone.” Local officials added they will file an appeal and demanded Rubio Bohorquez’s immediate release until the legal proceedings are completed. “Let me be clear: Rafael should not continue to be detained while this is sorted out,” Menin said. “An appeal will be filed, and we demand that Rafael’s case be properly heard by the deadline on April 17. At a minimum, he should be released pending that appeal. There is no justification for continuing to hold him under these circumstances.” Fox News Digital reached out to the DHS for more information.
GOP overperforms in Virginia special election, fueling early momentum talk in blue-trending state
A Republican running in a Virginia special election significantly outperformed expectations Tuesday night, sparking chatter on social media that Republicans could have momentum in the blue-trending state where Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger has faced backlash for her progressive agenda since taking office. In the race to replace Republican Virginia House District 98 Delegate Barry Knight, who died of cancer last month, Andrew Rice defeated Democrat Cheryl Smith by 25 points in a climate where voters in the commonwealth have been turning to Democrats in recent elections. Conservatives on social media were quick to point out that Rice, who, despite holding onto a Republican seat, outperformed the candidate for Republican governor, Winsome Earle-Sears, in November and outperformed President Donald Trump’s 2024 total by 10 points, sparking belief in possible GOP momentum and backlash toward Spanberger. “Republican Andrew Rice is currently ahead +29 in a district that was Sears +7 in November,” conservative commentator Greg Price posted on X. “A 22 point swing to the GOP.” MIGRANT ACCUSED OF GROPING MULTIPLE HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS FACES CHARGES AS DHS WARNS SPANBERGER AGAINST RELEASE “Radical Dems are overreaching in Virginia & voters have noticed,” Republican Virginia House of Delegates member Tim Griffin posted on X. “Big REPUBLICAN WIN in Virginia tonight, congrats Delegate-Elect Rice!” “The momentum is REAL, and Virginians are paying attention and are fed up with the progressive liberal agenda trying to take over our Commonwealth,” Virginia Rep. Jen Kiggans posted on X. “Whoa!” Kerry Dougherty, co-host of a Virginia Beach radio show and longtime journalist, posted on X. “This is a red district but looks like backlash against our insane governor and the left-wing nuts in the General Assembly. Congratulations to Andrew Rice. A determined prosecutor (which will make the lefties crazy).” VIRGINIA DEMS SEND SWEEPING GUN BAN TO SPANBERGER AS WEST VIRGINIA WEIGHS EXPANDING MACHINE-GUN ACCESS Also at play is what Virginia elections analyst Sam Shirazi called the “elephant in the room” on his “Federal Fallout” podcast. “I think one explanation of what happened is the Republicans are fired up, and they’re upset about the redistricting referendum,” Shirzi said about Rice’s victory and a possible connection to an April referendum that would trigger a mid-cycle redrawing of the state’s congressional map to heavily favor Democrats. “Potentially, they could also be generally upset at what’s been going on in Richmond since the Democrats took over in January. So, perhaps they’re upset with some of the bills that have been passed.” Reacting to Rice’s victory, Republican Virginia Delegate Karen Hamilton posted on X, “If we could get some funds, we can win this redistricting fight in Virginia and secure the midterms for @POTUS.” “Republicans in Virginia are overperforming so strongly that the gerrymander attempt is suddenly looking much riskier for Dems,” conservative commentator and writer Ben Braddock posted on X. Spanberger has faced some intense criticism from conservatives since taking office in January, particularly over the allegation she campaigned as a “moderate” candidate but quickly began implementing a radical agenda as soon as she took office. Since taking office, Spanberger has ended state cooperation with ICE, reduced mandatory minimum sentencing, raised taxes and prioritized DEI in government contracts, Fox News Digital reported in January. Fox News Digital reached out to Spanberger’s office for comment. Fox News Digital’s Alec Schemmel contributed to this report.
