Fox News Poll: Voters see AI as a risk to privacy and paychecks
As artificial intelligence grabs headlines and stirs debate, the latest Fox News Poll finds most voters see it as a threat to privacy and jobs, contributing to a largely negative impression overall. The survey, released Thursday, finds voters think AI mostly hurts rather than helps key aspects of life, whether on a personal, national, or global scale. Voters have negative views on AI by 50 points when it comes to privacy (63% hurts, 13% helps), by 35 points on U.S. job creation (56-21), by 15 points on the national economy (42-27), by 5 points on people’s daily lives (38-33), and by 4 points on their own personal lives (30-26). FOX NEWS POLL: 56% DOUBT WHITE HOUSE’S COMPETENCE AT MANAGING GOVERNMENT The only area where people think AI mainly helps rather than hurts is U.S. competitiveness with other countries: 38% think it helps while 32% view it as harmful. Still, sizable minorities feel AI doesn’t make a difference in each category: 43% feel it makes no difference in their personal life, 30% in the economy, 29% global competitiveness, 28% people’s daily lives, 23% people’s privacy, and 21% job creation. By double-digits, Democrats and independents are more likely to say AI hurts rather than helps in each area. While the level of negativity varies, more voters under age 30 say AI hurts more than helps in every category listed. Voters age 65 and over also view AI technology as more hurtful except when it comes to global competitiveness, where they give it the benefit of the doubt. Viewing the new technology as harmful leads to an overall negative opinion of AI, with 43% having a favorable opinion vs. 54% unfavorable. Those who view it positively include voters in households with $100,000 or more income (54% favorable), Republicans (53%), Republicans who identify as MAGA (57%), and Catholics (52%). Some of the biggest drivers of AI pessimism are independents (64% unfavorable), Democrats (61%), and women without a college degree (60%). FOX NEWS POLL: ECONOMIC GLOOM, TRUMP RATINGS SIGNAL TOUGH GOP MIDTERM PATH One more thing… When asked which political party would better handle artificial intelligence, voters are closely divided: 51% say the Democrats vs. 46% the Republicans. The results are within the margin of error, indicating no clear advantage for either party. Part of the Democrats’ edge comes from a majority of independents backing them over their GOP counterparts (54% to 46%) and more than 1 in 10 self-identified Republicans defecting as well (13% D, 84% R). CLICK HERE FOR CROSSTABS AND TOPLINE Conducted April 17-20, 2026, under the direction of Beacon Research (D) and Shaw & Company Research (R), this Fox News survey includes interviews with a sample of 1,001 registered voters randomly selected from a national voter file. Respondents spoke with live interviewers on landlines (116) and cellphones (635) or completed the survey online after receiving a text (250). Results based on the full sample have a margin of sampling error of ±3 percentage points. Sampling error for results among subgroups is higher. In addition to sampling error, question wording and order can influence results. Weights are generally applied to age, race, education, and area variables to ensure the demographics are representative of the registered voter population. Sources for developing weight targets include the most recent American Community Survey, Fox News Voter Analysis, and voter file data.
Epstein fallout grows as DOJ watchdog digs deeper into handling of the case
The Justice Department’s (DOJ) internal watchdog is investigating whether the agency properly handled the release of records tied to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein amid concerns it may have failed to comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Deputy Inspector General William M. Blier announced Thursday that his office will audit “the DOJ’s identification, collection and production of responsive material,” focusing on whether the department fully complied with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, a law requiring the public release of certain Epstein-related records, including materials tied to his associate, Ghislaine Maxwell. The audit centers on whether the DOJ withheld documents covered under the law, raising new questions about transparency in one of the most high-profile criminal cases in recent history. The Epstein Files Transparency Act, passed in November, followed mounting pressure on the DOJ to release additional information related to Epstein, including materials officials previously indicated were under review. The law requires the department to identify and disclose responsive records to the public. PEDO ACT: LAWMAKER MOVES TO PROTECT EPSTEIN FILES, ACCUSES ‘CERTAIN FBI AGENTS’ OF TRYING TO DESTROY DOCS “If circumstances warrant, the OIG will consider addressing other issues that may arise during the course of the audit,” the inspector general said in a statement, adding that a public report will be issued at the conclusion of the review. The DOJ did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. The investigation comes amid broader scrutiny of the DOJ’s handling of Epstein-related disclosures and internal leadership changes at the department. Former Attorney General Pam Bondi was fired earlier this month after public frustration over the pace and scope of document releases tied to the Epstein case. ‘SEPARATED FROM REALITY’: SENATE REPUBLICANS FUME AS DEMS USE EPSTEIN SAGA TO BLOCK TRUMP’S AGENDA Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, however, pushed back on suggestions that Bondi’s firing was linked to the Epstein files during an episode of “Jesse Watters Primetime.” “I have never heard President Trump say that the attorney general was — that anything that happened to her — had anything to do with the Epstein files,” Blanche said. “What happened when the president signed the Transparency Act is the Department of Justice has now released all the files with respect to the Epstein saga. … Attorney General Bondi and I appeared in front of Congress voluntarily a couple weeks ago to answer any questions they had,” he told Fox News. “We have made every single congressman, senator available to come and see any document redacted, unredacted.” Fox News Digital’s Nora Moriarty, Katelyn Caralle and Emma Colton contributed to this report.
