Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed says leaders must address ‘unpaid debts’ to Black communities
Michigan Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed said Saturday that the country must confront what he described as “unpaid debts” owed to Black communities, arguing that leaders have a responsibility to “understand” and “address” them. El-Sayed — who is facing Republican nominee and former Rep. Mike Rogers in one of the nation’s most closely watched Senate races — made the remarks while speaking at a meeting with women faith leaders hosted by the Woman Difference Collaborative in Detroit, according to a video shared by C-SPAN. “When it comes to black communities in Michigan — when it comes to black communities in America — there are unpaid debts that have long since come due that we are unwilling to acknowledge, let alone pay down,” El-Sayed said. “And I understand that we need leaders who are going to understand those debts and address them.” ABDUL EL-SAYED PROTESTED AGAINST ‘EX-TERRORISTS’ WHO CONVERTED TO CHRISTIANITY, UNEARTHED REPORT REVEALS El-Sayed made the remarks while responding to a question about how he plans to energize Democratic voters who did not support him in the primary. He said his approach is to keep showing up, engaging with voters and emphasizing his record. “But the question for me is, within my power have I done my best?” El-Sayed said. “And I will challenge people to look at my history and say, ‘Yeah, that man hasn’t done everything he could around the problems he says he cares about.’” ABDUL EL-SAYED DISMISSES QUESTIONS ABOUT HASAN PIKER TIES ON ‘FACE THE NATION,’ PIVOTS TO GROCERIES During his response, El-Sayed highlighted his work on infant and maternal mortality, asthma and lead exposure. He also called for expanding access to capital for small businesses and increasing investment in housing and schools. El-Sayed, a former Wayne County health director, unsuccessfully ran for Michigan governor in 2018 before launching his Senate campaign. EL-SAYED’S LIBERAL AGENDA CLASHES WITH MUSLIM VOTERS WHO BACK HIM ANYWAY: ‘MALE VERSION’ OF ILHAN OMAR The Detroit event also featured discussion of El-Sayed’s public health record, U.S. aid to Israel, his endorsement of former Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election, campaign attack ads from Rogers and criminal justice issues, according to C-SPAN. El-Sayed’s campaign could not immediately be reached by Fox News Digital for comment.
Ex-Dem insider exposes what Harris told top donors days before Biden dropped out: ‘Insulting’
FIRST ON FOX: Lindy Li, a former Democratic fundraiser who switched party affiliation over unheeded warning signs about President Joe Biden‘s decline in the 2024 election, believes Kamala Harris was setting herself up to poach Biden’s donors just days before he dropped out of the race — while still telling voters he could win. Li said she threaded that political needle by staying far away from any criticism of Biden. “It was all charade. She was auditioning for Biden’s endorsement, and the way that she did it was by imposing a fake rule on her staff to not talk about her ascending to the nomination,” Li said in an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital. Li’s chronicling of the months leading up to Biden’s suspended campaign, which are included in her book, “Unburdened,” adds more detail about how even those closest to Biden understood that his campaign would likely come to a grinding halt following his disastrous 2024 debate — and even before it. EX-BIDEN STAFFER BLAMES BIDEN’S ‘HUBRIS’ FOR THE ‘HELLSCAPE THAT WE LIVE IN’: REPORT As a top fundraiser for both Biden and Harris and someone who had achieved a high profile with the Democratic National Committee (DNC), Li worked with both teams to raise campaign contributions. In the wake of the election, Li has gone public with much of her insider knowledge, raising the alarm over just how many figures inside the Democratic Party had seen the writing on the wall but remained silent. She also detailed how others, like Harris, quickly moved to prepare themselves for what would happen next. In Li’s view, Harris prioritized face time with donors she knew could soon back her own bid. “I was on the call; she would host calls with donors and pretend to support Biden and say there’s no daylight between Biden and herself. All the while she was auditioning for those very donors,” Li said. HARRIS REACHES OUT TO SOCIALIST MAYOR MAMDANI IN LATEST SIGN SHE’S SHORING UP SUPPORT FOR POSSIBLE 2028 BID Li recalled how, in one case, Harris addressed donors about Biden’s viability as a candidate two days before Biden bowed out. “It was either on July 19th or July 20th. Actually, I think it was July 19, 