Ro Khanna sparks backlash over France riot comments as critic says he wants to ‘ride the rage wave’
Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., a potential 2028 presidential contender, drew criticism from across the political spectrum after pointing to the riots in France as a warning about wealth inequality and urging the U.S. to “listen to our young.” “This is what happens when the nations let wealth and power accumulate in the hands of a few,” Khanna wrote in a post to X on Sunday evening. Khanna’s post comes on the heels of nationwide demonstrations over the cost of living and public services that descended into violence, looting and arson in several French cities on Saturday, prompting critics to accuse the progressive Democrat of giving political legitimacy to the destruction. Spencer Pratt, former mayoral candidate for Los Angeles, blasted what he saw as an attempt to side with rioters. JONATHAN TURLEY: SOCIALISM IS BACK IN STYLE AND DEMOCRATS ARE BUYING THE PITCH “Of course Rohit Conman sees mass communist riots destroying businesses and historic buildings in Paris and lies about it as some noble ‘ask’ for justice,” Pratt wrote. “These commies lie as easily as they breathe.” The comment also drew criticism from Shannon Watts, a Democratic gun activist who, in recent months, has criticized the far-left portions of her party. “If you’re a member of Congress who condemned the January 6 insurrection, you don’t get to excuse riots in France as a ‘cry for help.’ Political violence doesn’t become acceptable just because you sympathize with people committing it,” Watts wrote in a post of her own. Still others warned Khanna against using the moment as a way to build political momentum. “Ro Khanna has long sought to ride the rage wave to power,” Jonathan Turley, a political commentator and legal analyst, said. “Khanna could indeed learn much from France. This is history repeating itself. That history, by the way, does not bode well for establishment figures who pander to the mob,” Turley added, giving a nod to the infamous French Revolution that targeted the country’s political and financial elite in a bloody crusade. Planned demonstrations in France over the weekend quickly spiraled out of control on Saturday, leaving behind broken storefronts and fires in Paris. French authorities said that by Sunday evening they had arrested nearly 2,400 people nationwide, including 855 in the Paris region. Nearly 1,000 police officers and gendarmes were injured, seven seriously, according to France’s Interior Ministry. One protester died after suffering cardiac arrest during demonstrations in Paris, authorities said. WHERE’S MACRON? FRENCH LEADER BLASTED FOR ATTENDING CONCERT AS RIOTS ESCALATED In Limoges, a fire that authorities said was deliberately set at the city hall caused significant damage to the historic building. Shops were looted in Paris, Bordeaux, Marseille, Lyon and other cities, while public buildings were vandalized or targeted by fires. Authorities estimated that more than 550,000 people participated in demonstrations across France. Organizers put the figure at roughly 800,000. Despite the mayhem, Khanna argued the moment should prompt American lawmakers to take younger voters’ political demands more seriously, especially on topics of equity. “This is what happens when young people lose hope in their future. In America, let us listen to our young. We need an economic and political transformation. America’s Next New Deal,” Khanna wrote. “From the high schools of France to the streets of Madrid to the universities of Tirana, young people are telling their governments the same thing: in an age of massive wealth inequality, they want a future they can believe in,” Khanna wrote. But in the face of the backlash online, Khanna quickly clarified his stance in a follow-up post, noting that he did not support the destruction that had unfolded. “I unequivocally condemn violence and vandalism. I have always championed my grandfather’s example of non-violent protest,” Khanna wrote, referencing his relative, Amarnath Vidyalankar, who was imprisoned for advocating for India’s independence in the early 1930s. “Let us not be blind to the anger young people have against the unholy alliance of wealth and power. The billionaires buying politicians. The corruption,” Khanna added. But even after issuing his clarifying statement, Khanna continued to face condemnation — even from figures like former Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y. “These are not mere students… my friend, I regret to inform you, this is an invasion,” Santos wrote, referring to France’s high intake of refugees in recent years. Khanna, responding to Santos, doubled down on his view. BERNIE SANDERS ADMITS DEMOCRATS FAILED WORKING-CLASS VOTERS ON ECONOMICS, DRIVING THEM TO DONALD TRUMP “George, is the lesson not to tackle the vast disparity here and young people’s hopelessness?” he asked. Khanna’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Fox News Digital. Bradford Benz contributed to this report
Manchin bucks Schumer, throws support behind Republican Democrats want to oust
A top Senate Republican whom Democrats are salivating at the chance to unseat is getting an unexpected assist from a former member of their own party, delivering a political snub to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. Former Sen. Joe Manchin, who left the Democratic Party to become an independent before retiring from the Senate, is making a swing into Maine to support Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, the lawmaker’s campaign confirmed to Fox News Digital. Collins is locked in a tight race against former Maine state Sen. Troy Jackson as she seeks a sixth term in the upper chamber. The race has remained close after it was shaken up earlier this year when Graham Platner dropped out after a sexual assault allegation rocked his campaign. ‘OH, SHUT UP!’: DEMOCRAT SNAPS AT COLLINS AFTER HECKLER DRIVES MAINE SENATE DEBATE OFF THE RAILS Manchin’s visit on the trail with Collins, first reported by Semafor, comes as Schumer and Democrats have tried to paint Collins as a rubber stamp for President Donald Trump, though she has often broken with the president during his second term, most notably on his signature legislation, the “one big, beautiful bill.” Manchin told the outlet that his appearance alongside Collins, whom he served with during the entirety of his career in the upper chamber, was meant to demonstrate to Maine voters that Collins has a bipartisan track record that was instrumental in advancing key legislation, like his infrastructure package passed under former President Joe Biden, and blocking Trump’s policy desires, like repealing Obamacare. SCHUMER’S ‘NUMBER ONE TARGET’ SAYS VOTERS WILL SEE HER DEMOCRAT SENATE CHALLENGER AS TOO EXTREME “She is not a Trump senator,” Manchin said. His foray onto the campaign trail in Maine on Wednesday will come just 24 hours before another major surrogate for Democrats will make her way to Vacationland: Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Jackson has had other progressive heavyweights join him on the campaign stump, too, including Sens. