Reporter’s Notebook: Dem rebels expose cracks in Jeffries’ House leadership
Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine, may retire from Congress next year with a reputation that is anything but gilded among his fellow Democrats. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Wash., is seeking re-election in a competitive district. But some of her colleagues may consider “MGP” to be notorious if she returns to Capitol Hill in January. The House of Representatives is now out — again — until Sept. 14. That follows a six-week sabbatical over the summer. But were it not for Golden and Gluesenkamp Perez, House Republican leaders may have had no other choice but to send members home early a few days ago. The duo committed something close to a parliamentary heresy, handing the GOP the necessary votes on a procedural matter to unlock the floor for the majority. Republicans lacked the votes to do it on their own – had Golden and Gluesenkamp not intervened. JEFFRIES THREATENS ‘SERIOUS RESPONSE’ AFTER DEMOCRATS HELP GOP ADVANCE ANTI-SOCIALISM VOTE However, the most schismatic betrayal was that neither one briefed Democratic leaders on what they planned to do. Congressional leaders from both sides are never pleased with members who stray from the party line. Especially on a procedural vote, which is almost always the responsibility of the majority to pass. But at the very least, leaders like to be clued in. They might give someone a pass if they understand the reasoning. “Did they give you a heads up that they were going to vote with Republicans on that rule?” asked Fox News’ Kelly Phares of House Minority Whip Katherine Clark, D-Mass. “They did not. They surprised us,” answered Clark. Yours truly observed to Rep. Tim Kennedy, D-N.Y., that in politics it’s always best to “stab someone in the front” rather than “in the back.” “There’s a lot to be said for that,” replied Kennedy. Let’s start with the nature of the dissent by Golden and Gluesenkamp Perez. Most major pieces of legislation in the House need what’s called a “rule” before the body can debate the measure. The House must debate and approve a “rule,” dictating how much time and what amendments would be in order. The House can’t debate a bill until it first OKs a rule. And except on rare occasions, the majority party is expected to carry the rule. It’s simply something the minority party rarely assists with – except in extreme circumstances. Last week, the House planned to debate a resolution to condemn socialism, green-light the SAVE America Act, maintain the number of justices on the Supreme Court at nine and consider a plan to help the nation’s lobster industry. The House adopted the rule, 210-208. However, five Republicans voted nay on the rule. It’s about the math. Those GOP defections would have killed the rule and frozen the floor for the rest of the week. In fact, the vote may have compelled House Republican leaders to cut everyone loose from Capitol Hill. The House was stalled considering any legislative traffic. TENSIONS ERUPT IN HOUSE HEARING AS GOP ADVANCES ANTI-SOCIALISM RESOLUTION WHILE DEMS RAGE: ‘SILLY SEASON’ But Golden and Gluesenkamp Perez voted yes, unlocking the floor for the remainder of the week. Democrats seethed at their colleagues for blindsiding them. “The two Democrats who have voted to move a procedural bill forward didn’t do the right thing,” said Kennedy. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., Clark and House Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., issued a rare, joint condemnation of the dissenting duo. They characterized the revolt “a significant breach of trust,” adding it “necessitates a serious response.” “It’s a mistake to vote against our caucus. We have to be unified,” said Rep. Madeleine Dean, D-Pa. Golden said he voted with Republicans so the House could pass the bill safeguarding Maine’s lobster industry. “It’s about protecting the working-class communities those men and women support. In my district, lobster fishing is the backbone of towns up and down the coast,” said Golden. “In some towns, 20 to 40% of residents hold a lobster license.” Political observers view the infighting as a misstep for the party ahead of November. “As a member, you should be able to communicate with your leaders and how you intend to vote,” said Rep. Susie Lee, D-Nev. “Something was skipped along the way.” While some lawmakers blamed Golden and Gluesenkamp Perez, others said this was the fault of Jeffries. Others put it on Clark. Still, there were those pinning this on the entire leadership team. Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., knows something about his own members undercutting him. Republicans stripped McCarthy of the speaker’s gavel nearly three years ago. But the California Republican believes the problem with Golden and Gluesenkamp Perez falls on the shoulder of Jeffries. “You would know who would be the five to eight Democrats who would leverage that [vote],” said McCarthy. “You would have reached out to them.” One former Democratic aide noted that it wasn’t even what Jeffries, Clark and Aguilar said in their statement. But it was the very fact that a statement appeared. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., never would have sent a statement. Her leadership power was implicit. Everyone knew not to cross her. Or, if there was an issue, at least have a conversation. HOUSE CONSERVATIVES DERAIL GOP AGENDA IN SAVE AMERICA ACT SHOWDOWN Jeffries has not been the House’s top Democrat in the majority. That could change if Democrats win the House this fall. But McCarthy argued the statement said a lot about Jeffries. “If Hakeem has to put out a statement that he’s strong, it’s a sign that he is weak,” said McCarthy. One senior House Democratic leadership source said rank-and-file members demanded accountability by Jeffries. Golden is done in January. Gluesenkamp Perez has repeatedly defied political gravity in a district which favors President Donald Trump. The source didn’t believe anything Machiavellian was afoot between Democratic leaders and Gluesenkamp Perez. But the source indicated that Gluesenkamp Perez tussling with the Democratic brass probably helps the Washington Democrat back home. Still, some Democrats
Families of 9/11 victims’ message to Mamdani: ‘Please do not come’ to memorial ceremony
