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President Donald Trump loves a good foil. For America’s sake, he should find his next one in my home state of Illinois. 

Cook County — home of Chicago and most of the state’s leftist lunacy — has taken the nation’s furthest step toward a so-called universal basic income (UBI). Going forward, many low-income residents will permanently get monthly checks of $500. The goal is to help the poor stay on their feet, but in reality, the poor will stay poor and get more numerous. Not only should the president call out this injustice, but he should contrast it with his recent call to eliminate income taxes altogether. This may be Trump’s greatest opportunity for moral and economic leadership yet. 

Make no mistake: A universal basic income is the left’s next national priority. It’s the epitome of their now-impenetrable belief that government alone should provide for people’s needs. Democrats have laid the groundwork for UBI, as it’s called, with refundable child tax credits during the pandemic and pilot programs across the country. The rise of artificial intelligence, with its threat of job losses, gives further momentum to leftists who say that government should give everyone enough money to get by. Even some on the right, like billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, have jumped aboard the UBI bandwagon.  

COOK COUNTY IN ILLINOIS ESTABLISHES PERMANENT GUARANTEED INCOME PROGRAM

But UBI, like so much of the welfare state, is a frontal assault on the human soul. It saps people’s willingness to develop and apply their inherent talents, making poverty a permanent way of life. While activists and media outlets unfailingly call programs like Cook County’s a "success," real-world evidence shows their moral, economic and individual failure.  

The recent pilot programs in Democratic cities caused fewer people to work. So did the refundable child tax credit. When the federal government tested an early version of UBI in the 1970s, recipients lost $5 in lifetime earnings for every taxpayer dollar they received. 

Only one word can sum up UBI: evil. It’s morally wrong to steal people’s drive to make the most of their life. It’s inhumane to replace the ladder of opportunity with a cot. At its core, UBI encourages people to tolerate an unhappy existence instead of finding fulfillment through striving, succeeding and contributing to society. 

But as Cook County shows, UBI has political momentum. The best way to beat such a bad idea is with a better idea. A transformative idea that not only highlights the injustice, but shows a real path forward. That’s where Trump comes in, especially his idea to eliminate income taxes.

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The president made this comment flippantly after a cabinet meeting on Dec. 2, saying that income taxes won’t be needed because of tariff revenue. But the real case for killing income taxes is that, like UBI, they also stifle work and limit its rewards. He could frame ending income taxes as giving every American the "universal right to earn," while directly contrasting it with a universal basic income.  

PROGRESSIVE CITIES GAMBLE WITH UNIVERSAL INCOME WHILE INFLATION THREAT LOOMS

Without income taxes, every American would keep every penny of what they earn, full stop. There’s no greater spur to work, to innovate, to start a small business — to do all the things that move individuals and the entire nation forward. The universal right to earn would unleash a new era of growth and wealth creation, benefiting the least fortunate the most. Why? Because it taps into every person’s innate desire to strive and rise. Contrast that with a universal income, which traps people in poverty.

Americans aren’t used to hearing such bold vision or language from Republicans, but if any politician can make a strong case, it’s Donald Trump. In fact, the president could go even further rhetorically, while still staying on firm moral grounds. At its core, taxing labor is a form of slavery, since it takes away the fruits of man’s labor. The 13th Amendment banned slavery, but the 16th Amendment reinstated a sliver of it by allowing income taxes. Donald Trump could easily say: For America’s 250th birthday, we should end this injustice once and for all and finally realize our national promise. 

I freely acknowledge that eliminating income taxes is a gargantuan political lift. The chances of success are miniscule. But the same was once true of a universal basic income. Now it’s a fact of life in Cook County, and it will surely be Democrats’ top priority the next time they control the White House and Congress. Someone has to provide an alternative vision—one that actually uplifts the poorest Americans, instead of shackling them in poverty forever. President Trump, the universal right to earn is in your hands. 

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Young Americans’ apathy toward the Republican Party is not ideological; it comes from the simple fact that they can no longer afford to dream. They were raised on a basic American covenant: work hard, graduate, land a good-paying job, buy a home and start a family. But the gateway to that dream is a stable income, and for millions that’s no longer attainable. Youth unemployment is at 10.4% — more than double the national average — and housing costs have exploded by 47% since 2020. A generation that did everything we told them would lead to the American Dream now confronts an economy where the math does not add up.

For millions of Gen Z voters, economic participation is becoming aspirational rather than achievable. They are building advanced skills shaped by AI, working longer hours in a volatile labor market, yet facing stagnant wages and financial insecurity far worse than their predecessors. And the problem is not their work ethic; it’s the economic rules written in Washington.

The Republican Party is dead wrong if it assumes young voters are rejecting conservatism. They reject a system they believe is working against their ability to achieve the American Dream. Before the 2024 election, 58% of Gen Z and younger millennials were unsure they would vote because they believed neither party understood their economic reality or offered younger candidates. Youth turnout ultimately fell below 2020 levels. 

YOUNG AMERICANS GIVE BIG THUMBS DOWN TO DEMOCRATS, REPUBLICANS, TRUMP: POLL

The newest Harvard Youth Poll reinforces why: 56% of young Americans say the country is headed in the wrong direction. They look at Washington and see a political class governing like it’s a senior center while they’re trying to survive in the most expensive economy of their lives.

