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In the Sandhills of Nebraska, some grazing pastures look more like the Sahara Desert. The Morrill Fire — the largest wildfire in Nebraska history — scorched vast stretches of land in mid-March.

Farmers and ranchers across western Nebraska are now trying to recover, but severe drought conditions are making matters worse.

"The wind was screaming, maybe 70 mph. They said in 10 minutes it traveled 14 miles," said Joe Van Newkirk, owner of Van Newkirk Herefords Ranch. "We heard that there was a fire in Angora, which is about 50 miles north-west of our headquarters, we just kind of looked at the map and there was just no way that this place was not going to get burned."  

The ranch, located in Oshkosh, Nebraska, has been in the Van Newkirk family for 140 years. The operation holds an annual bull sale, selling 250 to 300 bulls to ranches across the country.

Thankfully, the Van Newkirk home was spared. It sits miles away from grazing pastures that are now almost unrecognizable after the fire.

"We didn't have any cattle on here, or any buildings to speak of. So we were very lucky in that respect," said Van Newkirk. Around a third of his summer range burned in the fire. 

LARGEST WILDFIRE IN NEBRASKA HISTORY LEAVES 1 DEAD, SCORCHES OVER 640,000 ACRES AS CONDITIONS BEGIN TO EASE

There is still extensive cleanup work ahead. Livestock watering tanks are now completely filled with sand.

"We could probably come up here and shovel them out but who says it's not going to blow right back in," said Van Newkirk. "We're gonna let this country heal, let the wind go down. Maybe next spring, winter, we'll come up here and fix this stuff." 

While surveying the ranch, Van Newkirk said he recently noticed the first signs of improvement since the fires erupted in March.

"This fire was the 13th, 14th of March, and by the 1st of May, it didn't look a whole lot different up here. The grass hadn't started," he said. "But just since then, four or five days, it's made a difference. We haven't received any moisture to speak of."

The Morill fire burned 642,029 acres, according to NOAA. Severe drought conditions are compounding the damage. The latest U.S. Drought Monitor shows more than 90% of Nebraska is experiencing drought, with growing portions of the state classified under severe, extreme and exceptional drought conditions.

But the Morrill Fire was not the only wildfire burning in Nebraska at the time.

"It burned down the shop, and my corrals, and all the hay in my yard ended up going," said Owen Johnson, Operator of Bearded Lady LLC. 

The Cottonwood Fire also tore through Nebraska, scorching 129,253 acres. The blaze hit Bearded Lady Ranch in Brady, Nebraska, which raises registered quarter horses.

"I have a dozer at the house, and I tried to bulldoze a fire break on the north and west sides of the house," Johnson said. "So that, essentially, once the fire hit that line, my hope was that it would save at least the house, the buildings around the house, the farmstead."

"I actually dozed about 120 or 130 feet, but the wind was just too strong. It actually jumped that bare ground and burned up to the house," he added.

THE SURPRISING REASON WHY AMERICANS COULD FACE HIGH BEEF PRICES FOR YEARS

Although his home survived, Johnson said the ranch still faces major challenges.

"I know I need to rebuild my shop, so that I have somewhere to put the stuff that I need to make it through the days. But we just haven't got any rain," Johnson said. "We don't have any fences. All my horses are in dry lots, which is not typically how I do things."

Johnson also said he has noticed behavioral and reproductive changes in his horses since the fires and drought.

"I don't know if it's from the drought or the stress, but usually after they foal, they have a pretty routine cycle for when they come back into heat," Johnson said. "You can start breeding those mares back again, and my mares just aren't coming into heat."

"So now you're sitting here going, man, when are we gonna get the fencing done, and when's it gonna rain? And even if everything else happens, if we don't get mares to where they're going to have us foals for next year, how are we going to make it through the next year?" he added.

Despite the hardship, Johnson said volunteers and donations from across the country have helped keep the ranch operating.

"The outreach from people, it almost gives you a different view of society," Johnson said. "There were people coming from all over the United States."