2024; Kamala Harris held a call saying that there was no way that Biden would drop out and that she would stick with him until the end. And these were some of the biggest donors in the party,” Li recalled. Biden announced that he would no longer pursue reelection on July 21. After Biden’s announcement, Li recalled that Harris moved aggressively within the Democratic camp to shore up support, insinuating that she had some form of Biden’s backing. “She was flattering people left and right. The first 24 hours were a very intensive charm offensive on her part. And that’s how she was able to consolidate it so quickly. She flattered people up the wazoo. It made it abundantly clear that Biden had endorsed her. And Biden initially — I don’t know if people know this, but he didn’t want to endorse her right away. It took him a while.” Despite the vice president’s efforts to maintain her support of Biden and back his viability, Li recalled that some of those same donors didn’t buy her story. LIBERAL CNN ANCHOR LASHES OUT AT DEMOCRATS’ DECEIT AFTER JILL BIDEN’S ADMISSION ABOUT JOE’S DEBATE SHOWING “A lot of us have group chats. And the immediate reaction is what an effing waste of time. What a charade, how fake. Like these are like the wealthiest people in the country saying that. They were very aware they were being lied to, that Biden was clearly not okay and to be told that he was okay when he was clearly incapacitated,” Li said. “It was insulting.” Representatives for Harris did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
McConnell returns after months-long absence for crucial vote
Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., will return to the Senate to cast his first vote following months of speculation on his condition and when the longtime lawmaker would reemerge into the public eye. McConnell said in a statement on Monday, the first day back for the Senate taking over a month-long break, that he would “cast my first Senate vote since I took a bad fall back in June.” “I’m really looking forward to being back on the Senate floor and seeing my colleagues. My recovery has been a long and often frustrating process, and the lingering effects of childhood polio haven’t made it any easier,” McConnell said. “I’m still not quite back to 100%, but I’ve assured Leader Thune that, as I continue with physical therapy on the advice of my doctors, I will do my best to be present for tough votes when our Conference needs me.” MCCONNELL IS OUT OF REHAB, BUT HIS ABSENCE HAS STUNTED A KEY REPUBLICAN PRIORITY “Elaine and I are very grateful for all the continued well wishes from our fellow Kentuckians, and I’m glad to get back to more of business as usual on their behalf this month,” he continued. Having McConnell back changes the math for upcoming votes and future action on a possible budget reconciliation package to ram through chunks of the SAVE America Act and defense funding. He chairs both the Senate Rules Committee and Senate Defense Appropriations Committee, two key panels that could have a major impact on whether Republicans can move forward with the process. But first, he had to cast his first vote. His first appearance on the Senate floor since June was to vote in favor of one of President Donald Trump’s judicial picks, Matthew R. Byrne, to be the U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of Ohio. MCCONNELL OUT OF HOSPITAL, STILL NOT ‘MEDICALLY CLEARED’ TO RETURN TO SENATE McConnell, 84, has not been in the Senate for votes nor committee work since early June after being hospitalized from suffering a fall at his Washington, D.C., home. His absence was further prolonged when he developed pneumonia, and went through a stint a rehab to further recover from the fall. And his return comes as Republicans are again gearing up to vote on massive farm aid and funding package this week. The last time Senate Republicans tried to advance the bill it failed without McConnell’s key vote. The Senate Agriculture Committee is slated to again vote on the bill on Wednesday, and the committee’s chair, Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., teased that McConnell’s return was imminent just before the announcement was made. MCCONNELL’S ABSENCE PUTS TRUMP AGENDA AT RISK AS KENTUCKY SUCCESSION QUESTIONS GROW “I think they feel like he’s moving in that direction,” Boozman said. “So watch for him.” Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said that he had spoken with McConnell last week, and that the longtime Republican leader was “dialed in” on how campaigns for this midterm election cycle were going. Still, it’s unclear how long he will stick around during the forthcoming three-week sprint before lawmakers make a jailbreak for the campaign trail in October.
