‘Unprecedented’: Judges reveal behind-the-scenes coordination on Trump immigration cases
Federal judges in Minnesota tasked with deciding a flood of habeas petitions challenging the detention of immigrants swept up during President Donald Trump’s Operation Metro Surge weren’t working entirely on their own — behind the scenes, they were regularly consulting one another through running email threads and developing tools to quickly handle recurring legal questions. The behind-the-scenes coordination among Minnesota’s federal bench, revealed in a New York Times report Thursday, included regular meetings, running email threads, an informal spreadsheet created by court clerks showing which judges to turn to with particular legal questions and templates some judges developed to quickly issue orders when similar detention disputes repeatedly came before the court. The disclosures are fueling questions over whether the judges were colluding on separate cases involving the same Trump administration immigration policies, or simply sharing expertise to manage an extraordinary caseload. FEDERAL JUDGE TIES ICE AGENTS’ HANDS WITH RULING ON WARRANTLESS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ARRESTS “The idea of a running email chain involving a variety of cases — it strikes me as very weird and frankly unprecedented,” Robert Luther III, a professor at George Mason University’s Antonin Scalia Law School whose work includes federal courts and judicial ethics, told Fox News Digital. Federal judges can and routinely do consult colleagues, Luther said, particularly about procedural or evidentiary questions. But each judge is ultimately responsible for independently deciding the cases assigned to them — a distinction Luther said makes the coordination significant. The disclosures have also drawn criticism from the Trump administration on two fronts. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) General Counsel James Percival accused the former chief judge who led the district during Metro Surge of “essentially conspiring with his judicial colleagues” to thwart federal immigration enforcement. The Justice Department (DOJ), meanwhile, questioned the decision by sitting judges to give extensive on-the-record interviews about their experience with the administration’s immigration operation. Seven of the district’s judges spoke to the Times for Thursday’s report, including former Chief Judge Patrick Schiltz, who sat for a 90-minute interview about the court’s experience during Metro Surge. Schiltz declined to discuss ongoing cases, according to the Times, but described what happened in Minnesota’s federal court as having “created a grave threat to the rule of law.” “It is remarkable that sitting federal judges are giving on-the-record interviews attacking this Administration’s policies rather than ruling from the bench,” a Justice Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital. “If judges followed the law in adjudicating cases, there wouldn’t be an ‘overwhelming’ habeas caseload. Judges who have made public comments on pending or related matters should consider whether recusal is warranted going forward.” OBAMA, BIDEN JUDGES DRAW FRESH FIRE AS TRUMP’S IMMIGRATION COURT CLASHES HEAT UP: ‘ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE’ But Chief Judge Eric Tostrud, who was himself among the Minnesota judges interviewed by the Times, rejected suggestions that the coordination described in the report compromised individual decision-making. He told Fox News Digital that every member of the bench independently decided the merits of each petition assigned to them, while pointing to an extraordinary surge in litigation — from 12 alien-detainee habeas petitions during all of 2024 to 1,427 through August of this year — and noting that many involved similar or identical, often novel, legal questions. “The bottom line is that each of us made an independent decision with respect to the merits of each and every petition we were assigned,” Tostrud told Fox News Digital. Tostrud stressed that the judges did not uniformly reach the same conclusions, saying that while some reached the same result on certain legal questions, they “reached different outcomes regarding other legal questions.” He said the judges’ ability to communicate helped them resolve the cases quickly and thoughtfully, regardless of whether individual petitions were granted. What exactly the judges were sharing behind the scenes, however, remains unclear. Tostrud declined to disclose the contents of the court’s internal working materials, saying documents created by judges and court staff “are not public.” TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S IMMIGRATION PUSH FUELS ICE’S BIGGEST ARREST MONTH IN AGENCY HISTORY That distinction could be significant, according to Luther, who said administrative templates are commonplace in federal courts, but drew a line between those and templates