Illegal alien sentenced to 50 years for producing child pornography involving own relatives: ‘Monster’
FIRST ON FOX: An illegal alien living in California who used his underage niece with special needs and his nephew to produce child pornography was sentenced Monday to 50 years in prison. Angel Emilio Rodriguez-Marroquin, a Guatemalan citizen, initially pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including producing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) that featured his own niece and nephew, both 8, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said. “This depraved illegal alien from Guatemala pleaded guilty to producing and possessing child pornography, which included footage of him assaulting his own nephew and niece with special needs,” said Acting Assistant DHS Secretary Lauren Bis. “This monster would not have been in our country in the first place if it weren’t for the Biden Administration’s disastrous open borders that released him into our country.” MEXICAN ILLEGAL ALIEN ALLEGEDLY USED ROBLOX CURRENCY TO SOLICIT EXPLICIT CONTENT FROM KIDS UNDER 10 Rodriguez-Marroquin was arrested on Nov. 22, 2025, by federal authorities on suspicion of production of child pornography and possession of child pornography. In addition to his conviction in the U.S., he is also the subject of a child exploitation investigation in Guatemala, which is being led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT TRUCKER ACCUSED IN FATAL CALIFORNIA CRASH RELEASED BY BIDEN ADMIN AFTER 2022 BORDER CROSSING Fox News Digital has reached out to his legal team. Rodriguez-Marroquin first illegally entered the U.S. in 2024 and was released by the Biden administration, DHS said. The Trump administration has blamed Biden immigration policies for the influx of illegal immigrants into the U.S., which led to a surge in crime. “In just the first months of 2026, the Trump Administration has arrested scores of depraved illegal alien killers, rapists, and violent sexual predators who were enabled, protected, and unleashed by the Radical Left’s open borders agenda — policies Democrats are desperate to restore,” the White House said in an April 10 news release highlighting some of the worst offenders.
Trump roasts Dem candidate as unelectable for cardinal sin in Texas
President Donald Trump is confident that his pick for U.S. Senate in the Lone Star State will easily defeat Democrat James Talarico, whom he called unelectable because “he’s a vegan in Texas.” Talarico is a prominent state lawmaker who was only recently propelled to the national stage after winning the Democratic Senate nomination in Texas earlier this year. He has been widely lambasted by conservatives for his history of controversial statements, including claiming, “God is non-binary” and that “sex is a spectrum.” While speaking with reporters before boarding Air Force One on Wednesday morning, Trump predicted that Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who he endorsed this week, will “win very substantially” in the upcoming primary runoff with incumbent Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. He then forecasted that Paxton would “go on to defeat a very defective candidate that believes in six genders, and he takes hits at Jesus Christ, and he’s wearing a mask six months ago, anybody wearing a mask six months ago doesn’t get it.” ‘GOD IS NON-BINARY’: TEXAS DEM NOMINEE TALARICO’S PAST REMARKS ON ABORTION, RACE AND GENDER DRAW SCRUTINY He then ripped into Talarico, saying, “And he’s vegan, he’s a vegan in Texas.” “You can’t get elected as a vegan in Texas,” Trump insisted. Trump’s comments reference an unearthed 2022 clip of Talarico giving a speech and calling reducing meat consumption “existential.” “We have heard, I think, heard more and more issues of animal welfare. I think, not just because it’s the right thing to do, and it’s the moral thing to do, but also… necessary to fight climate change,” Talarico said, adding, “It is now existential that we try to reduce our meat consumption, and that we try to respect animals.” “So, I am proud to say that our campaign has officially become a non-meat campaign,” Talarico continued. “So, we are only buying vegan products from our local vegan businesses.” Talarico can be seen wearing a mask during the speech. TEXAS TEEN TELLS CONGRESS HE RECEIVED DEATH THREATS AFTER REVEALING ISLAMIC BOOTH AT HIGH SCHOOL His resurfaced comments caused a significant stir in Texas, where beef cattle production is a multibillion-dollar industry and the state’s largest agricultural segment. “Who wants to tell him that cattle is the #1 commodity in Texas?” the National Republican Senatorial Committee, Senate Republicans’ campaign arm, wrote on X. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, labeled Talarico a “freak” who wants to “ban BBQ.” “Vote Republican this November. The steaks couldn’t be higher,” Cornyn wrote. Amid the backlash, the Talarico campaign blasted out a photo of the candidate wearing a Texas flag shirt and taking a large bite out of a turkey leg. “Official Statement from James Talarico on Vegan Accusations,” the campaign wrote. TRUMP BACKS PAXTON IN TEXAS REPUBLICAN SENATE SHOWDOWN WITH CORNYN In response to Trump’s criticisms on Wednesday, JT Ennis, a spokesperson for Talarico’s campaign, told Fox News Digital that “as costs continue to rise and corruption in Washington runs rampant, James is focused on taking power back for working people and bringing down the price of gas, groceries, and healthcare.” “James is building a people-powered movement to take on this broken, corrupt political system — not any one politician, not any one political party, but the billionaire mega donors and puppet politicians who have made life more expensive for Texans while enriching themselves,” said Ennis.
