Putin, Russia put on notice as Senate takes crucial step to grind down the Kremlin’s war machine
The Senate took its first major step in fulfilling one of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham’s biggest desires: levying bone-crushing sanctions against Russia. A bipartisan swell carried the sanctions package through its first hurdle on an 86-12 vote, which has gone through several iterations in the time since it was first formulated by Graham and Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn. He explained that at its core, the package was designed to stop purchases of Russian oil and gas that was “fueling Putin’s war machine.” “Ukraine’s fight is our fight,” Blumenthal said. “Nobody believed that more deeply and passionately than Lindsey Graham. He lived it, and this vote is a step forward.” LINDSEY GRAHAM’S FINAL MISSION NEARS FINISH LINE AS WORLD LEADERS GATHER TO HONOR HIM The colossal vote also marks a huge victory on the floor for Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., who over the summer has managed to pass or advance two major bills with a massive wave of bipartisan support on the Senate floor, even during starkly partisan times in upper chamber. And the package that survived Tuesday night, just hours after lawmakers, world leaders and family said their last Washington, D.C., goodbyes to the longtime senator has once again been revamped. A bipartisan group led by Blumenthal and Sen. Darline Graham, R-S.C., who picked up her older brother’s sanctions crusade, announced that a deal had been reached to rename the package in honor of the late lawmaker, and tack on additional sanctions against Iran. Lawmakers argue that the best way to remember Graham, and cement his legacy into law, is to pass the newly-minted Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, particularly as a symbol of his ferocious support for Ukraine. LINDSEY GRAHAM’S SISTER CARRIES ON LATE SENATOR’S WORK, BECOMING SOUTH CAROLINA’S FIRST FEMALE SENATOR Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, told Fox News Digital that “literally the first conversation I ever had with Lindsey Graham was about Russia sanctions.” “I know he was very passionate about this and I know that sanctions are one of the best tools we have for bringing wars to an end without having to commit any of our military,” Husted said. The bill, as Blumenthal noted, still focuses on kneecapping Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war effort by targeting Moscow’s top financial gainer: oil and gas sales. BRINGING THE WAR TO PUTIN’S FRONT DOOR: IS UKRAINE’S ENERGY STRIKE STRATEGY WORKING? But it also extends sanction authority against Iran that hampers funding to the country’s weapons and energy sectors as the administration and negotiators abroad seek to find a long-lasting peace agreement for the war in the Middle East. Also, still in the legislation are targeted sanctions against Putin, Russian officials and Russian military leaders, up to 500% tariffs on Russian imports, tariffs of up to 100% on countries buying Russian energy, like China and India. It also gives President Donald Trump flexibility for when to turn off some aspects of the sanctions, among others. Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., one of the original backers of the sanctions package, is already putting pressure on the House to make a move on the legislation. The lower chamber left until the end of August last week. “I am hopeful that when we get this across the finish line, which is going to happen in a big way, that the House will come back immediately and pass this legislation,” Britt said. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a close ally of Graham’s, made the journey to Washington to attend his funeral, and meet with President Donald Trump and lawmakers in the process to push the sanctions bill and a deal for more anti-ballistic defenses in the war against Russia. Zelenskyy said on X that, “First and foremost, I offered President Trump our condolences on the passing of Lindsey Graham. He was a true friend of Ukraine.” “The President and I discussed licenses for Patriot interceptor production and several other ideas that could help,” Zelenskyy said. “We also spoke about diplomacy – it’s important that the diplomatic process be reinvigorated.” And Zelenskyy, after his closed-door meeting with lawmakers, went to the viewing gallery in the Senate to watch vote, which after many stops and starts, finally showed signs of progress.