When a hardworking 26-year-old with a degree and two jobs still can’t afford an apartment without a roommate, they don’t blame capitalism — they blame the policymakers and executives who engineered an economy they can’t enter. 

They see corporations lobbying to expand the H-1B pipeline under the false claim of a "worker shortage," knowing it suppresses wages and slows innovation. They see fewer openings, lower pay and no entry point on the career ladder. And they watch multinational firms distort the housing market and drive prices far beyond what entry-level wages can sustain. They no longer see a free market.

FAITH IN AMERICAN DREAM DWINDLES AMID SOUR ECONOMIC SENTIMENTS, POLL FINDS

Gen Z men supported Trump by a 14-point margin in 2024. They rejected identity politics and believed in an America First vision where hard work would finally pay off again. They still believe in that vision, but they are losing patience with Republican leaders who talk about culture while ignoring wages, affordability and the economic hardships defining their lives. Too many in our party dismiss these concerns as entitlement, forgetting they were elected to represent the American worker.

The housing crisis has become its own form of disenfranchisement. The average first-time homebuyer is now 40 years old, an age when previous generations were already building stability.

Young Americans are either delayed or denied the chance to begin their path to the American Dream. And if conservatism claims to stand for that dream, then it must build the economic conditions that make it possible. Otherwise, it’s lip service and we’ll lose an entire generation.

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Anyone calling Gen Z entitled should try entering today’s housing market on a $48,000 salary while competing with foreign labor and cash-rich corporate buyers. The deck is stacked against them, and it’s obvious it’s exclusionary.

The Republican Party has a choice: lecture young Americans about resilience while ignoring the economic crisis in front of them, or deliver a realignment that gives them a path back to the American Dream. 

That means putting American workers ahead of foreign labor by tightening H-1B abuse and incentivizing companies to invest in domestic talent; reopening entry-level access through apprenticeships; restoring wage growth by ending loopholes that allow corporations to bypass American labor; and reclaiming the first-home market from corporate and foreign buyers so young Americans can finally buy in. 

It means making AI an engine of opportunity rather than displacement and cutting the regulatory barriers that shut young entrepreneurs out before they begin.

Republicans won this generation once. And we can do it again only if we are willing to rebuild an economy worthy of their ambition. If we refuse to confront the forces crushing young Americans, we will lose them for decades. 

This generation is ready to work hard, build and dream. The real question is whether Republican leaders have the courage to build a country that finally believes in them.

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haron Osbourne revealed Ozzy Osbourne's last words to her as she continues to mourn the loss of her husband of 43 years. 

During an appearance on "Piers Morgan Uncensored," which aired on Wednesday, Sharon, 73, teared up as she recalled her final moments with Ozzy, who died in July at the age of 76 in June following a heart attack. 

Sharon told Morgan that Ozzy had been "up and down" all night before waking her at 4:30 a.m. 

.OZZY OSBOURNE KNEW THE END WAS NEAR DURING FINAL PERFORMANCE, FRIEND SAYS 

"He said, "Wake up" and [I said] 'I’m already bloody awake, you’ve woken me up,'" Sharon remembered. "And he said, 'Kiss me.' And then he said, 'Hug me tight.'"

Sharon emotionally confirmed that those were the last words that the Black Sabbath frontman said to her before he died later that morning. 

The former "The Talk" host explained that Ozzy would often wake up early to exercise and he followed his usual routine on the day of his death. 

"He went downstairs and worked out for 20 minutes and passed away," she said.

Sharon recalled that she discovered Ozzy had died after she heard "screaming" in the house and ran downstairs. 

"They were trying to resuscitate him and I'm like 'Don't. Leave him. Leave him. You can't. He's gone.' I knew instantly he's gone," she recalled. "And they tried and tried and then they took him by helicopter to the hospital and they tried and it's like, 'He's gone. Just leave him.'"

Sharon shared that her grief at the time was so overwhelming she "couldn't function" and she struggled with "regrets" over their last exchange.

SHARON OSBOURNE MOURNS LOSS OF BELOVED DOG ELVIS TWO MONTHS AFTER HUSBAND OZZY'S DEATH 

"If only I’d have told him I loved him more. If only I’d have held him tighter," she said as she began to cry.

Morgan noted that the couple had known each other for 55 years, since she was a teeanger. Sharon first met Ozzy when Black Sabbath visited the London office of her father, Don Arden, who managed the band. However, the two's relationship did not turn romantic until years later after Ozzy left Black Sabbath’s original lineup and Sharon took over his management of his solo career in 1979. 

"He's just never not been there," she said.

Sharon said she believed Ozzy knew that he was going to die soon before he passed away. She explained that he told her he was having "really vivid dreams" during the final week of his life. 

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"He was seeing people that he never knew," Sharon told Morgan. ‘I said, ’What kind of people? He goes, 'All different people. And I just keep walking and walking, and I’m seeing all these different people every night and they’re looking at me, and nobody’s talking.'"

"He knew. He was ready," she said.

Two weeks before his death, Ozzy reunited with Black Sabbath to perform at a star-studded farewell show in England, an appropriately dark and electric send-off for one of rock's greatest legends.

During his final show on July 5 at Villa Park, Ozzy expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support as the band, including Tony Iommi, Terence "Geezer" Butler and Bill Ward, performed together for the first time in 20 years.