"There was hay from Georgia and Wisconsin, and I don't even know all the states, but there were literally people driving 12 or 13 hours to bring hay out — not just to us, but to other neighbors and other people that were affected by the fires," he added.

THE SINGLE CRUSHING PROBLEM AMERICAN CATTLE RANCHERS WISH TRUMP WOULD FIX INSTEAD

Van Newkirk shared a similar sentiment about the support pouring into ranch country.

"You know, that's where that really chokes me up, all the outpouring of people nationwide to help this cattle community. It's a tight-knit community, our hometown," said Van Newkirk. "The day of the fire, our fire department looked like a commissary. I mean there was just so much food, Gatorade, palettes of water. There was a bushel basket full of chapstick for these firemen."

But both ranchers said recovery ultimately depends on rainfall.

"It's just miles upon miles of drought and it's affecting everybody. I would feel pretty confident to say there's not very many farmers or ranchers right now that don't have some sort of stress or concerns about the lack of precipe," said Johnson. 

"This country's dry, and we could use all the prayers that you could have us," said Van Newkirk.  

Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen has requested that President Donald Trump issue a major disaster declaration related to the wildfires. The funding would assist with covering the cost of damage to public infrastructure.

Pillen said in a statement, ""As Nebraska faced historic wildfires, the people of our state came together to jumpstart the recovery process. I’m submitting my request for a disaster declaration to the White House and FEMA. We appreciate President Trump’s attention to this matter and his long-standing support of our state when we have requested disaster recovery funding."

There are currently several relief funds and GoFundMe pages to help those impacted stay afloat. 

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HEBRON, KY - Six states from coast-to-coast hold primary elections on Tuesday in one of the busiest and potentially most consequential days of the 2026 midterm calendar.

Voters in Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, Oregon, and Pennsylvania will cast ballots in Democratic and Republican primaries for the U.S. House, Senate and governor, as well as in down-ballot races. The nominating showdowns tee up this autumn's midterms, when Republicans will defend their slim Senate and razor-thin House majorities.

Meanwhile, some of Tuesday's most high-profile primary ballot box face-offs will serve as the latest tests of President Donald Trump's immense grip over the Republican Party and the strength of his endorsements in GOP nomination races.

Two weeks after purging five state senators in Indiana's primary who had opposed his push for congressional redistricting, and three days after helping to oust Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana - as the senator who, five and a half years ago, voted to convict Trump in his second impeachment trial lost his bid for renomination - Trump has a new target: Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky.

DEFENSE SECRETARY HEGSETH JOINS TRUMP'S POLTICAL WAR AGAINST MASSIE

Massie, who for 14 years has represented Kentucky's 4th Congressional District, in the northeastern part of the red-leaning state, has long been one of Trump's most vocal GOP critics in Congress. The libertarian-minded lawmaker has repeatedly taken aim at the president over foreign policy, including the Iran war and unconditional U.S. military aid to Israel. And he's also been a thorn in Trump's side for successfully pushing for the release of government files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Trump repeatedly targeted Massie in social media posts in the closing days of the primary campaign and praised Kentucky farmer and former Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein, who the president is backing, as "a great guy" and "a great patriot."

Gallrein grabbed some last-minute support and additional firepower on the eve of the primary, as he teamed up at an event with War Secretary Pete Hegseth.

DEMOCRACY ’26: STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE FOX NEWS ELECTION HUB

The president said in a video posted to Truth Social on Monday that he hoped Kentucky voters would put Massie "out of business" and that "we’re in a fight against the worst congressman in the history of our country."

Massie said in a Fox News Digital interview on the eve of the primary that Trump's taunts on social media may backfire.

"It shows he's losing sleep, his reputation is on the line. He really shouldn't have got involved in this race," Massie said.

The race has become the most expensive in House history in terms of ad spending, with over $32 million spent, according to the nationally known ad tracking firm AdImpact.

Much of that money has been shelled out by Trump's allies and pro-Israel groups.

"Here's the thing, I've got nothing against Israel. I just have never voted for foreign aid. When I said America First, I meant it. I don't vote for foreign aid to Egypt, to Syria, to Ukraine. I've got a flawless record on this, and I'm not going to ruin it by sending foreign aid to one country," Massie said as he defended his stance on Israel.