Guatemalan man charged with child porn possession released by Fairfax County despite ICE detainer, DHS says
A Guatemalan man living illegally in the U.S. has been arrested by federal immigration agents after he was released from jail by Virginia authorities, despite being charged with possessing child pornography, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Roni Mendez-Escobar was arrested Wednesday in Fairfax County, which has drawn national media attention amid a series of crimes committed by illegal immigrants there in recent months. “This sicko has been charged with multiple counts of possession of child pornography and possession of child pornography with intent to distribute. Despite these heinous crimes, sanctuary politicians in Fairfax County, Virginia, refused to honor ICE’s detainer and released a child predator from jail without notifying ICE,” DHS Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said Thursday. DHS SLAMS ‘INSANE’ 5-YEAR PLEA DEAL FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WHO ADMITTED FATAL STABBING IN VIRGINIA Mendez-Escobar was initially arrested in October 2025 and charged with 15 felony counts of possession of obscene material and two felony counts of possession of child porn with intent to distribute. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) lodged a detainer with Fairfax County, but it was ignored and he was released days after his arrest without ICE being notified, DHS said. Mendez-Escobar, who had been deported from the U.S. three times since 2015, entered illegally for a fourth time at an unknown place and date, authorities said. ICE PRESSURES SPANBERGER AS FAIRFAX MURDER SUSPECTS TRIGGER NEW DETAINERS IN ‘SANCTUARY’ CLASH Fairfax County has made headlines in recent months over a string of crimes tied to illegal immigrants. Earlier this month, Misael Lopez Gomez, also an illegal immigrant from Guatemala, was arrested and charged with murder and felony child abuse after bludgeoning his own 3-month-old daughter to death. In March, Anibal Armando Chavarria Muy, also from Guatemala, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder after fatally stabbing a man inside his home. Abdul Jalloh, an illegal immigrant from Sierra Leone with a long criminal history including more than 30 arrests, was charged with murder after fatally stabbing Stephanie Minter at a bus stop. This week, Israel Flores Ortiz, 18, was sentenced to 360 days in jail after being convicted of groping several female classmates in Fairfax High School hallways earlier this year.