For the closing set, the legendary rock star was lifted to the stage while sitting on a black throne accompanied by skulls and topped with a black bat. He sang hits like "Crazy Train" and "Mama I’m Coming Home" while remaining seated during the entire set.

OZZY OSBOURNE'S SON JACK SHARES PRIVATE FAMILY MOMENTS IN EMOTIONAL TRIBUTE TO LATE FATHER 

"You have no idea how I feel," Ozzy told the crowd. "Thank you from the bottom of my heart."

Sharon shared that Ozzy was struggling with health issues in the last year of his life including three bouts of pneumonia and sepsis. 

She said that his medical team advised him against performing at the show with one doctor warning, "If you do this show, that's it. You're not going to get through it."

"And we just sat there and he said, 'I'm doing it. I want to do it and I'm doing it.' And he knew his body was failing him. He was in so much pain.," she said. 

However, Sharon recalled that Ozzy was happier than she had seen him in years after the concert.

"He was just so happy. So, so happy," she said. "And for two weeks he was, you know, really like every day was sunshine for him."

Sharon told Morgan that she and Ozzy had a conversation during which he asked her if she would ever get married again.

"I'm like, "F--- off. Are you joking? Piss off," she recalled telling him. 

"Could you imagine ever marrying anybody else?" Morgan asked her.

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"Never," she said. "Oh my god. No. Never. Ever. Ever."

After his death, the Osbournes released a statement to Fox News Digital.

"It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family’s privacy at this time."

Ozzy and Sharon shared daughters Kelly and Aimee and son Jack. The couple starred alongside Kelly and Jack in the hit show "The Osbournes" from 2002 to 2005.

The rocker was also father to daughter Jessica and sons Elliot and Louis from his first marriage to Thelma Riley.

 

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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - In the aftermath of the massive Feeding Our Future scandal and broader allegations of systemic fraud in Minnesota’s social programs, a troubling theme has emerged: accusations of racism repeatedly used to deflect scrutiny, intimidate investigators and stall accountability. 

Rumors and reports of fraud in Minneapolis, primarily within the city’s exploding Somali community, have been circulating for at least a decade, but criticism of the fraud has been largely dismissed by elected Democrats as "racist" or being underpinned by animosity towards foreigners. News stories focused on Somali fraudsters in recent years were shot down as "racist."

"The whole story kind of died under these accusations that people were being racist," Bill Glahn, policy fellow with Center of the American Experiment, told Fox News Digital. "Oh, maybe somebody stole a little bit here, a little bit there, but there's nothing systemic going on."

Former assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Teirab, who helped lead federal prosecutions in the Feeding Our Future case, described to Fox News Digital how individuals implicated in fraud leaned on racial accusations as a shield. According to Teirab, suspects explicitly invoked race during a secretly recorded meeting with Attorney General Keith Ellison, asserting that investigators were targeting them "only because of race."

OMAR ACCUSED BY GOP OPPONENT OF OPENING UP THE DOOR TO MASSIVE MINNEAPOLIS FRAUD: 'DEEP, DEEP TIES'

Teirab called this tactic both deliberate and cynical. In one trial, a juror was even approached with a $120,000 cash bribe, allegedly accompanied by messaging intended to frame the investigation as racially motivated. The goal wasn’t just to escape prosecution, it was to taint the system itself by threatening anyone pursuing the truth with the specter of racial bias.

"It provided cover," Teirab told Fox News Digital. "Fraudsters knew the issue of race and racism was something they could use as a cudgel…It’s disrespectful to use those terms when they’re not appropriate, especially in a case where fraud clearly happened."

Minnesota Republican State Senator Mark Koran echoed Teirab’s concerns, emphasizing that investigators followed the evidence, not demographics. Fraud prosecutions disproportionately affected one community simply because that’s where significant fraud was uncovered, not because investigators targeted anyone based on race.

"The average Minnesotan, average legislator, doesn't care who's committing the fraud," Koran said. "All right, the evidence will lead you either to or from the perpetrator. And so, if the evidence leads to the perpetrator, we need to prosecute all of them."

Koran noted that public officials and agencies pursuing fraud were routinely branded racist for doing so. Some perpetrators were so "emboldened," he said, that they sued the state to force the continuation of payments, even after red flags signaled massive irregularities.

The scale, Koran argued, dwarfs what many Minnesotans understand. While federal authorities may ultimately prosecute around $2 billion in fraud, he suggested that the true annual losses across state programs could reach much higher when factoring in both blatant fraud and poor service delivery.

Meanwhile, many families participated in related schemes by receiving kickbacks from fraudulent autism service providers, further complicating enforcement. Investigators simply lack the resources to chase every case, creating an environment where fraud becomes a low-risk, high-reward enterprise.

MINNESOTA’S FRAUD SCANDAL WAS ‘SHOCKINGLY EASY’ TO PULL OFF, IS LIKELY WORSE THAN REPORTED: EX PROSECUTOR

"For the average hardworking legal U.S. citizen doing everything right," Koran said, "it’s a disgusting disservice…knowing there’s such blatant disregard for the value of that dollar."

Koran suggested that the racism claims so emboldened supporters of the status quo that it contributed to Feeding our Future suing the state of Minnesota accusing state officials of racism for investigating the alleged fraud.

Glahn told Fox News Digital that state agencies were "cowering in fear" over being called racist and local politicians were acutely aware that the "racist label" is a "career kiss of death."