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. “Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez represent the far left of the national Democratic Party,” Collins spokeswoman Blake Kernen told Fox News Digital. “That they are all campaigning in Maine for Troy Jackson tells voters exactly how he would govern.” SCHUMER SAYS HE’S NOT GOING ANYWHERE, BUT HIS OWN CANDIDATES AREN’T READY TO BACK HIM “Senator Manchin campaigning for Senator Collins is a testament to her record of effective, independent leadership and commitment delivering results that have greatly benefited Maine and America,” she continued. Manchin’s decision to stump for Collins serves as a sharp rebuke to Schumer and the Democratic Party and comes after his years of serving as a thorn in the side of Democratic leadership and previous Democratic administrations while he was still in the Senate. In his memoir released last year, Manchin tore into former President Barack Obama, Biden and Schumer, particularly over Schumer’s support for nuking the filibuster. That reasoning is why he wrote that he “wanted Republicans to win the Senate majority in 2024.” “I believed it was the only hope for preserving the Senate as an institution,” Manchin said. “I truly believed that, if in power, Republicans would uphold the filibuster, the last guardrail preventing total partisan rule.”
How a foreign government helped accused Saudi spy’s family flee US after OpenAI bug scandal
A former OpenAI engineer accused of secretly planting listening devices inside the artificial intelligence giant’s facilities was communicating with Saudi royalty and searching company records involving the Kingdom before his arrest, according to federal prosecutors who are investigating whether his alleged surveillance was intended to benefit a foreign government. In a detention filing Sunday, prosecutors revealed that Saudi government officials helped arrange international travel for Abdulrahman Alfozan’s wife and three-month-old son shortly after his arrest. They also raised concerns about Alfozan’s potential access to foreign government assistance if released. Prosecutors disclosed that Alfozan had been in frequent contact with a member of the Saudi royal family who sought to recruit him for a Saudi artificial intelligence initiative. The filing does not allege that Saudi Arabia directed his alleged surveillance. TRUMP INTEL CHIEF WARNS AI FIRMS ON HACKS, SAYS NEW DEPARTMENT IS THE ‘COP ON THE BEAT’ The investigation remains ongoing and “may result in additional serious charges,” prosecutors said. Investigators are examining whether Alfozan sought to record sensitive OpenAI meetings to advance his own business interests, aid a foreign government or both. According to the filing, Alfozan spent weeks researching how to construct an encrypted recording device with live-listening capabilities and where inside OpenAI he could capture sensitive conversations. He allegedly used an internal OpenAI tool to identify meeting rooms used by company executives and outside partners before concealing a customized audio recorder behind a television in an executive conference room in late September. The room regularly hosted leadership meetings, technical and product discussions, and briefings with government officials and business partners. Conversations frequently involved proprietary research, OpenAI’s technical capabilities, strategic decisions, government engagements and commercial relationships, according to prosecutors. Government officials met with OpenAI executives in the room around the time of the alleged surveillance, prosecutors said, warning that Alfozan’s conduct “could pose a danger to the national security of the United States.” Investigators also uncovered evidence suggesting his alleged surveillance extended beyond a single device. OpenAI security personnel discovered a second similar recorder inside a bag Alfozan left in a printer room. Searches of his home and electronic devices subsequently uncovered similar components and photographs that appeared to show reconnaissance of other locations inside OpenAI, including another conference room used for sensitive meetings. Investigators say Alfozan was also showing particular interest in OpenAI’s dealings with Saudi Arabia. His browsing history showed that he accessed a folder titled “Saudi Gov Docs” on Oct. 4, 2026, and used an internal OpenAI tool to search for engagements involving Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology. Among the subjects he searched were planned OpenAI visits to Saudi Arabia, an upcoming visit by the Saudi ministry and a meeting labeled “HUMAIN x MCIT @OpenAI,” according to prosecutors. At the same time, Alfozan maintained frequent contact with an unidentified member of the Saudi royal family, including just four days before his arrest. “Saudi needs you more then [sic] the US!” the royal told Alfozan in May, according to the filing. Alfozan responded “100,” which prosecutors interpreted as agreement. The royal repeatedly tried to recruit Alfozan for an artificial intelligence initiative in Saudi Arabia and asked when he planned to leave OpenAI. Alfozan said he would not leave until his stock vested, according to prosecutors. He was also allegedly pursuing other opportunities in Saudi Arabia, including applying to the Mohammed bin Salman Foundation’s “2030 Leaders” program. GOOGLE ENGINEER STOLE AI SECRETS FOR CHINA, SENATE