Eyebrow-raising claim from ‘Hunter Biden’ X account draws GOP mockery
A newly active X account bearing former first son Hunter Biden’s name drew mockery from GOP lawmakers and prominent social media personalities after posting its first message Tuesday. “Your laptop’s reputation precedes you,” Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackburn wrote in response to the “@HunterBiden” account. Fox News Digital reached out to X and Hunter Biden’s art gallery to verify if the account belongs to the former president’s son, but did not receive confirmation. The account has garnered thousands of followers and interactions since Tuesday, when it launched its first message. “I’m Hunter Biden. You’ve never actually heard from me,” the account blaring the former first son’s name posted. The account’s profile reads: “Artist. Author. Recovery Advocate.” HUNTER BIDEN HELPED MAKE CAMPAIGN DECISIONS, WAS MAJOR FIXTURE IN FATHER’S ORBIT, AUTHOR SAYS Hunter, 56, has re-emerged in the public spotlight as he attempts to rebuild his image following years of controversy involving drug addiction, legal troubles and scrutiny surrounding his personal life. The X account, @HunterBiden, was first launched in 2013, according to a Fox News Digital review, but posted its first public message on Tuesday. Hunter Biden’s art gallery website is linked to the X account, while the art gallery’s website links to the X account, a YouTube page and a Substack account. The tweet sparked a wave of mockery aimed at the younger Biden, as well as a handful of accounts quipping that the former first son would allegedly launch a 2028 run. “We’ve heard plenty,” Republican Indiana Sen. Jim Banks responded to the account. “Trust me, we’ve heard and seen ENOUGH from you,” Republican Missouri Rep. Jason Smith chimed in. Other social media users quickly piled onto the alleged Hunter Biden post, resurfacing past controversies and even floating him as a potential political candidate. “Oh this oughta be good,” said conservative commentator Nick Sortor in an X response. “Very real chance he doesn’t remember that we have, in fact, heard from him in hours of podcasting before now,” said Fox News contributor Mary Katharine Ham. “The 2028 Dark Horse Candidate,” wrote one X user, while another added “He’s running.” MAMDANI’S WIFE’S ‘STUDENT SKETCHBOOK’ ART IS HUNTER BIDEN EFFECT ALL OVER AGAIN, SAYS US ARTIST Additionally, Candace Owens tagged the X account in a trailer for her upcoming interview with Hunter Biden, who is continuing a media tour following years of controversy while under the public spotlight. The @HunterBiden account reposted the video, writing, “She’s got questions. I’ve got answers. Thursday.” JOE BIDEN POSES WITH HUNTER’S CHINESE BUSINESS ASSOCIATES IN NEWLY SURFACED PHOTOS: ‘INCREDIBLY DAMNING’ HUNTER BIDEN’S FINANCIAL WOES REVEALED IN NEW MOTION TO DROP LAWSUIT: ‘SIGNIFICANT DEBT’ Hunter Biden has been involved in a string of controversies spanning his foreign business dealings, tax and gun charges, and scrutiny tied to his family’s political connections. Hunter received a pardon from President Joe Biden for any offense he “has committed or may have committed” from Jan. 1, 2014, to Dec. 1, 2024, before his father left office. In September 2024, Hunter Biden pleaded guilty to nine federal tax charges in California for a scheme evading over $1.4 million in taxes from 2016 to 2019. He was also convicted in Delaware in June 2024 for lying on a federal form about his drug use to purchase a firearm in 2018. Hunter published a memoir titled “Beautiful Things: A Memoir” in 2021, detailing his battle with severe substance abuse and family tragedies from his own perspective.