A legislative auditor’s report found Minnesota Department of Education officials felt they had to handle the nonprofit "carefully" because of these racism allegations and the risk of negative media coverage,  and that this influenced which regulatory actions MDE did or did not take, CBS News reported.

Political commentator and Townhall columnist Dustin Grage highlighted another factor enabling the fraud: media hesitation. Conservative reporters, he said, described to him hitting internal roadblocks when pitching stories about the Feeding Our Future scandal because editors feared being accused of racism.

"In newsrooms, they’re told, ‘We can’t run that because we’re going to be accused of being racist,’" Grage explained. That fear, combined with political pressure, allowed the scandal to grow largely unchecked until federal indictments forced it into the spotlight.

MINNESOTA LAWMAKERS VOW NEW CRACKDOWN AFTER $1B FRAUD MELTDOWN THEY SAY WALZ LET SPIRAL

Grage pointed to an early pivotal moment: Minnesota’s Department of Education detected signs of fraud and briefly halted payments. Immediately, Minneapolis political figures Omar Fateh and Jamal Osman pushed back, claiming the stop was racially motivated. They even took the state to court, though their case was eventually thrown out.

Yet the damage was done. Payments resumed, and crucially, Governor Tim Walz declined to use his subpoena power to obtain Feeding Our Future's bank records, despite having the authority to do so. That inaction, Grage noted, further delayed the exposure of the fraud.

Glahn told Fox News Digital that in addition to fear of the "racist" label, politicians in Minnesota understand that it is difficult to win elections without the support of the Somali community.

"The Somali community is very concentrated in Minnesota and very concentrated in Ilhan Omar's congressional district, and a few other pockets where the Somali vote swings elections, and at the state level, they're big enough that we've had some super close elections at the state level, and the Somali vote is very monolithic, votes Democrat," Glahn explained. "They provided the difference in statewide elections, and then in local elections, where it's all Democrats, they're providing the difference in the primary. So if you're running in a primary against other Democrats, if you don't have the Somali vote on your side, you're not making it to the general election."

The result of the fear to fully investigate the fraud was predictable: fraudsters exploited that hesitation, taxpayers lost billions, and the vulnerable communities the programs were meant to serve suffered most.

As the state continues to grapple with accountability and reform, one lesson stands out starkly. According to those who spoke to Fox News Digital, combating fraud requires courage, not only to follow the evidence wherever it leads, but to withstand the inevitable attempts to distort legitimate scrutiny into something it is not.

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Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, usually quick to denounce anything he views as a scandal (including most of what the Trump administration does), has been uncharacteristically silent about the billion-dollar Minnesota social services fraud indictments. Understandable perhaps, because of the embarrassment it’s causing for Minnesota Governor and former vice-presidential nominee Tim Walz and Minnesota’s progressive darling Democrat Rep. Ilhan Omar, whose Somali constituents are among the ringleaders — but whom left-wary Schumer is loath to alienate as he faces reelection.  

But were Schumer to look back at his own legislative record, he could find a relevant and constructive response — one that might even help Democrats still lost on immigration-related issues in the wake of the Biden-era de facto open border. 

In 2013, Schumer was one of a so-called Gang of Eight senators — including then-Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio — to sponsor a sprawling immigration law reform bill, the "Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act." The so-called "comprehensive" bill included everything from a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants to an increase in visas for foreign student in STEM fields — proposals even more likely to spark Republican opposition today than they did in 2013 when the bill died in the House after actually passing the Senate.  

DAVID MARCUS: WHITE GUILT, APATHY FUEL MASSIVE CORRUPTION IN MINNESOTA

Schumer insisted that "piecemeal reforms" should not be considered — but one aspect of the bill that he endorsed could serve him — and centrist Democrats — well today, were he willing to revive it. The proposed Office of Citizenship and New Americans put the Senate leader squarely behind what was once called Americanization or assimilation, and more lately immigrant ‘integration.’ It took as a given that immigrants from countries that don’t share American legal and cultural norms should be exposed to them — in the process of their being taught English. 

An "Office of Citizenship and New Americans" would be responsible "for training on citizenship responsibilities for new immigrants," including "information about English and citizenship education programs," according to the American Immigration Council. Passing a citizenship test, keep in mind, requires a knowledge of the Constitution and the U.S. legal system. 

Aiming, too, for "upward economic mobility," it’s the sort of initiative that would have been ideal for Minneapolis Somalis, some 90,000 of whom count Somali as the first language and come from a country ranked as one of the most corrupt in the world. Transparency International, in fact, gives it a score of just 9/100, making it the 179th of 180 countries, or the second-most-corrupt government in the world. It’s actually gotten even worse since 2023, when it ranked 177th.  Only war-torn South Sudan ranks lower. 

WHISTLEBLOWER WARNS MASSIVE FRAUD IS HAPPENING IN OHIO SOMALI COMMUNITY, MINNESOTA ‘JUST TIP OF THE SPEAR’

In other words, immigration to a historic clean government state like Minnesota would be a cultural adjustment for Somalis, putting them in a position to take advantage of overly trusting locals. 

The U.S. has historically profited from immigration by promoting values such as trust, integrity and the rule of law — and the idea that the best way to move up is to adopt those values.  It’s a tradition that dates to the early 20th century immigration wave, when hundreds of volunteer-led "settlement houses" taught English and prepared immigrants to be citizens.