touching the substance of a case. “Templates that deal with administrative matters strike me as entirely appropriate and commonplace in federal courts,” Luther said. “Templates for substantive matters — that seems like something altogether different.” The coordination unfolded amid a broader clash between Minnesota’s federal bench and the Trump administration over Operation Metro Surge. The dispute came as immigration litigation inundated the district. During the first three months of 2026, Minnesota’s federal court received 1,116 habeas petitions, compared with just two during the same period the previous year, according to the Times. Court staff worked 16-hour days, seven days a week, to process the incoming cases. Patrick Schiltz, who served as the district’s chief judge during Metro Surge before taking senior status — a form of semi-retirement — this summer, emerged as a prominent judicial critic of the administration’s handling of the operation. In a Jan. 28 order, Schiltz accused ICE of violating nearly 100 court orders during that month and warned that “ICE is not a law unto itself.” OBAMA JUDGE’S PECULIAR TRUMP REBUKE IGNITES FURY OVER ‘UNPROFESSIONAL’ LANGUAGE: ‘EMBARRASSMENT’ The cases cited in Schiltz’s January list of alleged violations have largely concluded, according to the Times, which reported that the administration ultimately corrected the issues flagged by the court in many of them. DOJ said its review of the cases found that in the “large majority” of them, detainees were released on time and no violation occurred, while in most of the remaining cases the department said it ultimately did what the court ordered despite missing an additional deadline. MASSACHUSETTS’ HIGHEST COURT PUBLICLY REPRIMANDS JUDGE ACCUSED OF ENABLING IMMIGRANT TO ESCAPE ICE Federal judicial ethics rules generally prohibit judges from publicly commenting on the merits of pending or impending cases, but permit judges to explain court procedures and engage in broader speaking and teaching about the
Trump’s EPA reforms are a huge boost to manufacturers, but there’s more red tape to cut: expert
trump The Trump administration’s move to eliminate a swath of Biden-era power plant emissions standards will be a game changer for the U.S. economy, National Association of Manufacturers CEO Jay Timmons told Fox News Digital. Timmons hailed EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin for the move announced this week but noted that even more red tape remains to be cut. “It really sent a signal to manufacturers that the administration was listening to our concerns,” Timmons said of the cuts to power plant emissions standards. TRUMP’S EPA CHIEF PUSHES BACK ON CLIMATE SKEPTICS BEING LABELED ‘SCIENCE DENIERS’ He said NAM and other groups had objected to former President Joe Biden’s 2024 standards “very, very clearly” at the time, saying the standards were “simply unworkable.” “The timeline that they had proposed was just, it wasn’t feasible. Not that the aspirations for, you know, for cleaner air and a healthier environment aren’t good aspirations,” Timmons said. “I think we all share that. I know the current EPA and Administrator Zeldin certainly share those objectives, but how you get there really matters and whether manufacturers are able to meet the challenge. Timmons noted that the Biden administration had heard its concerns but simply disagreed. TRUMP-APPROVED ENERGY PROJECTS AT RISK OF SUDDEN DEATH BY NEXT HOSTILE PRESIDENT The emissions regulations cut this week were removed by executive fiat, but Timmons says more lasting change must come through Congress as manufacturers hope to avoid regulatory whiplash between administrations. “Uncertainty is the absolute worst enemy for manufacturers because manufacturers are on a very long-term horizon when it comes to planning and strategy, product development, research development. So, when administrations change, there has often been kind of that pendulum swing,” Timmons said. SEN KEVIN CRAMER: CHINA BUILDS FOR WAR WHILE AMERICA WAITS ON PERMITS One area he said could use further reform is permitting. NAM polling found that 80% of manufacturers say the length and complexity of the permitting process is harmful to increasing investment. As many as 87% of manufacturers told NAM they would expand business operations, hire more workers or increase wages and benefits if the permitting process was more streamlined. SENATE MOVES TO UNSHACKLE AMERICA’S DRIVERS FROM CALIFORNIA’S ‘CLIMATE ZEALOTS’ Timmons said it is critical for Congress to hear directly from manufacturers when drafting legislation, however. “There needs to be more opportunities for business to be at the table. To really explain what the art of the possible is. No one is saying that we should not be working hard to achieve cleaner air, cleaner water, healthier communities. In fact, we’re saying exactly that. We should be part of the solution to make that happen,” he said.