HEARS IN EXPLOSIVE TESTIMONY The Saudi connections have become a focus of prosecutors’ argument that Alfozan poses a serious flight risk. At the time of his arrest, Alfozan had one-way tickets from San Francisco to Riyadh for Oct. 12, 2026, and was scheduled to begin two months of parental leave from OpenAI. The FBI arrested him Oct. 9, 2026. The accused’s wife and infant son initially had a one-way flight to Saudi Arabia booked and paid for by the Saudi government, prosecutors said. Then a Saudi military official purchased business-class tickets for the pair en route to Qatar. They departed San Francisco roughly 36 hours after Alfozan’s arrest. Prosecutors cited the travel arrangements as evidence that Alfozan could receive substantial assistance from the Saudi government if released. Fox News Digital has reached out to the Saudi Embassy, OpenAI and Alfozan’s attorney for comment. The government also pointed to a previous federal case in which prosecutors alleged that a former Twitter employee received Saudi assistance leaving the United States after being confronted over his access to internal user data. After Twitter confronted employee Ali Alzabarah in 2015, prosecutors alleged, calls were exchanged with a Saudi foreign official and the Saudi consul general in Los Angeles to coordinate a flight to Saudi Arabia the following day. Alzabarah later went to work for the Misk Foundation, according to the filing. Charges against him remain pending. Prosecutors argued that Alfozan similarly has access to “considerable support from a foreign government” with no extradition treaty with the United States and the resources to provide extraordinary travel assistance. Alfozan, a legal permanent resident, was earning $385,000 annually at OpenAI and had received a $2.2 million equity grant, according to prosecutors. OpenAI fired him following his arrest. He is charged with using or attempting to use a device to intercept oral communications. Prosecutors are asking a federal judge to keep him behind bars pending trial, arguing that he poses a serious flight risk and an ongoing danger to the community.
Trump takes border crackdown to deep-red state as shock Senate battle threatens GOP stronghold
EXCLUSIVE: WICHITA, KANSAS — President Donald Trump is expected to tout his immigration agenda in ruby-red Kansas on Monday, weeks after federal immigration agents made dozens of arrests in the southwestern portion of the state. Trump is headed to the Sunflower State for a rally just outside of Wichita as a tighter-than-expected Senate race that could determine the balance of power in the upper chamber unfolds. Fox News Digital has learned that Trump will lean into the policy positions that helped propel him and Republicans to power two years ago. TRUMP DHS HITS 16 STRAIGHT MONTHS WITH 0 RELEASES AT THE BORDER “President Trump stopped the invasion of our country and delivered Americans the most secure border in American history,” White House spokeswoman Lauren Bis told Fox News Digital. “Under the President’s leadership, 3 million illegals have left the United States and zero illegals have been released at the border in seventeen months.” “Meanwhile, radical Democrats want to go back to their extreme open border policies, abolish ICE, and grant amnesty to the illegal aliens they released into our communities,” she continued. The Trump-led Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have touted a string of arrests and deportations of illegal immigrants in the state over the last several months. GEORGIA ICE SWEEP NABS OVER 700 CRIMINAL ILLEGAL ALIENS, INCLUDING SEX OFFENDERS, CHILD ABUSERS According to the White House, among some of the “worst of the worst” who were arrested in the state by federal immigration officers include Omar Israel Hernandez of Mexico, convicted of first-degree murder, Jose Luis Rauda-Diaz of El Salvador, convicted of aggravated robbery and two counts of possession of a weapon, Oscar Sanchez-Corona of Mexico, who had previously been deported for drug offenses, damaging property, and driving under the influence, Greg Chukwuka Orji of Nigeria, convicted of dangerous drugs and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and Alberto Estrada of Mexico, convicted of aggravated indecent liberties with a child and rape. Trump’s rally comes as the race between Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., and megachurch pastor Adam Hamilton has cranked up in a state the president has won by double-digits in the last three presidential cycles and has given Republicans cause for concern in a state where voters haven’t elected a Democratic senator in nearly a century. The Cook Political Report, a nonpartisan race ranker, downgraded the contest to a toss-up earlier this month and money from GOP and Democratic groups is flowing into the state. KANSAS DEMOCRAT BEGS KAMALA HARRIS NOT TO CAMPAIGN WITH HIM, ‘PLEASE DO NOT COME TO MY STATE’ Marshall, who is vying for a second term, has run close to Trump, rarely breaking from him on key issues throughout this cycle. Hamilton, however, has run away from the Democratic establishment in Washington, D.C., and warned that if elected, he wouldn’t support Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., for another term leading the caucus. Trump’s appearance in the state also follows ICE’s three-day sweep in Southwest Kansas last month, dubbed “Operation Safe Community — Kansas,” where agents made over 100 arrests. Marshall pushed back on the operation, demanding that “when ICE operates in Kansas, it needs to coordinate with our local law enforcement.” “Our sheriffs and police know these communities better than anyone, and working together keeps officers and residents safe,” Marshall said on X. Meanwhile, Republicans have targeted Hamilton for his immigration stance, accusing him through ads run by outside groups, like the Senate Leadership Fund, of supporting mass amnesty. Hamilton, however, pushed back on the Biden administration’s immigration policies and told the Johnson County Post that the previous administration’s open border policies “caused a different kind of chaos.” “Record crossings overwhelmed communities, and the immigration courts fell years behind,” Hamilton said. “I’m not for open borders, and dangerous criminals don’t belong here.”
