Cruz demands impeachment of Boasberg and judge who sentenced Kavanaugh’s attempted assassin
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, on Wednesday called on Congress during a Senate hearing to impeach two federal judges, making his most elaborate case yet for imposing the extraordinary sanction on a pair of closely scrutinized jurists. Cruz acknowledged that impeaching federal judges is exceedingly rare — 15 have been impeached in history, typically for straightforward crimes like bribery — but the Texas Republican argued it was warranted for judges James Boasberg and Deborah Boardman. “Rarer still, until now, were the deeper offenses the framers feared most — judges who, without necessarily breaking a criminal statute, violate the public trust, subvert the constitutional order or wield their office in ways that injure society itself,” Cruz said. “That is why, throughout history, Congress recognized that impeachable misconduct need not be criminal.” JACK SMITH DEFENDS SUBPOENAING REPUBLICAN SENATORS’ PHONE RECORDS: ‘ENTIRELY PROPER’ Cruz, a Senate Judiciary Committee member with an extensive legal background, said the House needed to initiate impeachment proceedings over controversial gag orders Boasberg signed in 2023 and a sentence Boardman handed down last year in the case of Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s attempted assassin. Impeachment proceedings must be initiated in the House and typically run through the House Judiciary Committee. Russell Dye, a spokesman for the GOP-led committee, said “everything is on the table” when asked if Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, was open to the idea. If the House were to vote in favor of impeachment, it would then advance to the Senate. Two-thirds of senators would need to vote to convict the judges and remove them, a highly improbable scenario because the vote would require some support from Democrats. Cruz’s counterpart at the hearing, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., defended the judges and accused Republicans of threatening impeachment as an effort to intimidate the judiciary because it routinely issues adverse rulings against the Trump administration. “There was a time when I’d have hoped a Senate Judiciary subcommittee would not be roped into a scheme to amplify pressure and threats against a sitting federal judge,” Whitehouse said. “But here we are.” In the case of Boardman, a Biden appointee, the judge sentenced Sophie Roske, who previously went by Nicholas Roske, to eight years in prison after the Department of Justice sought a 30-year sentence. Roske pleaded guilty to attempting to murder Kavanaugh. Boardman said she factored into her sentence that Roske identified as transgender and therefore faced unique adversity. Cruz argued Democrats’ concerns about threats that judges have faced for ruling against President Donald Trump fell on deaf ears, in his view, because they did not speak out about Boardman’s leniency toward Roske. “My Democrat colleagues on this committee do not get to give great speeches about how opposed they are to violence against the judiciary, and, at the same time, cheer on a judge saying, ‘Well, if you attempt to murder a Supreme Court justice, and you happen to be transgender, not a problem. We’re going to deviate downward by more than two decades,’” Cruz said. In the case of Boasberg, former special counsel Jack Smith subpoenaed several Republican Congress members’ phone records while conducting an investigation into the 2020 election and Trump’s role in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. Smith sought gag orders so that the senators would not immediately be notified about the subpoenas, and Boasberg authorized those orders. JUSTICE KAVANAUGH’S ATTEMPTED ASSASSIN SENTENCED TO EIGHT YEARS IN PRISON Prosecutors seeking gag orders is not unusual, but senators have layers of protection from prosecution under the Constitution. The targeted Republicans have decried the subpoenas, saying their rights were violated. Smith and an official representing the federal courts have both said that Boasberg was not notified that the subpoenas and gag orders were related to members of Congress. Rob Luther, a law professor at George Mason University, was a witness for Republicans at the hearing and said Boasberg still should not have signed the gag orders without knowing who they applied to. Luther cited stipulations included in the orders. “One must ask on what basis Judge Boasberg found that the disclosure of subpoenas would result in destruction of or tampering with evidence, intimidation of potential witnesses, and cause serious jeopardy to the investigation, end quote,” Luther said. “Did Judge Boasberg merely rubber stamp the requested gag order, or was he willfully blind?” Smith’s actions also aligned with a DOJ policy at the time that did not require the special counsel to alert the court that the subpoenas targeted senators, a point raised by Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., during the hearing. Luther said the policy did not matter. “DOJ policy does not supplant federal law,” he said.