Mike Huckabee calls out Macklemore on antisemitism: ‘Voice’ of ‘Jew hatred’
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee called out Macklemore for antisemitism on Thursday, saying he supports NFL owners pushing to cancel Macklemore’s performances. Huckabee made the statement in an interview with Fox News Digital, saying his time living in Israel has shown him the vast majority of criticisms against Israel are misguided and unfounded. “It’s really unfortunate that Malcklemore has decided that he’s going to become the voice, if you will, of Jew hatred, and I don’t understand why it’s entertainers like him think that it is entertaining to go and take a pro-Hamas position, a position that supports people that viciously raped, beheaded babies, burned elderly people in their wheelchairs and did unthinkable and unspeakable things to innocent civilians as Hamas came across the border from Gaza and butchered, massacred 1,200 people, and then took 251 people hostage, including many Americans,” Huckabee said. ROBERT KRAFT, GILLETTE STADIUM BOOT MACKLEMORE FROM ED SHEERAN TOUR OVER ‘FREE PALESTINE’ RANT “The fact that there’s a pushback against that, why not? I think most of us would say that, you know, you have free speech, but that doesn’t mean that you can say anything you want anytime you want, anywhere you want without consequences. The people that own these stadiums, the people that have promoted the concerts, weren’t promoting a pro-Hamas rally,” he added. Huckabee went on to address reports of rising antisemitism in Canada and calls for President Donald Trump’s administration to take on the issue. FROM AUSCHWITZ, HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR ISSUES URGENT WARNING OVER RISING ANTISEMITISM IN CANADA Huckabee referenced a letter sent to Trump by the National Association of Christian Lawmakers earlier this month calling on the administration to allow Jewish Canadians to more easily obtain visas to enter the U.S. “I think we’ve all seen and, frankly, been quite alarmed at some of the extraordinary Jew hatred that is taking place in Canada, and many Canadian Jewish people are really concerned and afraid for their lives,” Huckabee said. “And they fear that they might be the subject of some violent attack or a terror attack. The rhetoric in the country has gotten very, very harsh, and President Trump, as you may remember, took the letter from the NACL, and he published it and said that he would certainly look into it.” BILL MAHER RIPS MACKLEMORE’S GAZA STANCE, SAYS CELEBRITY ‘MORAL CONFUSION’ IS FUELING ANTISEMITISM The ambassador also addressed the latest developments in the conflict with Iran, namely the Iran-backed Houthi offensive against Saudi-backed government forces in Yemen. Asked whether Israel may be interested in assisting Saudi forces in the conflict, Huckabee said Israel has made it clear it wants to improve relations with all of its close neighbors in the Middle East. “Would Israel be willing to bring some assistance? I think they would. Whether they have been asked? That’s something to ask the Saudis or to ask the Israelis. Wouldn’t be for me to say what has been done or what has been requested. But there is a growing sense that Israel isn’t the problem over here. Israel isn’t trying to take anybody else’s land,” he said. Fox News’ Eric Mack contributed to this report.
Unearthed clip exposes what ‘DEI Queen’ in razor-thin House race thought of ‘Back the Blue’ law
FIRST ON FOX: Christina Bohannan, an Iowa state legislator and the Democratic nominee in one of the country’s most competitive districts, once opposed an Iowa Back the Blue law passed in the wake of the 2020 George Floyd riots, calling it an “overreaction.” “I think that we’re seeing a backlash and, frankly, an exaggerated backlash, an overreaction to all of that,” Bohannan said at a 2021 virtual legislative forum on social justice issues. “That’s what’s happening. A lot of this is happening because they just don’t have a lot of minorities in their districts. They don’t interact with people on any kind of regular basis, and, so, they don’t see these issues.” To some onlooking critics, her resurfaced comments are further proof of what they’ve characterized as her soft-on-crime stances, positions they believe are at odds with the electorate of the Hawkeye State as she wages her third campaign to unseat Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa. WATCH: BATTLEGROUND DEMOCRAT CALLED IOWA A ‘BACKWATER’ OVER TRANSGENDER ATHLETES BAN “Christina Bohannan achieved the ultra rare final boss level of woke where police are bad, criminals are good and anyone who disagrees is racist,” Zach Kraft, a spokesperson for the Republican National Committee, said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “There is a reason why this DEI queen has been rejected twice by voters. She is straight up nuts, and her soft-on-crime agenda would endanger all Iowans.” Bohannan launched her career in education, teaching at the University of Iowa College of Law, where she remained until 2020, when she won a seat in the Iowa House of Representatives, unseating a 20-year Democratic incumbent. Bohannan has run for Congress before. In 2022, she lost to Miller-Meeks in a 53.4% to 46.6% contest. She tried again in 2024 and got closer, losing by a fraction of a percent, 50.0% to 49.8%, and by just 799 votes. VANCE, CRUZ, HEAD TO IOWA ON 2026 MISSIONS AS 2028 GOP RACE TO SUCCEED TRUMP HEATS UP In all three races, Republicans have attacked her for her statements as an academic and her voting record as a state legislator, painting her as a soft-on-crime candidate. In the resurfaced clip, Bohannan was referring to Senate File 342, signed by Gov. Kim Reynolds in 2021. Among