GOP blocks Booker-led push to curb Trump’s military authority in Iran
Senate Republicans blocked yet another bid by Senate Democrats to handcuff President Donald Trump’s war authority in Iran in what could be an avalanche of similar moves to break through the GOP’s floor takeover. Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., triggered one of several war powers resolutions Senate Democrats have tucked away in their bid to compel Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to testify publicly about Trump’s war in Iran. Booker told Fox News Digital before the vote he was not thinking “about this in politics” or breaking through the GOP’s floor tactics, but instead to refocus on issues that Trump promised to deal with on the campaign trail. GOP TRIGGERS MARATHON SENATE FIGHT TO EXPOSE DEMS’ OPPOSITION TO TRUMP-BACKED VOTER ID BILL “We need to focus on what the issues of the people are and put before them a president who promised to bring your prices down and keep us out of wars, who is now bringing us into more wars and driving up our prices as a result,” Booker said. “The question is, what should Congress do as a result?” But, as with Democratic Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine’s attempt earlier this month, Republicans rallied behind the president to block the bill. Still, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., and nearly every Senate Democrat tried to curtail Trump’s use of the military in the Middle East. Only Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., broke from Democrats to kill the resolution. TOM COTTON PUTS BIDEN ON NOTICE WHILE DEMANDING ANSWERS ON DRAINING OF NATION’S OIL STOCKPILE It likely won’t be the last war powers resolution to hit the floor this week, given that a cohort of Senate Democrats have four others teed up. Their resolutions would direct an immediate end to fighting with Iran and removal of forces in the region. Republicans have pushed back against Democrats’ demands that Rubio and Hegseth appear on the Hill for hearings and argued that they have consistently briefed lawmakers in classified settings and spoken with the media about the war. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who has lauded the administration’s continued strikes in Iran, told Fox News Digital he believed Democrats’ continued use of war powers resolutions was “an abuse of the process, and I’m tired of it.” DEMOCRATS THREATEN TO GRIND SENATE TO A HALT TO FORCE PUBLIC IRAN HEARINGS “I think they’re impeding the war effort. We’ve spoken on this,” Graham said. “I find it to be cheap politics.” Still, Iran’s chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz has emerged as a flashpoint in the conflict with concerns over oil prices and possible ground troop involvement rising. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said the nation’s war planners were doing a “masterful job” and kneecapping Iran’s offensive capabilities, adding that Trump was well within his authority as president to carry out Operation Epic Fury. “The Strait of Hormuz, obviously, is an issue that we’re all paying a lot of attention to,” Thune said. “But I feel confident that the administration and those who are leading our military efforts there ultimately will be successful in getting things open up there.”
GOP gubernatorial hopeful hails legendary golfer for hefty campaign donation: ‘Incredibly honored’
Phil Mickelson, the three-time Masters champion, made a hefty campaign donation to Steve Hilton, a Republican candidate for governor in California, as he wages a bid to become the state’s first Republican to win the state’s top political job in over 20 years. The political contribution is rare for the professional golfer. At the federal level, Mickelson appears to have only made one other notable donation in 1994: a $700 gift to former U.S. Rep. J.D. Hayworth, R-Ariz., according to the Federal Election Commission. Mickelson also doesn’t appear to have donated to other candidates in California, per the state’s campaign finance records. However, Hilton, an ex-businessman, author, podcaster and former TV host with Fox News, did get his attention. SWALWELL GOVERNOR BID HIT WITH RESIDENCY QUESTIONS AFTER COURT FILING ALLEGES HE DOESN’T LIVE IN CALIFORNIA “Steve Hilton can/will save California,” Mickelson, who moved to Florida in 2020 after complaining about California’s high taxes, said in a X post earlier this month, reacting to promises from Hilton to end Democrat-led climate energy mandates. Hilton has attracted $6.2 million in contributions, beating out the support of several top Democrats in the race to replace outgoing Governor Gavin Newsom, according to California’s Secretary of State. Notably, his contributions exceed the war chests of all but two Democratic candidates: former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and former San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan. Hilton said he appreciated Mickelson’s support and framed it as part of broader momentum behind his candidacy. “I’m incredibly honored to have Phil’s support, and we’ve had some great conversations about the future of California and how much we love this state and want to save it and make it a beautiful, spectacular place with the right leadership,” Hilton said. “It’s time to clean [California] up and I’m building a really broad movement for change and I am very confident that we can win in November.” His donations exceed those of former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter, D-Calif., and Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., who have raised $5.8 and $5.6 million, respectively. GOLF LEGEND PHIL MICKELSON WEIGHS IN ON ALLEGED FRAUD IN CALIFORNIA Arguing that California has suffered under a “one-party rule” for too long, Hilton has pitched his campaign as a chance to recapture California’s legacy of productivity and entrepreneurialism — an ethos he describes as emblematic of the country’s ideals. “In 2012, we moved to California, the ultimate expression of America — or it should be,” Hilton said in a campaign launch video. “This is not just any other state. California means to America what America means to the world. Let’s make California the land of opportunity again. There’s only one way to do that. We’ve got to end the one-party rule that got us into this mess.” Hilton will face off against a crowd of other gubernatorial hopefuls in the June 2 California primary. The top finalists will advance to a general election in November. Early voting begins on May 4, according to the California Secretary of State website.