Trump jolts immigration hawks with surprising defense of Chinese students in USA
President Donald Trump split with immigration hawks by defending Chinese students in the U.S. while also softening on Chinese-owned farmland — creating friction inside MAGA and unexpected overlap with moderate Democrats. Fox News’ Sean Hannity asked Trump in a recent interview from Beijing about concerns surrounding Chinese nationals attending school in the U.S. and China-linked entities purchasing farmland, including in sensitive areas like near a North Dakota military base that raised eyebrows earlier this decade. Republicans have long warned that Chinese student visa programs could expose U.S. research and state secrets to the Chinese Communist Party, while GOP officials like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Nebraska Sen. Deb Fischer have pushed for tougher restrictions on Chinese ownership of American farmland. “It’s not that I love it. You want to see farm prices drop; you want to see farmers lose a lot of money just take that out of the market. But they’ve had a lot of land for a long time. Obama did nothing about it,” Trump said. SENATORS RICKETTS, FETTERMAN UNITE AGAINST CHINA’S QUIET INVASION OF US FARMLAND Trump also defended allowing Chinese students to study in the U.S., calling them “good students” and arguing that banning them would unnecessarily inflame tensions with Beijing. “I frankly think that it’s good that people come from other countries and they learn our culture and many of them want to stay here,” Trump said, while admitting that it “doesn’t sound like a very conservative position – and I’m a conservative… commonsense guy. I think MAGA is ‘common sense,’” he said. The comments triggered backlash from the right wing of the MAGA movement, with former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene disputing, “No — that’s not commonsense.” “Trump says it’s insulting to tell China their students can’t go to our universities, imagine being an American student and receiving a rejection letter while 500,000 Chinese students get in,” Greene said, according to the left-wing New Republic. “And no – it’s not OK for China to buy our farmland.” Some Democrats, however, appeared heartened by Trump’s more moderate stance on a major sticking point in the immigration field. Fox News Digital reached out to top Democrats on the moderate New Democrat Coalition’s Border Security Working Group. Chairman Gabe Vasquez of New Mexico told Fox News Digital that while he disagrees with Trump “on a lot” regarding immigration enforcement, he will continue to support efforts to bring new blood into the American economy. “I have long supported building America’s workforce by encouraging the best and brightest across the world to come study in the U.S. and build their careers and families here,” said Vasquez. “Congress should expand more legal pathways for students to stay here and start businesses, grow the American economy, and help our country fill critical needs in key industries like healthcare, manufacturing, quantum AI and engineering.” A Vasquez spokesperson added that the lawmaker, however, agrees with conservatives on one point where Trump differed — that Chinese nationals should not be permitted to purchase U.S. farmland. “Food security is national security,” the spokesperson said. Speaking to Hannity, Trump added: “I could tell [Xi], I don’t want any students, it’s a very insulting thing to say to a country. They would then immediately go out and start building universities all over China.” Trump argued that without the influx of Chinese students, middling and lower-tier universities would begin dying on the vine financially. Lora Ries, former counsel for the House Judiciary Committee’s immigration subcommittee and a 30-year policy expert now with the Heritage Foundation, told Fox News Digital that universities have grown too dependent on foreign students because they often pay “full freight” — and made the case for scrutinizing the education system rather than keeping it propped up with foreign tuition. TRUMP CLAIMS GOP ‘VERY OPEN’ TO KEEPING ‘DREAMERS’ IN US, TAKES SHOT AT ‘VERY DIFFICULT’ DEMS “It is no longer a level playing field for American students to get into these universities. We also know many of these universities are producing degrees that don’t have a great return on investment: gender studies, et cetera. So why on earth do we want to keep universities that depend on those sorts of degrees afloat?” Ries said. “We shouldn’t justify continuing to bring in high levels of foreign students to keep so many universities in business when the Big-Ed model is absolutely upside-down.” According to Ries, Chinese and other foreign student blocs exacerbate the difficulty American students face getting into colleges — while native students are also not finding meaningful jobs after graduation. Ries said the issue is “right up Trump’s alley,” but not in the way the president posited on “Hannity.” She said Trump could shake up “Big-Ed” by incentivizing quality degrees and disincentivizing ones that leave American graduates occupationally stranded. FOREIGN STUDENTS WHO HATE AMERICA DON’T DESERVE VISAS — AND WE HAVE TOOLS TO STOP THEM When it comes to the adage about jobs Americans supposedly won’t do, she pointed to the medical field, which has seen an influx of foreign students. “You can’t say medicine is a job that Americans won’t do, so what’s going on?” she said. She also noted that Chinese nationals cannot come to live in America without the knowledge of — and often information-sharing with — the CCP, which itself poses a risk. “Also, Chairman Xi can say, ‘Well, America is in decline,’ as he just did in this summit.” When asked for comment, a White House spokesperson directed Fox News Digital to the president’s remarks to Hannity. Trump’s comments set up a new potential divergence between presidential policy and conservative politics among some of his current and former most ardent supporters, including Greene. It also, however, potentially opens up a rare immigration dialogue with Democrats like Vasquez and his coalition of moderates, who have been trying to advance their own fixes to the broken system.