other provisions, the bill raised penalties for rioting, making it a class D felony punishable by five years behind bars, and implemented more stringent punishments for unlawful assembly. The law came amid a wave of anti-police sentiment that swept the country after George Floyd, a Black man from Minneapolis, died after Officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck area during a restraint. The incident sparked widespread debate about law enforcement safety and profiling. Where states like Minnesota and Washington passed restrictions on police and other law enforcement officers, Iowa lawmakers rallied to their support. Iowa Rep. Jarad Klein, a Republican and the bill’s sponsor, framed the legislation as a clear way to support embattled public servants in a floor speech. “Let me be clear: If you support law enforcement, truly support law enforcement, you will be voting ‘yes’ tonight. If you stand up and say you support law enforcement, your words will become meaningless with a ‘no’ vote. Actions speak louder than words,” Klein said. Gov. Reynolds echoed that thinking at her signing. “I made it clear in my Condition of the State Address that Iowa’s law enforcement will always have my respect, and I will always have their back. Today’s bill embodies that commitment in a historic way. The public peace is too important, and the safety of our officers too precious to tolerate destructive behavior,” Reynolds said in a press release. For her part, Bohannan said she opposed the legislation, arguing it went too far. “The bill that’s coming over to the House from the Senate about the protestors actually would make it OK for a person to drive negligently or grossly negligently and hit a protester, and there would be immunity for that. It’s sick. These are kids, mostly,” she said. UNEARTHED CLIP EXPOSES MORE ANTI-POLICE RHETORIC AS EL-SAYED GETS GRILLED FOR DELETING SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS The final version of the bill does have a provision that protects drivers from civil liability. But it only applies to drivers “exercising due care” and who cause injury to someone engaging in disorderly conduct by blocking traffic on a public street or highway. Bohannan’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital on her statements from 2021 or whether she stood by her views of the Back the Blue bill.
House GOP lawmaker under fire by fellow Republicans after ad bashing Trump on immigration
FIRST ON FOX: A House GOP lawmaker’s pointed message to President Donald Trump criticizing his immigration policy is under fire from her Republican colleagues. Rep. María Elvira Salazar, R-Fla., released a campaign ad Thursday that attacked Trump’s handling of immigration enforcement, specifically arguing he has gone too far in pursuing people without criminal records. “President Trump’s immigration enforcement efforts should be applauded and continue as is,” House Freedom Caucus leaders said in an official statement first shared with Fox News Digital. “Any alien who enters this country illegally has committed a crime. The United States should deport every illegal alien. This is America, and this government should be ensuring the dignity of American citizens. Illegal aliens can enjoy dignity in their home country or come to this country legally. GOP INFIGHTING ERUPTS OVER IMMIGRATION BILL THAT WOULD SHIELD MILLIONS FROM DEPORTATION “Granting illegal aliens any legal status to remain in the United States is amnesty. We reject amnesty. The House Freedom Caucus stands with President Trump: secure the border, enforce the law, and lock these policies into statute, so no future administration can erase them with a pen.” TRUMP DHS CHIEF UNDER FIRE FROM CONSERVATIVES AFTER IMMIGRATION SPEECH IGNITES BACKLASH The ad takes place outside the White House, with Salazar directly addressing the camera. “Mr. President, some of your immigration enforcement efforts have gone too far,”Salazar said. “Be careful what your advisors are telling you about immigration policy. The same Hispanics who helped you get to the White House in 2024 feel betrayed today. “You can be for immigration what Lincoln was for slavery and Reagan was for communism. I’m not talking about giving them amnesty. I’m talking about giving them a dignified life in this promised land. And only you can do that.” TRUMP-BACKED REPUBLICAN SURVIVES PRIMARY AFTER BUCKING HIM ON DEPORTATIONS It’s a notable choice of words, given that her district voted for Trump by double digits in 2024. But she’s one of several Hispanic lawmakers in the House GOP who have been warning their party could be alienating Hispanic and Latino voters who were critical to Republican wins in recent years. Salazar’s South Florida district is rated R+6 by the nonpartisan Cook political report, meaning it’s likely to stay in Republican hands. But Democrats are targeting her seat as a potential pickup opportunity as they work to win back control of the House. She previously took heat from the Freedom Caucus over her bipartisan legislation to reform the asylum process and give a legal pathway to undocumented people already in the U.S. who have not committed crimes. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) also pushed back on Salazar, telling Fox News in a statement, “DHS is focused on delivering the most HISTORIC mass deportation campaign in American history — exactly as President Trump promised. “Whether Congresswoman Salazar likes it or not, the men and women of ICE are enforcing the laws passed by Congress. To be clear: The only thing America should be giving illegal aliens is a one-way ticket home or a generous $3,000 check for them to self-deport immediately. We will not ignore the rule of law.”