Trump demands California hand over recipient lists as $10B paused amid fraud concerns
The Trump administration is demanding California hand over a list of people and groups that receive taxpayer funds amid concerns money was fraudulently funneled to noncitizens. On Tuesday, the administration announced it will pause more than $10 billion in funds to five Democrat-led states, including California, amid widespread claims of fraud. In a series of letters to California Gov. Gavin Newsom, the Administration for Children and Families said the Department of Health and Human Services will halt taxpayer funding to the Child Care Development Fund (CCDF), the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program and the Social Services Block Grant. NEW YORK REPUBLICANS CALL FOR INDEPENDENT FRAUD INVESTIGATION FOLLOWING MINNESOTA REVELATIONS The letters asked Newsom for “verified attendance documentation” for subsidized childcare services that include logs of hours and payment information from providers, the New York Post reported. The letter from TANF asked for recipients’ names, addresses, Social Security numbers and dates of birth. “These concerns have been heightened by recent federal prosecutions and additional allegations that substantial portions of federal resources were fraudulently diverted away from the American families they were intended to assist,” ACS Assistant Secretary Alex J. Adams said in the letters, according to the Post. “Additionally, ACF has reason to believe that the State of California is illicitly providing illegal aliens with CCDF benefits intended for American citizens and lawful permanent residents.” More than $7.3 billion in TANF funding would be withheld from the five states — California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota and New York — along with nearly $2.4 billion from the CCDF and another $869 million from the Social Services Block Grant. GOP LAWMAKER DEMANDS MINNESOTA FRAUD BE TREATED AS ‘ORGANIZED CRIME’ SCHEME In a statement to Fox News Digital, Newsom’s office said the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) administers childcare and other essential programs that allow working families to “afford safe, reliable care so parents can go to work, support their families, and contribute to their communities.” “These funds are not optional — they are critical lifelines for working families across California,” his office said. “The State of California aggressively investigates and prosecutes fraud. Using unsupported allegations to withhold child care funding only from states that didn’t vote for the President doesn’t stop fraud — it harms struggling moms and dads President Trump claims to be fighting for.” President Donald Trump has been highly critical of California and Newsom. “California, under Governor Gavin Newscum, is more corrupt than Minnesota, if that’s possible??? The Fraud Investigation of California has begun. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” he wrote Tuesday on Truth Social. The pause came amid heavy scrutiny of Minnesota’s massive welfare assistance fraud scandal. More than 90 people — most from Minnesota’s large Somali community — have been charged since 2022 in what has been described as the nation’s largest COVID-era scheme. The amount of money stolen through money laundering operations involving fraudulent meal and housing programs, daycare centers and Medicaid services is still being tabulated. But the U.S. attorney in Minnesota said the scope of the fraud could exceed $1 billion and rise to as high as $9 billion. Fox News Digital’s Greg Wehner contributed to this report.