Google engineer stole AI secrets for China, Senate hears in explosive testimony
A former CIA officer told senators Wednesday that a Google engineer who stole cutting-edge AI secrets for China went on to use the technology to build a company. The testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee comes as lawmakers warn of growing national security threats tied to Chinese intellectual property theft in critical technologies like artificial intelligence. President Donald Trump has made AI a cornerstone of his policy agenda, calling for a single federal regulatory framework instead of a patchwork of state laws. His administration has also pushed to accelerate data center development and strengthen U.S. competitiveness against China. Tom Lyons, with more than 20 years of experience in the U.S. government and private sector on Chinese economic espionage, told lawmakers the deck is stacked against American companies. EX-GOOGLE ENGINEER FOUND GUILTY OF STEALING AI SECRETS FOR CHINESE COMPANIES “American firms are not competing against Chinese rivals in any normal sense,” Lyons said. “They are competing against the largest intelligence apparatus in the world, one whose mission includes putting American companies out of business.” “This is not GM versus Ford,” he told lawmakers in his opening remarks. “This is a U.S. startup versus the resources of China’s military, the People’s Liberation Army.” Lyons cautioned that the current approach leaves companies largely on their own to counter state-backed threats, treating what he described as a national security issue as a corporate compliance problem. His warning reflects concerns raised by a recent high-profile case involving a former Google employee stealing secrets for China. AMERICA MUST POWER AI WITH SPEED AND DISCIPLINE — OR CHINA WILL DOMINATE In January, federal prosecutors said Linwei Ding, a former Google software engineer also known as Leon Ding, was convicted on multiple counts of economic espionage and theft of trade secrets after stealing thousands of pages of confidential AI-related information for the benefit of China. The case, tried in federal court in California, marks one of the first major U.S. convictions tied to artificial intelligence espionage. According to evidence presented at trial, Ding downloaded sensitive data on Google’s AI infrastructure — including chip designs and software used to train advanced models — and uploaded it to a personal account while secretly working with China-based tech firms and launching his own startup. Prosecutors said he sought to use the stolen technology to build AI systems in China and attract investors, highlighting the case as part of a broader effort by Beijing to acquire advanced U.S. technology. Lyons argued that cases like this illustrate a wider gap in how the U.S. responds to such threats. “If a foreign military were conducting operations on American soil, we would not ask our companies to fund their own defense,” he said. U.S. officials have long argued that Chinese intellectual property theft has cost the American economy billions of dollars in revenue and thousands of jobs, posing a significant national security risk. China has repeatedly denied engaging in such activity.
Pat Fallon launches bid for House Oversight Committee chairman as James Comer’s term limit nears
FIRST ON FOX: Rep. Pat Fallon, R-Texas, is throwing his hat in the ring for the role of House Oversight and Government Reform Committee chairman. House Republicans impose a six-year term limit for committee chairs, meaning current Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., can’t serve in the role for an additional term. Fallon is now the only declared Republican candidate for the role. “I think one of the missions should be to expose the hypocrisy and lack of direction of the left. They’re focusing on divisiveness and opposing President Trump,” Fallon told Fox News Digital during an exclusive interview. “How about focusing on the country and the growth and prosperity of the greatest country history has ever known?” FLORIDA REPUBLICAN REP NEAL DUNN ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT FROM CONGRESS AFTER FIVE TERMS The Texas congressman specifically pointed out he intends to tackle and expose the rampant fraud that has rocked the country, COVID-19 misuse of taxpayer dollars, and the foreign funding behind agitator groups that have plagued college campuses and cities across the country. “If a foreign national that is beyond our jurisdiction is funding a protest, anti-American protest, we need to expose the Americans that are taking the funds,” Fallon told Fox News Digital. “The left would have you believe that every political protest is organic. It’s just people that are fed up and they get on social media and they talk to other like-minded folks. “And they say, the powers that be, we will hold you [accountable]. That’s not what’s going on here,” Fallon added. “If you were in Beijing, if you were a Chinese communist, what better way to chip away at an open society than fund their malcontents?” MUTINY THREAT SPARKS HOUSE GOP INFIGHTING AHEAD OF TRUMP VISIT: ‘JUST MORE STUPID’ Fallon was sworn into the U.S. Congress in January 2021. A former Air Force captain and graduate of Notre Dame, he represents parts of northeastern Texas. In regard to widescale Medicare and Medicaid fraud being exposed in various states across the U.S., Fallon said no states are off limits for investigation, but that mismanagement of state policy can make a difference in fraud prevention. “Medicare, Medicaid fraud, particularly Medicaid fraud is systemic across the country, red and blue states,” Fallon explained. “The difference is in the red states, where this fraud is occurring, the leadership is far more apt to expose it once they get a hint that something’s going on, [whereas] the blue states largely look the other way. That’s the biggest difference.” COMER VOWS MINNESOTA FRAUD PROBE WILL EXPAND TO OTHER STATES AMID MOUNTING SCRUTINY “If you get caught most of the time, and this is what most Americans have no idea, it’s not even, you’re not even criminally prosecuted,” Fallon continued. “It’s a civil action that’s taken. You’re compelled to pay some of that money back and then you just go along your way. And you can’t work with the federal government anymore.” “That’s a pretty light sentence for stealing a significant amount of funds,” Fallon added. The GOP faces an uphill battle in the 2026 midterm elections, which will determine whether the Republican Party maintains the majority in both the House and Senate. A NARROW MARGIN: TRUMP TAPS HOUSE REPUBLICANS FOR HIS SECOND ADMINISTRATION President Donald Trump traveled to Nevada and Arizona last week to tout his Working Families Tax Cuts, also known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which includes policies surrounding no tax on tips and overtime. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., as well as other Republican senators have been hitting the road for several weeks as the GOP looks to promote economic opportunity ahead of the midterms. “Republicans made big changes to the tax code that benefit millions of Americans, and we need to make sure they know about it. It’s important that Republicans use every opportunity to educate the public on how the Working Families Tax Cuts deliver safe streets, more money in your pocket, and new opportunities to get ahead,” Thune said in a statement. Should the Republicans lose the majority in the House, Fallon would be the ranking member of the Oversight Committee. “God forbid we would go into the minority and I would become a ranking member,” Fallon said. “We have to defend President Trump because these folks are infected with wokeness and all they’re going to do is talk about impeachment, 25th Amendment and take their eye off the ball again for American prosperity.”