Gabbard sidesteps Iran ‘imminent threat’ claim under Senate grilling
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard declined to say whether intelligence showed that Iran posed an “imminent threat” to the U.S. prior to the launch of recent offensive operations, as President Donald Trump repeatedly has asserted. “Was it the assessment of the intelligence community that there was an ‘imminent nuclear threat’ posed by the Iranian regime? Yes or no?” Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., asked Gabbard during the Senate Intelligence Committee’s annual worldwide threats hearing Wednesday. “The only person who can determine what is and is not an imminent threat is the president,” Gabbard said. TRUMP RESURFACES OLD TWEET FROM INTEL OFFICIAL WHO RESIGNED The White House has repeatedly argued Iran’s nuclear stockpiles and ballistic missile capacity pose an imminent threat to the U.S. “Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime,” Trump said March 1. Ossoff pressed Gabbard further Wednesday: “Was it the intelligence community’s assessment … there was an ‘imminent nuclear threat’? Yes or no?” “It is not the intelligence community’s responsibility to determine what is and is not an imminent threat,” Gabbard said. Gabbard highlighted the impact of U.S. operations in Iran. “The IC assesses that Operation Epic Fury is advancing fundamental change in the region,” she said. Iran’s “conventional military power projection capabilities have largely been destroyed, leaving limited options. Iran’s strategic position has been significantly degraded.” Her refusal to directly answer comes one day after Trump’s director at the National Counterterrorism Center, Joe Kent, resigned after publicly stating he did not believe Iran posed an imminent threat. CIA Director John Ratcliffe struck a more assertive tone at the hearing. “Is there anything to indicate that Iran had ceased in its nuclear ambitions or in its desire to continue to build ballistic missiles capable of threatening American troops and allies in the Middle East?” Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, asked him. “No. In fact, the intelligence reflects the contrary,” Ratcliffe said. “So you disagree with Mr. Kent?” Cornyn asked. “I do,” Ratcliffe said. TRUMP BIDS GOODBYE TO INTEL OFFICIAL WHO RESIGNED OVER IRAN: ‘GOOD THING THAT HE’S OUT’ “I think Iran has been a constant threat to the United States for an extended period of time and posed an immediate threat at this time,” he later added. Top administration officials have argued that Iran was building up its missile stockpiles to a point where foreign powers could no longer effectively intervene. Iran is not believed to currently possess missiles capable of reaching the U.S. homeland, but Trump has said the Islamic Republic is working toward that capability. “They attempted to rebuild their nuclear program and to continue developing long range missiles that can now threaten our very good friends and allies in Europe, our troops stationed overseas and could soon reach the American homeland,” Trump said. The Defense Intelligence Agency said in May 2025 that Iran could develop a long-range missile capable of reaching the U.S. by 2035. Russia, China and North Korea, some of Iran’s closest allies, already possess intercontinental ballistic missiles. Iran possessed roughly 441 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60% as of mid-2025, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency. Enough, if further enriched to weapons-grade levels, to fuel multiple nuclear weapons. Experts estimate that final enrichment to 90% could take weeks under ideal conditions. However, producing a functional nuclear weapon would require additional steps, including weaponization and delivery system development, which could take months or longer. Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman, rose to national prominence in part for her opposition to U.S. military interventions overseas. She has said little publicly about the Iran conflict, but in a statement posted to X following Kent’s resignation, Gabbard emphasized that the determination of an imminent threat rests with the president. “Donald Trump was overwhelmingly elected by the American people to be our President and Commander in Chief. As our Commander in Chief, he is responsible for determining what is and is not an imminent threat,” she wrote on X. “After carefully reviewing all the information before him, President Trump concluded that the terrorist Islamist regime in Iran posed an imminent threat and he took action based on that conclusion.” Her comments underscored a central tension in Wednesday’s hearing: While the administration has framed the conflict as a response to an imminent threat, intelligence officials stopped short of publicly affirming that assessment.