Obama’s lengthy reaction to Omar investigation triggers instant backlash: ‘Spare me’
Former President Barack Obama sparked an online firestorm on Sunday after posting his support for Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., amid multiple federal investigations into her immigration status and finances. “It is a basic principle of American democracy that the government can’t selectively target individuals simply because of their political beliefs or what they say,” Obama wrote. “But that’s exactly what the Trump Administration is doing to Congresswoman Ilhan Omar of Minnesota.” The former president went on to explain in the lengthy post that the Omar situation is “appalling” and suggested the reason she is facing an investigation is that she is a critic of the Trump administration. “Think about that,” Obama said. “The full weight of the federal government is being brought down on a law-abiding elected official because she has dared to criticize the president.” ILHAN OMAR’S TURBULENT WEEK EXPLAINED: THE DUELING PROBES THAT THREW THE SOMALI-BORN PROGRESSIVE INTO CHAOS Obama added, “The fact that any president, or any administration, is willing to engage in such transparent efforts to intimidate someone should outrage all Americans, regardless of how they feel about Congresswoman Omar’s political views.” Obama’s post, viewed over 5 million times, was quickly blasted by conservatives, many of whom pointed to the political targeting that occurred during his administration, including the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) going after Tea Party groups and the Crossfire Hurricane investigation into then-candidate Donald Trump’s presidential campaign. “This cannot be real,” conservative commentator and former FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino posted on X. “This petty tyrant lecturing us about ‘American democracy’ is like being lectured by a screaming five-year-old about self-control. Sit down Mr. President, everyone knows who you really are.” “Think about the utter gall of the man behind the Russian collusion hoax, and who, along with his henchmen and hitmen, helped bloom a million poisonous ‘probes’ and persecutions whereby the ‘full weight of the federal government’ was ‘brought down’ on the ENTIRETY OF THE OPPOSING POLITICAL PARTY,” Federalist senior contributor Benjamin Weingarten posted on X. “Say, didn’t this guy bug Trump Tower?” Center of the American Experiment policy fellow Bill Glahn posted on X. MIKE DAVIS: JUSTICE DEPARTMENT MUST BE WRAPPING UP REP. ILHAN OMAR’S CHRISTMAS PRESENT “The original community organizer rushes to the defense of one of his protégés,” conservative commentator Dinesh D’Souza posted on X. “Both of them are part of a deliberate scheme to ‘decolonize’ America by uprooting its western and Christian roots.” “This is the same guy whose IRS went after Tea Party groups,” conservative influencer Gunther Eagleman posted on X. “Spare me the lecture, Barack.” “No one investigated more perceived ‘enemies’ of the administration than Obama did,” political commentator Matthew Brodsky posted on X. “Of course, if you support Abdul El Sayed, you’d support Ilhan Omar. Obama was the original booster of the Muslim Brotherhood (and the regime in Iran) in US politics. We continue to deal with those repercussions.” The White House also pushed back on Obama’s comments in a statement to Fox News Digital on Sunday. “Unlike Joe Biden, President Trump has not weaponized the Department of Justice against his political foes,” White House spokeswoman Lauren Bis said. “The Department is focused on restoring law and order and keeping Americans safe.” DEMOCRATS’ FURY OVER ILHAN OMAR RAID DRAWS STINGING GOP REMINDER ABOUT RAID FROM THE PAST: ‘SET THE PRECEDENT’ Trump has denied involvement in the investigation, previously telling reporters that the matter was up to the Justice Department. Fox News Digital reached out to Obama’s office for comment. Sources previously told Fox News Digital that investigators are examining whether Omar or her father committed fraud on immigration paperwork when she became a U.S. citizen decades ago. Fox News Digital was first to report that Omar’s Washington, D.C., home was raided by federal agents last week. Additionally, Jeanine Pirro, U.S. attorney for the District of Washington, D.C., announced her office was investigating Omar’s financial disclosures, which had previously been subject to public scrutiny and congressional oversight, but never by authorities. Omar has defended herself on social media in recent days. “This raid by Trump’s DHS is an outrageous abuse of power and an unprecedented escalation in the weaponization of federal law enforcement to target political enemies,” Omar’s office said in a statement. “For a decade, Donald Trump has relentlessly targeted Congresswoman Ilhan Omar with inflammatory rhetoric, repeatedly putting a target on her back. Now, those attacks have escalated to a pointless federal raid. The Congresswoman has done nothing wrong. No president should be able to use the power of the federal government to intimidate his political enemies.” Fox News Digital’s Stephen Sorace and Peter D’Abrosca contributed to this report