‘Gone too far:’ GOP candidate runs to Trump’s left on signature issue in deep red district
Rep. María Elvira Salazar, a Republican who represents a solidly red district in Miami, has broken with the president on immigration as the midterms cycle hits a fever pitch. “Mr. President, some of your immigration enforcement efforts have gone too far,” Salazar said in a newly released campaign advertisement. “Be careful what your advisors are telling you about immigration policy. The same Hispanics who helped you get to the White House in 2024 feel betrayed today. You can be for immigration what Lincoln was for slavery and Reagan was for communism. “I’m not talking about giving them amnesty. I’m talking about giving them a dignified life in this promised land.” THE HISPANIC VOTE IS UP FOR GRABS IN 2026; CANDIDATES WHO IGNORE IT WILL LOSE A Fox News poll released Wednesday found President Donald Trump’s overall approval rating at 39%, with 61% of registered voters disapproving of his job performance. Voters disapprove of Trump generally by a margin of 61% to 39%, according to the poll. On immigration, however, only 56% of voters are unhappy with the president’s performance, beating out his handling of the economy and foreign policy. VOTERS SAY REPUBLICANS OUTDO DEMOCRATS ON THESE KEY ISSUES: FOX NEWS POLL Salazar’s break with the president on immigration follows a legislative record that has combined tougher enforcement measures with support for legal status reforms. During her time in Congress, Salazar has supported tougher border enforcement while also backing legislation that would provide legal status to some long-term noncitizens, including through the bipartisan DIGNITY Act. She also voted for the 2023 Secure the Border Act and the 2025 Laken Riley Act, which expanded immigration enforcement and required the detention of certain undocumented immigrants accused of crimes. TRUMP ADMIN MARKS 15 STRAIGHT MONTHS WITH ZERO BORDER RELEASES AS APPREHENSIONS PLUNGE 94% Trump’s hardline stance on immigration, likewise, is nothing new. The issue defined his initial rise to power during the 2016 presidential election, and he leaned heavily into promises of deportations while on the campaign trail in 2024. Amid the president’s hawkish rhetoric, Hispanics in places such as the Miami metropolitan area and along the Southern border shifted heavily to the right. Trump has endorsed Salazar’s bid for re-election. The Salazar campaign did not respond to a request for comment when reached by Fox News Digital on Thursday.
Radical El-Sayed ally doubles down on anti-American rhetoric with stunning terrorist comparison
A popular far-left streamer tied the Democratic nominee in the high-stakes U.S. Senate race in Michigan doubled down on anti-American comments he’s made in the past during an on-camera interview released Thursday. Hasan Piker was featured in an episode of “The Axios Show” taped in Los Angeles, where he resides, where interviewer Alex Thompson recalled the internet personality’s past claim that “America is the top dog in terrorism.” “Do you think America, then, is worse than al-Qaeda?” Thomspon asked. HASAN PIKER INSISTS ABDUL EL-SAYED ASKED HIM TO ‘STUMP’ FOR MICHIGAN CAMPAIGN AMID BACKLASH “Pound for pound as far as the number of deaths, yes,” Piker replied. “We have caused tremendous terror all around the world.” “I think that that is not only terror that we are waging on regular civilians, and nations in the periphery, but it’s also having consequences on ourselves,” the Twitch streamer continued. “It’s having dramatic consequences on the home front.” “One clear example of this is what we did in Minab [Iran],’ Piker said, referring to American attacks earlier this year that struck a school. A United Nations mission said it found “reasonable grounds” to believe that the U.S. committed a war crime. “There’s no distinction between blowing up a school, tripple-tapping it with Tomahawk missiles. If you’re killing 140 school girls, that is an act of terror.” Piker conceded that not all Americans are terrorists, but still called for an “environment of accountability.” EL-SAYED PALS AROUND WITH FAR-LEFT STREAMER HASAN PIKER THE DAY BEFORE CRUCIAL MICHIGAN SENATE ELECTION Piker is closely tied to Abdul El-Sayed, the controversial far-left U.S. Senate candidate in Michigan. Piker joined El-Sayed on the campaign trail during primary season. The two were pictured partying together on the night El-Sayed ended up winning his primary election. Since winning the Democratic primary, El-Sayed hasn’t been able to shake Piker’s shadow, and has refused to condemn him for past controversial comments. Instead the candidate has painting him as a “streamer from California” who has no bearing on the race in Michigan in attempts to distance himself from Piker’s more radical views and comments. Piker said in 2019 that “America deserved 9/11.” He has also praised Mao Zedong and Communist China, said capitalists should be murdered in the streets and is known for making antisemitic comments. El-Sayed’s campaign responded to Piker’s comments on The Axios Show, but did not mention Piker by name. ABDUL EL-SAYED DISMISSES QUESTIONS ABOUT HASAN PIKER TIES ON ‘FACE THE NATION,’ PIVOTS TO GROCERIES “I do not agree with this statement [on al-Qaeda], nor do I give much weight to the statements made by a social media streamer,” the campaign told Axios. “I am more concerned with the dangerous policies of Donald Trump and Mike Rogers that are raising the prices of gas, groceries and healthcare for Michiganders.” El-Sayed’s campaign reiterated that statement when reached by Fox News Digital on Thursday. During a trip to Washington, D.C. on Wednesday to meet with potential future colleagues, El-Sayed was caught on camera walking into the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC). When asked by Fox News Digital whether he would condemn Piker, El-Sayed waved off the question and swiftly ducked into the building where he sat down with Democrat senators. El-Sayed’s staff later banned Fox News Digital from joining an impromptu post-meeting press event where he took questions and discussed a range of issues key to the 2026 midterms.
