Trump demands Iran compensate Americans and protesters after Tehran seeks war reparations
President Donald Trump on Monday demanded that Iran compensate Americans killed or seriously wounded in attacks he blamed on Tehran, while also calling for payments to the families of Iranian protesters killed by the regime. The president also said he had instructed his representatives to raise his compensation demands in any future negotiations with Iran. Trump’s remarks came after senior Iranian officials demanded compensation from Washington as part of Tehran’s conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz. “I see that Representatives of the Islamic Republic of Iran are asking for compensation for the damage done to them during the last five month Military Conflict (started because, THEY WILL NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON), even though it was never mentioned in any of our negotiations or meetings!” Trump wrote on Truth Social. TRUMP SAYS IRAN WILL PAY — WHAT IT TAKES TO END THE WAR REMAINS UNCLEAR Trump also called Iran’s request for compensation “an interesting idea” before saying he was also demanding compensation from Iran, “for all of the people that they have killed and gravely wounded with their roadside bombs and many conflicts, for which they are famous, as led initially by General Soleimani, including the families of those killed on the USS Cole, and thousands of others killed in combat.” “Additionally, compensation should be paid to the families of the hundreds of thousands of innocent protestors that Iran has killed over the last 50 years, not to mention the 52,000 that have been killed in the last five months,” he wrote. “I have instructed my representatives to put this firmly into any and all future negotiations,” Trump wrote. TRADE VESSEL STRUCK BY PROJECTILE IN STRAIT OF HORMUZ AMID US-IRAN TALKS In a second Truth Social post, Trump said Iran should also be held responsible for “the damages and death caused to the people of Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and Gaza.” Following his two posts, Trump revisited the topic during an executive order signing at the White House and confirmed that Tehran had demanded “reparations.” “They asked for reparations, you might say,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. “Or they asked for money for the damage that we’ve done. I said that’s a good idea. Well, we’re going to ask for money for the damage they’ve done over a 50-year period,” he said. INVESTIGATORS BELIEVE IRANIAN HACKERS ARE LIKELY BEHIND CYBERATTACK ON MINNESOTA WATER SYSTEMS: REPORT Trump added: “So, if there are damages to be paid, I think Iran should pay those damages.” Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said over the weekend that the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed until the United States “corrects its behavior,” setting out a series of conditions for reopening the strategic waterway. Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, also set out conditions for reopening the strait, including an end to U.S. military operations and threats, the lifting of sanctions, the release of frozen Iranian assets and compensation for war damage, according to reports. “The Supreme National Security Council will never back down, whether in war or in negotiations,” Zolghadr said. On Aug. 8, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Iran and Oman were “very close” to reaching a deal on a new shipping route through the strait, but also said there would be conditions, including compensation for what Tehran says were U.S. violations of the Islamabad memorandum of understanding (MOU), Reuters reported. TRUMP WARNS IRAN FIGHTING ISN’T OVER AS HE VOWS US WILL ‘WIN’ AS TALKS FADE Trump on Monday also declined to say whether Iran had exhausted its chances to reach a deal with the United States, telling reporters at the White House, “You’ll find out.” When asked whether the last round of talks was Tehran’s last chance before decapitation strikes, Trump said, “You’ll find out, you’ll find out.” “Well, we have that certainly that ability if we want to do that. Yeah. You’ll find out,” he repeated. Trump also said Sunday that the United States was “only semi-negotiating” with Iran.