It took 3 months to get inside this massive Texas data center — here’s what we saw
EXCLUSIVE: As massive data centers rise across the country to power America’s artificial intelligence boom, one of the industry’s biggest builders is making the case that the benefits extend far beyond the technology inside. During an exclusive tour of Compass Datacenters’ sprawling campus in Red Oak, Texas, Fox News Digital got a rare look inside the infrastructure behind the nation’s growing appetite for computing. Getting inside took roughly three months of approvals. Once on site, Fox News Digital passed through six layers of security and suited up in personal protective equipment before entering the facility, where photos and recording devices were prohibited. Beyond the checkpoints, the interior was remarkably clean and surprisingly quiet, with little of the industrial noise one might expect from an operation running around the clock. Inside, rows of towering server racks stretched across the spotless floor surrounded by the electrical and cooling systems needed to keep the equipment operating. At Red Oak, Compass uses a closed-loop cooling system that recirculates coolant rather than continuously drawing water to cool the equipment. DATA CENTER CEO SHARES THE POWERFUL WAY AMERICAN COMMUNITIES CAN BENEFIT FROM THE NEW TECH BOOM Compass CEO Chris Crosby, a North Texas native, said the Red Oak campus has not used water for cooling since it began operating. “We haven’t used water since inception,” Crosby said, noting the importance of conserving the region’s resources. “Water is precious in North Texas.” Beyond cooling, security is another major consideration for facilities housing vast amounts of computing infrastructure. Crosby said the extensive security is not about keeping the facilities secret, but rather protecting the sensitive information and critical infrastructure housed inside. “Hacking is real, attacks on infrastructure are real,” Crosby said. “If people knew that a bank or a government was operating at a particular facility, they could infiltrate that facility. So that’s why the levels of security are so high at our campuses.” The campus, roughly 20 miles south of Dallas, will eventually include 10 data center buildings spanning roughly 2.6 million square feet. A Schneider Electric manufacturing facility and a workforce training center operated in partnership with Texas State Technical College are also located on the campus. AMERICA’S NEW BLUE-COLLAR JOB BOOM IS ONE NOBODY SAW COMING — AND IT’S JUST GETTING STARTED Crosby said the development offers a glimpse at an often-overlooked side of America’s data center boom: blue-collar jobs. “Data centers are where the economic engine is going to be going forward,” Crosby told Fox News Digital, pointing to the jobs, economic activity and tax revenue generated by the industry. Roughly 600 people work for Compass at the campus, while Schneider Electric employs about 300 more, according to Crosby. Thousands of construction workers have also cycled through the development since work began in 2019. And the company says it needs more. “We can’t get enough people into this career,” Crosby said. That demand helped spur the creation of MEI Pathways, a workforce development program built in partnership with Texas State Technical College. The $12.6 million training facility offers a 12-week program aimed at preparing electricians, mechanics and technicians for jobs in the industry. Building data centers also requires an array of skilled trades, including carpenters, welders and concrete workers. A SOUTHERN STATE JUST TOOK THE TOP SPOT IN ONE OF THE WORLD’S FASTEST-GROWING INDUSTRIES “There was a war on blue-collar jobs for a long time — everybody had to get a four-year degree,” Crosby said. “I’m so glad that’s over with.” Compass has worked with local officials on roads, sewer and other infrastructure and donated $15 million toward a new animal shelter after Ellis County’s previous shelter arrangement ended. The investments come as Texas grapples with how to accommodate the enormous electricity demands accompanying the industry’s growth while protecting the reliability of its power grid. For Crosby, however, the debate should also account for what is happening outside the server rooms. “I am tired of the elitism that this doesn’t create jobs,” he said.