Dems reject Trump’s top spy pick after demanding replacement, leaving counter-terror tool in air
Senate Democrats demanded a new, experienced person to lead the nation’s spy agencies, but when given the chance, they rejected President Donald Trump’s latest pick. Still, their resistance was not enough to stop Republicans from confirming Jay Clayton to be the next Director of National Intelligence (DNI) to replace former DNI Tulsi Gabbard. Clayton, who was tapped to be the top prosecutor in Manhattan last year, was confirmed on a party line vote Tuesday. He will replace acting DNI and Federal Housing Finance Agency director Bill Pulte, whose interim appointment prompted Senate Democrats to demand an immediate, permanent replacement over fears that Pulte would weaponize the nation’s 18 intelligence agencies or try to dismantle them. SENATE CLEARS WAY FOR TRUMP’S TOP SPY AS KEY ANTI-TERROR PROGRAM REMAINS IN LIMBO Clayton’s confirmation was thought to be a means to an end for the ongoing standoff over Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), a tool that has been used to thwart several terror plots, including a planned mass-casualty event at a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna, Austria. However, they changed their tune when it came time to vote, and after a contentious confirmation hearing where only Republicans voted to send him to the Senate floor. “As Senate Republicans move to once again confirm an inexperienced and unqualified nominee to a position of massive national security consequence for years to come, one thing remains clear — this type of politicized leadership will only make Americans less safe,” Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., said in a statement. Boiled down, the Section 702 program allows the U.S. government to collect intelligence on foreigners abroad who are using U.S. communication systems, and it serves as a major part of Trump’s daily intelligence briefing. LAWMAKERS SCRAMBLE AFTER TRUMP DERAILS BID TO REVIVE KEY COUNTERTERRORISM TOOL DAYS AFTER FBI THWARTS UFC PLOT But it also sweeps up communications from Americans who are talking to foreign suspects — a key issue that threatened reauthorization among privacy hawks in both parties well before Pulte’s appointment and Clayton’s subsequent nomination. The program expired, however, last month in response to Pulte’s appointment, despite warnings from Republicans that allowing Section 702 to go dark could have dire national security consequences. And Clayton’s confirmation, for now, does not appear to be breaking through the partisan logjam. Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., and the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, told Fox News Digital that the pressure wasn’t on to reauthorize FISA. “Democrats have refused to pass a bipartisan FISA bill until a new DNI is confirmed,” a spokesperson for Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Tom Cotton, R-Ark., told Fox News Digital. “Now that Jay Clayton is confirmed, it’s time for them to stop playing politics with national security and put up the votes to give our intelligence community the tools it needs to keep this country safe.” TRUMP’S DNI PICK CLEARS KEY HURDLE, REVIVING PATH FOR NATION’S TOP ANTI-TERROR SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM “You know … we don’t have the immediate time pressure because the communication providers are still cooperating,” Warner said. Before the deadline to reauthorize, lawmakers had differing trains of thought on what would exactly happen should it go completely dark. Some argued that it would slowly draw down, given that FISA courts had already authorized continued intelligence gathering until 2027. Others worried that telecommunications giants, like Google, would ignore agreements without explicit authorization from Congress. But, as Warner noted, the latter isn’t happening. Still, it leaves Clayton and the intelligence community on a murky path forward in the months ahead. And there’s not much time left on the Senate’s calendar to tackle the issue. The upper chamber is slated to leave Washington after the first week of August, and won’t return until early September. From there, keeping the government open will be a top priority for Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D.
Polls close in Georgia as voters decide successor in special election
The polls have closed in Georgia as two races in politically disparate parts of the country set the stage for one of the most unusual split-screen election days of the year on Tuesday. Rep. David Scott’s death in April at age 80 created a vacancy in a heavily blue district encompassing the southern and eastern Atlanta suburbs of Stockbridge, Conyers and Snellville. With the general election ballot already decided, Tuesday’s contest will determine who will finish out Scott’s term. Scott was notably related by marriage to Braves slugger Hank Aaron. Across the country in South Dakota, Republicans vying for the Mount Rushmore State’s safely red governor’s seat have created the state’s first gubernatorial runoff between incumbent Gov. Larry Rhoden and self-made millionaire bitcoin investor Toby Doeden. TRUMP’S GOP CLOUT FACES ARIZONA TEST WITH HOUSE MAJORITY, GOVERNOR’S