READ: Dr. Oz puts all 50 governors on notice over billions lost to Medicaid fraud
FIRST ON FOX: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz is putting state leaders on notice to root out rampant fraud, directing them in letters Thursday to take immediate action within days to identify and remove noncompliant Medicaid providers. “Corrupt individuals and organizations masquerading as health care providers are defrauding Medicaid, and American taxpayers, of billions of dollars each year, placing valuable resources out of reach for those the program was intended to serve: low-income senior citizens, children, and disabled individuals. Classes of providers with less rigorous [enrollment standards]…” Oz wrote in a letter, obtained by Fox News Digital, sent to each of the nation’s 50 governors on Thursday morning. Oz has given governors and state Medicaid leaders 10 business days to tell CMS whether they will commit to conducting a swift “revalidation” of high-risk Medicaid providers and provide a proposed timetable, alongside a separate 30-day deadline for a broader provider-revalidation strategy, escalating federal pressure on states to tighten anti-fraud enforcement. WALZ’S MINNESOTA MESS COULD SPARK THE TOUGHEST FRAUD REFORMS IN DECADES Oz said it is “urgent that action be taken immediately.” “Failure to [commit to the revalidation plan] will be considered as we evaluate the likelihood of fraud in each state moving forward,” Oz stated. States must also submit, within 30 days, a broader two-year strategy outlining how they will review healthcare providers for legitimacy and compliance. The letters sent to the 50 governors all contained the same information directions, with Fox News Digital obtaining a copy sent to the state of Alabama. KAROLINE LEAVITT WARNS ‘PEOPLE WILL BE IN HANDCUFFS’ AS FEDS ZERO IN ON MINNESOTA FRAUD SCANDAL “While the factors contributing to fraud are multifaceted and require a comprehensive approach to address, a revalidation process for high-risk providers will immediately deter criminal actors from continuing their fraud schemes, as the federal and state governments closely review and scrutinize the qualifications of providers to suspend or terminate clearly abusive actors from the program,” Oz wrote. The letters target providers at “high risk of waste, fraud, abuse, and corruption,” particularly those with “less rigorous enrollment and billing requirements,” with CMS directing states to include any provider operating without a National Provider Identifier. A second letter was also sent to each state Medicaid director reiterating the call for a revalidation strategy tailored to each state. JD VANCE SPEARHEADS ‘WAR ON FRAUD,’ PROMISES TO ROOT OUT TAXPAYER MONEY ‘STOLEN’ BY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS “Our analysis of national trends strongly suggests a persistent and growing Medicaid threat posed by sophisticated actors knowingly exploiting these complex systems for financial gain,” Oz wrote. Proposals must include a methodology and timeline for off-cycle provider revalidation (with emphasis on high-risk providers and those without NPIs); metrics to measure effectiveness and progress (including public reporting); processes for ongoing verification of provider information; strategies to ensure consistency and accuracy of provider data across fee-for-service and managed care systems (including oversight of managed care directories); and coordination with relevant law enforcement partners. Medicaid fraud has been of particular interest to the Trump administration given the massive fraud scandal that has unfolded in Minnesota. The push comes amid heightened focus on large-scale fraud cases, including Minnesota’s $250 million “Feeding Our Future” scheme, which became a national flashpoint after surfacing in 2022 and has led to a wave of convictions in recent years. A separate state-commissioned review of Minnesota’s Medicaid program this year identified vulnerabilities across 14 high-risk services and estimated that up to $1.7 billion in payments over four years may have been improper — findings that have intensified federal scrutiny and calls for reform. CMS is also weighing Medicaid deferrals in states, including California, New York and Maine, signaling potential legal battles as federal and state officials clash over enforcement.