Epstein-linked billionaire pours $500K into super PAC backing Kentucky Democrat: ‘Dirty Epstein-class money’
A Kentucky Democrat campaigning against the influence of wealthy political donors is facing calls to disavow a $500,000 contribution from billionaire Reid Hoffman to a super PAC supporting his congressional bid, with his Republican opponent blasting the financial support as “dirty Epstein class money.” Hoffman contributed $500,000 to Kentuckians Not Corruption, an independent super PAC supporting Democratic congressional nominee Zach Dembo in Kentucky’s 6th Congressional District, on Sept. 24, 2026, according to Federal Election Commission records. The contribution came as the group was spending heavily on television advertisements supporting Dembo and opposing his Republican opponent, former Kentucky state Sen. Ralph Alvarado. Advertising records filed with the Federal Communications Commission show the super PAC’s weekly television advertising orders on Lexington’s WLEX- TV increased more than sevenfold between mid-September and early October, climbing from $14,650 before Hoffman’s contribution to $109, 990 for the week of Oct. 6. “This is really, it’s dirty Epstein class money fueling Zach Dembo’s campaign,” Alvarado told Fox News Digital. “It’s offensive.” EXCLUSIVE: OSSOFF CHALLENGED TO RETURN EPSTEIN-LINKED DONATION OR RETRACT ‘EPSTEIN CLASS’ ATTACK “If he has any integrity, he should, but he won’t disavow it,” Alvarado added. “Dembo will not disavow it. I don’t even think I’ll bother to ask. Again, the least they could do is apologize.” Fox News Digital reached out to Dembo’s team repeatedly about the contribution but did not receive a response. The criticism comes as Dembo has made combating political corruption and the influence of wealthy donors a central part of his congressional campaign, arguing on his website that “big business and the ultra-wealthy shouldn’t be able to buy influence in Washington” and that we need to “get rid of dark money in politics.” ABDUL EL-SAYED CONFRONTED ON SOROS TIES AFTER RIDICULING POLITICIANS FOR TAKING CORPORATE MONEY The Democratic candidate for Kentucky’s 6th District has also criticized tax breaks for “billionaires and coastal elites” and pledged to fight for working families rather than wealthy political interests. Dembo, a former federal prosecutor and Navy veteran, is facing former Kentucky state Sen. Ralph Alvarado in the race to replace Republican Rep. Andy Barr, who is running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Mitch McConnell. The central Kentucky district, which includes Lexington, has been represented by Barr since 2013 but has drawn increased attention from national political groups as Democrats seek to flip the Republican-held seat in November. THE SOROS POLITICAL MACHINE IS PUTTING MILLIONS TO WORK BEFORE ELECTION DAY — AND ZEROING IN ON KEY RACES Hoffman’s $500,000 contribution went to an independent super PAC, not Dembo’s campaign committee, and federal records do not establish that Dembo solicited or directed the donation. Federal advertising records show Kentuckians Not Corruption’s television operation expanded in the weeks surrounding Hoffman’s donation. Kentuckians Not Corruption booked $14,650 in television advertising on Lexington’s WLEX-TV for Sept. 15–21, before Hoffman contributed. Its weekly orders climbed to $26,450 for Sept. 22–28, the period during which Hoffman made his $500,000 contribution, and rose again to $35,820 for Sept. 29–Oct. 5. WATCH: GEORGIA SENATE DEBATE ERUPTS OVER WHITE SUPREMACY ALLEGATIONS, EPSTEIN TIES IN FIERY EXCHANGE The following week, the group’s advertising orders surged to $109,990 for Oct. 6–12, more than seven times its mid-September level. The purchases included spots during “NBC Nightly News,” “Today” and local evening newscasts, according to the FCC records. The group’s advertising campaign extended well beyond WLEX. Kentucky Public Radio reported that federal filings show Kentuckians Not Corruption had spent approximately $1.6 million on advertising in the race by mid-October, including commercials promoting Dembo and attacking Alvarado’s record. “Reid Hoffman is not just an associate or a casual acquaintance of Jeffrey Epstein,” Alvarado said. “He was one of his best friends. I mean, Hoffman was a guest on Epstein’s private island. He was in his Manhattan town house. There’s all kinds of images of those two together.” DEM ‘EPSTEIN CLASS’ ATTACK BACKFIRES AS TOP CANDIDATES FUNDED BY EPSTEIN-TIED BILLIONAIRE “Hoffman once sent Epstein a shipment of ice cream on Christmas Eve with a note that said that the treat was either for yourself or for the girls,” Alvarado continued, citing documents released by the Justice Department. SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER Alvarado also accused Dembo of hypocrisy over his criticism of wealthy political donors and opposition to dark money, arguing that the Democrat was benefiting from the very kind of outside financial support he has publicly criticized. “The hypocrisy is so thick from Dembo in which he claims he won’t take it, but yet here he is,” Alvarado said.