Fox News Poll: 71% think Trump administration lacks plan to end Iran war
Nearly seven months into the war with Iran, a new Fox News national survey finds views souring as voters feel the Trump administration lacks a clear strategy for ending the war, a growing number think the conflict will make the U.S. less safe and a majority believes the decision to take military action was wrong. Seven in 10 voters think the Trump administration lacks a clear strategy for ending the conflict, including 95% of Democrats, 83% of independents and 43% of Republicans. In addition, a growing 47% of voters say the conflict will make the U.S. less safe in the long run, up from 39% in April. By comparison, 32% think it will make the country safer, and 20% say there will be no difference. The rise in concern is largest among White voters, voters under 45 and independents. Sixty percent say U.S. military action against Iran was the wrong decision, while 37% say it was right, widening the margin to 23 points, up from 17 points in June (58% to 41%). Attitudes against the war have increased modestly across most demographic groups, with the largest shifts among Hispanic voters, voters under age 30, moderates and voters 65 and over. FOX NEWS POLL: ECONOMIC ANXIETY AND CANDIDATE CONCERNS DEFINE OHIO SENATE RACE “Typically, the public rallies around the president in response to a foreign policy crisis,” said Republican pollster Daron Shaw, who conducts the Fox News Poll with Democrat Chris Anderson. “But two things are different here. First, President Trump hasn’t consistently and forcefully made the case for the war, and the U.S. doesn’t have boots on the ground. Both of those things matter for public opinion.” FOX NEWS POLL: SQUEEZED BY COSTS, FRUSTRATED VOTERS TURN TO THE DEMOCRATS Trump’s overall job performance stands at 39% approval and 61% disapproval. The president’s ratings on foreign policy are underwater by 24 points. His 37% approval is a second-term low and is just one point above his first-term low of 36% in September 2019. When asked to name the most important issue facing the country, in their own words, only 4% of voters say Iran and a miniscule 1% name foreign policy in general. By comparison, 34% mention the top issue of the cost of living. Meanwhile, by a 10-point margin, more voters say the Democrats are better equipped to handle foreign policy than the Republicans, a reversal from the previous midterm cycle when Republicans were more trusted by 6 points in September 2022. Israel and Ukraine A low of 48% say they side more with the Israelis than the Palestinians (38%) in the ongoing conflict in Gaza. That is down from 54% in June and a high of 68% at the conflict’s outset in October 2023. Since 2023, the sharpest decline in support for Israel — down at least 20 points — comes from women, Hispanic voters, voters under age 45, voters with a college degree and Democrats. Republican support has fallen 10 points during the same time. On Ukraine, voters favor the U.S. continuing to provide financial aid to fight Russia by 16 points (55% to 39%), roughly unchanged during the past two years. Democrats favor supporting Ukraine, while Republicans and independents are divided. One more thing… Ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s upcoming visit to the U.S., more than twice as many voters say Trump is not tough enough on China (45%) as say he is too tough (20%). Three in 10 (30%) say his approach is about right. There is bipartisan agreement on this: the largest share of Democrats (44%), Republicans (47%), and independents (44%) say Trump is not tough enough on China. Republicans are more split, with 43% saying his approach is about right. CLICK HERE FOR CROSSTABS AND TOPLINE Conducted September 11-14, 2026, under the direction of Beacon Research (D) and Shaw & Company Research (R), this Fox News survey includes interviews with a sample of 1,211 registered voters randomly selected from a national voter file. Respondents spoke with live interviewers on landlines (96) and cellphones (821) or completed the survey online after receiving a text (294). Results based on the full sample have a margin of sampling error of ±3 percentage points. Sampling error for results among subgroups is higher. In addition to sampling error, question wording and order can influence results. Weights are generally applied to age, race, education and area variables to ensure the demographics are representative of the registered voter population. Sources for developing weight targets include the most recent American Community Survey, Fox News Voter Analysis and voter file data.