Voters say Republicans outdo Democrats on these key issues: Fox News poll
A new national poll signals warning signs for both Republicans and Democrats with just over six months to go until the midterm elections. On key issues such as border security, immigration, crime and national security, a new Fox News poll — conducted April 17-20 — found that voters say Republicans have the advantage over Democrats. But Democrats hold the advantage over the GOP on the economy, inflation, and healthcare. Those numbers, along with other crucial indicators in the new survey, are closely watched barometers ahead of this year’s midterms, when Republicans defend their slim Senate and fragile House majorities. Voters questioned in the poll said, by a 16-point margin, Republicans rather than Democrats would do a better job handling border security, with the GOP up eight points on immigration and crime and six points on national security. HEAD HERE TO CHECK OUT THE LATEST FOX NEWS POLLS But voters surveyed in the poll said Democrats would do a better job handling healthcare by 21 points, with Democrats up eight points on inflation and holding a four-point edge over the GOP on the economy. The poll also indicates Democrats rather than Republicans would do a better job on climate change (+29 points), abortion (+18), transgender issues (+13), and foreign policy (+6). Inflation and the economy are top of mind for voters, according to the poll. When asked the most important issue facing the country right now, 26% said inflation and high prices, while 17% cited the economy and jobs. Nearly three-quarters of voters continue to give the economy negative ratings (73%), consistent with findings over the past two years. In addition, six in 10 voters rate their personal financial situation negatively, and seven in 10 say it feels like the economy is getting worse, up 15 points from 55% last April and matching a record high in Fox News polling. Cost-of-living concerns remain high, with majorities saying prices for groceries (62%), gas (60%), healthcare (55%), and housing (52%) are a “major” problem for their families. Only 28% of voters questioned in the poll approved of the job President Donald Trump is doing handling inflation, with 34% giving a thumbs up on the economy. DEMOCRACY ’26: STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE FOX NEWS ELECTION HUB The president’s overall approval rating remains well underwater at 42% approval and 58% disapproval. The poll indicates that if the midterms were held today, 52% of voters say they would back the Democratic candidate in their House district, with 47% saying they would support the GOP candidate. That five-point edge for Democrats, which is within the poll’s margin of error, is down one point from the six-point edge Democrats held in Fox News’ January poll. By a 68% to 60% margin, more Democrats than Republicans said they are “extremely” motivated to cast a ballot in this year’s midterms. WHAT OUR NEW FOX NEWS POLL SAYS ABOUT PRESIDENT TRUMP “Although these results are good news for the Democrats, there are two important factors to keep in mind when looking at the generic ballot results,” Republican pollster Daron Shaw, who helps conduct Fox News polls with Democrat Chris Anderson, said. “First, because more of the Democratic vote is stacked in heavily Democratic districts, they probably need to win the national vote by one to three points to win a majority in the House. Second, poll results don’t become particularly predictive of the actual vote until late summer before the election.” Voters voiced criticism for both parties. Sixty-one percent of those polled said the Democratic Party is focused on the “wrong” issues nowadays. An equal number said the same about Republicans. According to the survey, a majority of voters held negative views of both parties, with the Democratic Party and the GOP each at 42% favorable and 58% unfavorable. Fox News’ Dana Blanton and Victoria Balara contributed to this report.