Obama, Biden judges draw fresh fire as Trump’s immigration court clashes heat up: ‘Almost impossible’
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin is drawing a distinction between the federal judges he says the Trump administration can work with and those he says are “almost impossible” to deal with, singling out judges appointed by President Joe Biden as the administration continues to fight immigration battles in federal court. “We find judges, for the most part, honestly, that we can work with in almost every area. But you’ve got some of the judges that were appointed underneath Obama and definitely, if they’re appointed by Biden, they are almost impossible to work with,” said Mullin on the sidelines of the RNC Midterm Convention on Thursday. Mullin’s comments come as the Trump administration has repeatedly run into federal judges over its immigration policies, including recent rulings involving birthright citizenship and immigrant visa issuance. But while those court fights have received significant attention, Mullin offered a broader assessment of the judges he believes are most difficult for DHS to work with, specifically pointing to judges appointed by Biden — and, to a lesser extent, Obama. WHITE HOUSE RIPS ‘ACTIVIST’ BIDEN JUDGE WHO UPENDED TRUMP BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP ORDER In April, Biden-appointed Judge Brian Murphy blocked the Trump administration from ending temporary protected status for more than 5,000 Ethiopians, while in September, Biden-appointed Judge Deborah Boardman blocked enforcement of Trump’s August executive order limiting birthright citizenship, finding the order likely unconstitutional. Mullin said immigration cases should be “cut and dry,” arguing that they ultimately come down to whether an individual entered the country legally and has the proper paperwork. He compared the issue to homeownership, asking whether someone has “the deed of the house you’re living in” and whether they legally own it. Mullin also criticized state and local officials in blue states for limiting cooperation with ICE detainer requests, including in cases in which DHS alleges that detainees are violent criminals, drug dealers or known terrorists. “It makes absolutely zero sense,” Mullin said. Beyond the court system, DHS is also facing battles with elected leaders in blue cities and states. SPANBERGER’S ICE RESTRICTIONS DEALT MAJOR SETBACK AS JUDGE WARNS OTHER BLUE STATES “Virginia is out of control right now. I mean, when you start looking at the great state of Virginia, who had a great governor in Governor Youngkin … and now what they have, they canceled their 287(g) programs, they’re not allowing any cooperation with ICE or any of DHS’s law enforcement push to make sure we get the criminals off our streets,” said Mullin. Within weeks of taking office, Virginia Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger directed the state’s law-enforcement agencies to terminate their existing 287(g) agreements with ICE, which her administration said placed participating officers under federal supervision to conduct civil immigration enforcement. Mullin claimed that 50% of recent deaths in Fairfax County were “at the hands of an illegal.” “I’ve said this multiple times, every death that happens at the hands of an illegal is 100% preventable. So why the governor of Virginia, why they wouldn’t participate with us being DHS and forcing our nation’s laws and getting their criminals off the streets make no sense,” he said. DHS BOSS REVEALS OVAL OFFICE PLAN TO ‘WITHHOLD FUNDING’ FROM SANCTUARY CITIES AFTER AGGRESSIVE NEW YORK BUST Still, Mullin said the Trump administration would not force blue cities to accept federal assistance, arguing that DHS would remain ready to help communities that request it. “What we’re not gonna do is force our way in. You’re gonna have to decide that,” Mullin said, leaving the decision to individual communities. In Danbury, Connecticut, the City Council amended its police hiring ordinance to allow lawful permanent residents and DACA recipients to apply to become police officers. “I don’t understand how you can be in law enforcement and yet you have no legal status. I just don’t know what, in some of these very liberal towns and liberal states, what are they thinking,” said Mullin. “They’re prioritizing criminals over law-abiding citizens. We are a nation of laws, and either we respect them or we don’t,” he added. “What separates us from a third world country is we don’t believe in lawlessness and when you came in this country illegally, you chose to skip the line because we have a legal process.”