A coalition of 9/11 family members, first responders, and elected officials gathered on the steps of City Hall on Tuesday to deliver a message to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani: stay away from this year’s Sept. 11 memorial service. “This mayor is not serving us,” Charles Wolf, who lost his wife on 9/11, said at noon news conference. “He’s serving himself. We are asking respectfully that he not show up.” “Even though there is going to be other politicians there, these are the politicians that helped us push beneficial laws through and literally held our hand during that time,” Wolf continued. “Mayor Mamdani has not shown any of that, none of it. He just wants to be there because he wants to be there.” “So we are asking him to respect the fact that that trauma is revived during the ceremony. It is a private ceremony. It is not a public ceremony. Mayor Mamdani, please do not come.“ TRUMP POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDS MEDAL OF FREEDOM TO 9/11’S ‘MAN IN RED BANDANA’ New York City Council Member Vickie Paladino, a staunch, outspoken conservative, said she was leading organizers and family members into City Hall to formally deliver petition with more than 101,000 signatures directly to the mayor’s office ahead of Friday’s 25th anniversary service. “I am demanding that he not show his face at that sacred ground,” Paladino said. “He does not belong there.” “We the people do not care for Zohran Mamdani – 101,000 names is not a drop in the bucket. Do not, Zohran Mamdani, take us New Yorkers for granted. We were there that day. The sky looked very similar to this. Stay put. Stay in City Hall and promote your propaganda.” Organized by Giovanni Galante — whose wife, Grace, was killed in the Sept. 11 attacks — the petition asks that the sacred anniversary remain a solemn, distraction-free day of mourning rather than a backdrop for political presence. “We don’t believe in what he believes in, and we really want us to be left alone,” Galante said. “This 25th anniversary is for victims and survivors to blend in and pray that day for all the families — not have a circus around us.” MAMDANI UNDER FIRE AFTER SYMBOLIC 9/11 PEN GOES TO FORMER AL QAEDA DEFENSE LAWYER The sentiment was echoed by other grieving family members who stressed that the Sept. 11 memorial service is a private, sacred space for victims’ relatives to gather in peace. “If we feel that we don’t want someone at our world-class memorial museum that’s sacred and hallowed, we feel that that person should respect our wishes,” said Monica Iken, whose husband, Michael, was killed in the attacks. “He didn’t go to the 20th. .. so I don’t know why he’s so adamant about going to this one when we just ask that he just respect us from 7 to 11 and let us have our mourning.” The objections stem directly from the mayor’s current policy positions, political associations, and key appointments, according to the speakers at the news conference. Cheri Sparacio, whose husband, Tom, was killed in the South Tower, said the petition was not about the mayor’s background or faith, but his public actions. She noted Mamdani’s appointment of chief counsel Ramzi Kassem — who previously represented individuals accused of terror ties — and his past ties to figures who have downplayed terror threats. “That is what we object to,” she said. NYC Council Member Joann Ariola, also a Republican, accused the mayor of attempting to deflect from the families’ concerns with performative announcements leading up to the event, rebuking the fact he has surrounded himself with advisers holding views hostile to core American values. “Other politicians will be there, no one will speak — it is about the survivors and about those who were murdered that day,” Ariola said. “Mayor Mamdani, for once, listen to your constituents and not your influencers and stay away from an event, a ceremonial commemoration of the lives that were lost on 9/11.”
Iran-backed attacks threaten a second major oil chokepoint as new risk emerges for US consumers
Iran-backed Houthi rebels struck Saudi Arabia with dozens of ballistic missiles and drones Tuesday, hitting multiple energy targets, including the facilities of the world’s largest oil company. The attacks on Aramco, the state-owned national oil company of Saudi Arabia that produces 10 million barrels of oil per day, threaten to tighten pressure on a second critical oil route as the Middle East war continues to restrict shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Aramco notably supplies roughly 10% of the world’s total oil demand. And attacks on its facilities raise the risk of higher oil, shipping and transportation costs that could hit U.S. consumers in coming months — just in time for the 2026 midterm elections. IRAN CALLS ON HOUTHIS TO PREPARE TO CUT OFF RED SEA GATEWAY — CAN THE TERROR GROUP DO IT? The attacks hit the southern Saudi Arabian cities of Jazan, Najran, Abha and Khamis Mushait, wounding 73 people and sparking fires at energy facilities and utilities that temporarily forced some operations to stop, according to Saudi officials. The Jazan site includes a refinery capable of processing roughly 400,000 barrels of crude per day, according to the Associated Press. Tuesday’s strikes land at a particularly vulnerable moment for global energy markets. With oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz sharply reduced, Saudi Arabia has redirected more crude toward the Red Sea — increasing the importance of the Bab el-Mandeb, where the Houthis have already threatened and attacked Saudi-linked shipping. The Energy Information Administration estimates that just 4.9 million barrels of oil and petroleum liquids moved through Hormuz per day in the second quarter of 2026, down from 21.6 million barrels per day before the conflict. Before the conflict 20% of the world’s oil moved through the consequential waterway. Traffic through the Bab el-Mandeb, meanwhile, averaged 8.1 million barrels per day during the quarter as Saudi Arabia redirected more crude to bypass Hormuz amid ongoing conflict. That creates a potentially costly vulnerability: renewed Houthi attacks on Saudi energy infrastructure or commercial vessels could put pressure on two crucial oil routes at once, raising the risk of higher crude, shipping and transportation costs that could eventually reach U.S. consumers. Brent crude was trading near $99 per barrel Tuesday. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree claimed responsibility for Tuesday’s strikes, saying the group had used “dozens of ballistic missiles and drones” against Aramco facilities, the Jazan industrial zone and a Saudi air base, according to Xinhua. RUBIO ACCUSES IRAN OF FLYING IRGC PERSONNEL INTO YEMEN AS HOUTHI THREAT ESCALATES The Houthis said the operation was retaliation for Saudi airstrikes in Yemen and threatened “stronger and wider strikes” if Riyadh’s military campaign continues. The escalation also comes with a warning already issued by President Donald Trump. After the Houthis struck two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea in July, Trump said the U.S. would hold Iran responsible if the group attacked ships again and threatened “major military punishment” against both Tehran and the Houthis. “If they do this again, the U.S. will hold Iran responsible, in that the Houthis are a Surrogate and/or Proxy of Iran, and major military punishment will be inflicted upon Iran and, of course, the Houthis, themselves,” Trump wrote on Truth Social at the time. The warning followed the Houthis’ announcement of a maritime blockade targeting Saudi Arabia and attacks on Saudi tankers in the Red Sea. The escalation sent Brent crude above $100 per barrel amid fears that disruption could spread from the Strait of Hormuz to the Bab el-Mandeb. The latest strikes targeted Saudi territory and energy infrastructure rather than ships, leaving unclear whether the White House considers them to cross the line Trump drew in July. It creates a new test for the administration as Houthi attacks increasingly intersect with the wider conflict over Iran and regional energy supplies. The Trump administration has previously authorized U.S. strikes against Houthi weapons and infrastructure in Yemen in response to attacks and threats against American forces and shipping. A White House report says Trump directed those actions to defend U.S. forces and protect American national-security interests. The U.S. Maritime Administration also maintains an active advisory warning that the Houthis continue to pose a threat to commercial vessels in the southern Red Sea, the Bab el-Mandeb and the Gulf of Aden. From November 2023 through October 2025, the Houthis carried out more than 100 attacks on commercial vessels affecting more than 60 nations, according to the MARAD advisory. The attacks forced major shipping companies to avoid the Red Sea and reroute vessels around the Cape of Good Hope, adding time to voyages and increasing fuel, freight and insurance costs. The Houthis renewed that threat in July when they targeted Saudi oil tankers and threatened a blockade of Saudi shipping through the Red Sea. Saudi Arabia’s increased reliance on the route makes another sustained disruption potentially more consequential. The EIA says alternate routes used to bypass disrupted waterways are longer, more expensive and limited in capacity. The latest strikes threaten to revive pressure on the Red Sea route just as the Iran conflict has made the Persian Gulf route more difficult to use. The Houthis may lack the capability to permanently close the Bab el-Mandeb, but repeated missile, drone or tanker attacks could still reduce traffic through the waterway if shipping companies determine the risks are too high. Saudi Arabia condemned Tuesday’s strikes on civilian and economic assets and vowed to defend its territory. The Saudi-led coalition described the attacks as a “dangerous escalation” and said it would take measures to deter further attacks. The immediate economic impact will depend on how quickly Saudi Arabia restores affected operations and whether commercial shipping continues moving through the Bab el-Mandeb. The next test could be whether the Houthis again target tankers or other commercial vessels. Another attack could put greater pressure on a waterway carrying an increased share of Middle Eastern oil — while also testing Trump’s warning that renewed Houthi attacks on shipping would bring U.S. retaliation against both
Newsom admits democratic socialist ideas ‘mainstream’ in Democrat party: ‘Pretty aligned’
In an interview discussing his rumored 2028 presidential run, California Gov. Gavin Newsom asserted that the Democratic Party is “pretty aligned” with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), especially when it comes to universal healthcare, climate change and moving away from fossil fuel usage. During an interview with “PBS NewsHour,” Newsom was questioned about what recent democratic socialist victories across the country mean for the Democratic Party. “If you have these candidates and this platform that is clearly animating the base, energizing turnout, should more of those ideas be worked into the broader Democratic platform?” Newsom was asked. “I think they are,” Newsom shot back. “I mean, we want money out of politics. I’ve been supporting clean money campaigns for decades.” NEWSOM TELLS DEMOCRATS TO BE IN THE ‘ADDITION NOT SUBTRACTION’ BUSINESS WITH SOCIALISTS The interviewer pressed Newsom further, saying, “There seems to be some distance between [Democratic] leadership and those DSA candidates.” “But, not the ideas,” Newsom responded. “I believe in universal healthcare, and I believe in Medicare for All, the party does overwhelmingly,” he said. “And so, if it’s about more money in your pocket, lowering costs, getting money out of politics, if it’s about Medicare for All, I think we’re pretty aligned.” He added, “It’s about recognizing that we’ve got a planet that is getting hotter and drier and that we’ve got to address the issue of climate change, we want energy security, and we want to move off fossil fuels. That’s a DSA position, that’s a mainstream position within the Democratic Party.” Newsom dismissed worry about democratic socialist influence in American politics, saying, “I think in many ways, it’s just a label … it’s just such a familiar label to me, we call them progressives.” NEWSOM HIT WITH LAWSUIT THREAT AS WHISTLEBLOWER BEGS TRUMP FOR HELP WITH ‘MONUMENTAL’ FRAUD SCANDAL “Maybe it’s just because I’m from California and I think it’s healthy … I’m not consumed by this,” the governor continued, adding that the DSA’s ideas reflect “aspects and component parts of our party that we’ve always had, and it’s a healthy dialectic within the party.” Fox News Digital reached out to Newsom’s office for additional comment. Fox News Digital also reached out to the DSA and to the Democratic National Committee for comment. The DSA is the pre-eminent socialist political group in the U.S. This year, the group rolled out an updated platform that includes eliminating the Senate and replacing the president and the Supreme Court with an executive and judiciary chosen by Congress. Additionally, the updated platform includes amnesty for all immigrants and defunding the Department of War. JENNIFER SIEBEL NEWSOM DODGES QUESTION ON HUSBAND GAVIN’S PRESIDENTIAL ASPIRATIONS This is in addition to the DSA’s already existing policy platform, which calls for an “immediate end to all deportations,” free migration between countries without restrictive immigration controls, and “extending full voting rights to people with criminal convictions and noncitizens.” Once considered a fringe movement on the Democratic Party’s progressive wing, the DSA has been gaining relevance, with several of its members toppling longtime establishment party figures. This has prompted many to speculate that the DSA represents the Democratic Party’s future.