The race has grabbed outsized attention across the country.

"It's basically a national race at this point, the most expensive race primary in congressional history, and that's because, you know, I'm up there, I'm getting things done. I got the Epstein files released, I'm getting legislation in the farm bill, I'm getting legislation passed on the floor, and they want to shut me down," Massie emphasized.

TRUMP SCORES MAJOR PRIMARY VICTORY AS CASSIDY OUSTED IN LOUSIANA

But Gallrein, speaking with Fox News Digital, charged that Massie's "running against President Trump, and the agenda that has been put forward by the Republican Party."

The primary winner will be considered the overwhelming favorite in the general election in a district Trump carried by 36 points in his 2024 White House win.

Trump's endorsement is also on the line in Kentucky's Republican Senate primary, in the race to succeed retiring Sen. Mitch McConnell, the former longtime GOP leader in the chamber.

Among the 11 Republican candidates are Rep. Andy Barr, who recently landed Trump's backing, and former state Attorney General Daniel Cameron, a former McConnell aide who was the GOP's 2023 gubernatorial nominee. Seven Democrats, including 2020 Senate nominee Amy McGrath, are running for the Democratic nomination.

Here's a look at other key races to watch on Tuesday.

Georgia

Trump's endorsement powers will also be tested in the GOP gubernatorial primary in the southeastern battleground of Georgia.

The president is supporting Lt. Gov. Burt Jones in the race to succeed popular conservative Gov. Brian Kemp, who is term-limited.

Jones is considered one of the two front-runners in the race, along with health care executive and billionaire businessman Rick Jackson, who launched his campaign in February and has spent more than $80 million of his own money on behalf of his bid.

State Attorney General Chris Carr and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger are also running.

Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, former Republican Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, former state Sen. Jason Esteves, state Rep. Derrick Jackson, and former state labor commissioner and former DeKalb County CEO Mike Thurmond, are among the candidates seeking the Democratic nomination.

Trump remains neutral in competitive and combustible Republican Senate primary.

Reps. Mike Collins and Buddy Carter, and former University of Tennessee football coach Derek Dooley, the son of University of Georgia head football coach legend Vince Dooley, who is strongly backed by Kemp, are considered the frontrunners in a crowded field of candidates.

The winner of the GOP nomination will challenge Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff. The first-term senator is being heavily targeted by Republicans, who view him as the most vulnerable Democrat in the chamber seeking re-election this year. But Ossoff has built an extremely formidable war chest.

Alabama

The president is backing Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama as a Trump ally and two other Republicans seek their party's gubernatorial nomination in the race to succeed term-limited GOP Gov. Kay Ivey. Among the candidates for the Democratic nomination is former U.S. Sen. Doug Jones.

Meanwhile, only three of Alabama's seven congressional districts will hold primaries on Tuesday. Elections in the other four districts are being postponed until this summer, in the wake of a key Supreme Court ruling that sparked Republicans in a handful of southern states to redraw their congressional district lines.

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The following is kind of a made-up story, but required reading for anyone with a 2028 fixation.

I don’t mean that it’s fictional. This Axios piece is based on real reporting.

But it’s just another angle out of a thousand possible angles about who might win the next Democratic nomination.

I’m an Axios fan. I’ve written many such stories myself. It’s what you do when there’s no hard news about an event that won’t start for another year and a half.  You’ve got to keep feeding the beast.

AOC, ASKED ABOUT RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT, SAYS HER AMBITION IS 'WAY BIGGER THAN THAT'

(In fairness, Axios’ first three stories yesterday were about the war, Donald Trump’s suit against the IRS and congressional maneuvering.)

So this is one of those in-between stories, for days when there are no hard-news developments.

We used to call this the "invisible primary." But that term has to be retired. In the era of X and Instagram, of group chats, of powerhouse podcasts, nothing is invisible anymore. Anyone can go on Substack and try to draw a following, with varying levels of insight and accuracy. Few "scoops" last more than two minutes in this echo chamber.