Hochul accused of ‘hit job’ on behalf of teachers’ unions in act of ‘pure censorship’: labor group
New York Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul is being accused of conducting a “hit job” on free speech on behalf of teachers unions after she signed a law giving the state attorney general the power to fine groups deemed to be engaged in deceptive communications that falsely appear to be authorized by a union. Hochul signed a law last week prohibiting people and organizations from using deceptive communications that falsely appear to be authorized by a union or union representative. The law, which took immediate effect, allows Democratic Attorney General Letitia James to investigate and sue to stop alleged violations, including those involving out-of-state groups. Courts can impose fines of up to $1,000 per incident. In response, the Freedom Foundation, a conservative nonprofit that campaigns against public-sector unions, including teachers’ unions, says New York’s new law is a targeted effort to silence its outreach by making its communications vulnerable to government investigations, lawsuits and fines. CEO Aaron Withe called the law a “hit job.” He said the law “isn’t about protecting anyone,” adding that it instead “exists because government unions in New York are terrified of an inconvenient fact: when public employees learn they don’t have to pay union dues, a lot of them stop. So instead of making their case to their own members, union bosses ran to their friends in the legislature and got them to write a law that makes speech illegal.” NATION’S LARGEST TEACHERS UNION UNDER FIRE AS CONTROVERSIAL AGENDA PUTS CENTURY-OLD FEDERAL CHARTER AT RISK A spokesperson for Hochul responded by telling Fox News Digital that “Governor Hochul takes fraud of any kind seriously, which is why she signed the legislation prohibiting the false impersonation of union officials to protect workers from being mislead by deceptive communications.” The spokesperson added that “employee organizations and unions play a crucial role in New York’s infrastructure as a whole, and the Governor has always championed legislation that supports, protects and uplifts workers across the state.” Fox News Digital reached out to James’ office for comment as well. Fox News Digital also reached out to the New York State United Teachers, United Federation of Teachers and the AFL-CIO for comment. The law allows James to investigate alleged violations, issue subpoenas and ask a court to block communications deemed deceptive. Courts can impose fines of up to $1,000 per violation, including against organizations outside New York. The New York State American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (NYS AFL-CIO) praised Hochul’s decision to sign the bill, which she signed along with two other pieces of legislation related to labor rights. Mario Cilento, president of NYS AFL-CIO, remarked that the law will be “holding individuals accountable for fraudulently claiming to be union representatives.” He said the slate of bills signed by Hochul “put workers first.” In an X post, Hochul similarly framed the bills as prioritizing workers, writing, “Today marks a new day with even more protections, because I’ll never stop fighting for our workers.” “New York State gave birth to the labor movement. Over the last five years, I have continued that legacy by fiercely supporting the men and women of labor,” wrote Hochul. TRUMP UNLOADS ON AOC, MAMDANI FOR LAUGHING DURING SACRED 9/11 CEREMONY AT GROUND ZERO Meanwhile, the Freedom Foundation has mailed and otherwise contacted New York public employees, including teachers, to inform them of their ability to leave their unions and stop paying dues. Nearly 7,500 New York public employees have used Freedom Foundation materials to cancel their union memberships, including more than 1,400 so far this year, according to the group. In a statement to Fox News Digital, Withe pointed to the 2018 Supreme Court decision in Janus v. AFSCME, which held that public-sector employees, including public school teachers, cannot be forced to pay union fees for collective bargaining or other speech because that speech can involve political issues protected by the First Amendment. He said that while the New York law “lets Letitia James fine the Freedom Foundation for outreach the state decides ‘impersonates’ a union … all we’re doing is telling public employees what already gives them: the right to leave their union and stop paying dues.” “This is an anti-speech law aimed at one kind of speaker,” said Withe. He asserted that the New York law was “copied” from a similar measure in Oregon, which the Freedom Foundation is already challenging in the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. He said his organization will “make the same case here.” Fox News Digital spoke with Ryan Walters, former superintendent of Oklahoma public schools and CEO of Freedom Foundation’s education arm, the Teacher Freedom Alliance. Walters called the New York law an example of “pure censorship and targeting of political opponents by Democrats protecting their union bosses.” INSIDE TEACHERS’ UNION MAY DAY ‘DRESS REHEARSAL’ CRITICS WARN WILL ‘GROOM’ STUDENTS INTO DEM ‘FOOT SOLDIERS’ “This is such a canary in the coal mine moment where if New York is allowed to do this – an openly socialist mayor, a governor operating as a tyrant doing the behests of the teachers’ unions – it’s going to go on across the country, and our schools will not be able to improve in that kind of environment,” he said, adding, “Where New York goes with this is going to be where the other blue states follow.” SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER He posited that the New York law “shows you how important that power structure is for the Democrat party.” “They have to control the school system to continue to control the country,” he said. “Despite elections, they still control these education systems at large. That’s why the teachers’ unions are enemy number one of progress in this country and why New York needs to be taken on directly for what they’re doing.”