Trump posthumously awards Medal of Freedom to 9/11’s ‘man in red bandana’
President Donald Trump honored deceased volunteer firefighter Welles Crowther – also known as the “man in the red bandana” – with the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Tuesday. Speaking during Tunnel to Towers’ “Steel Across America” event in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, President Donald Trump praised Crowther, whose actions during 9/11 saved up to 18 people’s lives, sparking nationwide admiration and a series of documentary features on his bravery. “Today we also remember another hero of 9/11. After the plane hit the south tower, a group of people on the 78th floor were trapped with broken bones, charred skin and eyes and lungs filled with black smoke. Death was all about them. It was certain they were sure they were going to die. Then suddenly a rescuer appeared. They call him the man in the red bandana. Have you heard that term? The man in the red bandana has become more famous than me. I don’t like it. Very unhappy. But he’s become much more famous than me,” Trump joked. “He’s the man in the red bandana. He had found the only stairwell that barely survived. The stairwells were all knocked down. You couldn’t get by. Impassable. He found an opening in one of the stairwells, and the impact was so great there was no other way down but this one little opening, this one little hole. And [he] traveled down from the 104th floor to look for those trapped and dying,” Trump continued. First responders honor World Trade Center beam arriving at Boston fallen heroes memorial “When he heard cries for help on the 78th floor, he began extinguishing the fires, blocking the exit, directing survivors who could walk, of which there weren’t that many. He helped them out physically. They literally pulled him out toward the only working stairwell and carried those who couldn’t walk. And he just did things that people said were not even imaginable because they knew they were dead. They said, ‘we’re goners.’ One guy was screaming, ‘we’re goners! We’re goners!’ He didn’t know those he helped and, nor who would have known, but he willingly made all of these trips up and down, up and down, up and down, over and over again, saving life after life,” Trump added. Rutgers unveils special uniforms to honor 37 alumni killed in September 11 attacks “That rescuer was a 24-year-old equities trader and volunteer firefighter from Rockland County named Welles Crowther. And Welles’ father, also a firefighter, great firefighter, had given him that bandana as a very special tribute when he was a boy. He probably knew something about his son. When asked why he always kept it, Welles replied ‘with this red bandana, I’m going to change the world. I’m going to change the world with this bandana.’ Little did he know, on September 11th Welles saved many, many people before losing his own life in the South Tower lobby. When the building came down, he was in the lobby and that building came down, thousands of tons of steel,” Trump said. “Today, in honor of his incredible bravery and all of the other countless unknown acts of heroism that day, it is my privilege to award the very special, the highest honor that we give, the highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. We want to award that to Welles and the Welles family. Wells is up there looking down at his mom and his sister, his family,” Trump said. Trump was speaking during the Tunnel to Towers’ “Steel Across America” event, in which the organization takes a 16,900 lb steel beam that came from the World Trade Center’s South Tower across the country. The president also invited Crowther’s mother on stage to speak about her son after reminding the crowd that he had promised her earlier to award the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, to her son. FRANK SILLER: ‘I love you, brother’ — the 9/11 loss that inspired a mission of service “That Welles’ light still shines brilliantly today, even after 25 years, is testament to his legacy of courage, compassion and love for humanity that continues to inspire and uplift others,” Alison Crowther said. “Wells, however, would not have been able to do what he did as effectively on 9/11 if it had not been for the training and experience he gained as a member of Empire Hook and Ladder Company Number one of Upper Nyack. Empire is a volunteer company and the members are fully trained firefighters. They have other jobs and responsibilities, businesses to run and their own families. But when the alarm goes off at any time, day or night, they respond to the call to save life and property. This is a calling. And Welles – following in the footsteps of his father, Jefferson – joined Empire at the age of 16. He was no longer an equities trader on 9/11, he was a firefighter,” she said.