Conservatives shred AOC as she attempts to brush off radical ‘Woke 1’ wave amid 2028 speculation
Conservatives online aren’t willing to forgive and forget the destruction caused by woke activists over the past several years after Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., flippantly cast aside the behavior as a thing of the past. AOC, an original member of the so-called Squad of progressives elected to Congress in 2018, brushed off in a Sunday morning interview the first wave of ‘woke,’ which she helped champion. “You don’t get to spend years pushing to fundamentally transform the country, divide it on racial lines, inject DEI into every institution, and then try to brush it off as a minor misunderstanding when your worldview turns out to be extremely unpopular with the American people,” said Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas, on X in response to her comments. ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ SHRUGS OFF PAST ‘DEFUND THE POLICE’ COMMENTS, JOKING ‘WOKE 1 WAS CRAZY’ ABC “This Week’ host Jonathan Karl briefly pressed the congresswoman, who is a member of the New York chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), on radical comments made by fellow socialist and Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate Francesca Hong in 2020 and 2021. “I have a local city councilman that has this saying, ‘Woke 1 was crazy,’” Ocasio-Cortez said while grinning. “And I think that what’s important is that we have to assess what a candidate is saying now.” But the political right isn’t ready to extend an olive branch to proponents of woke-ness like AOC, no matter which version or iteration of the movement they are pushing. “AOC and the far-left said these issues were existential just a couple of years ago. They said we needed to reorder our entire society and nation around them… ” said one X account with more than 350,000 followers. “Now they are laughing it all off, admitting they got swept up and couldn’t think logically. You are not fit to lead.” “Never forget that AOC led Woke 1 charge,” said conservative commentator Steve Guest. HASAN PIKER MAKES AOC HIS 2028 PICK FOR PRESIDENT, SAYS IT’S ‘NOT EVEN A QUESTION’ AOC’s posts from that time period demonstrate as much, like several where she claimed men could have periods. “Not just women! Trans men & non-binary people can also menstruate,” she tweeted in 2021, earning 64,000 likes on the social media platform. “Some women also don’t menstruate for many reasons, including surviving cancer that required a hysterectomy. GOP mad at this are protecting the patriarchal idea that women are most valuable as uterus holders.” In a follow-up post, she wrote: “Trans, two-spirit, and non-binary people have always existed and will always exist. People can stay mad about that if they want, or they can grow up.” “AOC is going to run for president in 2028. Now she’s saying Democrat policies in 2020 era — woke 1 she calls it — were all crazy,” said Outkick founder Clay Travis. “Many of us remember being ripped for opposing all these insane policies. Now Dems want to pretend that era never happened.” There is speculation that the four-term congresswoman will throw her hat into the ring for the Democratic nomination for president during the 2028 election cycle. So far, however, she has dodged questions on the subject of her political future. If she were to launch a bid, it’s likely the party would push AOC to shift further towards center left if she wants to earn the backing — and the money that comes with it — of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and the rest of the Democrat establishment. “Democrats think they can brush this off without actually conceding anything. ‘Wow man, those 2010s were crazy and 2020 was insane, wasn’t it?’ You don’t get to laugh away the generational enemies you created,” said commentator Christian Heiens. “Does calling Woke 1 crazy mean you now oppose any of the ideological positions that Wokeism demanded of you? Of course not. They haven’t changed their minds about anything,” he continued. “These things have come to define the Left at this point. No Democrat can oppose them without losing their primary.” AOC TAKES PAGE FROM BIDEN PLAYBOOK IN DODGING INTERVIEWS WITH NATIONAL PRESS Other online critics called for further explanation about what qualities of “Woke 1” Democrats like AOC now oppose that they once publicly supported. “If you’re going to go with the line ‘Woke 1 was crazy,’ I think we need a bit fuller of an account of why you and these other politicians became crazy and what you all learned about how not to do it again,” said Josh Barro, who bills himself as a political centrist. Fox News Digital reached out to AOC’s office for comment, but did not hear back at time of publication.