Mamdani, Letitia James sue to block Trump admin from refusing immigrants over welfare status
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is suing President Donald Trump’s administration over plans to expand federal authority to deny visa and green card applications based on welfare status. The lawsuit, filed jointly with NY Attorney General Letitia James, targets the Trump administration’s plan to expand the “public charge” rule, which allows the federal government to deny visa applications based on the likelihood that the applicant will receive public benefits. Trump’s administration seeks to expand the list of benefits that apply under the rule, with the change taking effect Sept. 18. “If you are a citizen, or an individual seeking humanitarian relief like asylum, these changes will not affect you,” Mamdani said at a press conference Monday. “The new public charge rule not only sweeps aside more than a century of established law, it is intentionally vague as a means of creating uncertainty and fear to isolate immigrant New Yorkers.” “Make no mistake, this is an undisguised effort to strip New Yorkers of the services they rely on, the public benefits they are entitled to,” he continued. Mamdani claimed that up to 4 million people could be forced to unenroll from their healthcare under the new rule out of fear their immigration applications could be denied. Several major cities and counties across the country are joining New York’s lawsuit, including Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle, Santa Clara County and King County, Mamdani said. Meanwhile, James is launching a separate challenge to the rule, leading a coalition of 21 other states and the District of Columbia in asking the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York to block the Trump administration’s rule. “Hardworking families should not be forced to go without the support they need because they fear asking for assistance will get them deported,” James said in a statement. “This rule preys on that fear and counts on families forfeiting the food assistance, health care coverage, and other public benefits to which they are legally entitled. My office fought this exact policy once before and won, and we are leading the nation to ensure the Trump administration cannot inflict this harm on families again,” she added. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital. This is a developing story. Check back soon for updates.
Libertarian tech mogul to hit DSA with an eight-figure spending nuke
FIRST ON FOX — A wealthy tech investor is committing $40 million to help Republicans stem the tide of the Democratic Socialists of America in state-level races, Fox News Digital has learned. Scott Banister, a libertarian who was an early investor in PayPal, Uber and SpaceX, among others, cut the massive check to Make Liberty Win, a right-of-center political organization. The funding has already been partially deployed in nine states — Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Arizona, New Hampshire, West Virginia and Montana — with plans to expand the push to at least a dozen states. “Self-described socialists are running for office and winning in the Democratic Party, like recently elected New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani,” a press release obtained by Fox News Digital reads. “Make Liberty Win’s campaign will stem the tide of the far-left by mobilizing student and youth activists to knock on the doors of more than two million voters in key states.” SOCIALIST WINNING STREAK PUTS PRIZED DEMOCRATIC BATTLEGROUND AT RISK AS RADICAL LEFTISTS ADVANCE Banister’s cash injection comes at an opportune time for Republicans. Though Republicans enjoy a comfortable advantage at the national level, the Republican State Leadership Committee, the official GOP committee responsible for making sure the party wins at the state level, projected in late August that Democrats are slated to outspend Republicans in state races by a factor of three to one. Make Liberty Win’s spending could mitigate the liberals’ cash advantage. Democrats have previously disputed claims that their state apparatus is better funded than the GOP’s. NEW MIDTERM BATTLEGROUND TAKES SHAPE AS PARTIES BUILD ELECTION ARMIES Make Liberty Win is a Republican-aligned political organization with a distinctly libertarian bent, supporting a smaller federal government and returning power to state legislatures. It focuses on door knocking and phone banking on behalf of candidates, rather than giving money to them directly. MUSK PICKS HIS FIRST GOP WARRIORS AS A 2026 MONEY SURGE TAKES SHAPE Forty million is a massive amount of money for any level of politics, especially state legislative races. For context, the average U.S. House candidate spent $1.8 million on a campaign in 2024 — and federal races are almost always more expensive than their state equivalents. SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER The eight-figure spending total represents the floor of what Make Liberty Win could spend on this initiative, as Banister or other donors motivated by his push could tap in to provide even more cash. “Make Liberty Win will execute a comprehensive strategy to counter socialist Democrats and win at the state level, where political movements are built and every American can make a difference,” Make Liberty Win CEO Jeff Frazee said.