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It’s not as if European immigrants did not have their own corruption problems, such as those imported by the Sicilian Mafia from a region known for its dysfunctional honor society. (See Edward Banfield’s brilliant 1958 book about Sicily, "The Moral Basis of a Backward Society.") To remember those who combated such a culture, think of Nobel Prize winner Jane Addams, founder of Chicago’s Hull House, who worked to teach South Side immigrants to cook healthy dinners and not to throw their garbage in the streets. 

MINNESOTA'S SOMALI FRAUD SCANDAL EXPOSES THE HIDDEN COST OF IMMIGRATION

That city, as well as Minneapolis and so many others, should be using her approach today — and Schumer’s Office of Citizenship and New Americans would have helped, even if it didn’t cut the larger Gordian knot of immigration policy.

Of course, any government program — including one meant to Americanize immigrants — could be taken advantage of by grifters. The essential Minnesota problem — a naïve government asleep at the wheel — still would have to be addressed. Indeed, a civil society approach — led by charity and volunteers — would be better.   

But a Democratic Party always keen to propose a government solution could do worse than revive Schumer’s 2013 idea — and it just might have done some good in Minneapolis.   

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A mass shooting during a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, on Sunday left at least 10 people dead and 11 others injured, according to authorities.

The New South Wales Police Force confirmed on X that ten people were killed in the shooting, including one of the suspected gunmen. The second alleged shooter is in critical condition.

At least 11 others were injured, including two police officers, the agency confirmed.

ANTISEMITIC ATTACKERS VIOLENTLY TARGET SYNAGOGUE, ISRAELI RESTAURANT IN AUSTRALIA

Israeli President Isaac Herzog acknowledged the attack while speaking at an event in Jerusalem recognizing immigrants' extraordinary achievements on Sunday.

"At these very moments, our sisters and brothers in Sydney, Australia, have been attacked by vile terrorists in a very cruel attack on Jews who went to light the first candle of Chanukah on Bondi Beach," Herzog said. "Our hearts go out to them. The heart of the entire nation of Israel misses a beat at this very moment, as we pray for the recovery of the wounded, we pray for them and we pray for those who lost their lives."

AUSTRALIA'S JEWISH COMMUNITY ALARMED BY RISING ANTISEMITISM: 'FEAR AND ANXIETY'

Herzog also called on the Australian government to "seek action and fight against the enormous wave of antisemitism which is plaguing Australian society."

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

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Former Vice President Kamala Harris thanked her supporters for "standing up for our democracy" and the "rule of law" on Friday at the Democratic National Committee's (DNC) annual winter meeting in Los Angeles.

Harris, who became the party's 2024 presidential nominee without a primary election after former President Joe Biden dropped out of the race, said Democrats express gratitude toward her because she is the "public face of a lot of the work that we do."

"People then come up to me in various places and when they thank me, they are thanking you for standing up for our democracy, for the rule of law, for values and principles, for community, for the breadth and depth of who we are with all of our beautiful differences as a nation," she said during her remarks.

KAMALA HARRIS DOESN'T RULE OUT ANOTHER PRESIDENTIAL RUN IN NEW INTERVIEW: 'I AM NOT DONE'

Harris continued, "When they thank me, they are thanking you for the work that you do that are about upholding basic principles that are at the foundation of the declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States. So thank you for everything that you have done, that you are doing and you will do."

Harris recently passed on launching a 2026 gubernatorial campaign in her home state of California, but is keeping the door wide open to a 2028 presidential run.

"Obviously, we must focus on the midterms," she said on Friday. "But Democrats, we must also have a clear vision for what comes after the midterms. And then after Trump. We need to answer the question. We need to answer the question: what comes next for our party and our democracy?"

KAMALA HARRIS HINTS AT POLITICAL FUTURE, TELLS CHARLAMAGNE SHE'S 'IN IT FOR THE FIGHT'

"And in so doing, we must be honest that for so many, the American dream has become more of a myth than a reality," she added. "Whether it's the cost of food, energy, health care, transportation or housing, America is facing an affordability crisis, a crisis that we are witnessing is fueling a system fear, frustration, and a lack of confidence in our systems."

The former vice president also addressed Democrats' recent wins in key local races.

"From Jackson to Atlanta, from Sacramento to New York. The American people sent a message they want leaders who fight yes for affordability, for health care, for the right of people to participate in their democracy," Harris said.

Harris also took jabs at President Donald Trump, as well as his policies and his "Make America Great Again" movement.

"We all know that in the midst of all this, the truth and reality of the moment that just a few days ago, he said the economy was, I had to count the pluses there. A plus, plus, plus, plus, plus. That's what he said when asked to rate the economy – a plus, plus, plus, plus, plus. There is nothing a plus about any of this," she said.

"We must be candid and clear. Donald Trump is not the only source of our problems," Harris added. "He and the rise of the MAGA movement, I believe, are a symptom of a failed system that is the result of years of outsourcing and offshoring, financial deregulation, growing income inequality, a broken campaign finance system and endless partisan gridlock all contributing to how we got here today."

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After Australian teens were kicked off of social media this week following a nationwide social media ban for anyone in the country under the age of 16, several lawmakers and other political figures called on the United States to do something similar. 