9 House Republicans defy Mike Johnson, join Dems to advance Obamacare extension vote
Nine House Republicans bucked their party leaders on Wednesday evening to advance a vote on a Democrat-led healthcare bill. The nine GOP lawmakers’ support was key to pushing ahead on a vote to extend enhanced Obamacare subsidies that expired at the end of last year. A vote on the bill itself is now expected Thursday afternoon. It’s a blow to Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., who argued for weeks that the majority of House Republicans were opposed to extending the COVID-19 pandemic-era tax subsidies. BIPARTISAN HOUSE GROUP PUSHES NEW ‘COMMONGROUND 2025′ HEALTHCARE FRAMEWORK But a significant number of GOP moderates were frustrated that their party leaders in the House and Senate had done little to avert a price hike for millions of Americans’ insurance premiums. Four of them signed onto a discharge petition filed by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., last month aimed at forcing a vote on extending the subsidies for three years over House GOP leaders’ objections. A discharge petition is a mechanism for getting legislation considered on the House floor even if the majority’s leadership is opposed to it. SENATE QUIETLY WORKS ON BIPARTISAN OBAMACARE FIX AS HEALTHCARE CLIFF NEARS Those four lawmakers — Mike Lawler, R-N.Y.; Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa.; Rob Bresnahan, R-Pa.; and Ryan Mackenzie, R-Pa. — were among the nine to vote to advance Jeffries’ petition on Wednesday. At the time, they criticized leadership in both parties for not working toward a bipartisan solution earlier and said they were left with little choice. The other five lawmakers who voted to advance the petition were Reps. Nick LaLota, R-N.Y.; Maria Salazar, R-Fla., David Valadao, R-Calif., Max Miller, R-Ohio, and Tom Kean Jr., R-N.J. The bill is expected to pass the House on Thursday, but it is all but certain to die in the GOP-controlled Senate. Similar legislation led by Senate Democrats failed to reach the necessary 60-vote threshold to advance in December. The vast majority of Republicans believe the subsidies are a COVID-era relic of a long-broken federal healthcare system. Conservatives argued that the relatively small percentage of Americans who rely on Obamacare meant that an extension would do little to ease rising health costs that people across the country are experiencing. But a core group of moderates has been arguing that a failure to extend a reformed version of them would force millions of Americans to grapple with skyrocketing healthcare costs this year. House Republicans passed a healthcare bill in mid-December aimed at lowering those costs for a broader swath of Americans, but that legislation has not been taken up in the Senate.
Venezuelan oil shipments surge to US ports with heavy crude after Maduro capture
Venezuelan crude oil is being shipped to the U.S. at speed and in bulk following the arrest of former President Nicolás Maduro, according to a maritime intelligence analyst. As many as “15 very large crude carrier shipments” carrying 50 million barrels will end up en route, said Michelle Wiese Bockmann, senior maritime intelligence analyst at Windward, which has tracked oil tanker movements around the troubled region for months. “The moves overnight that were announced to sell about 30 to 50 million barrels of oil,” Wiese Bockmann said at a press conference. “That’s equivalent to about 15 very large crude carrier shipments,” the analyst added. TRUMP’S MADURO TAKEDOWN RESETS THE GLOBAL CHESSBOARD AND REASSERTS AMERICAN POWER The rapid surge in shipments comes days after President Donald Trump announced that Venezuela would move between 30 million and 50 million barrels of sanctioned oil to the U.S., worth roughly $2.8 billion at current prices. Trump said Tuesday the oil would be sold at market value and that he would control the proceeds to ensure they are “used to benefit the people of Venezuela and the United States!” Windward maritime intelligence data indicates massive oil flows are already materializing, according to Wiese Bockmann. “And just for comparison, over December, using our commodities tracking partners, Vortex, about 47 million barrels of crude and containers were shipped from Venezuela,” she noted. “They’re going to be taken by storage ships to the U.S.,” Wiese Bockmann added. According to the analyst, U.S. infrastructure is well-prepared to handle the influx. TRUMP UNLEASHES THE ‘DONROE DOCTRINE’ AND PUTS SOCIALISTS ON NOTICE WORLDWIDE “U.S. refineries have been configured for Venezuela’s heavy crude,” she said, adding that “we’re already very quickly seeing some action there.” Windward tracking data shows increasing tanker activity tied to Western operators, with four Western-linked tankers being tracked sailing for Venezuela, she said, as well as reports of tankers already chartered. The developments follow dramatic geopolitical events earlier this month, when U.S. forces captured Maduro and his wife and transported them to New York City to face criminal drug charges. Trump later said the U.S. would temporarily run Caracas until a safe transition could occur, warning he was “ready to stage a second and much larger attack” if necessary. “There are reports of more tankers chartered,” the analyst said. “Two arrived at Jose Terminal on the fifth and sixth of January, and two have sailed so far for the U.S. on Jan. 2 and Jan. 6.” she claimed. US MILITARY SEIZES TWO SANCTIONED TANKERS IN ATLANTIC OCEAN According to reports, Venezuela is said to hold more than 300 billion barrels of proven reserves, which is more than Saudi Arabia, Iran or Kuwait, but sanctions and isolation have impacted production and exports. As previously reported by Fox News Digital, Energy Secretary Chris Wright has been tasked with executing Trump’s plan “immediately,” as major U.S. energy companies such as Chevron, ConocoPhillips and ExxonMobil prepare for White House meeting Friday to revive Venezuela’s oil industry. But Wiese Bockmann said the arrest of Maduro had disrupted the so-called dark fleet trade that had been taking Venezuelan crude to Asia. “We’ve had this phenomenon of the dark fleet exploding since Russia invaded Ukraine,” she added. “And we’ve had this axis of Venezuela, Iran, Russia, China basically trading oil between them. “If it’s condensate from Iran to Venezuela or if it’s crude back from Venezuela to China, which is about 600,000 barrels a day on average,” she added. “These days, Asia-bound exports remain poor and are paralyzed, but we have seen a very quick resumption of crude flows to the U.S. after the seizure of Maduro.” Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House for comment.