Fox News Poll: Majority says immigration enforcement has crossed the line
A 53% majority of registered voters say the Trump administration’s enforcement of immigration laws has gone too far, according to new Fox News polling, a view that has stayed consistent since June 2025. The remaining voters are split between enforcement not going far enough and enforcement that’s just about right (23% each). The results skew along party lines: 87% of Democrats and 60% of independents say enforcement has gone too far, while most Republicans split between not far enough (40%) and about right (43%). Among those saying enforcement has gone too far, voters are divided on the reason: 45% point to the government using too much force, while 49% say the wrong people are being targeted. FOX NEWS POLL: SQUEEZED BY COSTS, FRUSTRATED VOTERS TURN TO THE DEMOCRATS Democrats say the government is targeting the wrong people (by 7 points) while independents say it’s because of using too much force (by 2 points). There are not enough Republicans saying the enforcement has gone too far to draw meaningful conclusions. Consequently, President Trump’s approval rating on immigration sits at 43%, down from a high of 48% last summer. For the past four years, until this summer, voters consistently said the Republicans would do a better job handling immigration than the Democrats. That advantage has all but disappeared, as voters are split between the parties (48% D vs. 49% R). The Democrats are competitive on immigration due to independents backing them over the GOP by 6 points and 15% of non-MAGA Republicans preferring the Democrats. FOX NEWS POLL: COOL YOUR SERVERS! VOTERS REJECT DATA CENTERS “The immigration issue has been defined in terms of border security since the Biden years,” says Daron Shaw, the GOP pollster who helps conduct the survey with Democrat Chris Anderson. “But voters now think of immigration policy as ICE crackdowns, and many say these have been too aggressive.” Despite fewer than 1 in 10 (8%) voters identifying immigration as their priority, it only trails the cost of living (34%) and the broader economy (14%) as the most important issue facing the country. One more thing… Nearly two-thirds of voters (63%) agree that a child born to an illegal immigrant in the United States should automatically become a citizen. While overall support has softened from previous highs around 67-69%, it’s still far above its low of 45% in 2006. CLICK HERE FOR CROSSTABS AND TOPLINE Again, results are defined by partisanship: roughly 9 in 10 Democrats and 6 in 10 independents support birthright citizenship, while 6 in 10 Republicans oppose it. Among Hispanic voters, two-thirds disapprove of Trump’s overall job performance and his handling of immigration. They trust the Democrats over the Republicans on the issue by 19 points, while 60% say immigration enforcement has gone too far. Three-quarters of Hispanic voters think citizenship should be guaranteed for those born in the U.S. to illegal immigrant parents. Conducted September 11-14, 2026, under the direction of Beacon Research (D) and Shaw & Company Research (R), this Fox News survey includes interviews with a sample of 1,211 registered voters randomly selected from a national voter file. Respondents spoke with live interviewers on landlines (96) and cellphones (821) or completed the survey online after receiving a text (294). Results based on the full sample have a margin of sampling error of ±3 percentage points. Sampling error for results among subgroups is higher. In addition to sampling error, question wording and order can influence results. Weights are generally applied to age, race, education and area variables to ensure the demographics are representative of the registered voter population. Sources for developing weight targets include the most recent American Community Survey, Fox News Voter Analysis and voter file data.