Dem candidate’s Zionist castration rant sparks firestorm as party leaders rewrite narrative to target GOP
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and other Democrats responded to a Democratic congressional candidate’s “antisemitic” rant about jailing and castrating “American Zionists” by attempting to shift the blame to Republicans. After progressive Democrat Maureen Galindo stirred up a firestorm of controversy for pledging to open a “prison for American Zionists and former ICE officers,” Jeffries and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) said in a joint statement that “MAGA extremists should be ashamed of themselves.” Jeffries and the DCCC accused GOP leaders of backing Galindo, saying, “House Republican leadership must immediately cease propping up this antisemitic candidacy, pull spending in the race and forcefully condemn these comments.” “This vile language by her is disqualifying and has no place in American politics, and certainly not in the Democratic Party,” Jeffries and the DCCC said in the statement, adding, “To embrace and uplift a fringe candidate with antisemitic — and extremely dangerous — rhetoric and views in order to win an election is beyond the pale.” HAKEEM JEFFRIES SHREDDED OVER ‘DISGUSTINGLY VIOLENT’ CALL FOR DEMS TO BREAK SPIRIT OF MAGA “Texans will not be fooled and will reject her at the ballot box next week,” they added. Galindo, who is currently locked in a primary runoff for a Texas congressional seat, is under fire after pledging in a social media post to turn a local ICE center into a “prison for American Zionists and former ICE officers.” She also said in the post that the prison “will also be a castration processing center for pedophiles, which will probably be most of the Zionists.” Earlier this month, the DCCC accused “Washington Republicans” of secretly contributing to Galindo’s campaign through dark money spending. Galindo and her primary opponent, Johnny Garcia, who has been endorsed by the DCCC, are set to face off in a runoff election next week. In their first matchup, Galindo had a narrow lead over Garcia, 29 to 27 percent, though neither candidate came close to clearing the 50 percent threshold required to win the nomination. Jeffries and the DCCC were not the only ones attempting to point the finger at Republicans after Galindo’s comments. Ocasio-Cortez called Galindo’s comments “absolutely disgusting,” writing on X that her “bigoted garbage and antisemitism should be nowhere near our politics.” AOC ACCUSES ISRAEL OF GENOCIDE IN GERMANY WHERE HOLOCAUST WAS LAUNCHED, SPARKING OUTRAGE She urged Texans in the district to vote for Garcia, writing, “the donors behind the Republican super PAC funding her should be exposed.” On the other side of the aisle, Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., wrote, “I am rarely shocked. But this heinous antisemitic statement is truly shocking.” She emphasized that “Every elected Democrat needs to publicly condemn this immediately.” In the upper chamber of Congress, Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., called it “beyond despicable” that “a Democrat candidate is openly calling for a Jewish concentration camp in the United States of America in 2026.” Despite this, more Democrats accused Republicans of backing the Texas progressive candidate. Rep. Christian Menefee, D-Texas, wrote on X, “Republicans should stop propping up her sham candidacy.” Menefee added that he was “disgusted to see these antisemitic comments from a so-called Texas Democrat,” writing that Galindo “has no place in our party and no place in Congress.” DEMS UNDER FIRE FOR ‘MALIGN CHINESE INFLUENCE’ AS SHOCKING SPY MAYOR DONATIONS UNCOVERED: ‘HOW MANY MORE?’ Meanwhile, one of the top Democrats on the Texas ballot this November, state Rep. James Talarico, who is running for a critical Senate seat, responded to the controversy by saying, “We need leadership in both parties willing to stand up and call out hate wherever it rears its ugly head,” according to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Talarico also said, “This antisemitic rhetoric has no place in our politics,” according to the agency. Fox News Digital reached out to Galindo for comment. Fox News Digital’s Louis Casiano and Brittany Miller contributed to this report.