El-Sayed’s liberal agenda clashes with Muslim voters who back him anyway: ‘Male version’ of Ilhan Omar
DETROIT, MICHIGAN — Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Michigan, faces a striking disconnect among some Muslim voters who oppose his positions on abortion and LGBTQ issues yet say they plan to vote for him anyway. “He is a Democrat with a Muslim mask,” one attendee of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) Convention, who requested anonymity to avoid social reprisals, told Fox News Digital. “Basically he’s like Ilhan Omar, but like a male version.” He went on to say that, while he takes objection to El-Sayed’s positions on abortion and LGBTQ rights, he “want[s] him to get elected” to improve his community’s “representation.” Fox News Digital was on the ground at the Islamic Society of North America’s annual conference in Detroit over Labor Day weekend, where El-Sayed delivered the marquee speech amid controversy over past remarks by some conference speakers. The episode has added scrutiny to El-Sayed’s ties to the organization and the political coalition surrounding his campaign. ‘DESTROYING THE AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE’: EL-SAYED’S POLITICAL ORBIT COMPLICATES EFFORT TO MODERATE HIS IMAGE In total, Fox News Digital spoke to about 10 attendees at the conference, some of whom requested anonymity or declined to be recorded but agreed to speak on background. Several described a tension between their personal views on social issues and their support for El-Sayed, particularly on abortion and LGBTQ issues. El-Sayed supports codifying Roe v. Wade into law, funding Planned Parenthood, establishing LGBTQ-inclusive sex education and allowing doctors to perform sex-change operations on children. Islamic theology generally takes a more restrictive view of abortion, gender and sexuality, though interpretations vary among Muslims. Another attendee, a Navy veteran, told Fox News Digital that he strongly opposes El-Sayed’s positions on issues like abortion and LGBTQ sex education, but feels like the Republican Party has let him down following the 2024 election. “I voted for Donald Trump. When it comes to values, I’m a Republican. But unfortunately they have betrayed us,” he said. He pointed to the Trump administration’s involvement in foreign wars and cost-of-living concerns as the issues pushing him to support El-Sayed despite the Democrat’s liberal beliefs. Multiple attendees who spoke to Fox News Digital at the conference, including some who declined to be interviewed on the record, said they voted for Trump in 2024 but were planning on supporting El-Sayed in the midterms. MICHIGAN SENATE RACE: EL-SAYED’S TIES TO EXTREMIST FUEL ANTISEMITISM CONCERNS AMONG JEWISH VOTERS “We’re concerned about where our tax dollars are going to. A lot of these tax dollars are going to support foreign wars, support countries that aren’t the United States,” Zubin, a longtime El-Sayed supporter, told Fox News Digital. “So I think these are the main issues that resonate not just with the Muslim voters but the everyday voter in all of Michigan.” Trump’s support for Israel and his military operations in Iran have become growing points of concern for some voters, with polls showing rising dissatisfaction over U.S. involvement in Middle Eastern conflicts. Trump did uncharacteristically well for a Republican among Michigan Arab Americans in 2024. If support for the GOP slides heavily with that demographic in November, it could spell trouble for the party’s Senate prospects. Republicans, however, are seeking to pick off disaffected Jewish Democrats to gain an edge themselves. Some attendees who spoke with Fox News Digital were shocked to learn about El-Sayed’s support for abortion and LGBTQ rights. “Wait, he’s supporting LGBTQ?” one conference attendee, who requested to remain anonymous for social reasons, told Fox News Digital. “I don’t really think that’s good, especially because this is Islam and it prohibits LGBTQ and I do really think that people should abandon… abortion since they’re taking a life away.” DETROIT VOTERS CALL ON DEMOCRATS TO UNITE AROUND EL-SAYED AFTER STUNNING VICTORY OF FAR-LEFT PROGRESSIVE The attendee said he believes if El-Sayed’s social views were more widely known in