AOC TAKES PAGE FROM BIDEN PLAYBOOK IN DODGING INTERVIEWS WITH NATIONAL PRESS

And you probably know the history involving name ID. At the end of 2007, Rudy Giuliani was the GOP front-runner. Hillary Clinton, who everyone expected to win, was leading Barack Obama 45 to 27%.

At the end of 2003, Howard Dean led the field with 23%t, more than double his closest rivals. John Kerry was in sixth place, with 4%. That Kerry guy easily won the nomination.

Now Axios puts the spotlight on Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ro Khanna:

"Veterans of Bernie Sanders' two presidential campaigns are splitting their allegiances between a pair of Democrats vying to inherit his progressive movement…"

The California congressman "has taken a slightly more centrist view than Ocasio-Cortez on issues such as crime and immigration. He's hired key members of Sanders' 2016 campaign–the best known is 2016 campaign manager Jeff Weaver–which had a relatively moderate brand on immigration and guns — and didn't fear going negative on Hillary Clinton."

AOC "has tapped strategists behind Sanders' effort in 2020, when the Vermont senator moved left on social issues to back policies such as decriminalizing border crossings by unauthorized immigrants, and largely avoided bashing Joe Biden."

So this is mainly about recruiting little-known operatives. "Old Bernie" vs. "New Bernie."

The news peg, if there is one, was the New York congresswoman’s shot at MTG: "I personally do not trust someone like Marjorie Taylor Greene, a proven bigot and antisemite, on the issue of what is good for Gazans and Israelis."

Based on an AtlasIntel survey, Ocasio-Cortez leads the Democratic field with 26%, and Khanna came in tenth at 0.9%. So this narrative might help him.

Personally, I don’t think AOC is going to run. She recently said she’s more interested in pushing such agenda items as health care than in holding office. I’m not saying she can’t run, or that she can’t win the nomination, though she’d get clobbered in a general election. But she’s not openly lusting for it the way Kamala Harris is.

Of course, any Democrat with a pulse has got to be tempted by Donald Trump’s sinking poll numbers.

In the latest New York Times/Siena College survey, the president’s approval rating has sunk to a second-term low of 37%. (Keep in mind that each such declaration only applies to that media outlet’s own previous poll, leading to overlapping ALL-TIME-LOW headlines.)

Nearly two-thirds say going to war with Iran was a mistake, and 64% disapprove of his handling of the economy. 

Trump won’t be on the 2028 ballot, of course, but Trumpism certainly will.

Meanwhile, the approval of Trump nominee Kevin Warsh as Fed chair doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll get his longstanding wish of reduced interest rates. In fact, quite the opposite.

SUBSCRIBE TO HOWIE'S MEDIA BUZZMETER PODCAST, A RIFF ON THE DAY'S HOTTEST STORIES

On Maria Bartiromo’s Fox show, an analyst, Ryan Payne of Payne Capital Management, said there is increasing pressure on the Fed to actually raise interest rates.

"The bond vigilantes have spoken, and what they’re telling you is the Fed probably has to raise rates here just to keep inflation in check because, clearly, right now we’re pricing in a much different market than we were just two weeks ago." 

Bartiromo agreed: "Yeah, it’s true and, of course, the president continues to say that this is a temporary situation."

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A former Virginia assistant principal is on trial on felony child neglect charges after prosecutors say she ignored warnings that a 6-year-old student had a loaded gun before the child shot his teacher in 2023.

Jury selection began Monday in Newport News in the trial of Ebony Parker, the former assistant principal at Richneck Elementary School. Parker, who has pleaded not guilty, faces eight felony child neglect charges tied to the shooting of first-grade teacher Abby Zwerner, according to The Associated Press.

Prosecutors allege several school employees warned Parker that the student might have a gun, but she failed to take action before the shooting happened, the outlet reported.

Parker’s defense has argued she is being unfairly blamed for broader failures that preceded the shooting.

ATTORNEY SAYS VIRGINIA SCHOOL MISSED WARNINGS BEFORE 6-YEAR-OLD SHOT TEACHER

Prosecutors brought one count for each of the eight bullets loaded in the gun. If convicted, Parker could face up to five years in prison for each count, AP reported.