Congress has passed some general online safety laws, such as limits on the collection of minors' information by social media platforms, but, thus far, Congress has not enacted any laws that would change who can use social media platforms, or how the apps are designed for minors.

"I imagine it's the opposition from the tech industry," said Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y. "I see social media as a catastrophe for the mental health of the next generation and I feel like society is conducting an unprecedented experiment on the psyche of young Americans."

TEXAS FAMILY SUES CHARACTER.AI AFTER CHATBOT ALLEGEDLY ENCOURAGED AUTISTIC SON TO HARM PARENTS AND HIMSELF

Torres added that he believes there is a need for reform, but also conceded that it is a "complicated area" in light of the First Amendment.

"I do think more congressional action would be wise," Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-S.D., told Fox News Digital when asked why he thought Congress had not passed laws that will better protect kids on social media. "Obviously, we're a country that values freedom and so a lot of people feel like that would be either power better exercised by the state, or power better exercised by parents."

However, Johnson said, he does think "we need to hold some of these platforms accountable," noting that "they have technological tools that they could very easily use to keep kids safe."

After Australia passed its social medi ban on kids under the age of 16, both Republicans and Democrats came out to urge the United States to enact better safety measures for kids on social media. These figures included former President Barack Obama's chief of staff while he was in office, Rahm Emanuel, Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii.

PROTECTING KIDS FROM AI CHATBOTS: WHAT THE GUARD ACT MEANS

Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., told Fox News Digital that one of the reasons Congress has potentially stalled on passing legislation to protect kids on social media was because "a lot of people don't know" about the dangers. 

"I think it's gotten worse," Norman said, in regard to the dangers of social media for kids. "Got to have an age and got to track down something that is destroying our children."

However, some Republicans have also been weary of the push to regulate social media for kids, particularly efforts to create an age limit for the platforms. Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., told Fox News Digital that she would likely not be in favor of "an all-out ban."

"I'm still a capitalist and there's federalism and we have freedom here," Boeert said. "But we have a lot of good legislation for solutions but, unfortunately, leadership prioritizes things that the American people don't, and I think it's time to read the room of America so we can pass good legislation."

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The Department of Homeland Security is amending its immigration enforcement operations by moving away from raids targeting all illegal immigrants in the U.S. and focusing more on the ones who have committed serious offenses, according to a report.

Teams under U.S. Border Patrol Commander at Large Gregory Bovino will shift their focus to specific targets, including illegal immigrants who have been convicted of serious crimes, NewsNation reported.

The change means federal agents will put a smaller emphasis on carrying out large raids that have happened at Home Depot stores and other locations, according to the outlet.

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Illegal immigrants have been targeted based on characteristics such as ethnicity, accent, language or location, such as being at a Home Depot or a car wash.

Agents will still conduct traffic stop enforcement, but Border Patrol is unlikely to continue grabbing people off the streets, the outlet reported.

The reported change in immigration enforcement comes as support for President Donald Trump's mass deportation policies has tanked in the polls.

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A Public Religion Research Institute survey released earlier this week found that approval of Trump's handling of immigration dipped from 42% in March to 33%.

A YouGov poll last month found that a majority of Americans oppose Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations tied to Trump’s immigration crackdown.

In a survey last month by the health policy research group KFF and The New York Times, about half of the immigrants polled said they – and their family members – "feel less safe" with Trump as president.

Border Patrol has carried out migrant raids this year in various cities, including in Los Angeles, Chicago and Charlotte. The raids have prompted several protests and lawsuits, as the operations have been scrutinized for going too far.

A new operation in New Orleans, dubbed "Catahoula Crunch," will continue despite the updated tactics. Agents have already arrested more than 250 people, and DHS said it aims to reach 5,000, according to NewsNation.

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The family of a Chicago Police officer fatally shot by her partner during a pursuit earlier this year has filed a wrongful death lawsuit, alleging the department ignored clear warning signs that the officer posed a threat to her.

The lawsuit, filed by the mother of Officer Krystal Rivera, claims the Chicago Police Department knew Officer Carlos Baker had a history of reckless behavior and violent misconduct but continued assigning him to work alongside Rivera. Rivera, 36, was shot and killed on June 5 while the pair were trying to apprehend an armed suspect.

According to the complaint, Rivera had repeatedly expressed concerns to supervisors about Baker’s behavior and ended a two-year on-again, off-again romantic relationship with him shortly before the shooting. The lawsuit states the department was aware of multiple complaints against Baker, including an allegation from a former girlfriend who accused him of threatening her with a gun inside a bar.

Rivera’s mother, Yolanda, said her daughter never should have feared the person assigned to watch her back. "Krystal understood the dangers of this job. She accepted the risk that came with policing. What she never should have had to fear was her own partner," she said. "That betrayal cost Krystal’s life."

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The lawsuit alleges Rivera and Baker pulled over a motorist suspected of having a weapon, prompting a foot chase that ended outside an apartment building. Baker kicked in the door and fired his weapon at the suspect but struck Rivera in the back instead.

Family attorney Antonio Romanucci said Baker then fled to another floor rather than call for help or provide any first aid. 

"He did not attempt even the most basic first aid step of applying pressure on her wound… Baker left Krystal there on the floor, literally gasping. Krystal radioed in her own shooting," Romanucci said.

The lawsuit also accuses the department of filing misleading reports to state regulators that suggested the shots came from a barricaded suspect rather than from Baker.