Two newcomers gear up for fight in Alabama, but face uphill battle in race to replace Tuberville
Two Democrats running to replace Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., are set to duke it out for the Democratic nomination next month. Tuberville’s decision to vacate his seat in the upper chamber and pursue a gubernatorial bid in Alabama triggered a mad dash from both parties to find his replacement. While several Republicans with elected experience were jockeying for the job, the Democratic field was filled with fresh political blood. Everett Wess and Dakarai Lariett were the top vote getters in the race, and due to Alabama’s runoff rules, will again square off on June 16. TRUMP BACKS PAXTON IN TEXAS REPUBLICAN SENATE SHOWDOWN WITH CORNYN The duo, neither of whom have held elected office before, emerged from a four-way primary in deep red Alabama. And while the state has largely had Republican representation in the Senate for decades, save for former Sen. Doug Jones’s, D-Ala., stint in office after winning a special election in 2017, Democrats are still hopeful they can make headway there. But given the historical grip that the GOP has had on the state, it’ll be an uphill battle come November. Meanwhile, Republicans got a step closer to finding their anointed successor to Tuberville Tuesday night. ALABAMA AG MAKES SUPREME COURT PLAY THAT COULD DEAL DECISIVE BLOW IN REDISTRICTING WAR But determining which candidate will come out on top is still weeks away, given that several Republican hopefuls jumped into the race. And in Alabama, if a candidate doesn’t get a majority of votes, a runoff is triggered. Out of the field of seven candidates, Rep. Barry Moore, R-Ala., and Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall emerged from the clash. They will again square off on June 16. TRUMP’S EARLIEST SUPPORTER ANNOUNCES BID FOR ALABAMA SENATE SEAT It will also be another test of President Donald Trump’s endorsement power in Alabama, where his track record has not been 100%. Moore, who announced his candidacy to Fox News Digital last year, has Trump’s backing. It’s an endorsement he re-upped during a recent tele-rally urging support for the three-term member of the House. “He’s a true America First Patriot who’s been with me from the very beginning,” Trump said during the rally.
Unions that paralyzed New York commute over pay spent millions on luxury travel, filings show
Five unions involved in the Long Island Rail Road strike earlier this week reported more than $3.2 million in 2025 spending on hotels, resorts, restaurants and event venues, according to Labor Department disclosures reviewed by Fox News Digital. The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and Transportation Communications Union collectively spent upwards of $3.2 million on premium accommodations in 2025, according to union disclosures reviewed by Fox News Digital. Unions typically cut checks for high-end hotels to cover the costs of holding events, such as trainings or conferences. They also use luxury venues for lodging and work meals when traveling the country on union-related business. The disclosures offer a window into how the unions spent money on travel, conferences and event venues during the same year they argued workers were being squeezed by rising costs. The strike disrupted hundreds of thousands of daily riders and cost the region an estimated $61 million per day. NY GOVERNOR BLAMED FOR ‘LACK OF LEADERSHIP’ AS RAILROAD STRIKE DISRUPTS MORE THAN 300,000 COMMUTERS LM-2 forms are annual financial disclosure reports that labor unions file with the Department of Labor, detailing receipts, disbursements, officer payments and other spending. Fox News Digital reviewed 2025 LM-2 forms filed with the Labor Department by the five unions involved in the LIRR strike, identifying payments to hotels that market themselves as premium, resorts, casinos and restaurants where menu prices sit above typical casual dining costs. The reported payments included Las Vegas casino hotels, upscale restaurants, beachfront resorts and golf-related venues. Union-backed rail workers went on strike on May 16, arguing that their wage growth had not kept pace with the rising cost of living, effectively shutting down the largest commuter rail line in the country. Unions have since reached an agreement with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which owns the LIRR, though the details have not been made public. PAYROLL DATA EXPOSES SIX-FIGURE SALARIES BEHIND TRANSIT STRIKE GRINDING NYC TRAVEL TO A HALT Discussions between unions and the MTA had been ongoing since 2023. While negotiating with the MTA on the grounds that their workers were being underpaid, the unions reported large payments to hotels, resorts, casinos and restaurants. BLET and IAM collectively spent about half a million dollars at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas in 2025, according to disclosures. The spending covered lodging and event expenses. TCU, meanwhile, spent $856,403 at Caesar’s Hotel in Reno, Nevada, which also offers gambling. These payments covered expenses related to hosting events at the venues. LAS VEGAS VISITORS SHOCKED AT ‘CRAZY’ COSTS, FROM $14 COFFEES TO $95 ATM FEES Caesars Palace is one of the most iconic hotels and casinos in Las Vegas. Its in-house casino boasts 185 table games, over 1,300 slot machines and sports betting. Guests at the palace have access to poolside bars, spa service, a private hair salon, a limo service, a nightclub, an in-room massage service and a sauna. While in Las Vegas, the unions ran up large tabs at upscale restaurants. RESTAURANT SURCHARGE STIRS UP CONTROVERSY: ‘BUSINESS OWNER SHOULD BE EMBARRASSED’ The IAM, for instance, spent $6,806 at the Strip House, where the cheapest steak on the menu, an 8-ounce filet, costs $67 and the most expensive, a porterhouse, runs $155. The TCU, meanwhile, spent over $20,000 at Peter Luger Steak House, where steaks range in price from $90 to $320, and famously claims to have around $1 million worth of dry-aged prime beef on hand at all times. Waterfront resorts also appeared in the disclosures in 2025. BLET spent $107,375 at the Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort, the IBEW paid about $130,000 to TradeWinds Island Resort in Florida, plus an additional $130,000 for expenses at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, a popular vacation destination. Other major labor organizations have reported similar payments to hotels, resorts, restaurants and event venues in federal labor disclosures. Major labor organizations such as the National Education Association, the American Federation of Teachers, the International Longshoremen’s Association and the Service Employees International Union have all reported similar expenses. “To every LIRR passenger whose trip is disrupted, know that the MTA left us no choice but to strike,” Gil Lang, general chairman of the BLET’s LIRR General Committee, said of the strike. “We don’t want to be on the picket line. But after three years without raises, we cannot make any more compromises to cover for the MTA’s mismanagement.” The LIRR strike, which began on May 16 and concluded at noon on Tuesday, was expected to cost the New York region an estimated $61 million per day and disrupted travel plans for about 270,000 people each day it went on. Scores of New Yorkers told media outlets that they had to wake up in the early hours of the morning and embark on hours-long commutes just to make it into work without train service. While an agreement has been reached to end the strike involving the five unions, details of the underlying deal have not been publicly released as labor representatives still need to formally approve the contract. The five unions involved in the strike did not respond when reached for comment by Fox News Digital on Tuesday.
Fmr Dem Rep Barney Frank, sharp-tongued liberal trailblazer and Dodd-Frank co-author, dies
Former Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., whose biting wit, liberal politics and mastery of financial policy made him one of the most recognizable members of Congress for more than three decades, has died at 86. Frank died late Tuesday, Jim Segel, Frank’s former campaign manager and close friend, confirmed to The Associated Press. “I have been trying to decide, by the way, personally, whether it’s better to be an icon or an emoji,” Frank, with his caustic wit, told CNN’s “State of the Union” in a May 3 interview while in hospice for congestive heart failure. He disclosed before his death that his condition had left him with little energy but not much pain. “Essentially, after 86 years, my heart’s just wearing out,” Frank, who appeared gaunt, told Jake Tapper. Frank represented Massachusetts in the House from 1981 to 2013, serving 16 terms and becoming chairman of the House Financial Services Committee during the 2008 financial crisis. His name became attached to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the sweeping 2010 law he co-authored with then-Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., after the collapse of the housing market and the near-failure of the U.S. financial system. FORMER NY DEMOCRATIC REP CHARLIE RANGEL DEAD AT 94 The law, signed by President Barack Obama on July 21, 2010, imposed new rules on major financial firms, derivatives, mortgage lending and consumer protection. For supporters, Dodd-Frank was the most consequential financial regulatory overhaul since the New Deal, an attempt to rein in Wall Street excess and prevent another taxpayer-backed rescue of large institutions. For Republican critics, including President Donald Trump, it became a symbol of regulatory overreach. It was partially repealed in 2018, providing regulatory relief to community and mid-sized banks. For Frank, it was the capstone of a career built on unapologetic liberalism, legislative detail and a willingness to fight in public. HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS DISCOVER THE BIG SECRET ABOUT CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION Frank was also a pioneer for gay rights in American politics. In 1987, while already serving in Congress, he publicly came out as gay, becoming the first sitting member of Congress to do so voluntarily. He later became the first sitting U.S. representative to enter into a same-sex marriage when he married his longtime partner Jim Ready in 2012. He