RACE AT STAKE Rhoden originally took the reins in Pierre after President Donald Trump chose former Gov. Kristi Noem to be Homeland Security secretary in his second term. He was unable to garner enough support in the June primary to secure the nomination outright in his first statewide election as governor. South Dakota’s runoff is expected to be a classic establishment-versus-outsider race, with Rhoden heavily favored in the polls but Doeden hoping for a Sioux Falls-fueled upset. Minnehaha County, home to Sioux Falls, is a key county to watch Tuesday after helping propel Doeden to a first-place finish in the June primary. WATCH: LAWMAKERS REVEAL WHERE THEY STAND ON CONGRESSIONAL TERM LIMITS AFTER RECENT HEALTH SCARES Pennington County, on the state’s western side, will also be closely watched after contributing to Doeden’s top finish in June. In contrast to what is expected in Scott’s district in November, Republicans are heavily favored because South Dakota has not elected a Democratic governor since the 1970s. Then-Gov. Richard Kneip served nearly two terms before President Jimmy Carter nominated him as ambassador to Singapore. Gov. Harvey Wollman completed the final six months of Kneip’s term, and is the state’s last Democrat to hold the office. EX-NFL LINEBACKER POISED TO RETURN TO CONGRESS AFTER TEXAS RUNOFF WIN WITH JASMINE CROCKETT ENDORSEMENT Shifting back to the Deep South, Georgia Democrats are expected to hold Scott’s seat in the fall by a wide margin. Efforts to replace Scott grew in recent months, particularly among the party’s progressive wing, as the 12-term, often-combative lawmaker drew increasing frustration from Democrats. FROM LOCKER ROOMS TO CONGRESS, JAY FEELY THE LATEST ATHLETE SEEKING TO TAKE LESSONS ON LEADERSHIP TO CAPITOL HILL Last year, Scott made waves in Washington media when he shouted expletives at a Politico photographer as he was wheeled through the Capitol by staff. “Who gave you the right to take my picture, a–hole,” Scott shouted at photographer Francis Chung in late 2025. That demeanor was similar to what led Everton Blair to launch his primary bid against Scott, in what his campaign page calls a “voice for a new generation.” Blair previously told Fox News Digital it was a run-in with Scott at a Gwinnett County town hall, where the lawmaker gave insufficient answers to questions and then reportedly became confrontational, that led him to explore a bid. Blair had said he would “love to just hear a little bit more of the congressional and legislative strategy, congressman, that you have for this administration, particularly as it pertains to safeguarding federal funds,” according to Semafor, when Scott replied “hold on,” before becoming agitated: “I don’t know who sent y’all, but we got these folks here who are providing answers. And I’m doing this. That’s what I’m doing,” Scott said, according to the outlet. Blair responded by launching a primary bid, while remarking to Fox News Digital at the time that two other elderly Democratic members had recently died in office “at a time when every vote counts.” The wave of millennial candidates seeking to replace aging Democrats was at the time dubbed the “Biden effect” — Democratic lawmakers retiring or facing potential primary challenges following the octogenarian Delawarean’s disastrous debate performance, which led to his decision to step aside for Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election. SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER “Change can’t wait, and Democrats need a new bench of leaders who are committed to solving real problems for working people,” Blair said in a previous press release. Meanwhile, Scott’s daughter is hoping to replace her late father in Congress, remarking that she wants to continue his legacy. “That is my thing, is to finish out his year strongly, make sure that this money gets down to the district, and just make sure the 13th district is taken care of, constituency-wise, and making sure the projects go into finalization,” she told the Georgia Recorder, while adding she would retain her father’s staff locally and at the Capitol for added stability. “[W]hen he first got into politics, I wasn’t even born, so I ran for some type of office or campaign every two years of my life, so this is just my norm, I’m just picking up where we left off with him,” she told the outlet. A third candidate, former Mississippi judge Carlos Moore, also criticized Rep. Scott’s tenure, telling the Mississippi Free Press he wants to be a “leader who actually shows up.” Moore had been suspended from the bench for one year in 2024 after a bar tribunal found he mishandled a wrongful death settlement, according to the outlet. When asked by the press about the infraction, he pointed to Trump’s 34-count indictment in New York. He also pledged, if elected, to be a leader who understands “how to defend our democracy and Constitution” from the president. The winner of Tuesday’s special elections will serve only until January. Georgia state Rep. Jasmine Clark, D-Tucker, won the Democratic nomination for the full term earlier this year and is heavily favored against Republican Air Force veteran Jonathan Chavez in November. Trump lost the district by about 43 points in 2024.