Duffy says ‘time’s up’ for Newsom as feds withhold $160M over illegal trucking licenses
The Trump administration is withholding roughly $160 million in federal transportation funding from California beginning in fiscal year 2027 after the state failed to revoke more than 17,000 commercial drivers’ licenses (CDLs), which federal regulators say were unlawfully issued, by a federally agreed-upon deadline, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced Wednesday. The funding penalty follows a “final determination” issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) after California missed a Jan. 5, 2026, deadline to cancel the licenses. Federal officials say this allowed foreign drivers whose licenses did not comply with federal lawful-presence requirements to continue operating heavy commercial vehicles on U.S. roads. “It’s reckoning day for [Gov.] Gavin Newsom and California. Our demands were simple: follow the rules, revoke the unlawfully-issued licenses to dangerous foreign drivers, and fix the system so this never happens again,” Duffy said in a statement. “Gavin Newsom has failed to do so, putting the needs of illegal immigrants over the safety of the American people.” TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WITHHOLDS $40M FROM CALIFORNIA OVER TRUCKER ENGLISH PROFICIENCY RULES Duffy added the administration is pulling the funding “to ensure federal tax dollars don’t fund this charade.” According to the FMCSA, the agency’s audit uncovered what it described as a “systemic collapse” of California’s non-domiciled CDL program. Federal officials said the state illegally issued licenses with expiration dates extending years beyond a driver’s lawful presence and granted CDLs to individuals who were ineligible to hold them under federal safety regulations. Overall, more than 20,000 active non-domiciled — people whose permanent home is located outside the U.S. — CDLs were issued by California in violation of federal rules, according to the audit. TRUMP THREATENS TO CUT $75M FROM PENNSYLVANIA OVER ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT CDL SCANDAL “Federal regulations are clear: states must correct safety deficiencies on a schedule mutually agreed upon by the Agency, and California failed to meet its commitment to rescind these unlawfully-issued licenses by January 5,” FMCSA Administrator Derek D. Barrs said. “We will not accept a corrective plan that knowingly leaves thousands of drivers holding noncompliant licenses behind the wheel of 80,000-pound trucks in open defiance of federal safety regulations.” Federal officials said a nationwide audit conducted in September found that more than 25% of California’s non-domiciled CDLs were unlawfully issued, including licenses extended as many as four years beyond the expiration of lawful presence documentation. The audit cited one case in which California issued a CDL to a driver from Brazil with endorsements to operate a passenger bus and a school bus, even though the license remained valid for months after the driver’s legal presence expired. In November, California agreed to revoke every illegally issued license within 60 days and to work with federal officials so the agency could verify that the failures allowing the licenses to be issued had been corrected, according to the release. Federal officials said the state failed to meet that commitment and attempted to extend the revocation deadline without federal approval. Newsom’s office, the California Department of Motor Vehicles and the California State Transportation Agency did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. Fox News Digital’s Michael Ruiz contributed to this reporting.