Booker rival who ‘shoots from the hip’ hopes viral debate moment can break GOP’s Senate drought
A New Jersey attorney and former municipal official who made waves during his debate with Sen. Cory Booker, D-N. J., said his unscripted style may be the secret sauce to making history and ending a Republican Senate drought in New Jersey that stretches back more than half a century. Justin Murphy, a Navy veteran and former deputy mayor of Tabernacle in the state’s Pine Barrens, stunned his incumbent Democratic opponent when, in response to a question about the Iran war strategy, he bluntly said President Donald Trump should forcefully “finish it.” “I don’t have a speechwriter. There’s no teleprompter — I shoot from the hip because I want people to see a very sincere, genuine and authentic Justin Murphy,” Murphy told Fox News Digital. BOOKER ‘WOWED’ BY GOP CHALLENGER’S BLUNT MESSAGE TO TRUMP “This came up. And I had no idea it would become as viral or explode as it has on social media. It’s what I felt. I meant what I said. I said what I meant. It wasn’t planned to try to spark the reaction that we got … through social media.” Clifford Case, the last Republican to represent the Garden State in the Senate, was last elected in 1972 – the same year Giants Stadium broke ground, years before the Jets joined the Giants in New Jersey and before NJ Transit was created. Murphy said that in his 60 years, he cannot remember a time when Iran’s support for terrorism, “export” of assassination or killing of its own people was not a feature of the nightly news. “I think we have a president now that is breaking from the past, and he’s no longer kicking the can down the road. And I think that’s important that our young people know tomorrow that they will not have to worry about what the words ‘Strait of Hormuz’ mean when this is over.” TRUMP IS DISMANTLING IRAN’S WAR MACHINE, BUT AMERICA STILL NEEDS AN ENDGAME Asked how his message on Iran can overcome concerns about the war’s effect on energy prices – including among Republicans and independents in the crucial Philadelphia metro area where he lives – Murphy said it is important to offer a vision focused on long-term national and energy security. The “long-term” aspect of his message is twofold, he said, noting that he was in first grade in the Philadelphia suburb of Collingdale, Pennsylvania, the last time New Jersey elected a Republican to the Senate. “Number one — it’s time for a change. We had a good cordial debate with [Cory Booker] but he’s been a senator for 13 years — he’s been [in Washington] longer than Donald Trump.” “I don’t think he gets to blame Donald Trump for anything. He’s part of the branch of government that passes our country’s laws and writes our tax codes and passes our budgets. I’m wondering what he’s willing to take responsibility or blame for.” “So what I tell people is that we need a new generation of Americans to serve in Washington, a new day in New Jersey politics, and our working and middle class New Jersey desperately need a voice in the U.S. Senate, and my campaign represents all three of those.” Looking to that “better tomorrow,” Murphy said he understands concerns about the Iran conflict’s effect on gas prices in his area, which he put at $4.20 per gallon as of Wednesday and which have become a major point of criticism of the current administration. RNC THREATENS LEGAL ACTION AGAINST NEW JERSEY OFFICIALS OVER NONCITIZENS ON VOTER ROLLS: ‘ON NOTICE’ “If they’re upset at gasoline at $4.20 … you were paying over $5 a gallon with Joe Biden with a 9% interest rate, with a 20% cumulative inflation rate, with an open border, rising crime rates, declining wages and an 8% interest rate that is a full point or two higher than it is now,” he said. Murphy said those concerned about prices should also look to domestic energy production and support policies that increase refining capacity to reduce exposure to global oil markets. He also pointed to legislation introduced moments before the interview by “Squad” member Delia Ramirez, D-Ill., to dismantle the Department of Homeland Security. “This is madness and insanity, and it’s not the tomorrow that Americans want or can build together,” he said. Murphy was also asked about election security in New Jersey, where hundreds of noncitizens have been found to have voted in recent elections as the Sherrill administration pushes back on federal efforts to crack down. “Election integrity is extremely and critically important, not only to me and my campaign, but to the country. We’re designed as a representative government, a constitutional republic, and we need to know our elections are secure — We know we have contaminated rolls in New Jersey,” he said. SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER Murphy stressed that he does not want an election system that benefits Republicans, as critics claim, but one that is fair, accurate and reflects the will of American voters. He also called Trenton’s immigration enforcement posture “utter insanity.” For Murphy, the debate’s viral “Wow” moment was more than a campaign breakthrough. He sees it as a test of whether an unscripted message on national security can cut through voters’ immediate concerns about gas prices — and give Republicans a path to end their decades-long Senate drought in New Jersey. Booker’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment on the exchange.