Experts scorch Mamdani’s grocery plan as an ‘illusion’ that will have taxpayers footing the bill
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is promising New Yorkers a 30% discount on a core basket of groceries at city-backed stores, a pledge that now faces scrutiny over whether the numbers add up. The announcement raises a straightforward economic question: How? The city’s own numbers illustrate the challenge. If grocery prices have climbed 33% nationwide since 2019, how can city-backed stores offer a cart of groceries at prices 30% below private competitors? That’s the question economists say the proposal must answer. MAMDANI’S PUBLIC GROCERY STORES MAY HAVE DEVASTATING EFFECTS ON CITY’S FOOD SUPPLY Mamdani’s administration claims its plan will save the average New Yorker about $1,000 a year while keeping grocery costs predictable and stable. The proposal is rooted in a simple reality: grocery prices remain significantly higher than they were before the pandemic. Bureau of Labor Statistics data show food-at-home prices climbed sharply following the COVID-19 pandemic, with most major grocery categories remaining significantly more expensive than they were in 2019. City Hall says it can achieve savings by eliminating major overhead costs that private grocers face, including rent and property taxes, while contracting with private operators to run the stores. Under the proposal, a core basket of everyday groceries — including all fresh produce, meat and seafood, along with roughly 20 categories of pantry staples, dairy and refrigerated goods — would have prices locked monthly rather than fluctuating week to week. Richard Stern, vice president of the Plymouth Institute for Free Enterprise at Advancing American Freedom, argued the proposal ultimately relies on taxpayer dollars to make up the difference between the discounted prices and the cost of operating the stores. “They’re just going to use New York City budget money to insure the discount,” Stern told Fox News Digital. MAMDANI’S RENT FREEZE, TAX HIKES A ‘ONE-TWO WEALTH DESTRUCTION PUNCH,’ ECONOMISTS WARN Adam Lehodey, a policy analyst at the Manhattan Institute, took that argument a step further, saying the city’s ownership model masks the true cost of the discounts. “The 30% savings that Mamdani announced on his government-owned stores are an illusion,” Lehodey told Fox News Digital. “Taxpayers will foot the bill for millions of dollars in subsidies, and they will operate on government-owned land with rents waived. New Yorkers will still be paying the full price, just indirectly,” he added. Lehodey also warned that pricing groceries well below market rates could create unintended consequences. “Pricing goods significantly below market price creates an additional problem of people purchasing them to resell elsewhere,” he said. “Shortages are also likely as people buy more than they otherwise would due to artificially low prices.” ‘WASTEFUL DISTRACTION’: EXPERTS SLAM MAMDANI’S TAXPAYER-FUNDED GROCERY STORES E.J. Antoni, chief economist at the Heritage Foundation, also questioned whether the city’s pricing model is financially sustainable, arguing that grocery stores already operate on razor-thin profit margins. “A 30% discount at stores with a 2% profit margin is simply a loss for taxpayers who will have to make up the difference,” Antoni told Fox News Digital. “These artificially low prices will also harm small businesses which will lose sales to taxpayer-subsidized grocery stores.” Antoni said the proposal effectively shifts grocery costs from the checkout line to taxpayers while creating a competitive disadvantage for private supermarkets that must cover their own operating costs. The administration, however, says the proposal will deliver substantial savings for shoppers. Mamdani’s office announced this week that visitors would save an average of $90 per month, or about $1,000 annually, under the plan. To deliver those savings, the city has allocated $70 million in capital funding to open five municipal grocery stores — one in each of the iconic NYC boroughs. The first is expected to open in Hunts Point in the Bronx by the end of 2027, with additional locations planned for East Harlem, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island before the end of the mayor’s first term. Under the proposal, private grocery operators will manage the stores’ day-to-day operations, including staffing, merchandising and product sourcing, while the city sets pricing requirements and operating standards, provides the locations and absorbs major occupancy costs. Fox News Digital asked Mamdani’s office how the administration calculated the projected 30% discount, whether any independent economists reviewed its financial assumptions and how much ongoing taxpayer support, if any, would be required to sustain the stores. The office did not immediately respond.
Leading economist warns of rise of ‘Gen Z affordability socialism’