Trump pulls US out of UN-linked migration forum in bold immigration move
FIRST ON FOX: President Donald Trump signed an executive order Wednesday withdrawing the United States from the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD), formally pulling the country out of an international body tied to the United Nations’ Global Compact for Migration. The move ends U.S. participation in a forum critics have long argued promotes mass migration and undermines national sovereignty by advancing the concept of an international “right” to migrate. The Global Forum on Migration and Development played a key role in shaping the U.N.’s Global Compact for Migration, a nonbinding framework that seeks to expand international cooperation on migration policy and migrant rights. The Trump administration has opposed the compact, arguing it erodes the ability of sovereign nations to enforce their own immigration laws and border controls. “For too long, international organizations have fueled an endless flow of mass migration and have sought to compel Americans to accept the same destructive agenda,” Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott said in a statement. “Under President Trump, the era of mass migration is over.” TRUMP REWRITES NATIONAL SECURITY PLAYBOOK AS MASS MIGRATION OVERTAKES TERRORISM AS TOP US THREAT Pigott said the administration will not support organizations that “run cover for illegal immigration or attempt to erode America’s sovereignty,” adding that the GFMD was among the leading international bodies promoting the idea of an international right to migration. The Biden administration previously supported the Global Compact for Migration and maintained U.S. engagement with the GFMD, a position Trump officials now describe as a sharp departure from the former president’s border enforcement agenda. The GFMD has drawn criticism from immigration hawks for opposing what it calls the “criminalization of migration” and for partnering with advocacy groups that condemn large-scale deportations. The organization also has hosted events warning against the “normalization of rapid mass deportations” and narratives that portray migrants as criminals. TRUMP CUTS FAMILY REUNIFICATION PROGRAMS FOR SEVEN COUNTRIES CITING FRAUD AND SECURITY CONCERNS In a 2020 document aimed at shaping public opinion, the GFMD urged governments and media to move away from terms such as “illegal migrant,” arguing that such language fuels polarization. The group has acknowledged receiving input from left-wing billionaire George Soros’ Open Society Foundation as part of its work on migration messaging. The organization has also promoted remittances sent by migrants to their home countries as a positive global economic force — a practice critics say drains hundreds of billions of dollars from the U.S. economy annually. Administration officials say the withdrawal underscores Trump’s broader effort to reassert U.S. control over immigration policy and reject what they view as globalist pressure campaigns aimed at normalizing mass migration. “The United States will not hesitate to assert sovereign control of its border, protect the true God-given natural rights, and end wasteful globalist spending,” Pigott said. During his first term, Trump withdrew from or declined to join several U.N.-backed frameworks, arguing they conflicted with domestic law and U.S. sovereignty, including the Paris climate agreement. The administration has frequently cited Europe’s migrant crisis as a warning, arguing that permissive migration policies have fueled social unrest, overwhelmed public services, and weakened internal security across the continent.