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Romanucci said Baker had 11 misconduct complaints in three years, placing him among the small percentage of officers with the worst disciplinary records. In one 2022 incident, Baker allegedly brandished a gun at an ex-girlfriend inside a tavern — a case reviewed by the Civilian Office of Police Accountability, which has not issued a formal determination.

Rivera joined CPD in 2021 and was paired with Baker in early 2023. The two began a romantic relationship that summer, but Rivera later asked for a new partner over what the lawsuit describes as Baker’s "prior reckless conduct." Though the request was granted, the two were reassigned together last year after Rivera transferred into a tactical team.

According to the complaint, Rivera ended the relationship for good last winter after discovering Baker had a live-in girlfriend. She told colleagues she feared Baker’s "negative and hostile reaction" and said he continued showing up uninvited at her home as late as June 4 — one day before the shooting.

Romanucci argued Baker should never have remained in uniform. "He never should have gotten past his probationary period. He was not fit to police our communities, let alone carry a gun under the color of law," he said. "The decision CPD made to keep Carlos Baker on the force was not costly. It was fatal."

The Cook County State’s Attorney previously declined to prosecute Baker, but Rivera’s family hopes new information uncovered during the lawsuit will lead prosecutors to reconsider.

Rivera, described by colleagues as a dedicated mentor and rising officer, was in her fourth year with the department.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Texas agriculture officials issued an urgent alert this week after confirming that a newly identified invasive pest is spreading quickly across more than 20 counties, threatening grazing lands, hay production and livestock operations across the state.

The insect, Helicococcus summervillei – known as the pasture mealybug – has never before been reported in North America. Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller said the pest is already causing visible damage in multiple regions. 

"This is a completely new pest to our continent, and Texas is once again on the front lines," Miller said. "If the pasture mealybug spreads across Texas grazing lands like it has in eastern Australia, it could cost Texas agriculture dearly in lost productivity and reduced livestock capacity."

The Texas Department of Agriculture says it is working with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to evaluate how far it is spreading and to determine the best emergency response strategy.

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The pasture mealybug was first described in Australia in 1928, according to AgriLife Extension publications, and was known to be responsible for millions of acres of lost pasture due to "pasture dieback." The publication describes the condition as when the insect feeds at the soil level and within plant tissues, weakening and eventually killing grass essential for grazing and hay production.

While the species is believed to be new to North America, researchers suspect the insect has been present since before 2022.

So far, state and extension experts have documented the following 20 counties as being infected, with possibly more: Brazoria, Galveston, Wharton, Matagorda, Colorado, Austin, Washington, Cameron, Hidalgo, Willacy, Refugio, Calhoun, Victoria, Goliad, Dewitt, Lavaca, Fayette, Jackson, Burleson, Brazos and Robertson.

COLORADO UTILIZING GRAZING CATTLE TO HELP PREVENT WILDFIRES IN AT-RISK AREAS

According to a Pest Incident Worksheet from AgriLife entomologists, the most significant pasture losses are in Victoria County.

It’s also noted that the most susceptible grasses to infestation are Bermudagrass, Bahia grass, Johnsongrass, haygrazer (sorghum–sudangrass), St. Augustine grass, bluestem varieties and other tropical or subtropical grasses.

Damage can be difficult to detect early because the insects feed low on the plant and beneath surface debris. Warning signs include yellowing within a week of infestation, purpling or reddening of leaves, stunting despite adequate moisture, weakening root systems and patchy areas of thinning or dead grass. The bugs appear as small white fuzzy clusters on grass or plant matter.

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As of now, there are no insecticides labeled for the control of the pest in the U.S.

Anyone who believes they are affected and notices symptoms or insect clusters resembling mealybugs is being asked to contact the Texas Department of Agriculture at 1-800-TELL-TDA. State and federal officials say ongoing reporting will be essential to mapping the pest’s spread and preventing widespread economic losses.

"We need every producer’s eyes on the ground," Miller emphasized.

TDA, AgriLife Extension and USDA APHIS are continuing to jointly investigate the pest and develop response strategies to safeguard Texas livestock and hay industries.

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A federal appeals court ruled that New Jersey’s medical aid-in-dying law applies only to state residents, rejecting efforts by out-of-state patients and physicians to challenge the restriction.

The Third U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the state’s residency requirement, finding that New Jersey is not required to make assisted suicide available to non-residents. In an opinion written by Judge Stephanos Bibas, the court acknowledged the difficult decisions facing terminally ill patients but said the option remains limited under state law.

"Death brings good things to an end, but rarely neatly," U.S. Circuit Court Judge Stephanos Bibas wrote in the opinion issued last week. "Many terminally ill patients face a grim reality: imminent, painful death. Some may want to avert that suffering by enlisting a doctor’s help to end their own lives. New Jersey lets its residents make that choice—but only its residents."

New Jersey is one of 11 states, along with Washington, D.C., that allow physician-assisted suicide for terminally ill adults. Most states restrict the practice to residents, though Oregon and Vermont allow access regardless of residency.

LAWSUIT FILED AGAINST KANSAS LAW NULLIFYING END-OF-LIFE CHOICES FOR PREGNANT WOMEN

The case began when a Delaware woman with stage four lymphoma sought to use New Jersey’s law but was blocked by the residency rule. She died after arguments in the case. A New Jersey doctor who wanted to treat patients from nearby states also joined the challenge, as did other plaintiffs who have since passed away or retired.