Fauci discussed COVID mRNA vaccine concerns for pregnant women in text chain released by Senate committee
Dr. Anthony Fauci privately discussed concerns about COVID-19 mRNA vaccines for pregnant women in January 2021, including questions about fever after a second dose and a theoretical risk of miscarriage during the first trimester, according to newly released text messages obtained from his government-issued cell phone. The exchange involved Fauci, then-Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky and Dr. Vivek Murthy, who would later become former President Joe Biden’s surgeon general. Fauci said, because many people experience significant cytokine-related symptoms and fever after a second dose, that reaction “theoretically could be associated with miscarriage in the 1st trimester,” according to the messages shown on page two of documents released Monday by Sens. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., and Rand Paul, R-Ky. “The text chain released today could have an immediate impact [on] public health and the principle of informed consent,” Johnson’s press release read. FAUCI DISCUSSED COVID MRNA VACCINE CONCERNS FOR PREGNANT WOMEN IN TEXT CHAIN RELEASED BY SENATE COMMITTEE The release questioned why only three contacts were listed by name, while all other text messages are identified only with phone numbers, among the 34,000 text messages and 522 voicemails. “It is too early to determine whether any data has been deleted,” the release added. “To protect the privacy of individuals with whom Dr. Fauci communicated, as well as personal messages unrelated to the public health issues he was involved in, it will take time to carefully review the large volume of information the senators received. FAUCI’S HHS IPHONE TURNED OVER TO SENATE INVESTIGATORS AS CONTEMPT VOTE LOOMS “Chairman Johnson, Chairman Paul, and their staffs will work diligently and cooperatively to release relevant information to the public as soon as possible.” Murthy initially asked whether there was any reason to favor vaccination earlier or later in pregnancy and whether officials had seen evidence of adverse outcomes among pregnant women who had already been vaccinated. Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the time, responded that there were “no data or theoretical reason” to believe vaccination earlier in pregnancy should be preferred over later vaccination. He also said concerns that an mRNA vaccine could alter a person’s genes were a misconception. Later that evening, however, Fauci mentioned the evidence of issues with the second shot for pregnant women. SEN RON JOHNSON TALKS FAUCI EMAILS, NEW SENATE FILIBUSTER STRATEGY ON ‘RUTHLESS’ Walensky replied that it was “definitely a good point, esp after dose two.” Murthy then wrote that he had been hearing concerns about mRNA causing mutations in a developing fetus and said Fauci’s point about a cytokine response after the second dose was “a really good point.” The following day, after Murthy flagged a World Health Organization recommendation at the time advising against use of Moderna’s vaccine in pregnant women because of limited data, Fauci emphasized that officials had to weigh the potential risks of vaccination against the risks posed by COVID-19 itself. He wrote that more than 10,000 pregnant women had already been vaccinated with “no issues” reported, that Food and Drug Administration, Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists guidance allowed pregnant women to choose vaccination, and that animal toxicology studies had not raised red flags. READ THE TEXT MESSAGES RELEASED BY THE COMMITTEE – APP USERS, CLICK HERE: Murthy responded that the WHO recommendation surprised him and warned that a strong recommendation against vaccination based on a lack of data could be “potentially quite damaging to public confidence among pregnant women.” Walensky agreed and said she would flag the issue for an upcoming ACIP meeting.
Socialist leader squirms during TV interview when forced to address push to abolish prisons, police
A socialist leader squirmed during a tense Sunday interview after a local California television anchor pressed her on the real-life ramifications of the radical party’s calls to abolish police and prisons. In an interview with NBC 4 Los Angeles, anchor Conan Nolan posed pointed questions to Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) National Political Committee Member Frances Gill on the topics of law enforcement, immigration and the movement’s other far-left proposals. After a brief back-and-forth over what defunding the police means and how that would be applied in practice, Gill resorted to deflecting by refusing to engage in ‘hypotheticals.’ DSA CO-CHAIR PUSHES BACK ON SOVIET UNION COMPARISONS, WANTS PRISONS TO BE ‘LESS NECESSARY’ “What we really want to see is a horizon where folks are not reliant on armed enforcement to meet our public safety needs,” Gill conceded. “Right, but it says ‘defund police’ on your website — that’s your goal — and also to get rid of prisons and jails, correct?” he pressed, to which Gill answered affirmatively. “So if my daughter is assaulted and raped, is there any agency that would seek to find her assailant and bring him to justice?” asked Nolan. “Of course, yeah of course—” said Gill before the host jumped back in with a follow-up question. “What would it be if not police and where would he be if not a jail?” asked Nolan. SOCIALIST HOUSE NOMINEE’S RADICAL LAW-AND-ORDER VISION: ‘WHAT ARE ILLEGALS?’ “So I guess I really want to avoid getting caught into these hypotheticals and talk about the reality that we’re actually facing right now,” Gill dodged. That reality, she said, is the city spending “outrageous amounts on police and policing,” instead of addressing real issues plaguing Los Angeles. She suggested that the lack of street lights, substance abuse treatment and mental healthcare are all contributing to a lack of public safety and rise in crime. The pair then clashed over voter demographics in Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary, won by DSA-adjacent candidate Abdul El-Sayed — closely associated with extremist streamer Hasan Piker, who once said America deserved 9/11. The two palled around on the campaign trail. 2026 MIDTERMS STATE OF PLAY: KEY RACES UNFOLD AS STEVENS, EL-SAYED BATTLE IN MICHIGAN Nolan noted that El-Sayed’s support came overwhelmingly from college-educated voters like Gill, and that El-Sayed lost the state’s 15 counties where the majority of voters did not have a college degree, characterizing the latter as the “working class” that DSA claims to support. Noting that she has $500,000 in student debt, Gill said college-educated voters like herself believed their degrees would lead to prosperity, but ultimately they found themselves downwardly mobile because society’s “scales are tipped in one direction to benefit the rich.” On the issue of border security, Gill became defensive and questioned whether Nolan was acting in “good faith” when he quizzed her about whether there would be any border security if, like the DSA promotes, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was abolished. DEM REP HENRY CUELLAR REJECTS DSA AGENDA, SAYS SOCIALISTS ARE TRYING TO ‘USE’ DEMOCRATIC PARTY “I guess I don’t understand why we kind of constantly get pinned on these particular questions when the immediate reality of the situation is that immigration enforcement is absolutely out of control, needs to be addressed immediately and we know that in Los Angeles, like, more than almost any other city in the country,” she said. She also denied that former President Joe Biden opened the borders. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data show that the agency encountered at least 11 million people during Biden’s presidency. Under President Donald Trump, that number has waned to fewer than 10,000 per month, and the administration touts that zero illegal aliens have been released into the country since retaking office. Fox News Digital reached out to DSA for comment on Gill’s interview.
Spencer Pratt praises fierce GOP foe in rare bipartisan turn: ‘Major props’
Republican former Los Angeles mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt is giving rare praise to Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff after the California senator helped push through bipartisan disaster relief legislation benefiting wildfire victims like Pratt. “Major props to [Sen. Adam Schiff] and [Sen. Rick Scott] for working across the aisle to get this done,” Pratt wrote late last week. “Disaster recovery is hard enough as it is. A little bit of financial relief goes a long way. It’s easy to complain, but good leadership is very rare.” Pratt, who lost his home during the Palisades wildfire in 2025, was referencing the Doug LaMalfa Federal Disaster Tax Relief Certainty Act, which the Senate passed on Aug. 7, sending it to President Donald Trump’s desk for approval. KAREN BASS MEETS WITH TRUMP AT WHITE HOUSE TO PUSH FOR LA WILDFIRE RELIEF AFTER MONTHS OF CLASHES Under current rules, in order for an individual to claim a disaster relief tax break, the damage to their property resulting from a federally declared disaster must meet or exceed 10% of their adjusted gross income. Someone who makes $100,000 per year, for instance, must incur $10,000 in damages before they can deduct the damages from their tax bill. If the new disaster relief legislation is signed into law, that threshold would be removed for individuals who experienced disasters between December 28, 2019, and July 4, 2025, a period that covers the California wildfires, which destroyed the home of Pratt and many of Schiff’s other constituents. OLD TRAILS FIRE SUSPECT ALLEGEDLY CONFESSED TO SETTING 25 FIRES; JUDGE DOUBLES BAIL TO $2M “California politicians completely failed their residents after the fires. I flew to LA and met with [Pratt] at his burned-down lot. It was devastating,” Scott said of the legislation, which he and Schiff sponsored. “After meeting with him, we fought to get this done. I appreciate all of Spencer’s work in helping us deliver much-needed relief for wildfire victims.” Additionally, the bill designates all wildfire relief payments as untaxable income. The 2025 California wildfires destroyed nearly 13,000 housing units and caused between $28.0 billion and $53.8 billion in damages, according to the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation. EXCLUSIVE: WOMAN WHO STOLE $1.7M MEANT FOR HURRICANE VICTIMS GETS PRISON TIME AS DHS CRACKS DOWN ON FEMA FRAUD The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated that the Doug LaMalfa Federal Disaster Tax Relief Certainty Act will result in the federal government losing $408 million in revenue between 2026 and 2036. Pratt wasn’t the only Californian conservative to praise Schiff for his work to pass the disaster relief legislation. “Thank you [Scott] and [Schiff] for seeing this through,” James Johansson, a Republican farmer running for the California State Assembly, wrote on X. “With all that we’ve been through here in the North State we had no better champion and friend than [Rep. Doug LaMalfa]. Our friend is missed but leaves a big legacy for his constituents that won’t be forgotten.” LaMalfa, who the bill is named after, spent 13 years representing a northern California district in the House of Representatives, where he was an advocate for agricultural interests before dying in January following a heart-related medical emergency. He was known as an “affable, approachable and pragmatic lawmaker,” according to The Washington Post. Schiff’s office did not respond to a request for comment when reached by Fox News Digital on Monday.