The shooting happened on Jan. 6, 2023, when authorities said the 6-year-old student shot Zwerner while she was teaching. 

She was hospitalized for nearly two weeks and underwent six surgeries after the bullet narrowly missed her heart. She still has limited use of her left hand, according to the AP.

TEACHER SHOT BY 6-YEAR-OLD TELLS JURORS SHE NEVER PULLED CHILD FROM CLASS AS DEFENSE EXPERTS BACK OFFICIALS

In November 2025, a jury awarded Zwerner $10 million in a civil lawsuit against Parker, alleging the former administrator dismissed concerns that the student may have brought a gun to school.

In a statement to Fox News Digital at the time, Zwerner’s legal team said the verdict marked a "major step forward in Abby’s long road of healing."

During the earlier civil trial, Parker’s attorneys argued the shooting was "unforeseeable" and maintained she did not have a legal responsibility to protect Zwerner from the attack.

KENTUCKY TO CONSIDER BILL THAT WOULD HOLD PARENTS ACCOUNTABLE FOR CHILDREN’S GUN CRIMES

Zwerner is expected to testify in the criminal trial, AP reported.

Authorities said the child got the gun from his mother’s purse after climbing onto a dresser. The student’s mother was previously sentenced to nearly four years in prison. 

Fox News Digital's Julia Bonavita, Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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It’s no secret that China is willing to influence and undermine U.S. interests and national security by any means possible. On May 11, Eileen Wang, the mayor of Arcadia, Calif., resigned after pleading guilty to acting as a foreign agent for China, marking the latest high-profile example of the extent of our foreign adversaries’ intelligence operations.

The Chinese Communist Party is targeting U.S. lawmakers and officials, from the state and local levels to our nation’s capital. But not every target of foreign subversion efforts is as easy to compromise as, for instance, failed presidential and California gubernatorial candidate and former representative for California’s 14th Congressional District – Democrat Eric Swalwell. Foreign intelligence assets are equally determined to gain access to principals' aides and staff, a reality that rarely makes national headlines.  

In 2022, a compromised staffer for a Northern Virginia congressman was fired after the employee made repeated attempts to schedule meetings with other congressional offices at the behest of the Chinese Embassy, in order to lobby for the CCP’s priorities.

The U.S. Capitol campus, despite all the visible public security measures, belies the truth that it is still relatively open access for the American people and foreigners alike. Lawmakers and staff, on a regular basis, also often have engagements with foreign diplomats, who each have their own agendas that go beyond small talk at receptions.

CHINESE SPY INFILTRATION: MAYOR’S BUST ADDS TO GROWING TIMELINE OF FOREIGN INFLUENCE CREEPING INTO US

Even foreign entities that may not appear threatening at face value are oftentimes soft power and intelligence conduits for adversarial state actors. Russia-aligned entities, posing as religious or non-political organizations, sought meetings with congressional offices last year, to disseminate Kremlin propaganda and sway U.S. policy.

In a similar manner, individuals with academic credentials with strong ties to the Iranian regime have tried to influence congressional offices to advocate for sanctions relief. These individuals, well known in Beltway foreign policy circles, strive to gain access to lawmakers and their staff and successfully exploit loopholes under the Foreign Agent Registration Act.

The point here is not that members and their staff are totally oblivious to the threat posed by foreign agents. In fact, on May 9, it was reported that a would-be CCP spy had offered $10,000 to a staffer on the Select Committee on China in return for insider information. The staffer promptly reported the incident, and the committee referred it to the FBI for further investigation. Still, this shows that foreign agents can be subtle as well as bold in their attempts to gain access to classified information or compromise a target.

BIPARTISAN SENATORS PUSH TOUGHER PENALTIES FOR FOREIGN-BACKED CRIMES ON US SOIL

What’s clearly needed is a far more serious focus on deterring the threat posed by foreign intelligence operations. For this reason, I, along with House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Rick Crawford, R-Ark., have introduced the Stop Talking to Other People (STOP) Resolution.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION

This resolution would require the House of Representatives to establish a training program for both members of Congress and staff with access to classified information to undergo counterintelligence training and information protection best practices. Many would be surprised that such a program does not already exist for Congress.