Massachusetts GOP ticket rocked by alleged drunken crash as candidate abruptly halts campaign
A late-night crash has thrown a Massachusetts Republican’s statewide campaign into turmoil just weeks before voters head to the polls. Shawn Oliver, 42, the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor and a New Bedford city councilor, suspended his campaign on Sunday. The move came after Oliver was arrested following a rollover crash that involved five parked vehicles, police confirmed to Fox News Digital. Officers responded around 11:40 p.m. Saturday to 448 Dartmouth St., where a vehicle had overturned after striking multiple parked vehicles, the New Bedford Police Department said. Two of the five parked vehicles sustained extensive damage. BODYCAM SHOWS NANTUCKET OFFICIAL SLURRING, SWAYING DURING DUI STOP AFTER CRASHING INTO SIGN: POLICE Oliver, identified by police as the driver, was taken to St. Luke’s Hospital for treatment of his injuries. Following an investigation at the scene and at the hospital, officers arrested Oliver and charged him with operating under the influence of liquor, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, a marked lanes violation and speeding, police said. DEMOCRAT CANDIDATE SEEN SOBBING, PRAYING IN PATROL CAR AFTER DUI ARREST: VIDEO Republican gubernatorial nominee Mike Minogue publicly called on Oliver to suspend his campaign. “I am extremely disappointed. Shawn is lucky to be alive and lucky that no one innocent was hurt,” Minogue wrote on X. “There is no excuse for driving under the influence.” NEW JERSEY LT GOV DALE CALDWELL RESIGNS AFTER SEXUAL HARASSMENT INVESTIGATION Minogue, a businessman and military veteran challenging Democratic Gov. Maura Healey, said he spoke with Oliver before demanding he step aside. “After speaking with Shawn, I am asking him to suspend his campaign immediately, and when elected, I will formally ask for his resignation,” he wrote. TRAFFIC DRAMA THREATENS TO END DEM GOVERNOR’S TENURE AS VOTERS HEAD TO POLLS IN RHODE ISLAND Oliver confirmed his campaign suspension on X, saying “the election is too important to be overshadowed by personal matters.” New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell said in a statement posted to Facebook that the crash happened in the city’s South End. MASSACHUSETTS MAYOR CHARGED WITH WIRE FRAUD IN $1.5M COVID RELIEF SCHEME “This morning, I was made aware that City Councilor Shawn Oliver was involved in a car accident in the South End and taken into custody,” Mitchell said. “I’m grateful to the New Bedford Police Department for their prompt response and relieved that no one was seriously injured.” The Democratic mayor also called for Oliver to address the incident publicly. EX-NEW JERSEY MAYOR, HER HUSBAND CHARGED FOR USING FAKE BALLOT SIGNATURES AFTER SHE PLEADED GUILTY TO DUI “The allegations against Councilor Oliver are deeply concerning, and the public deserves to hear his explanation of what happened,” Mitchell said. Minogue urged Oliver to focus on his family and take steps to prevent another incident. “Shawn is a father and grandfather, and he needs to put his family first. He needs to do the work to ensure this never happens again,” Minogue wrote. “If he needs help with that, I will help him.” He also took aim at his Democratic opponent. ICE BOSTON ARRESTS BRAZILIAN ILLEGAL ALIEN WANTED FOR MURDER DAYS BEFORE GOV HEALY SIGNED PROTECT ACT “As governor, I will put the Commonwealth first. That starts with accountability, something Massachusetts has not seen from Maura Healey,” Minogue wrote. The Massachusetts Department of Correction confirmed to Fox News Digital that Oliver, a New Bedford city councilor employed by the department, has been placed on restricted work duty following his arrest. “Shawn Oliver has been placed on restricted work duty while all facts and circumstances are reviewed. He is currently assigned to the Massachusetts Treatment Center,” department spokesman Scott J. Croteau said. The campaign suspension comes just weeks before the November election, with Minogue challenging Healey and Democratic Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll seeking another term.
Trump unveils plan to transform historic DC golf course as judge tees off
President Donald Trump announced plans Sunday to transform a historic public golf course in Washington, D.C., into a “world class” championship venue capable of hosting some of the sport’s biggest tournaments. Trump said the Department of the Interior, led by Secretary Doug Burgum, is working with famed golf course architect Tom Fazio to overhaul East Potomac Golf Links, located along the Potomac River near the National Mall. “When completed, it will be open to the Public while, at the same time, designed to the Highest Level of Golf,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. The president said the redesigned course would be capable of hosting events including the U.S. Open, PGA Championship, Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup. Trump said the United States Golf Association, PGA of America and PGA Tour have already been notified of the plans. FROM THE GILDED OVAL OFFICE TO A NEW MONUMENT: A LOOK AT TRUMP’S RENOVATION PROJECTS Trump, an avid golfer, vowed the project would create jobs and deliver an economic boost to Washington and the surrounding region. The existing course is expected to close Nov. 15, when restoration work on Fazio’s design is slated to begin. Trump said the new course could open approximately 15 months later. Trump did not acknowledge the ongoing legal fight in his post, which included an artist’s rendering of the proposed course redesign. Hours after Trump’s announcement, U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes took judicial notice of the Truth Social post and ordered the government to clarify by 8 p.m. Sunday whether it still stood by its position in a court filing two days earlier that “there is no final agency action” and that, at most, Trump had given “preliminary thought” to rebuilding the course. Reyes also ordered two government attorneys who have appeared in the case to attend an evidentiary hearing in person Monday morning. TRUMP REVEALS ARC DE TRIOMPHE-STYLE MONUMENT FOR AMERICA’S 250TH ANNIVERSARY Trump, meanwhile, sharply criticized the condition of the existing course, calling it “old, broken, dilapidated” and pointing to what he described as dangerous and diseased trees and a deteriorating seawall. East Potomac Golf Links sits on federally owned land at East Potomac Park and has been part of Washington’s public golf scene for more than a century. The redevelopment has also drawn scrutiny over tree removal at the site. Reyes recently temporarily halted additional tree cutting amid a legal challenge over work at the property. Trump said the overhaul would restore views of Washington while creating what he predicted would become “one of the Best and Most Spectacular Golf Courses anywhere in the World.”