WATCH: Gaffe-prone Seattle socialist mayor cuts off police chief in yet another awkward interview
Already known for awkward, gaffe-prone interviews and public appearances, Seattle socialist Mayor Katie Wilson is being mocked again for another uncomfortable on-camera moment. This time, Wilson, a Democrat and self-identified socialist, is being criticized for a strange interview about the city’s gun violence reduction plan alongside Seattle Police Assistant Chief Nicole Powell and Amy Barden, chief of Seattle’s Community Assisted Response and Engagement (CARE) Department. At one point during the interview, Wilson interjected after a long pause when Powell was questioned by a reporter about the usefulness of new Flock-type surveillance cameras being installed in the city. KOMO News reporter Chris Daniels had asked Powell whether the new cameras could assist with Seattle’s slate of unsolved cases. The assistant police chief hesitated, looked down and began to speak twice before Wilson interjected. “Cameras are obviously a useful tool, right? We’ve seen in the ‘Bite of Seattle’ shooting there’s been camera footage from businesses around Seattle center, we have cameras at Seattle center, those cameras have been useful tools in solving crime, there’s no doubt about that,” said Wilson. SEATTLE MAYOR GRILLED ON PUBLIC SAFETY CRISIS AS RESIDENTS DEMAND ANSWERS Visibly uncomfortable after Wilson interjected, the assistant police chief chuckled, motioned to the mayor and repeatedly looked off camera. The reporter continued pressing them, saying, “What’s going to be the metric of success?” Powell looked to Wilson, whose voice cracked slightly as she answered, “Ultimately, we want to see zero homicides, we want to see fewer homicides, and we want to see fewer guns shot.” While Wilson spoke, Powell nodded along and looked to the side off camera again. The reporter persisted, asking, “Would either of you like to answer that question?” as he motioned to Powell and Barden. Barden jumped in quickly, steering the conversation away from Flock cameras. “From my side, in addition to shots fired and homicides, you want to look at referrals in the services and whether or not somebody is making meaningful improvement in their life,” said Barden. BLUE-CITY POLICE CHIEF DRAWS SCRUTINY AFTER REFERRING TO KNOWN GUN VIOLENCE SUSPECTS AS ‘TRIGGER PULLERS’ After Barden finished speaking, the reporter turned the floor over to the assistant police chief, who laughed and finally answered, “Just to piggyback, taking a holistic approach, this strategy works.” “It is proven in other cities like this, and it takes all of us,” Powell added, as she looked back at Wilson and Barden. This comes as debate continues over the expansion of surveillance cameras in Seattle and other cities across the country. During her campaign last year, Wilson argued against expanding surveillance cameras in the city but has taken a different tone since becoming mayor. Last September, Wilson remarked that “turning on more cameras won’t magically make our neighborhoods safer. But it will certainly make our neighbors more vulnerable,” reported The Urbanist. However, after becoming mayor, Wilson announced that she would pause expansion of Seattle’s surveillance-camera system pending a privacy and data-governance audit, while allowing the existing cameras to remain in operation. She said the city would use the audit’s findings to determine whether and how to proceed with further expansion. During the KOMO News interview this week, Wilson was pressed on when she would set a date for a decision. She answered, “I’m going to sound like a broken record on this, but we’ve been conducting this audit of our data security and storage and privacy practices, we’re expecting the results of that audit around the end of this month and so, at the end of this month, we’ll be making that information public, and then I’ll be making a decision about that expansion.” SEATTLE MAYOR ADMITS BREAKING STARBUCKS BOYCOTT AFTER URGING RESIDENTS TO SHUN COFFEE GIANT The awkward on-camera moment was quickly called out by many online. Popular conservative account “End Wokeness” called it an “incredible moment.” SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER “Seattle Assistant Police Chief Nicole Powell gets asked if turning back on Seattle CCTV cameras would help[,] she looks nervously at Mayor KatieWilson (who turned off the CCTV) Look at the face she gives the camera,” the account wrote. Some voiced their frustration, such as political advocacy group Future 42, which posted, “Daniels asks the SPD Chief sitting beside the mayor if the crime cameras ‘could be a tool to help in any of these unsolved cases.’ The Chief’s facial expression and silence say it all, which is then followed by Katie Wilson interjecting that cameras are in fact a ‘useful tool’, even though she personally made the decision to turn them off,” the group wrote, adding, “What else can we say, except Katie Wilson still has no idea what she is doing as Mayor of Seattle?”