the Islamic community, his support might decline. Others said they believe the importance of social views among Muslims is dependent on generation. “So yes, Abdul El-Sayed, maybe his views when it comes to these things, maybe more similar to mine as compared to our parents, our grandparents, yes, with those generations. There may be a little bit of friction, but this is natural,” Zubin said. “I do think, yes, these are probably going to be talking points within the Muslim community.” Some individuals who spoke to Fox News Digital acknowledged that the Islamic community has some deeply held conservative beliefs, but argued that the community will be able to look past that come November. “He’s gonna be great for education, and he’s gonna be great for medical,” Fauzi, who was attending the conference, told Fox News Digital. “5-10% of the issues, people may differ. But we have to look at the big picture [and] how he can be impactful for the state of Michigan, the country at large, and all of us here.” JEWISH DEM DEFECTIONS THREATEN EL-SAYED IN MICHIGAN SENATE RACE DECIDED BY RAZOR-THIN MARGINS A handful of attendees who spoke with Fox News Digital said their community would be excited if a Muslim Republican ran in their state, while others stressed that the party’s reputation could hamper its ability to appeal to Arab Americans. “Yes, if you’re a good person, a good politician and running for the Republican Party and you believe in your values and that you can do good, go ahead and run, and I’m sure you can win a lot of support from this community as well,” Zubin said. “I think it’s very difficult for a Muslim to run as a Republican because, frankly, a lot of Republican voters do tend to have a strong bias against us,” another attendee, who requested to remain anonymous, told Fox News Digital. The El-Sayed campaign did not respond to a request for comment when reached by Fox News Digital on Tuesday.
Unearthed clip shows Talarico calling parents ‘abusive’ for denying children’s gender identity
James Talarico, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Texas, once described parents who refused to acknowledge their children’s gender identity as potentially engaging in “abusive” behavior. “I think there are some folks that would think that if you deny your child’s gender identity, that’s incredibly harmful. And whether or not we label it with the term abuse, it’s abusive for sure,” Talarico said while speaking at a committee hearing in the Texas Legislature in 2019. Talarico’s resurfaced comments add to a growing pile of past remarks that cut against his efforts to paint himself as a moderate on issues like gender, policing and border security as he attempts to win over Texas, a historically Republican-leaning state. TALARICO SAYS HE ‘MISSED THE MARK’ AS HE BACKTRACKS ON CONTROVERSIAL WOKE STATEMENTS In the clip, Talarico had been speaking about HB 1910. The legislation aimed to ensure that parents who refused to affirm their child’s gender identity would not be considered guilty of child abuse in cases deciding custody. “In determining whether to appoint a party as a sole or joint managing conservator of a child, the court may not consider evidence regarding whether the party demonstrates a history or pattern of acknowledging or declining to acknowledge the child’s gender identity or expression,” its text read. Talarico opposed the bill, arguing that he would not rule out an overlap: that, in some cases, the lack of acknowledgment could border on abuse. “My concern is ruling it out as not being abuse, I think, is dangerous and could certainly harm some of our most vulnerable kids in the state.” TALARICO CAMPAIGNS WITH SURGEON WHO OPERATED ON TRANSGENDER MINORS: ‘WOLF IN SHEEP’S CLOTHING’ “Some of us I think really do consider this abusive behavior… an unwillingness to identify, acknowledge a child’s gender identity. We consider that abusive to the child, abusive and destructive,” Talarico said. At least one Republican slammed Talarico’s stance. “Only perverts and pedophiles think about what is in little kids’ pants as much as James Talafreako. He is a truly sick individual for dedicating his life to pushing sex changes on other people’s kids,” Zach Kraft, a spokesperson for the Republican National Committee (RNC), said