GOP sees Minnesota Senate seat in play after Walz quits re-election amid massive fraud scandal
Already a top target for the GOP, Republicans are increasingly optimistic they can flip the Democrat-controlled open Senate seat in Minnesota, in the wake of this week’s stunning move by Democratic Gov. Tim Walz to drop his re-election bid amid the state’s sweeping fraud scandal. The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) for months has been eyeing the seat, held by retiring Democratic Sen. Tina Smith, as the GOP works to not only defend but expand their current 53-47 majority in the Senate in this year’s midterm elections. This week, they landed more political ammunition, after Walz, the Democratic Party’s 2024 vice presidential nominee, ended his campaign for an unprecedented third term amid stinging criticism from Republicans and some Democrats over his handling of Minnesota’s massive welfare assistance fraud scandal. “The systematic fraud overseen by Tim Walz and Minnesota Democrats has put the state’s open Senate seat squarely in play and provides yet another opportunity for Senate Republicans to expand their majority,” argued Chris Gustafson, communications director for the Senate Leadership Fund, the top outside group backing Republicans in Senate elections. WALZ REFUSES TO QUIT AFTER DROPPING RE-ELECTION BID AMID MINNESOTA FRAUD FIRESTORM: ‘OVER MY DEAD BODY’ More than 90 people — most from Minnesota’s large Somali community — have been charged since 2022 in what has been described as the nation’s largest COVID-era scheme. How much money has been stolen through alleged money laundering operations involving fraudulent meal and housing programs, daycare centers and Medicaid services is still being tabulated. Prosecutors say the fraud in Minnesota could total as much as $9 billion. Some of the dozens that have already pleaded guilty in the case used the money to buy luxury cars, real estate, jewelry and international vacations, according to prosecutors, with some of the funds also sent overseas and potentially into the hands of Islamic terrorists. And on Wednesday, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the Justice Department will send additional federal prosecutors to Minnesota amid the expanding investigation. PAM BONDI DISPATCHES FEDERAL PROSECUTORS TO MINNESOTA FOLLOWING SOMALI FRAUD ALLEGATIONS Pointing to the controversy, Walz on Tuesday reiterated that “the buck stops with me. I’m accountable for this. And because of that accountability, I’m not running for office again.” Walz’s lieutenant governor, Peggy Flanagan, is one of the two main Democrats running for their party’s Senate nomination in Minnesota. And this week Flanagan, a leading progressive, took some political fire over the fraud scandal from Rep. Angie Craig, a moderate Democrat and the party’s other major Senate contender. KLOBUCHAR WEIGHING RUN FOR MINNESOTA GOVERNOR AS WALZ ENDS RE-ELECTION BID AMID FRAUD SCANDAL Craig suggested she’d be a better fit as the party’s Senate nominee since she isn’t tied directly to the fraud crisis, according to reporting from the Minnesota Star Tribune. “We absolutely can’t afford to let her be the nominee and put this Senate seat at risk,” Craig argued, as she pointed to Flanagan. And taking to social media, Craig touted, “I’m the only Democrat in the race who will keep this Senate seat blue.” Meanwhile, former Republican state Sen. David Hann, who recently jumped into the Senate race, this week called on Flanagan to end her campaign. Flanagan campaign spokesperson Lexi Blyer, in a statement to Fox News Digital, emphasized that “the Lt. Governor has made clear that the amount of fraud that is acceptable is zero and anyone who steals from taxpayer dollars should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law — which is exactly what’s happening in Minnesota.” Regardless of who wins the party’s nomination, Democrats are confident they’ll hold the seat in November. Pointing to what she called “the fundamental facts of the race,” Lauren French, communications director at Senate Majority PAC, the top Senate Democrat-aligned outside group, told Fox News Digital that “Minnesota is struggling because of the economic policies of Donald Trump and Republicans, and the state will elect a Democrat who will devote their time in office to lowering prices, creating affordable housing, and ensuring all Americans have quality healthcare.” But polling conducted last month in Minnesota by the NRSC suggests that the fraud scandal may stick to the Democratic Senate candidates. And the survey, shared with Fox News Digital, indicates that 50% of likely voters are more likely to support a GOP Senate candidate pledging stronger oversight and audits. “The seriously retired Governor Tim Walz and Minnesota Democrats like Peggy Flanagan and Angie Craig oversaw massive fraud that has hurt Minnesotans, and their failed leadership puts Minnesota in play for Republicans in 2026,” NRSC Regional Press Secretary Nick Puglia emphasized. And Gustafson claimed “Democrats spent years ignoring the billions stolen from children and taxpayers” and that they’ll pay a price at the ballot box in November. REP TOM EMMER: WALZ OVERSAW BILLIONS IN STOLEN TAXPAYER MONEY — NOW COMES ACCOUNTABILITY The NRSC was optimistic about their chances in Minnesota, where no Republican has won a Senate election in nearly a quarter-century, even before the scandal grabbed national headlines in recent weeks. “We’re excited about expanding our map, and Minnesota is one of the target states that we’re looking at,” NRSC chair Sen. Tim Scott highlighted in a Fox News Digital interview a month ago. “We see real reasons to be optimistic. President Trump was very close in Minnesota. It’s a four-point race. We know with the right candidate, we will be successful,” Scott emphasized. And that candidate may be former professional football sideline reporter turned political activist and commentator Michele Tafoya, who is inching closer to launching a Republican Senate bid. Tafoya met in December with the NRSC, which has been recruiting her to jump into the race, sources confirmed to Fox News Digital last month. Tafoya, a longtime NFL sideline reporter and announcer, gave up her career at NBC Sports in 2022 as she became more politically active, saying at the time that she wanted to pursue other opportunities. She served as co-chair of 2022 Republican gubernatorial nominee Kendall Qualls’ unsuccessful campaign against Democratic Gov. Tim Walz.