Artificial intelligence is fundamentally transforming the global economy at breakneck speed, but Diogo Costa argues that the real threat to prosperity isn’t technological disruption; it’s the return of bad economic ideas. As the president of FEE (the Foundation for Economic Education), America’s oldest free-market think tank, Costa is concerned that the affordability crisis is providing the perfect opportunity to tempt the next generation with the ideas of socialism, and argues that economic education is the antidote. Recently, he sat down with Fox News Digital at Freedom Fest in Las Vegas for a discussion about the intellectual defense of free markets, the intersection of freedom and technology, and how his upbringing in Brazil brings a unique perspective to today’s economic policy debates. GEN Z IS WORKING HARD, BUT THE ECONOMY IS PUTTING THE AMERICAN DREAM OUT OF REACH FOR MANY “The biggest challenge today is the different ways that ‘anti-economics’ keeps reappearing. And this time, it’s reappearing through a new kind of socialism. So through the 20th century, we had different flavors of socialism, labor union socialism, environmental socialism, anti-globalization socialism. Now we see this cost-of-living socialism, affordability crisis socialism.” While young people are aware that they are better off in a market economy, Costa argues, they still want heavy-handed intervention if they perceive it benefits them. “Young people, they want to live in a market economy. They don’t want to move to Venezuela or Cuba, but they want price controls in everything. They want to freeze the rent, they want free rides in buses, they want to make sure that groceries are either run by the government or price controlled somehow. And this is not just a phenomenon in New York City or California. This is something that’s happening globally. “And this is the new kind of ‘anti-economics.’ So, Leonard Read [founder of FEE] understood that economics is always one generation away from turning prosperity into poverty. The good ideas need to keep being recycled, they need to be reframed, and this is a challenge that we have right now, the rise of this Gen Z affordability socialism.” He further argues that while the technology produced by vibrant market economies has incredible potential, the ideological foundation of capitalism is under attack like never before: “We’re in a golden age for technology, not necessarily for the ideas behind it…the ideas behind the market economy are not as well understood. And when you talk about AI, people are thinking all the jobs are going to be gone. Humanity is on the verge of extinction. “So there is a lot of pessimism at the same time that you have these wonderful technologies. So the ideas that help us explain and help us work with technology are what’s missing.” Costa’s studies of the Austrian school of economics lead to separating the economic power of the free-market from its cultural power: “Joseph Schumpeter, the Austrian economist, said that capitalism would be economically powerful and at the same time culturally weak because you have companies that will be doing amazing things, but capitalism makes things more abstract…and at some point people stop seeing exactly how they are part of this amazing complexity. DEMOCRATS LURE ‘POLITICALLY HOMELESS’ GEN Z TOWARD SOCIALISM — A COUNTERATTACK IS TAKING SHAPE “That’s why with FEE we sometimes go back to a pencil. We just ask people ‘do you understand how a pencil is made?’ Because if you see the complexity, the network, the amazing, marvelous market system around… Just building a single pencil, you start to understand how you are part of the complexity and you benefit from it.” Costa’s own experience growing up in Brazil during the economically chaotic 1990s was pivotal in shaping his outlook on policy and the need for economic education. “I grew up in a country that had hyperinflation. When I was 10 years old, 11 years old, yearly inflation was above 1000%, 1200%, 1300%. That meant the prices were changing literally every day. And it’s hard to understand how if you live in a society that is that economically chaotic all your life is designed around those problems. “So as a child, when I was going to the grocery store because my mom gave me a $1,000 bill to buy a bag of chips, I had to think, ‘Oh, I need to get there before the price tagger starts changing the prices’.” “My parents had to turn a bedroom in our house into a pantry because when they got their paychecks the first thing they did was go to the grocery store and buy everything you can…So your life starts to be designed around these big issues. And this is something that some people take for granted.” But it was not only hyperinflation that opened Costa’s eyes about economic education; he also first hand the effects of a fundamentally protectionist economic system: “It’s the same thing with protectionism…as a young boy in the early 90s, I wanted video games. Brazil had strict protectionism. So I could buy these dupe video games, but I couldn’t get the real deal. And this was something that people now take for granted, but this was how the Brazilian economy was being shaped. “And Milton Friedman has this saying that he thinks that we never actually learn economics as humanity, we learn as individuals, we learn maybe as generations, but now that we don’t live under hyperinflation people forget what that’s like, now that we don’t live under hyperprotectionism people forget what it’s like. So it’s very easy to drift towards inflation, to drift towards protectionism, to drift towards anti-economics and economics needs to be re-taught every generation.”
SEE IT: Mark Kelly blames Trump’s agenda for boosting AOC as Dems presidential pick
Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., argued that President Donald Trump is driving Democratic voters toward far-left candidates like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez after the New York Democrat topped a recent 2028 presidential primary poll. A recent New Hampshire poll found Ocasio-Cortez was the top choice among likely Democratic voters for the party’s 2028 presidential nomination. Kelly placed third with 9% support, behind Ocasio-Cortez and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, while ahead of California Gov. Gavin Newsom and former Vice President Kamala Harris. The poll comes as several self-described Democratic Socialists have defeated more moderate Democrats in recent primary elections, showing the growing influence of the party’s progressive wing. Kelly has teased a run for president in 2028, recently saying in an NBC interview that it is part of an ongoing discussion with his family that he has “plenty of time” to decide on. HASAN PIKER MAKES AOC HIS 2028 PICK FOR PRESIDENT, SAYS IT’S ‘NOT EVEN A QUESTION’ “I don’t know about her message, but people are really struggling,” Kelly told Fox News Digital about why Ocasio-Cortez was Democrats top 2028 pick. Fox News Digital asked Kelly why Ocasio-Cortez and other candidates associated with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) are resonating with the Democratic voters ahead of upcoming election seasons. “The policies of this president — supporting billionaires over hardworking people,” Kelly said. “1% of the country now owns more wealth than the middle class, and I think it’s a response to that.” BERNIE SANDERS, DSA REVEAL DEMANDS FOR DEM PARTY AFTER SOCIALISTS SWEEP NEW YORK ELECTIONS In 2021, Federal Reserve data showed the top 1% of households now hold more wealth than the bottom 60% combined for the first time since the central bank began tracking the data in 1989. Trump has defended his economic agenda as aimed at boosting middle-class Americans through tax relief and lower costs, pointing to efforts to extend the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, eliminate taxes on tips and overtime pay and lower energy costs. Kelly said voters’ frustration with Trump’s policies is driving support for candidates like Ocasio-Cortez, while also criticizing the president more broadly. LIZ PEEK: TRUMP IS STARVING THE MACHINE THAT CREATES AMERICA’S SOCIALIST REVOLUTIONARIES “It’s unfortunate we have people like this running the government and I think people are really frustrated,” Kelly said about Trump to Fox News Digital. “I mean this president doesn’t prioritize anybody but him and his family,” Kelly said. “The corruption is just off the charts. “
Trump reflects on infamous phone-number stunt that sparked friendship with Graham
In an emotional farewell Tuesday, President Donald Trump paid tribute to the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., recounting how their relationship evolved from fierce political foes into close allies and friends. Trump said the turning point came after he publicly revealed Graham’s cellphone number during a campaign rally in Bluffton, S.C., in 2015 — a decision he acknowledged Tuesday was a mistake. “As you remember, Lindsey and I did not exactly get off to the best of starts,” Trump said during his eulogy address at the Washington National Cathedral, adding that Graham had said something “nasty” when they were both running for the 2016 presidential nomination. “So naturally, I did something that I shouldn’t have done,” the president continued. “I shared his personal cellphone number with the millions of people that happened to be watching that particular day as I made a speech, a very important speech.” FROM ‘DISGRACE’ TO ‘FAMILY’: TRUMP’S REMARKABLE JOURNEY WITH LINDSEY GRAHAM “And I remember the number (202) 228-0292 if anybody wants to give it a shot,” Trump went on, sparking laughter in the room. “His phone exploded. He said, ‘I had that number for 20 years.’ His phone totally — I don’t know what he did with it. But it exploded,” Trump said. “That was the beginning of a friendship, in a way.” “But it was Lindsey who had the last laugh, because while I blew up his phone all for one day, we became great friends and Lindsey did not stop calling me for the next 10 years,” Trump continued. The unlikely friendship grew to include frequent rounds of golf and late-night phone calls as Graham became a leading advocate for Trump’s legislative agenda. Since Graham’s death earlier this month, Trump has repeatedly spoken about the senator’s constant presence in his life. LINDSEY GRAHAM’S FINAL MISSION NEARS FINISH LINE AS WORLD LEADERS GATHER TO HONOR HIM And before the service began, before the cameras began rolling, before the speeches, and before Graham’s casket arrived, the Washington National Cathedral became a gathering place for those who the late lawmaker knew, worked alongside, advocated for, and, at times, fought. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, two of Graham’s closest allies on the world stage, both attended — holding court separately among the sea of lawmakers and Cabinet members filing into the cathedral. Much of the Senate attended, too, including Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., who wore a suit. A rare sight not seen even at Trump’s second inauguration. Meanwhile, Trump’s affection for Graham was visible throughout his remarks. He called him a “beloved friend, a devoted brother, a respected statesman, a giant of the United States Senate, and a true American original who left us much too soon.” “For more than 30 years, nothing of consequence happened in this Capitol without Lindsey Graham knowing about it,” Trump reflected. “Nothing of significance happened anywhere in the world without Lindsey Graham having a view on it. And no bill became law… without Lindsey Graham having a say in it. He was a man who gave America the full measure of his good and mighty heart.”