in a statement to Fox News Digital. Although that version of the bill died in committee, a later, stronger version of it eventually passed out of the Texas House in May 2025 and became law. EXCLUSIVE: HOUSE COMMITTEE PROBES CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS OVER HIDING ‘GENDER AFFIRMATION’ FROM PARENTS Talarico also opposed that version — one of 59 nay votes on the matter. Notably, Talarico also voted in favor of an amendment to sunset the law in 2030 and in support of a separate amendment clarifying that, in the words of its author, “rejecting a child’s gender identity or sexual orientation is abuse” and “should be treated as such under Texas law.” When asked about the bill and his statements in committee, the Talarico campaign said he supported and respected parental decisions about their children. “James believes parents have the most important say in decisions about their children, which is why he sponsored a bill to protect parental rights and ensure parents are responsible for the upbringing of their own kids. While James has fought for Texas parents and families, Ken Paxton has endangered them by allowing pedophiles back on our streets,” JT Ennis, a spokesperson for the Talarico campaign, said in a statement to Fox News Digital.
DSA-backed candidates are winning primaries and their vision for America is very different
The Democratic Socialists of America is seeking to reshape some of the most basic features of the U.S. economy — from who owns major corporations to how long Americans work and whether families pay for healthcare, college and housing. The agenda is drawing renewed scrutiny after DSA-backed candidates gained ground in the 2026 midterm primaries and progressive socialism became a central Republican target at the GOP’s first-ever midterm convention in Dallas. Below are some of the biggest economic proposals in the platform. DSA calls for public ownership of major corporations and essential industries, arguing public ownership would give Americans greater democratic control over the economy. Adam Lehodey, a policy expert at the Manhattan Institute, said nationalizing major corporations would cost billions of dollars and shift accountability from customers to government officials. ‘WASTEFUL DISTRACTION’: EXPERTS SLAM MAMDANI’S TAXPAYER-FUNDED STORES He argued nationalized industries have historically suffered from waste, corruption and lower productivity, adding that reducing regulations would be a better way to encourage competition. DSA also wants to establish a 32-hour workweek without reducing workers’ pay or benefits, effectively giving full-time employees an additional day away from work while preserving their compensation. The proposal is paired with a living minimum wage, paid family leave and stronger protections for workers to form unions and strike. TRUMP DANGLES $5,000 CHECKS AS DEBT SURGES — BUT ONLY IF GOP CAN CLEAR MAJOR MIDTERM HURDLE The agenda does not explain how a shorter workweek would be implemented across industries or how businesses would be expected to absorb the additional labor costs. Lehodey said a 32-hour workweek without higher productivity could increase labor costs and reduce economic output. Among DSA’s biggest proposals are universal healthcare, publicly owned social housing, free public education through college and cancellation of all student debt. Together, the proposals would shift a much larger share of healthcare, housing and education costs from individuals to the federal government. A Cato Institute analysis estimated that a “Medicare-for-all”-style healthcare system alone could increase federal spending by between $40 trillion and $75 trillion over a decade, though the estimate is not specific to DSA’s proposal. DSA says wealthy Americans and large corporations should shoulder more of the cost of its vision. The platform calls for “aggressive wealth taxes” on the richest individuals and corporations, with the proceeds directed toward public goods and infrastructure. Lehodey questioned whether wealthy taxpayers alone could finance the agenda, arguing a broader group of taxpayers would likely bear some of the cost. DSA’s platform does not estimate the total cost of its agenda or how much revenue its proposed tax increases would generate.