then retired after more than 30 years in the House. Born Barnett Frank on March 31, 1940, in Bayonne, New Jersey, he graduated from Harvard University in 1962 and later earned a law degree from Harvard Law School. He worked for Boston Mayor Kevin White and Rep. Michael Harrington before winning a seat in the Massachusetts Legislature in 1972. He served there until his election to Congress in 1980. DEMOCRAT MASSACHUSETTS LAWMAKER ARRESTED FOR FRAUD, USED STOLEN FUNDS TO PURCHASE ‘PSYCHIC SERVICES’: FEDS Frank’s first bill as a Massachusetts lawmaker sought to bar discrimination in housing and employment based on sexual orientation, an early marker of the civil rights work that would define much of his public life. The bill failed, but Frank later pointed to the gay rights movement’s incremental strategy as a model for other causes. While Frank says Democrats and the broader left made progress forcing inequality onto the national agenda, he warned about contentious cultural issues dividing and taking over the party. He wrote a book before his time in hospice, which is due to be released Sept. 15: “The Hard Path to Unity: Why We Must Reform the Left to Rescue Democracy.” America has, he postulated, “enabled people who wanted to use that as a platform for a wide range of social and cultural changes, some of which the public isn’t ready for.” KNIVES OUT FOR FETTERMAN: MAVERICK SENATOR JOINS LONG LINE OF DEMS PUNISHED FOR BREAKING FROM LEFT “Even when I agree with them on the end, I think they make a mistake by taking the most controversial parts of the agenda and turning them into litmus tests,” he added. Even in hospice, Frank remained politically engaged and characteristically unsparing, rejecting the biggest, newest voices in the Democratic Party for turning America away from the standard-bearers. “I am concerned that, among some in my party, there has been a flavor of the month tendency, so that someone who is new and hasn’t been able to do much is somehow preferred over people who understand the importance of hard work to get controversial things adopted,” he said. RESIGNATION IS THE NEW ESCAPE HATCH AS LAWMAKERS FACE EXPULSION Frank’s career was not without controversy. In 1990, the House reprimanded him for improper use of political influence involving parking tickets and probation officers for a personal friend. The reprimand did not end his career; he won re-election that year and continued to build influence, eventually rising to chair the Financial Services Committee. Frank was at the center of Congress’ response to the 2007-09 financial crisis, helping negotiate legislation aimed at tightening oversight of banks and nonbank financial firms, increasing transparency in derivatives markets, creating the Financial Stability Oversight Council and strengthening mortgage-lending standards. His papers, held by the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, document a career that touched financial reform, gay rights, housing policy, immigration, military spending, environmental protection and local Massachusetts issues, including fishing regulation and commuter rail. Asked what he wanted people to remember about him, Frank deflected with the dry humor that made him a favorite of political reporters and a feared opponent in hearings. “Oh, that I was smart enough and learned enough about the reaction not to answer that question,” he said. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The red states charging ahead with America’s wealth as rivals watch billions slip away
Americans and their billions in income are streaming to Southern and Sun Belt states while several coastal counterparts suffer the losses of residents, wealth and, in turn, political influence, according to IRS migration data. The relocation patterns are increasingly reshaping population pockets in the U.S. and where economic and political power is concentrated ahead of the 2026 midterms. As residents and wealth continue flowing into fast-growing red states, the shifts influence housing markets, state economies, congressional clout and the balance of power. That shift is already playing out in many Republican-led states, and there are less than six months until the midterm elections. THE RED-STATE WINNERS IN THE CLIMB TO BECOME AMERICA’S NEXT ECONOMIC POWERHOUSE Texas and Florida led the nation in inbound migration between 2022 and 2023, gaining more than 56,000 residents and 55,000 income tax filers, according to the IRS data. The migration boom also attracted some of the nation’s largest income gains, with Florida bringing in roughly $20.6 billion in taxable income and Texas gaining another $5.5 billion. AMERICANS KEEP MOVING TO TEXAS AND FLORIDA — BUT ONE OTHER RED STATE IS GROWING EVEN FASTER North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Arizona — also red states — ranked among the top destinations for Americans relocating across state lines, underscoring the broader population boom across the South and Sun Belt. The migration trends looked even more dramatic when adjusted for population size. South Carolina posted the nation’s largest population gain from domestic interstate migration at 1.12%, fueled by more than 29,000 incoming households