US State Department has yanked more than 175k visas under Trump administration so far
FIRST ON FOX: The U.S. State Department announced on Monday that it has revoked more than 175,000 visas during President Donald Trump’s administration so far. The announcement comes less than two years since Trump started his second term. “Under President Trump, the United States Department of State has revoked more than 175,000 visas from foreign nationals who violated the terms of their visas, committed crimes, called for violence against U.S. citizens, defrauded Americans, abused our immigration system, or endangered national security,” the State Department noted. FOREIGN DRUNK DRIVERS COULD FACE SWIFT BOOT OUT OF COUNTRY UNDER TRUMP’S ‘AMERICA FIRST’ CRACKDOWN “The majority of these visas were revoked due to law enforcement encounters for a range of criminal activity, with assault, driving under the influence, theft, and drug crimes being the leading causes. A significant share of visas were revoked for reckless driving, sexual assault, child abuse, fraud and embezzlement, and other crimes,” according to the department. The department pointed to some examples of individuals who allegedly committed heinous crimes. TRUMP SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDERS TARGETING BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP, BIRTH TOURISM AFTER SUPREME COURT SETBACK It indicated some of the individuals whose visas were revoked included “A foreign national who was charged with felony rape and sexual battery – including of a victim who was mentally disabled” and “A foreign national charged with felony kidnapping, human trafficking, and sexual exploitation of a minor.” The department also pointed to the issue of birth tourism. “A U.S. embassy in North Africa revoked over 100 visas for ‘birth tourist’ parents who came to the United States primarily to give birth so their children would get U.S. citizenship,” the department noted. TRUMP ADMIN REVOKES BRAZILIAN AMBASSADOR’S VISA IN ESCALATING DIPLOMATIC FEUD “Under President Trump and Secretary Rubio’s leadership, the State Department will continue to identify, investigate, and revoke the visas of foreign nationals who threaten the safety of the American people. A U.S. visa is a privilege, not a right. The Department remains committed to using every tool available to protect our communities from those who abuse it,” the department declared. Fox News’ Nicholas Kalman contributed to this report.
Johnson turns Democrats’ socialist civil war into new weapon for midterms
FIRST ON FOX: House Republicans have adopted a new weapon on the campaign trail as they fight to keep control of Congress for the latter half of President Donald Trump’s term — using Democrats’ own intraparty civil war against them. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is unveiling a website on Monday that will highlight the contrast between what he calls “common sense and crazy.” The name for the new initiative is “Contrast for America,” a play on the Newt Gingrich-led “Contract with America” GOP policy platform used during the 1994 midterm election. That same year saw a massive red wave help the GOP retake the House and Senate for the latter two years of former President Bill Clinton’s first term, and Republicans are hoping to harness that energy now as they fight an uphill battle to retain the House and Senate. MIKE JOHNSON PREDICTS GOP COULD GAIN UP TO EIGHT SEATS IN MIDTERMS, DEFYING HISTORICAL TRENDS The website is divided into five separate parts, beginning with a video message from Johnson that includes a montage of Fox News clips and compares images of unrest in U.S. cities to videos of patriotic displays of the country’s 250th anniversary. “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. It must be fought for. It must be protected. It has to be taught, passed along to the next generation. Thirty-five years ago, Republicans and Democrats in Congress, they were fighting communism on a distant shore. Now it’s here,” Johnson says in the video. The website also includes a timeline of failed communist governments throughout the world, followed by dueling lists that show what Republicans are running on versus what Democrats’ far-left insurgency is pushing. SOCIALIST VICTORIES SHOW DEMS’ DESCENT DOWN ‘DEADLY PATH OF COMMUNISM,’ JOHNSON WARNS It comes as candidates linked to the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) surge to the top of Democratic primaries across the United States, even toppling establishment and progressive incumbents in places like Colorado and New York. Johnson’s website highlights those specific DSA-linked candidates along with Republicans who are endorsed by House GOP leaders. “House Republicans have delivered working families tax cuts to put more money in your pocket, a secure border, safer streets, American energy dominance, an end to woke indoctrination for our kids, and renewed American strength abroad. Meanwhile, Democrats have surrendered to the socialist and communist far-left that wants to abolish borders, defund police, abolish prisons, raise your taxes, and shred our Constitution, leaving America less safe, less prosperous, and less free,” Johnson told Fox News Digital in a statement. “By highlighting this decisive contrast for America and our common sense polices and America first candidates, House Republicans are ready to defy history and win the midterms.” 