ICE nabs accused MS-13 killer hiding in Northern Virginia suburb
An accused killer and member of the notorious Salvadoran Mara Salvatrucha 13 gang was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) while hiding out in a major suburb in Northern Virginia. Isabel Idalia Morales-Mejia, a Salvadoran illegal alien, is charged with aggravated homicide and illicit associations in her home country. She was taken into custody by ICE in Woodbridge, just south of Washington, D.C., after Salvadoran authorities tipped off the agency she “may be hiding in Northern Virginia,” ICE said. ICE Washington, D.C. Field Office Director Robert Guadian commented that “the media would consider her to be a ‘non-criminal’ because she has no known criminal history in the United States — despite the fact that she is facing charges for aggravated homicide in El Salvador.” “Idalia Isabel Morales-Mejia is not only a known associate of the notorious MS-13 transnational criminal organization, but she apparently attempted to flee justice in her native country by illegally residing in Virginia,” said Guadian, adding, “ICE Washington, D.C. will continue to prioritize public safety by arresting and removing criminal alien offenders from our Washington, D.C. and Virginia communities.” ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT, ACCOMPLICE GET 5 YEARS FOR MURDER IN SWEETHEART DEAL WITH PROGRESSIVE VIRGINIA DA The arrest comes as Northern Virginia, particularly nearby Fairfax County, faces an ongoing increase in migrant-related crime, including several murders and assaults. Three of the four murders committed this year and currently under investigation in Fairfax County were allegedly committed by individuals in the country illegally, according to the Department of Homeland Security. In nearby Arlington, Virginia, another person in the country illegally has been charged with attempted rape and assault of a woman waiting for a rideshare. Several of these individuals have long criminal histories, including dozens of arrests for violent crimes. DHS has condemned Northern Virginia Democrats over their “sanctuary” policies, saying they “play Russian Roulette with American lives” by releasing charged individuals from jail back into local neighborhoods. On Thursday, ICE announced on X that Morales-Mejia had been taken into custody on March 12 following a tip from Salvadoran authorities. The agency said the Salvadoran Security Alliance for Fugitive Enforcement Task Force provided DHS with updated information regarding Morales-Mejia’s possible presence in Northern Virginia, prompting ICE Washington, D.C., to investigate. DHS said she is a foreign fugitive wanted for aggravated homicide and illicit associations stemming from 2013 charges. The agency said she entered the U.S. on an unknown date and unknown location. She entered the country without being inspected, admitted or paroled by any U.S. immigration officials. ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT ISRAEL FLORES ORTIZ GETS 360 DAYS FOR GROPING GIRLS AT FAIRFAX COUNTY VA. HIGH SCHOOL The agency said she will remain in ICE custody pending a deportation decision before ultimately facing justice in her home country. El Salvador is home to one of the most notorious prisons in the world, known as the Terrorist Confinement Center, or CECOT. The maximum-security prison was launched under Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele. It is known to hold a large number of MS-13 gang members as well as members of other gangs. ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT ISRAEL FLORES ORTIZ GETS 360 DAYS FOR GROPING GIRLS AT FAIRFAX COUNTY VA. HIGH SCHOOL Last year, the U.S. sent several hundred alleged gang member deportees to CECOT, a move that caused significant controversy.
Leavitt explains why Iran’s seizure of two ships doesn’t violate Trump’s ceasefire
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt explained why President Donald Trump does not consider Iran’s seizure of two ships in the Strait of Hormuz a violation of the ceasefire agreement. Leavitt made the statement during an interview with Fox News’ Martha McCallum on Wednesday just hours after Iran captured the Greek and Mediterranean-flagged vessels. “Does the seizure of two ships — as we said, they were Greek and Mediterranean-owned ships with cargo on them, and the reports are that Iran basically seized them and then moved them into Iranian waters. We don’t know what’s going to happen to these crews. We’re not sure where all of this is going. Does the president view that as a violation of the ceasefire?” McCallum asked. “No, because these were not U.S. ships. These were not Israeli ships. These were two international vessels,” Leavitt responded. US FORCES ATTEMPTING TO BOARD SANCTIONED RUSSIAN-FLAGGED OIL TANKER IN NORTH ATLANTIC, SOURCES SAY “And for the American media, who are sort of blowing this out of proportion to discredit the president’s facts that he has completely obliterated Iran’s conventional navy, these two ships were taken by speedy gunboats. Iran has gone from having the most lethal navy in the Middle East to now acting like a bunch of pirates. They don’t have control over the strait,” she continued. “This is piracy that we are seeing on display. And the naval blockade that the United States has imposed continues to be incredibly effective. And, to be clear, the blockade is on ships going to and from Iranian ports. And the point of this is the economic leverage that we maintain over Iran now. While there’s a ceasefire with respect to the military and kinetic strikes, Operation Economic Fury continues, and the crux of that is this naval blockade,” she added. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps said the vessels, identified as the MSC Francesca and the Epaminondas, were operating without proper authorization and had tampered with navigation systems, accusations that could not be independently verified. The ships had earlier reported coming under fire near the strait, underscoring the increasingly volatile conditions in one of the world’s most critical shipping lanes. US ‘LOCKED AND LOADED’ TO DESTROY IRAN’S ‘CROWN JEWEL’ ‘IF WE WANT,’ TRUMP WARNS The Guard attacked a third ship, identified as the Euphoria, which had become “stranded” on the Iranian coast, Iranian media reported. It did not seize that vessel. Both the U.S. and Iranian sides have targeted commercial and cargo vessels as part of a broader pressure campaign tied to stalled negotiations. U.S. forces have also moved to seize at least one Iranian-linked vessel in the region, with each side accusing the other of violating the terms of a fragile ceasefire. The Strait of Hormuz is a vital artery for global oil shipments, with roughly 20% of the world’s supply passing through it. Traffic has slowed dramatically as ships reroute or avoid the area amid gunfire, seizures and conflicting directives from both militaries. Fox News’ Morgan Phillips contributed to this report.