In the interest of U.S. national security, we cannot afford to neglect giving our public servants the know-how and resources to combat foreign intelligence threats here in the workplace. After all, in recent years the FBI has given a ballpark estimate of 10,000 for the number of foreign agents in the DC area.

Because a savvy operator can easily develop the pretense to physically access congressional offices and lawmakers, it’s no secret that foreign intelligence agencies view Washington, D.C., as the ultimate soft target for espionage.

Pat Fallon represents Texas’ Fourth Congressional District. An Air Force Veteran, he is a member of the House Oversight, Intelligence and Armed Services Committees.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM REP. PAT FALLON

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As Route 66 prepares to celebrate 100 years since its creation, the Route 66 Commission in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is already looking ahead to the next century.

When the sun goes down in Tulsa, bright neon signs light up the historic highway along the city’s 28-mile stretch of Route 66.

Michael Wallis, founder of the Route 66 Alliance and known as the voice of the Sheriff in the Disney-Pixar movie "Cars," has spent years driving, studying and exploring Route 66.

"We think of it as this winding museum," he tells FOX from his Tulsa home, just a block from the Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza. "This is the home of Cyrus Stevens Avery, the Father of Route 66." 

ROUTE 66 SPURS TOURISM IN HISTORICAL SMALL TOWNS

Route 66 is known around the world as the "Main Street of America," highlighting an integral part of westward expansion in U.S. history.

"It’s a way of really going deep into America, and getting to know the heart of it," Spanish traveler Ignacio Casares said while driving the route with a group of friends in a rented RV.

In the second half of the 20th century, the interstate system expanded across the US. The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials later voted to remove Route 66 from the national highway system.

Wallis said he wanted to help inspire a new future for Tulsa’s section of Route 66.

"I knew the road was still there, more than 85% of it, you can still drive. So I was wary of hearing that in the past tense," Wallis said. 

ROUTE 66 AT 100: DOOCY KICKS OFF MASSIVE ROAD TRIP

But several businesses along Tulsa’s stretch of the historic route struggled after the highway was decommissioned.

"When I was born, this was an area in Tulsa that most Tulsans weren't proud of," said Julia Figueroa, store manager at Buck Atom’s Cosmic Curios.

Figueroa’s shop is one of the most eclectic and vibrant stops along Route 66 in Tulsa, located in the Meadow Gold District. The owner brought in giant fiberglass statues to help attract visitors to the area.

To draw more visitors, the Tulsa Route 66 Commission launched a matching grant program for businesses.

"We formed a neon sign grant," said Ken Busby, chair of the Tulsa Route 66 Commission.

The grant helped businesses buy new neon signs or restore old ones for advertising.

"Neon was the first — was the first advertising on the road," Busby said. "And that's how drivers going across this little two-lane road across America found a vacancy, a restaurant or whatever."

CRUISES STILL SEE BUSY SUMMER SEASON AMID OUTBREAK

Busby said there are now 84 neon signs along Tulsa’s 28 miles of Route 66.

"You just see all these neon signs popping up, and you're just like in a big city of neon," he said.

Many locals told FOX they love the neon signs, while businesses are looking toward a brighter future.

"I'll drive there at night just to watch people taking pictures at night and enjoying the neon," Figueroa said.

Busby said the next step is proposing a matching grant for businesses to restore building facades.

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Former Vice President Kamala Harris wants to expand the Supreme Court. 

This is a seriously awful idea. 

FDR, at the height of his popularity, after winning his first reelection, tried that – and got his head handed to him. 

The reason for his effort, in 1937, to have as many as 15 justices was to overcome conservative opposition to his blizzard of New Deal programs. 

HARRIS' 'NO BAD IDEA BRAINSTORM' FOR DEMS INCLUDES PACKING SCOTUS, ELIMINATING ELECTORAL COLLEGE

Sound familiar? 