Trump says heroic teen lifeguard who saved boy from towering waves deserves White House honor
President Donald Trump on Tuesday praised the teenage lifeguard who went viral after rescuing a young boy from towering waves in Santa Cruz, California, saying he wants to invite the teen to the White House and potentially award him a high civilian honor. The lifeguard, identified as 16-year-old Ryder on social media, was captured in a heart-stopping video Saturday battling massive surf as he repeatedly disappeared beneath crashing waves while maintaining a relentless grip on the child he was rescuing. After seeing the dramatic rescue, Trump said the teen deserved national recognition. “We’re going to bring this heroic young man, and his family, into the White House with, perhaps, the boy he saved, to give him a High Civilian Honor. Very brave, he deserves it!” Trump said in a post on X. HEROIC 16-YEAR-OLD LIFEGUARD RESCUES CHILD FROM MONSTER SURF IN HEART-STOPPING VIDEO Hours earlier, Eric Trump also praised the rescue on social media, calling for the teen to receive the nation’s highest civilian recognition. “Give this 16-year-old lifeguard the highest civilian honor. This is truly the best of America! Well done!” he said. The rescue drew thousands of reactions online, with many praising Ryder for battling powerful waves that appeared too dangerous even for bystanders who attempted to help. One person claiming to have witnessed the rescue said it lasted far longer than the viral video showed. Beachgoers reportedly formed a human chain in an effort to help before it was eventually broken apart by the pounding surf, according to social media users. MAN, WOMAN KILLED IN RIP CURRENT AS LIFEGUARD SHORTAGE LEAVES DANGER ZONES IN BEACH DESTINATION After pulling the child safely onto the beach, Ryder reportedly sprinted past his lifeguard tower to get aid as paramedics arrived to evaluate the boy, the witness said. Despite the dramatic rescue, Ryder later returned to duty and continued watching over beachgoers for the rest of the evening. The rescue may have come during Ryder’s first season as a lifeguard. California State Parks requires state lifeguards to be at least 16 years old. Another social media user who said she knew Ryder emphasized how extraordinary the rescue was. “I’m not sure how many people know how hard it is to hold onto someone like that in the ocean, during these heavy conditions and pounding shore break. This lifeguard handled it like a pro, pulled him in most of the way solo and never gave up. Taht is a feat in itself, especially in those conditions. A true Hero & waterman. I seriously hope he gets recognized for this,” the user said. Other people claiming to have witnessed the incident said the surf had initially appeared relatively calm, with many beachgoers standing at the water’s edge when a massive wave suddenly crashed ashore. “It was so big it nearly reached us by our things all the way up the beach!” the witness said. Seabright Beach is known for its powerful shore break, with waves shaped by swells arriving from multiple directions, creating hazardous conditions even for experienced swimmers.
Haley Stevens shreds Abdul El-Sayed: ‘We don’t need a celebrity candidate’
Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., repeatedly called Abdul El-Sayed the “celebrity” candidate in the Michigan Senate race during Monday’s Senate Democratic debate, arguing that El-Sayed’s podcast, books and political activism pale in comparison to her time in Congress. The race between Stevens and El-Sayed has become a microcosm of the battle over the Democratic Party’s future. On Aug. 4, Democratic voters will decide whether to back Stevens, who has the support of the Democratic establishment, or El-Sayed, a socialist-supported challenger who has called for abolishing ICE and is strongly critical of the United States’ support for Israel. In her opening remarks, Stevens rattled off her qualifications as the Democratic Party’s best chance of winning the Senate race, pointing to flipping her seat in 2018, being named Michigan’s most effective Democratic lawmaker by the Center for Effective Lawmaking in 2025 and being endorsed by Democratic Michigan Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. “My only focus is you,” Stevens said. “Abdul is running for celebrity. Republicans are propping up his campaign, and Mike Rogers, just the other day said in a secret phone call that he made it easier for him to win, that he’s the one he wants to run against.” DEM CIVIL WAR HITS PRIMARY DEBATE STAGE IN FIERY BATTLEGROUND SHOWDOWN: ‘WHAT ARE YOU HIDING?’ Stevens was referring to a phone conversation Republican candidate Mike Rogers had with supporters last month in which he said his campaign would be in “good shape” if El-Sayed were the nominee. “Look, this isn’t about the D.C. or New York influencer crowd,” Stevens said. “This is about putting Michigan first.” Later in the debate, Stevens said she is standing up to Trump’s “abuses of powers,” while taking a dig at Abdul by saying she’s doing so without “shouting into a bullhorn, not getting in front of the first camera I see, but doing the hard work.” SWING-STATE POLL SPELLS TROUBLE FOR FAR LEFT AS SCHUMER-BACKED CANDIDATE DOMINATES WITH CRITICAL VOTING BLOCS “Look, my opponent here, Abdul, he is such a talented guy,” Stevens said, referring to his three books and his podcast America Dissected. “He’s had all this attention, but the deal is, we don’t need a celebrity candidate. We don’t need a celebrity.” Stevens then pointed to her six years in the House of Representatives, saying she has been committed to “hard, unglamorous work.” “That’s going to stand up to this junk that is wreaking havoc and causing chaos right before our very eyes,” Stevens said. Stevens suggested that Abdul’s Senate campaign is just another “rung on the ladder” for him, pointing to his failed 2018 gubernatorial bid. “It didn’t work out, so he started the podcast, he wrote the books, and now he’s running for Senate, and he’s already bought the website for president,” Stevens said. In response, El-Sayed accused Stevens of “cowardice” over her past votes to increase ICE funding, saying the agency should be completely abolished. MICHIGAN SENATE CANDIDATE ABDUL EL-SAYED DODGES QUESTION ON WHETHER HE STILL SUPPORTS DEFUNDING THE POLICE “So yeah, I’m going to take the bullhorn and I’m going to say that I think we need to abolish ICE because I am not afraid of what they’re going to say about me,” he said. He also suggested that Stevens’ focus on his public health podcast was a distraction from the issues that matter most to voters, such as affordability. “Congresswoman, if you enjoy podcasts about public health, I welcome you to take a listen. You seem very concerned about that,” El-Sayed said. “I’m more concerned about the fact that people can’t pay for their gas, they can’t pay for their groceries.” The open Senate race in Michigan has garnered national attention, with outside groups spending more than $52 million on the race through mid-July, most of it in support of Stevens, according to an OpenSecrets analysis of FEC reports. SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER El-Sayed, who is backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, D-Vt., has painted Stevens as the candidate of large super PACs such as AIPAC, while saying he has not received a single dollar from corporate interests or super PACs. Before running for Congress, El-Sayed served as Wayne County director of Health and Human Services. Meanwhile, the Republican Party has deemed Michigan to be one of best pickup opportunities in its effort to maintain control of the Senate. Fox News Digital reached out to El-Sayed and Stevens’ campaigns for comment.