Dem city bashed for policy ‘encouraging criminal illegal aliens’ as rap sheets revealed: ‘Lives on the line’
A Democrat-dominated city council in Danbury, Connecticut, is facing backlash over new police guidance that the Department of Homeland Security says is “encouraging criminal illegal aliens.” The City Council voted 18-2 last week to approve non-citizen legal immigrants and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program recipients serving as police officers. One city council member, Democrat Joe Britton, remarked that the vote was “timely” considering recent ICE operations in the area and “sends a message to our immigrant community at large that you are welcome in Danbury.” In response, a spokesperson for DHS fired back that the City Council “should be thanking our law enforcement for removing these dangerous criminals from Connecticut — NOT vilifying law enforcement.” “An oath of office is a commitment to upholding the law, not encouraging criminal illegal aliens to break it,” the spokesperson added, saying that “while these people smear ICE, law enforcement is arresting criminals and saving countless American lives.” NON-CITIZEN POLICE OFFICERS APPROVED AFTER DEM SAYS ICE ‘INVASION’ ‘SENDS A MESSAGE’ Britton denied these claims, telling Fox News Digital that “DHS is attacking an argument I never made” and “I have no objection to arresting violent criminals.” August ICE operations in Connecticut resulted in more than 65 arrests, according to an ICE news release. The arrests prompted public outrage in the community, including from city officials such as Britton, who called the raids “frightening” and a “federal invasion of immigration officials in Danbury.” DHS, however, told Fox News Digital that ICE arrested illegal immigrants with criminal convictions including assault, sexual assault, false imprisonment and molestation of a minor. One arrestee, Eddy Ruano, from Guatemala, was convicted of molestation of a minor, according to DHS. Another Guatemalan national, Ericko Valenuela-Chua, was arrested in Connecticut after being convicted of sex assault-carnal abuse, sex assault and assault. BORDER CZAR TOM HOMAN FIRES BACK AFTER DEMOCRAT CHRIS MURPHY CLAIMS ICE IS ‘TERRORIZING LITTLE KIDS’ A Nicaraguan national, Elvin Caceres-Martinez, was also arrested during the operation and was convicted of assault, weapon offense, aggravated assault with a gun, aggravated assault of a non-family with strongarm and carrying a prohibited weapon. Meanwhile, Ecuadorian national Frank Guaman, convicted of sex assault and false imprisonment, was also arrested in the operation. The DHS spokesperson stressed that “the vilification of ICE must stop” as “America’s brave ICE agents put their lives on the line every day to enforce U.S. law and arrest criminal illegal aliens — including gang members, rapists, and murderers.” Regarding Britton’s critiques of ICE in the area, the spokesperson said that “this type of rhetoric is contributing to a more than 1,300% increase in assaults against them as they put their lives on the line.” WHITE HOUSE BRINGS RECEIPTS AFTER MEDIA CLAIMS NONCRIMINAL ICE ARRESTS ‘SOARING’: ‘FALSE NARRATIVES’ Fox News Digital also reached out to the office of Danbury Mayor Roberto Alves for comment. Britton told Fox News Digital that “DHS is attacking an argument I never made.” “I have no objection to arresting violent criminals,” said Britton. “What I object to is using a handful of serious criminal cases to justify fear-driven enforcement tactics that make entire immigrant communities feel targeted.” He said that “Danbury is safer when residents trust local government and law enforcement, not when innocent families are afraid that simply going to work, school, or church could put them in the middle of an immigration raid and subject themselves to detention or arrest.” Britton added that “supporting law enforcement does not require remaining silent when federal enforcement creates unnecessary fear in our community.”
Mamdani to release documents on 9/11 health impacts before 25th anniversary
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced Tuesday that his administration will release more than 170,000 pages of documents shedding new light on the air quality around Ground Zero in the months following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. In a press conference at the City Hall Rotunda, Mamdani said these documents would only be the first release of information that will reveal new details about “what the city knew about the toxic air around Ground Zero, when they knew it and how they acted to limit liability.” Over the next year, hundreds of thousands of more documents will be released onto a public portal that will be freely accessible to every New Yorker, Mamdani said. The creation of the portal came about after the city settled a lawsuit from 9/11 Health Watch, an advocacy organization that sued to obtain the documents now being released. 9/11 FAMILIES URGE TRUMP TO DECLASSIFY RECORDS ON SAUDI ARABIA’S ALLEGED ROLE The first tranche of documents being released Tuesday on the portal will involve the 68 boxes of Department of Environmental Protection files that were found “a few years ago,” Mamdani said. Also included in the release will be the Harding memo, a letter that was sent to Bob Harding, a deputy mayor under Rudy Giuliani. It was sent to him after the attacks on the World Trade Center, and it outlined that there could be tens of thousands of legal claims filed against the city. Jon Stewart, who has spent years advocating for 9/11 first responders, said at the press conference that the memo showed the city buried the truth about the toxic nature of the air for nearly 25 years. “There was poison in the air and on the ground and in the window sills and in your air conditioners and covering your pets and your clothes. And it stayed there for months,” Stewart said. TRUMP’S 9/11 TRIBUTE TO FEATURE MASSIVE PIECE OF GROUND ZERO HISTORY AT WHITE HOUSE “Everyone knew. And now it’s very clear that the city knew as well. And rather than take the steps to ameliorate the damage that that would cause to its citizens and to the people that were down there, they instead covered it up to get back to business as usual,” Stewart added. The document release comes days before the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, which killed nearly 3,000 people. The majority of people died at the World Trade Center after two planes were flown into the Twin Towers by al-Qaeda terrorists. In addition to the World Trade Center, hijackers struck the Pentagon, and a fourth plane crashed in rural Pennsylvania after passengers attempted to retake control of the aircraft. Officials repeatedly noted that 25 years later, more people have died from illnesses linked to the attacks than were killed on Sept. 11 itself. The documents, officials said, show that asbestos remained present in parts of Lower Manhattan for months after the attacks and that benzene levels continued to spike near Ground Zero. “Now, we in the public know that City Hall, led by former Mayor Giuliani, predicted that thousands of responders and community members would face devastating long-term health consequences from these toxins,” U.S. Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y. said at the Tuesday press conference. The next release of documents that will be released to the portal will concern correspondence in Mayor Rudy Giulani’s office, who was leading the city at the time of the attacks, according to Steven Banks, the city’s top lawyer. Banks said a third tranche will involve documents related to 7 World Trade Center, a skyscraper that was destroyed along with the Twin Towers and was subsequently rebuilt.