100 DAY SPRINT TO THE MIDTERMS KICKS OFF AS REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS CLASH FOR CONTROL ACROSS THE COUNTRY Political history shows that the party in power in the White House usually loses one or both houses of Congress during the midterm elections. But the slate of DSA victories is giving Republicans new hope that they can buck tradition. Among the DSA’s policy goals are abolishing the Senate, police, and the prison system, extending voting rights to noncitizen permanent residents, and establishing public ownership of large corporations. DSA candidates have also called for abolishing the nation’s borders and granting mass amnesty to people in the U.S. illegally. It’s a message Johnson has made on the campaign trail already as he’s campaigned in Wisconsin, North Carolina, Washington, Oregon, and Alaska, with plans to hit a total of 30 districts across 18 states. Whether the message is potent enough to buck decades of political history, however, will become clear in November.
Battleground Dem called patriotism ‘sensitive and controversial’ during debate over the Pledge of Allegiance
FIRST ON FOX: An Iowa Democrat seeking to flip one of the nation’s most competitive House seats in a rematch described patriotism as “sensitive and controversial” while also questioning the meaning of the Pledge of Allegiance in a recently resurfaced newsletter she published in the weeks after the January 6 Capitol riot. Former Iowa State Rep. Christina Bohannan of Iowa City, who is running against incumbent Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa, also criticized the politics around an Iowa bill she ultimately supported that mandated the Pledge of Allegiance for schoolchildren, urging Iowans to think critically about what the pledge means. “I acknowledge that patriotism is a sensitive and controversial subject,” Bohannan wrote in a 2021 newsletter put out by her State House office, while saying she remains patriotic herself. DEMS PUT ON BLAST OVER POLL THAT SHOWS RECORD-LOW PATRIOTISM IN US: ‘TEAR OUR SOCIETY APART’ “Many progressives have turned away from it. And I see the point, especially when the concept of patriotism has been so co-opted and distorted by the other side,” she wrote of Republicans. The newsletter has resurfaced as recent polling shows a partisan divide over displays of patriotism. AP polling released in June found that about six in 10 Democrats and independents said they never fly the American flag, while roughly seven in 10 Republicans said they display it at least on holidays. Bohannan wrote that the right viewpoint is to “not cede patriotism to anyone” but instead restore its definition as a belief in “democratic ideals of America and a willingness to fight to make those ideals a reality.” Bohannan went on to critique a February 2021 Republican-led bill, which ultimately passed, requiring the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance in public and certain private schools. Bohannan’s campaign manager, Dan Driscoll, told Fox News Digital that “Christina absolutely stands by her vote to require the Pledge of Allegiance in Iowa schools and her passionate defense of patriotism and the greatness of our country and democracy.” “That’s why in Congress she’ll put that into action by fighting to clean up Washington, enacting term limits and getting corporate money out of our elections, so our government focuses on working for Iowans — unlike Rep. Miller-Meeks who is funded by millions in special interest contributions while voting to raise drug, healthcare and energy costs.” FOX NEWS POLL: LOOKING AHEAD TO AMERICA’S 250TH ANNIVERSARY The bill passed 91-3-6 with Bohannan in favor, but she wrote about her reservations in the same newsletter. “It was clear that many of our Democratic members in swing districts would risk their seats for voting ‘no’ on this bill,” Bohannan wrote. “And even if those members voted for it, they would still be held accountable if other members of our caucus voted ‘no’. That is how deep the concept of patriotism runs.” “But we can reframe the issue in a way that is true to our values.” IOWA DEM ADMITS BEING ‘UNCOMFORTABLE’ WITH WHITENESS AS SHE SEEKS TO FLIP COMPETITIVE HOUSE SEAT Bohannan said in floor remarks