carrying roughly $4.1 billion in taxable income. Meanwhile, deep-blue California recorded the nation’s largest outbound migration losses, with more than 100,000 income tax filers and nearly $12 billion in taxable income leaving the state between 2022 and 2023. New York followed closely behind, losing roughly 72,000 households and nearly $10 billion in taxable income, while Illinois and New Jersey shed about $6 billion and $2.6 billion in taxable income, respectively. BLUE-STATE TAX BURDEN FUELS AMERICANS FLEEING TO REPUBLICAN-LED SOUTHERN STATES Experts say the migration boom reflects broader economic pressures reshaping where Americans choose to live, particularly as affordability concerns push more households toward lower-cost and lower tax states typically found in the southern quarter of the country. “While tax friendliness is not the sole determinant of where one chooses to live or start a business, states experiencing net in-migration tend to have more competitive tax structures and lower overall costs of living,” Nicole Fox, a policy analyst at the Tax Foundation, told Fox News Digital. The migration trends are also reshaping state economies, labor markets and housing demand as fast-growing Sun Belt states absorb new residents, businesses and taxable income. At the same time, states experiencing sustained outbound migration may face mounting challenges tied to shrinking tax bases, slower population growth and affordability concerns that continue pushing residents elsewhere.
Mace targets Squad Dem with proposed constitutional ban on foreign-born lawmakers
FIRST ON FOX: Under the U.S. Constitution, anyone who is not a “natural-born citizen” is barred from becoming president or vice president. Now, a House Republican wants to expand that requirement to much of the federal government. Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., plans to introduce a joint resolution Wednesday proposing a constitutional amendment requiring members of Congress, federal judges and other Senate-confirmed appointees to be natural-born citizens. The proposal would affect more than a dozen naturalized citizens currently serving in Congress, including several Republicans. TRUMP’S BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP CRUSADE DRAWS BACKING FROM COHORT OF PROMINENT LEGAL SCHOLARS Mace, who is running to be South Carolina’s next governor, suggested that the country’s nearly 25 million naturalized citizens, who made the deliberate choice to become Americans, may have divided loyalties. “If you hold power in the American government, you should be a natural-born American citizen,” Mace told Fox News Digital in a statement. “For too long we have allowed foreign-born members to hold seats in this government, while making clear their loyalty is not here. We see it every day.” Mace specifically called out progressive Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., who was born in Somalia and became a naturalized citizen in 2000. “Ilhan Omar is just one of many foreign-born members of this government who have made clear, time and again, their loyalty is not here,” Mace said. “The American people deserve leaders who put America first. This amendment closes a gap in our Constitution long overdue for closing.” Omar’s path to U.S. citizenship has also faced heightened scrutiny from Republicans in recent months. Vice President JD Vance said Tuesday that Omar is under investigation by the Department of Justice for possible immigration fraud. Some Republicans have called for her deportation over the alleged offense. A spokesperson for Omar did not immediately respond to a request for comment. REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK: OMAR’S LONG HISTORY OF CONTROVERSY KEEPS HER IN THE SPOTLIGHT Mace’s proposal faces steep odds of becoming part of the Constitution, requiring a two-thirds vote in both chambers of Congress before ratification by three-fourths of U.S. states. Amendments can also be proposed through a constitutional convention requested by two-thirds of state legislatures, though that method has never been used successfully. There are 19 foreign-born members of Congress, though some are natural-born citizens due to having at least one parent who is a U.S. citizen. Under Mace’s proposal, Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, an ally of President Donald Trump who was born in Colombia and became a U.S. citizen at 18, could no longer serve in Congress. The same restriction would apply to Reps. Juan Ciscomani, R-Ariz., Young Kim, R-Calif., and Victoria Spartz, R-Ind., who became naturalized citizens after immigrating to the United States from Mexico, South Korea and Ukraine, respectively. On the Democratic side, Reps. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., Ted Lieu and Robert Garcia, D-Calif., and Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., are among the lawmakers who would be affected. Former Trump Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, the wife of Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Alejandro Mayorkas, former President Joe Biden’s Department of Homeland Security secretary, also would have been ineligible to serve in Cabinet posts under the proposal.