Fox News Power Rankings: What’s in an economy?
Eight weeks from today, millions of Americans will choose their next congressperson. Poll after poll tells us that the state of the economy will shape their choice: it’s the top issue for voters by a wide margin and most Americans are in a sour mood about it. That’s not the end of the story. We’ve learned from previous elections that voters consider a wide range of issues when they vote. The “economy” has different meanings to voters. Optimism doesn’t win over voters on pocketbook issues. And this year, while voters aren’t happy with President Donald Trump’s economy, that hasn’t yet made them enthusiastic about the Democratic alternative. These are the four rules to think about as we inch closer to the midterms. Meantime, Democrats inch closer to victory as the Power Rankings takes a fresh look at congressional races in Missouri and Ohio. The importance of the economy to elections has been a golden rule since the early ’90s, when Democratic strategist James Carville famously cited “the economy, stupid” as the most important focus for a campaign. Did you know it was only one of three orders he gave to candidates that cycle? The economy has been a top-three issue throughout the Trump era, including the last two midterm elections, where it was the most important issue for 47% of voters (2022) and 18% of voters (2018). If that 2018 figure feels low, it’s because healthcare (26%) and immigration (23%) finished ahead. That year, Republicans lost 42 seats. No wonder another of Carville’s three rules for candidates was “don’t forget health care.” (The third was “change vs more of the same.”) HAKEEM JEFFRIES REJECTS MEDICARE FOR ALL, DSA AGENDA AS RO KHANNA CALLS HEALTH PLAN ‘MOST IMPORTANT PRIORITY’ The state of the economy bleeds into other major concerns, including healthcare. But even a strong economy wasn’t enough to get the GOP out of that election unscathed. And healthcare looms as another important issue this year: it’s ranked close behind the economy in most surveys this year. When pollsters ask about voters’ views on the economy, they usually ask how important “the economy” or “the state of the economy” is, or whether they’re satisfied with Trump’s performance on that issue. In some important ways, Trump has a strong economic record. Just last week, the U.S. added 162,000 jobs, about triple what economists had expected. The unemployment rate was steady at 4.1%. The stock market also continues to grow, even as Iran and tariffs drive volatility. These have helped keep Trump’s overall economic approval rating in the low-to-mid 30s in multiple polls this summer. When pollsters ask only about Americans’ personal economic situation, things look tougher. TRUMP’S APPROVAL RATING PLUMMETS TO NEW LOW AHEAD OF CRITICAL MIDTERMS: ‘MORE WORK TO DO’ In a Reuters/Ipsos poll released last week, 32% of voters said they approved of Trump on the economy. But only a quarter approved of his performance on cost of living and 24% approved of him on inflation and prices. The costs of gas, food and other basic goods are the major factors driving this discrepancy. If Democrats deliver a strong result in November, it will come down to a presidential approval rating in the mid-20s on these issues. In 2022, President Joe Biden faced similar headwinds: the economy was rebounding, especially if you looked at unemployment, but inflation hovered around the 8% mark all year. Gas prices came in around $3.75. The Biden administration kept selling the positives. First, inflation was “transitory.” Then the president argued that “zero percent inflation” from one month to another was a win, despite the high annualized rate. Senior officials took victory laps on the unemployment rate. Voters rejected this messaging at the ballot box, delivering the House to the GOP after a net loss of nine Democratic seats and handing Biden a net approval rating of -23 points on the economy. Today, headline inflation is less than half that at 3.4%, while gas prices are a little higher at $4.15. Trump’s net approval on the economy currently sits at -33 points. The Trump administration is running a familiar playbook. Vice President JD Vance said last week that gas prices could be worse if not for the Trump administration. As Fox’s Gillian Turner noted on “Special Report,” there are similarities between a comment like that and the statements Biden officials made four years earlier. These optimistic visions are likely to remain a tough sell to voters. It’s easy to look at all this and think the Democrats are in for a big night in November. That’s certainly a possibility. But polls keep showing that voters are just as discouraged by the left’s economic messaging. FOX NEWS POLL: MOST RATE THE ECONOMY NEGATIVELY, INCLUDING HALF OF REPUBLICANS Right now, Democrats are offering voters competing economic visions. Some, like Abdul El-Sayed and Troy Jackson, want a revolution that starts with “Medicare-for-all” and higher taxes on the wealthy. Others say they want to undo Trump’s agenda while keeping the core of America’s economic system in place. It’s not yet clear whether these visions are unappealing to voters or whether the contrast between them is the problem. Either way, in the Reuters/Ipsos survey, 36% of voters say Republicans are the better party to handle the economy, while 37% prefer the Democrats. The poll has a ±3.3pt margin of error. That’s not encouraging for Team Blue. If the Republicans hold relatively steady in November – also a possibility in this forecast – those results will explain why. Democrats are still the favorites to take the House this November, with 212 seats in their columns to the GOP’s 206. There are 17 seats that are so close they could go either way. Those seats tend to swing in one direction as votes get counted. On a good night for Democrats, that means 229 seats, while a good night for the GOP would still see them hold onto their current House majority. (A “great” night for either party would mean winning some