at the time that she supported the bill not because she wanted children to “mechanically” recite the oath but because she wanted to give them the opportunity to “think critically” about the words they are saying and whether the U.S. is “living up to them.” “For example, the pledge is not just to the flag, but to the republic for which it stands. So our kids might ask whether our republic can last when our leaders fail to denounce those who subvert our democracy.” Miller-Meeks, a retired Army lieutenant colonel and medic, told Fox News Digital that patriotism “has never been controversial to me, not in the 24 years I served this country and not now.” “Bohannan and her DSA allies are free to call loving America ‘controversial,’ but they have no business representing Iowa,” Miller-Meeks said. Zach Kraft, a spokesman for the Republican National Committee, said Bohannan’s comments were predictable in light of prior controversial support she offered for the left-wing pro-DEI “1619 Project.” ‘QUEEN OF DEI’ RUNNING FOR CONGRESS RIPPED HER RURAL STATE AS ‘BACKWARDS’ ON PODCAST “Leave it to the Queen of DEI to hate America,” Kraft told Fox News Digital. “Only a true… woke warrior like Christina Bohannan could find patriotism offensive but see nothing wrong with calling Iowans backwards for believing in basic biology.” Bohannan warned against a bill prohibiting diversity and “implicit bias” training at schools and universities statewide, calling the Hawkeye State potentially “backward” if it passed. BATTLEGROUND DEMOCRAT FLIP-FLOPS ON CONVERSION THERAPY AFTER LEFT-WING BACKLASH SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER “I think that it is going to be very divisive if passed. I think that it’s going to send a very bad message about Iowa and that it is going to seem like are kind of this backwards state that doesn’t understand there are things like systemic racism.” Miller-Meeks previously defeated Bohannan by about six percentage points in 2022, but the Democrat narrowly lost in 2024 in a race that triggered a recount and resulted in the Republican being re-elected by about 800 votes. The district, which includes Davenport and Iowa City, home to the University of Iowa, is competing with Rep. Zach Nunn’s district to the west for the distinction of being the most competitive in the state. Fox News Digital’s Elaine Mallon contributed to this report.
Trump’s DC law-and-order blitz marks one year with eye-popping haul of suspects
FIRST ON FOX: The Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force will mark its first anniversary Tuesday after making more than 16,000 arrests since its launch, Fox News Digital has learned exclusively, as the Trump administration points to the results of its sweeping crackdown on violent crime in the nation’s capital. “Under President Trump’s leadership, the Department of Justice and our law enforcement partners have delivered extraordinary results in our nation’s capital. More than 16,000 arrests, thousands of illegal drugs and firearms taken off the streets, and dangerous violent offenders brought to justice mean safer neighborhoods and lives protected,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “We will not relent until every community in Washington, D.C., is safe.” The task force launched Aug. 11, 2025, bringing federal, state and local law enforcement together after Trump declared a crime emergency in Washington, D.C. Trump also deployed National Guard troops, drawing criticism from Democratic officials. DC MURDER RATE SEES ASTONISHING TURNAROUND AS TRUMP TEAM CREDITS FEDERAL CRACKDOWN The operation has led to the arrests of 35 homicide suspects and more than 100 known gang members, along with more than 3,200 narcotics arrests, nearly 2,000 illegal guns seized, and 25 missing children located and returned home, according to a White House official. “President Trump has transformed our nation’s capital from a crime-ridden city into a safe and beautiful haven for residents and visitors alike. The president’s Safe and Beautiful Task Force have made more than 16,000 arrests, including murderers, sex offenders, drug traffickers and other violent criminals,” said White House spokesperson Lauren Bis. “The Task Force has driven down crime, beautified the city, and improved quality of life for countless individuals,” she added. The operation followed the June 2025 killing of 21-year-old congressional intern Eric Tarpinian and a series of high-profile violent crimes, including the beating of a former DOGE staffer and the shooting death of a 14-year-old boy in a case involving MS-13 gang members. BLUE CITY’S STAGGERING 40% VIOLENT CRIME DROP A ‘BLUEPRINT FOR OTHER CITIES,’ LAW ENFORCEMENT EXPERT SAYS “The men and women of the U.S. Marshals Service, along with our partners from so many federal and local agencies, have