Trump admin’s new nutrition guidelines target ultra-processed foods, ease up on red meat and saturated fats
The Trump administration is taking aim at ultra-processed foods while reversing long-held U.S. government stances on red meat and saturated fats. “The Trump administration is now updating federal nutrition standards and guidelines to ensure that Americans have the most accurate, data-driven information supported by science and hard facts, not special interests or partisan ideology,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters. Leavitt said that the guidelines would impact what is served in public schools, what American servicemembers eat and what food is distributed through government programs. TRUMP ADMIN MOVES TO SLASH SUGAR IN AMERICAN DIETS “Faulty dietary guidelines of the past stack the deck against healthy eating and food options for everyday American families, which has fueled the chronic disease epidemic and jacked up the health care costs of households across the country,” Leavitt added. “When these guidelines are followed, Americans will be saving themselves thousands of dollars. If we want to cut health care costs in our country, we must become a healthier country… A healthier America will lead to a more affordable America.” The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the new guidelines with an updated, inverted food pyramid. The top of the pyramid, which is now the wider part of the structure, is built on meat, fats, fruits and vegetables, while whole grains are at the narrow bottom. 5 GUT-BOOSTING FRUITS TO EAT MORE OF IN 2026 FOR BETTER DIGESTION, EXPERTS SAY HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has made overhauling the U.S. food supply a crucial focus of his “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) agenda, which is aimed at addressing chronic disease and childhood illnesses. The secretary has argued that the nation’s food practices have harmed Americans and led to skyrocketing healthcare costs. “The new guidelines recognize that whole, nutrient-dense food is the most effective path to better health and lower health care costs,” Kennedy said. “Protein and healthy fats are essential, and were wrongly discouraged in prior dietary guidelines. We are ending the war on saturated fats.” The HHS secretary railed against refined carbohydrates, food additives and added sugar, highlighting the health risks associated with sugar-sweetened beverages. Kennedy’s main message to Americans was to “eat real food.” Kennedy framed the issue as not only one about health, but also one of national security. “If a foreign adversary sought to destroy the health of our children, cripple our economy, to weaken our national security, there would be no better strategy than to addict us to ultra-processed foods,” he said. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins also joined the briefing. She praised Secretary Kennedy’s work and highlighted the role that farmers would play in making America healthy again. “We are finally putting real food back at the center of the American diet. Real food that nourishes the body, restores health, fuels energy and builds strength,” Rollins said. “This pivot also leans into the abundant, affordable and healthy food supply already available from America’s incredible farmers and ranchers. By making milk, raising cattle, and growing wholesome fruits, vegetables, and grains, they hold the key to solving our national health crisis.” The new guidance comes in stark contrast to the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee’s report released in the final days of President Joe Biden‘s term, which garnered criticism over a lack of directives on ultra-processed foods. This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
Federal judge presses Lindsey Halligan on why she is using US attorney title