US rebuilding weapons stockpile could delay orders from allies
The U.S. has for years been the top weapons supplier in the world. Over the past five years, arms exports have gone to nearly 100 countries. “These weapons are sought after around the world because we have the best weapons,” said War Department Under Secretary for Acquisition and Sustainment Michael Duffey. The Trump administration says some of the U.S. stockpile depletion is because of the weapons given to Ukraine. The Center for Strategic and International Studies assesses those transfers have been a minor factor in the shrinking U.S. inventories except for one important tool – the Patriot Missile Defense System. WEAPONS STOCKPILE SHORTAGES IMPACTING MILITARY STRATEGY IN THE MIDEAST “We’ve maxed out the production lines now, and that process began during the Ukraine War when it was clear that modern conflict was going to require a lot more munitions than we had been planning on,” said Mark Cancian, a retired U.S. Marine colonel and senior advisor with the CSIS Defense and Security Department. Between 2021 and 2025, Ukraine was the largest recipient of major arms around the world, with at least 36 countries supplying weapons. The U.S. was the top supplier over the five-year time period, accounting for 41% of Ukrainian arms imports. AS CHINA TENSIONS LOOM, US TEMPORARILY PAUSES TAIWAN WEAPONS SALES DUE TO IRAN WAR, ACTING NAVY SECRETARY SAYS Before Russia’s war in Ukraine began in 2022, CSIS estimates the U.S. had around 2,200 Patriot missiles in its inventory. Estimates show around 600 missiles were given to Ukraine, with a few of those possibly coming from U.S. allies. Deliveries of new production outpaced the number given to Ukraine, with an estimated 2,300 missiles in the U.S. Patriot inventory before the Iran conflict began. It’s estimated that around 36% of Patriot Interceptors remain from the pre-Iran war inventory. “As chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, my job is to sign off on all foreign military weapons and sales to countries like Israel, to countries, like Taiwan and Ukraine, for that matter. And when we can’t deliver on that promise because we can’t make those weapons fast enough, it hurts our alliances, it hurts allies’ ability to protect themselves,” said Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas. Publicly available government reports show at least four countries, including the U.S., have provided full Patriot missile systems to Ukraine. The U.S. is the only country that manufactures the Patriot battery, and one of two countries, along with Japan, to publicly show it produces Patriot missiles. “If we take all of the Patriots for ourselves, and of course, that’s 600 a year, we can refill the inventory much more quickly, but we have frozen out our allies and partners,” Cancian said. UKRAINE SEEKS MORE US PATRIOT INTERCEPTORS AS BOMB SHELTER PROBE DEEPENS Patriot producer Raytheon says, “Patriot is the foundation of integrated air and missile defense for 19 nations.” But as the U.S. prioritizes rebuilding its weapons inventory, deliveries for some countries are already delayed. “Unfortunately, the world we live in is an increasing threat, and that means that we need a bigger military force, and we need a stronger defense industrial base to be able to equip the warfighter and supply all that we need to win the fight,” Duffey said. Patriot batteries and Tomahawk missiles were first used in Operation Desert Storm. At least two other countries have Tomahawks and while the stockpile remains large compared to other systems, at around two-thirds of its prewar inventory, new orders from Japan and the Netherlands could face delays. “With Tomahawk, we have the same situation with the Japanese. They bought 400. They’re told they’re being pushed back in the queue. On the other hand, they’re facing China. They’ve reconfigured one of their ships to take the Tomahawks. So, there’s again going to be a diplomatic discussion there,” Cancian said. MORE THAN HALF OF SOME US WEAPONS STOCKPILES USED IN IRAN WAR, RAISING CONCERNS ABOUT CHINA THREAT Just the U.S., the UAE and Saudi Arabia have THAAD systems. Their first confirmed use was in 2022 after a UAE system intercepted missiles launched by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. No official delays have been reported for THAAD orders, but the U.S. has 52%-62% of its inventory remaining and outstanding deliveries for Saudi Arabia, expected to be completed by April 2028. “This military competition we’re in with China and Russia and Iran is real. And we have to win that competition,” McCaul said. OPINION: AMERICA FACES A CRISIS IN OUR MILITARY ARSENAL THAT TRUMP IS RACING TO FIX The ground-launched Precision Strike Missile (PrSm), developed by Lockheed Martin, was first used in Operation Epic Fury. CSIS says just 10-22% of those weapons remain from pre-Iran conflict levels, following the ceasefire expenditures and revised estimates from the beginning of the conflict in late February. “It’s important to keep in mind that the level of intensity in those 14 days of renewed conflict were not as high as they were during the first 39 days of the air war,” Cancian said about the July strikes after the ceasefire ended. “During the 14 days, the U.S. was launching maybe 80 to 100 strikes according to the Pentagon per day. During the 39 days of the major air war, we were launching about 350 strikes a day, plus Israel was launching another 200 to 250. So, the intensity wasn’t quite as high, but we were still going through these munitions.”