Trump’s war on fraud expands as Treasury launches new site with whistleblower incentives
FIRST ON FOX: Americans could soon cash in on exposing fraud as President Donald Trump’s Treasury Department prepares to launch a program paying whistleblowers, Fox News Digital has learned. The Treasury Department has created an online tip line that incentivize Americans to bring allegations of fraud directly to the administration in an effort to increase transparency and crack down on abuse of taxpayer dollars. The website encourages people to “blow the whistle on fraud, money laundering and sanctions/tax violations.” And those who report explicit details of legitimate fraudulent transactions could see a pay day for their information. “Whistleblowers play a critical role in protecting the integrity of our financial system,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox News Digital. THE WAR ON FRAUD IS HERE, AND VICE PRESIDENT VANCE IS LEADING IT FROM THE FRONT “Today, on National Whistleblower Day, Treasury launched a new webpage that brings our whistleblower programs together in one place, making it easier to find information and navigate the reporting process,” he continued. Awards for whistleblowers could range between 10% and 30% of the total amount in penalties recovered from successful enforcement operations carried out by the Departments of Treasury and Justice. The rollout marks the latest step in the Trump administration’s broader campaign to root out fraud across federal programs after officials argued billions in taxpayer dollars have been lost to waste, abuse and organized criminal schemes. The program works alongside the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud — a federal initiative led by Vice President JD Vance that President Donald Trump established by executive order earlier this year. It also mirrors a similar program that was used to root out illicit money movements in Minnesota in the midst of the Feeding Our Futures fraud scandal. The new website consolidates Treasury’s existing whistleblower programs into a single public portal, allowing for fraud report submissions to go through one website that routes tips to the department’s various enforcement bureaus. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT’S LANDLORD JOINS VANCE FRAUD CRACKDOWN AS WHITE HOUSE WIDENS HUNT: ‘CRITICAL FORCE’ It also serves as a hub for Treasury’s broader anti-fraud campaign, with initiatives ranging from Internal Revenue Service (IRS) fraud investigations and sanctions enforcement to financial institution alerts, whistleblower protections and the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, led by Vance. “Fighting fraud is a core national security and taxpayer protection mission for Treasury,” a Treasury spokesperson told Fox News Digital. “Secretary Bessent has directed the Department to modernize its tools, strengthen partnerships with financial institutions and law enforcement, and aggressively pursue those who steal from the American people. Treasury is committed to preventing fraud before it occurs, disrupting criminal networks that exploit government programs, and holding bad actors accountable.” Both the new whistleblower program and anti-fraud task force were created in response to the massive fraud scandal in Minnesota that triggered investigations that later exposed taxpayer dollar abuse statewide. The exposed fraud included allegations that the state’s Somali community was exploiting social services to send millions of dollars to those unqualified to receive financial assistance, including al Qaeda-linked terror groups. “President Trump has been clear that Americans have a right to know that their tax dollars are not being diverted to fund acts of global terror or to fund luxury cars for fraudsters,” a statement from Bessent featured on the new website reads. “At Treasury, we follow the money.” JACOB FREY PRAISES SOMALI COMMUNITY AS MINNESOTA FACES RENEWED SCRUTINY OVER FRAUD INVESTIGATIONS “We did it with the mafia, we have done it with all the cartels, and we’re doing it with the Somali fraudsters,” he went on in the public statement. “We are going to offer whistleblower payments to anyone who wants to tell us the who, what, when, where and how this fraud and money laundering occurred.” The portal provides direct reporting links to Treasury bureaus including the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, the IRS and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, allowing tips to be routed to the agency best equipped to investigate them. Treasury has not yet specified how whistleblower payments will be calculated or which cases would qualify for financial rewards.