A federal judge on Tuesday ordered Lindsey Halligan to explain why she identified herself as the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia in a criminal indictment, despite a prior ruling that her appointment was unlawful. According to court documents reviewed by Fox News Digital, U.S. District Judge David Novak said in a three-page order that Halligan must file a written response within seven days justifying her use of the title and explaining why it should not be struck from the indictment. “Ms. Halligan shall further explain why her identification does not constitute a false or misleading statement,” said Novak. Fox News Digital reached out to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia for comment but did not immediately receive a response. COMEY AND JAMES CHALLENGE TRUMP APPOINTEE’S LEGITIMACY IN FEDERAL COURT HEARING President Donald Trump appointed Halligan to serve as interim U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia after Erik Siebert resigned. A federal judge in November dismissed the indictments of former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, finding that Halligan had been unlawfully appointed and therefore lacked the authority to bring the charges. Novak cited the Nov. 24 ruling by U.S. District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie in his order, noting that while it is under appeal, no stay has been issued, meaning it remains binding on the court. ALINA HABBA BECOMES BONDI ADVISER, LEAVING ROLE AS TOP NEW JERSEY PROSECUTOR Trump pressed Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., in December to dismantle the Senate’s “blue slip” tradition, arguing that the practice has allowed Democrats to block Republican judicial and U.S. attorney nominees. “If they say no, then it is OVER for that very well qualified Republican candidate. Only a really far left Democrat can be approved. It is shocking that Republicans, under Senator Chuck G, allow this scam to continue. So unfair to Republicans, and not Constitutional,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “I am hereby asking Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a fantastic guy, to get something done, ideally the termination of Blue Slips. Too many GREAT REPUBLICANS are being, SENT PACKIN’. None are getting approved!!!” Alina Habba, another Trump-appointed U.S. attorney, announced on Dec. 8 that she would step down as the top federal prosecutor in New Jersey after an appeals court ruled she, too, was unlawfully serving in the role.
Vivek Ramaswamy reveals running mate in Ohio governor’s race
Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy revealed Wednesday that he has selected Ohio Senate President Rob McColley as his running mate in the 2026 Ohio governor’s race. The campaign is planning a rally in Cleveland on Wednesday night to make the announcement. “I’m excited to announce Rob McColley as my running mate to be the next lieutenant governor of Ohio,” Ramaswamy said in a statement. “I’m an entrepreneur, not a politician, and selected Rob to be a governing partner who can help advance our ambitious legislative agenda.” “Rob is a proven conservative leader, and he is committed to my vision to make the American Dream a reality for every Ohioan,” Ramaswamy added. VIVEK RAMASWAMY TURNS TO CONSERVATIVE YOUTH TO SHAPE THE MOVEMENT’S NEXT PHASE, ANALYZES 2026 RACES McColley, a fellow Republican, currently represents Ohio Senate District 1, which includes 11 counties in the northwestern part of the state. “Throughout his service in the Ohio General Assembly, McColley has earned a reputation as a principled statesman, proven leader, and effective problem-solver focused on delivering real results,” Ramaswamy’s campaign said. “First elected to the Ohio House of Representatives 2014, McColley was unanimously elected to serve as President of the Ohio Senate in January 2025. His record includes slashing government red tape, cutting taxes to spur economic growth, and enacting legislation to prevent a repeat of the COVID-19 shutdowns that Democrat Amy Acton advocated for (after which she quit her role as director of the Ohio Department of Health),” the statement added. RAMASWAMY DESCRIBES MAIN LESSON LEARNED BY REPUBLICANS AFTER DEMOCRATS’ BIG WINS ON ELECTION DAY McColley holds degrees from The Ohio State University and the University of Toledo College of Law, according to his biography on the Ohio Senate’s website. “Before being elected State Representative, he served in the Community Improvement Corporation of Henry County, where he oversaw economic development efforts for the county and worked to improve local workforce development efforts between manufacturers and schools in Henry and Williams counties,” it also said. The campaign said the pair will travel across Ohio for the next 10 months ahead of November’s election. “Ohio needs a businessman, not a bureaucrat; a creator, not a quitter; a visionary, not a victim. That leader is Vivek Ramaswamy,” McColley said in a statement. “He will be one of the boldest leaders in the history of our state, and I’m honored to help execute his vision.”