Unearthed interview exposes what Talarico thought about ‘tough-on-crime’ tactics
James Talarico, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Texas, once framed disciplinary practices in schools as an outflow of the ideas behind criminal justice reforms he hoped lawmakers would implement in Texas. “I’m recently excited about the formation of a bipartisan criminal justice reform caucus in the Texas House with prominent Democrats and prominent Republicans who understand that we have to move away from a tough-on-crime approach to a smart-on-crime approach, and that, I think, filters down to our schools,” Talarico said in a 2020 interview on school disciplinary practices and their effect on minorities. Talarico’s train of thought, from criminal reform laws to changes in educational discipline, demonstrates his underlying beliefs about moving away from punitive corrections. SOROS NETWORK REBUILDS PROGRESSIVE PROSECUTOR PUSH AFTER STRING OF ELECTION LOSSES Talarico fleshed out his view, detailing how the changes would affect the educational system. “[We are] starting in elementary school, where we really pursue restorative practices that are going to rehabilitate our students who are suffering from trauma, our students who are feeling unsafe in school and our students who harm a classroom community.” Talarico was referring to “restorative justice,” a view that links misbehavior to past personal and emotional experiences. In the words of Texas Appleseed, a group that promotes “social, economic and racial justice,” restorative justice in education emphasizes the relational cost of conflict as a way to deter future bad behavior. “Restorative Justice, when applied to a school setting, focuses on how student behavior has harmed others and how to make amends. Schools use it to build community and strengthen student–school connections,” the group wrote in a definition submitted to lawmakers. The approach is often mentioned as an alternative to “zero tolerance” policies that focus on punishments that deter discouraged conduct. To Talarico, its adoption could deemphasize other forms of punishments. “What that means is really allowing students to repair the harms that they’ve caused in a classroom community. It’s a lot more rigorous and a lot more effective than just expelling a student or suspending a student or removing them from a classroom community,” Talarico said. While in the Texas legislature in 2021, Talarico introduced a bill, HB 62, which would have sought to move schools away from in-school suspension, out-of-school suspension and removing kids to alternative educational programs. The bill stalled in committee and never became law. NORTH CAROLINA TEACHER’S KILLING REIGNITES SCRUTINY OF ROY COOPER’S CRIMINAL JUSTICE RECORD IN SENATE RACE In the wake of the Uvalde school shooting in 2022, Republican lawmakers pushed back against Talarico’s line of reasoning, arguing that, despite some calls for leniency, repercussions for problematic behavior are sometimes unavoidable. “Look, I don’t want to see a kid go to jail for being caught with some pot. I don’t want to see a kid go to jail because he gets into a fight with another kid,” Texas state Rep. Steve Toth, a Republican, told interviewers. “That’s clearly not the intent here. But if you’ve got a kid that is violent and is consistently violent, and they’ve been violent toward other children and teachers, then we either have to reach that kid or we have to remove that kid. They shouldn’t be in the classroom. Period.” Talarico’s statements are consistent with past calls to step away from law enforcement and prisons and towards social programs — calls that also show his beliefs about the best ways to deter criminal behavior. “If we took just half of what we spent on wars, prisons, and policing and spent it on education, health care, and jobs, we could make prisons obsolete,” Talarico said in a 2022 speech to a graduation ceremony for incarcerated students. A little later on in that same speech, Talarico went further, calling the idea of prisons themselves a kind of violence. “My experience as a teacher, a legislator, and a Christian tells me that birds don’t belong in cages; children don’t belong in cages; people don’t belong in cages. Poverty is violence. Pollution is violence. And yes, prison is violence,” Talarico said. MICHIGAN SENATE HOPEFUL ABDUL EL-SAYED FIRES BACK AT CNN CHOOSING TO ‘FIXATE’ ON ‘DEFUND THE POLICE’ COMMENTS “I’m not asking you to join the system; I’m asking you to change the system. Dismantle this system of violence.” When asked about his views on criminal justice and how they link to education, Talarico’s campaign said he has always prioritized both safety and smart-on-crime approaches, noting that he had been a member of the state’s criminal reform caucus. “James joined his Republican colleagues on this caucus because as a former public school teacher, James cares about keeping Texas students safe. James agrees with most Texans that we government should be smart-on-crime, and our students deserve all the support possible,” JT Ennis, a campaign spokesperson, said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “While James has passed bills in the legislature to deny bail for violent criminals, crack down on violent felons and send billions of dollars to support law enforcement, Ken Paxton has abused his office to benefit his wealthy donors and the well-connected — allowing criminals back on the street even as it made Texans less safe. Even Ken Paxton’s fellow Republicans have blasted his public safety record: more murders, soft on human trafficking, and pedophiles walking free,” he added, referring to Talarico’s Republican challenger, former Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Having cleared the primary and secured his party’s nomination, Talarico will face off against Paxton in the Nov. 3 general election.