tirelessly worked to make D.C. safer for those who live here and for those who visit our nation’s capital,” said U.S. Marshals Service Director Gadyaces Serralta. “This operation shows the relentless dedication we have to investigate and apprehend the most violent, dangerous fugitives,” Serralta added. “When law enforcement works together, the impact is exponential. The D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force is proof of that the whole-of-government approach works.” Last year, Trump increased the federal law enforcement presence in Washington, D.C., deploying hundreds of federal agents and National Guard troops to the streets to combat crime. The decision drew pushback, with “No Kings” protests across the country and Democratic leaders saying the troops were not welcome. DC GUARD SHOOTING SUSPECT STARES DOWN DEATH PENALTY IN FIRST COURT APPEARANCE Mayor Muriel Bowser previously slammed Trump for the move, saying, “I don’t think it’s legal, let me start there, for the National Guard to police Americans on American soil.” “We use the Guard to respond to emergencies. We use the Guard for large scale events. We do not use the Guard to police our local laws,” she said in October. In November, two National Guard members were ambushed in downtown D.C. when 29-year-old Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal opened fire. Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, 20, of the West Virginia National Guard, was shot in the head and died the following day, Thanksgiving. Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, then 24, was also shot in the head and critically injured but survived. 173 HOUSE DEMOCRATS VOTE AGAINST RESOLUTION HONORING POLICE AMID RISING ATTACKS SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER “The true impact of the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful mission is written not only in statistics, but the impact on our community. It is found in the courage of those who serve so that others could move through our nation’s capital with greater safety and peace,” said Brigadier General Leland D. Blanchard II, Commanding General (Interim) of the District of Columbia National Guard. “Alongside the U.S. Marshals Service and our law enforcement partners, our Guardsmen have answered that call with discipline, compassion and resolve. Sgt. Sarah Beckstrom gave the last full measure of devotion, and Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe endured a profound sacrifice in service to others. Their courage will forever be part of this mission’s legacy,” Blanchard added. “We honor them by carrying the work forward — united in purpose, steadfast in service, and committed to protect the people of Washington, D.C.”
Dems hammer Mace for saying all Muslims in public office are ‘a trojan horse’
Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., asserted that all Muslim public servants in the U.S. pose a threat to the nation. “Every single Muslim holding public office in America is a trojan horse, and a threat to both national security and our republic,” Mace declared in a Friday post on X. “We refuse to be silent.” Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., condemned Mace’s comments and insisted that Republicans should do so as well. EL-SAYED TOUTS ENDORSEMENT FROM PASTOR WHO PRAISED NOTORIOUS ANTISEMITE INFAMOUS FOR CALLING JEWS ‘TERMITES’ “This is absolutely disgusting and dangerous. Republicans must denounce this blatant Islamophobia. To Muslim communities across America: I will always stand with you,” Jayapal wrote in a Saturday post on X. Mace, in part of a post replying to Jayapal, wrote, “Islam must be confronted and Islam must be removed from civil society in the US.” IMAM WHO PRAYED BEFORE CONGRESS FACES FORMAL REBUKE AFTER CELEBRATING GRAHAM’S DEATH California state Sen. Scott Wiener, who is running for the U.S. House in San Francisco, wrote, “Nancy Mace is on yet another bender demonizing Muslims and advocating to strip them of full citizenship. She is a vile person.” Owen Jones, a British man who describes himself on X as a “Socialist, antifascist, writer in various places,” shared Mace’s post and wrote in a Saturday post, “This is a Republican Congresswoman. If she spoke like this about Jewish Americans, she would right be regarded as a loud-and-proud Nazi. Islamophobia is spiralling out of control in the US.” Mace shared Jones’ post and wrote on Sunday, “If not wanting to be blown up, stabbed, or rammed by a car by a radical Islamist in the United States of America makes us Islamophobes, then so be it.” DEMS IN THE HOT SEAT FOR SKIPPING CRUCIAL HEARING ON RADICAL GROUP HIDING IN US: ‘EMBARRASSMENT’ Mace, who has served in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2021, ran unsuccessfully in the Republican South Carolina gubernatorial primary this year.