MN lawmaker takes action to get answers on Omar’s alleged fraud ties after she skips key hearing: ‘Ghosted us’
FIRST ON FOX: A Minnesota Republican lawmaker is demanding answers from Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., after the Democrat failed to appear at a state hearing examining her potential connections to the sprawling pandemic-era fraud scandal. State Rep. Kristin Robbins, chair of the House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Committee, sent a formal letter to Omar on April 22 criticizing her absence from a scheduled committee hearing she was invited to and requesting extensive documentation related to the “Feeding Our Future” investigation that has gained national attention in recent months. “Minnesotans and the Members of the House Fraud Prevention & State Oversight Committee were disappointed that you failed to appear before our committee to answer questions,” Robbins wrote in the letter, obtained by Fox News Digital, referring to Omar’s no-show at a hearing focused on the MEALS Act, a federal COVID-19 relief measure passed in 2020 and sponsored by Omar. Despite Omar’s absence, Robbins said the committee still expects answers and is now formally requesting records from the congresswoman’s office in addition to several questions outlined in the letter. COMER WARNS ‘WALLS ARE CAVING IN’ ON TIM WALZ AS MINNESOTA FRAUD PROBE WIDENS Robbins is asking Omar to turn over communications showing how she promoted expanded access to federal child nutrition programs, including emails, texts and meeting records with the Minnesota Department of Education and constituents. The request also zeroed in on Omar’s public promotion of a Minneapolis restaurant that later became linked to the program. Robbins cited a Somali-language TV appearance in which Omar highlighted Safari Restaurant as a meal distribution site and asked for all communications related to the video and the restaurant’s participation. The video of that promotion was played during Tuesday’s committee meeting as the lawmakers discussed the ties between Omar and individuals within the Minneapolis Somali community associated with the fraud, a subject Fox News Digital has extensively reported on. GOP LAWMAKER UNVEILS WALZ ACT AFTER BILLIONS LOST IN MINNESOTA FRAUD SCANDAL Robbins is seeking records of any contact between Omar and a long list of individuals charged or implicated in the Feeding Our Future case, including nonprofit founder Aimee Bock and dozens of alleged co-conspirators. “She didn’t even respond, ghosted us,” Robbins told Fox News Digital about Omar ignoring an invitation to appear at the hearing. “And her Meals Act is what created the conditions that allowed Feeding Our Future to happen.” When asked if Omar has ever responded to any requests from the committee, Robbins said, “No, we’ve sent multiple emails, multiple letters, nothing.” The letter also raises questions about political donations Omar received from individuals later charged in the case, requesting “any and all” communications with those donors. Robbins, who is running for governor of Minnesota, has asked Omar to provide a written response and the requested materials by May 5. The letter marks the latest escalation in Republican-led scrutiny of the Feeding Our Future scandal, which federal prosecutors say involved the theft of hundreds of millions of dollars in taxpayer-funded child nutrition aid during the COVID-19 pandemic under the backdrop of a larger fraud crisis that is believed to be in the tens of billions of dollars. Questions about Omar’s ties to the Minnesota fraud scandal represent just one of several controversies she currently finds herself in the middle of as she is facing a possible ethics investigation into her personal financial disclosures as well as accusations, notably from Vice President JD Vance, that she committed immigration fraud. Fox News Digital reached out to Omar’s office for comment.