Even some Democrats at the time thought this would fatally undermine the independence of the judiciary. 

Congress refused to approve the bill, even though Roosevelt enjoyed a big Democratic majority. 

HARRIS LABELED 'INSTITUTIONAL ARSONIST' FOR PLAN TO FUNDAMENTALLY TRANSFORM SCOTUS AND ELECTORAL COLLEGE

But the high court, perhaps under pressure, then did start upholding major New Deal programs launched after the Great Depression. 

Harris said she wanted to "invite ideas," such as packing SCOTUS, leaving herself some wiggle group. Her goal: "To neutralize this red state cheating."

In a call with the liberal group Emerge, the former vice president also said they should look at the Electoral College as well as statehood for D.C. and Puerto Rico, both efforts that would help the Democrats. 

Harris, who became the Democratic nominee when Joe Biden dropped out, lost all seven swing states to Donald Trump in 2024. She was extraordinarily cautious during her 107-day run, spending the first third of it refusing to talk to the media. 

Now she's increasingly acting like a candidate, perhaps emboldened by Trump's unpopularity because of the Iran war and other issues. 

House Speaker Mike Johnson accused Harris of a "dangerous gambit," saying: "You don't just blow up the system when you lose."

DEMOCRATS SHY AWAY FROM QUESTIONS ON WHETHER HARRIS SHOULD RUN FOR PRESIDENT IN 2028

The reason most politicians avoid messing with the court, the Electoral College or the Senate filibuster, is fear. They have dark visions of the same unchecked powers being used against them when they no longer control the White House or Congress. Republicans worry they would be unable to stop an all-out liberal agenda, starting with national health insurance, when they are on the receiving end. 

One of Harris' many problems during the campaign was that she couldn't separate from Biden, famously telling "The View" that "not a thing comes to mind" on what she would have done differently.

The former president, meanwhile, has been keeping an extraordinarily low profile. The Democrats have basically moved on from Biden, who is battling cancer. 

Even during his time in the White House, Trump drew more media attention as he battled four criminal investigations. This was in part because Biden walled himself off from the press to hide his severe mental decline. 

In fact, the person who mentions Biden most frequently, both in speeches and online, is Trump – even when the topic has nothing to do with his predecessor. 

Asked by Fox’s Bret Baier whether Xi Jinping liked the fact that he hasn’t yet approved arms sales to Taiwan, Trump said: 

"I would say ‘like’ is maybe too strong a word because he thinks I could do it with just the signing of my signature, unlike Biden who couldn’t sign his signature."

LIZ PEEK: WHAT KAMALA HARRIS BUZZ IS TELLING US. READ BETWEEN THE LINES, AMERICA

As for the Democrats, they still have a deep well of affection for former President Barack Obama, who has emerged as the party's most prominent Trump-basher. 

"We pulled it off," Obama said of Iran on one of Stephen Colbert's final shows, "without firing a missile. We got 97% of their enriched uranium out... and we didn't have to kill a whole bunch of people or shut down the Strait of Hormuz."

When Colbert jokingly suggested that he himself would run for president, Obama said the bar had already been lowered. 

Trump – who always refers to him as "Barack Hussein Obama," for obvious reasons – has hit back hard. 

Trump shared a former adviser's post that "there’s now incontrovertible evidence that he was the spearhead of a seditious conspiracy to subvert the will of the American people and overthrow the United States government back in 2016."

The president added: "I hope they arrest you before your grand opening of your war bunker in southside Chicago," referring to Obama's presidential library. 

In another post, Trump called Obama "the most DEMONIC FORCE in American politics in decades."

A whole lot of Democrats, led by California Gov. Gavin Newsom, will be battling Harris for the 2028 nomination. This will be the first time in 16 years that Trump's name won't be on the presidential ballot. 

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Such polls are ridiculously early, given past campaign seasons when those with high name ID quickly faded once the action got under way. 

If Kamala Harris is smart, she'll drop this idea of packing the Supreme Court. She can say it was just a trial balloon, one that quickly popped when FDR tried such a scheme 89 years ago. 

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