One of the plaintiffs, Dr. Paul Bryman, said he was disappointed by the ruling. "Terminal patients outside New Jersey should have the option of medical aid in dying without having to travel long distances," he said.

DELAWARE'S ASSISTED SUICIDE BILL SIGNED INTO LAW, MAKING IT THE 11TH STATE WITH SUCH A STATUTE

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, signed the measure into law in 2019, saying at the time that while his Catholic faith might prevent him from choosing assisted suicide for himself, he supported the right of others to make that decision.

Under the law, a patient must be an adult New Jersey resident with a terminal diagnosis and a prognosis of six months or fewer to live. Two physicians must confirm the diagnosis and the patient’s capacity to decide. Patients must make two requests — at least one of them in writing with two witnesses — and must be given the opportunity to rescind.

At least one witness cannot be a family member, heir, attending physician or an employee of the facility where the patient receives care. Patients must self-administer the medication, and doctors are required to offer alternatives such as palliative care.

‘LOVE YOU FOREVER’ AUTHOR MAY SOON DIE BY ASSISTED SUICIDE, PRO-LIFE GROUPS CALL DECISION ‘HEARTBREAKING’

A lower court previously dismissed the challenge, finding that physician-assisted suicide is not a fundamental right states must extend to non-residents. The appeals court agreed.

"In our federal system, states are free to experiment with policies as grave as letting doctors assist suicide. Other states are free to keep it a crime," the appeals court ruling said. "This novel option does not appear to be a fundamental privilege, let alone a fundamental right, that states must accord visitors."

Delaware’s own aid-in-dying law goes into effect on Jan. 1.

Several other countries, including Canada, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Australia and Colombia, have also legalized physician-assisted suicide.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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The Center for Biological Diversity filed a lawsuit Wednesday to prevent President Donald Trump's face from appearing on next year's National Parks Pass.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., argues the Trump administration violated the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act by substituting the winning picture from the National Parks Foundation's annual public lands photo contest with an image of President Trump.

"Blotting out the majesty of America’s national parks with a closeup of his own face is Trump’s crassest, most ego-driven action yet," Kierán Suckling, the center's executive director, said in a statement. "The national parks are treasured by Americans of every stripe. Their timeless power and magnificence rise above even the most bitter political differences to quietly bring all Americans together."

Suckling continued, "It’s disgusting of Trump to politicize America’s most sacred refuge by pasting his face over the national parks in the same way he slaps his corporate name on buildings, restaurants, and golf courses."

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The executive director added that national parks "are not a personal branding opportunity."

"They’re the pride and joy of the American people," he asserted.

According to the lawsuit, the 2026 America the Beautiful Pass was supposed to feature an image of Glacier National Park, the winner of the photo contest.

"Instead the Department of the Interior (DOI) replaced it with a closeup of President Trump’s face," the center said, adding that the Glacier National Park photo was "illegally relegated" to the new "Nonresident" pass.

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The center argued that the Trump administration broke the law by using a photo that was "not taken on federal land and was not entered in the public contest, and by creating new Resident and Nonresident passes expressly prohibited by the law."

"America the Beautiful means wild rivers and majestic mountains, not a headshot of a bloated, fragile, attention-seeking ego," Suckling stated. "There’s nothing beautiful about that."

On Nov. 25, the DOI announced the launch of "America the Beautiful passes" intended to put "American families first" by implementing a new resident-focused fee beginning Jan. 1, 2026. The passes include photos of animals, parks, Trump with George Washington, and Theodore Roosevelt, the president most associated with the creation of America's national parks.

The Trump administration also added President Donald Trump's birthday as a fee-free day for Americans visiting national parks, while eliminating Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth from the list.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House and the Department of the Interior for comment.

Fox News Digital's Greg Wehner contributed to this report.

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Taylor Swift has a simple response to critics who tell her it's time to step out of the spotlight.

During her Wednesday appearance on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," the 35-year-old singer spoke about the people she can turn to for advice in the industry, saying one of the things she "look[s] up to the most in people is career longevity."

"Career longevity, friendship longevity, longevity in their relationships," she said. "'How do you keep a good thing going?' I think there are certain corners of our society that really love that and look up to longevity."

She continued: "There are also corners that are like, 'Give someone else a turn. Can't you just go away so that we can talk about how good you were?' I'm like, 'I don't want to.'"

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Swift went on to say that there are three people she can turn to for advice, naming singer-songwriter Stevie Nicks, record producer and songwriter Max Martin and her fiancé, professional football player, Travis Kelce, noting, "I can talk to him about any of this."

The "Anti-Hero" singer also spoke about how 2025 was "a good year" for her, saying she feels "so grateful" after getting engaged to Kelce and getting her masters back in the same year.

"Those two things that you just mentioned, getting engaged to the love of my life, getting my music back, those are two things that just never could have happened," she told Colbert. "They could have just never happened. It wasn’t like it was a ‘Oh, it’s just a matter of time.’ Both of those things could have just never arrived in my life. I'm so grateful for both of those things happening."

She then credited her fans as the reason she was able to get her masters back.

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Kelce and Swift announced their engagement on Instagram in August, sharing a joint post that featured Kelce on one knee as the two of them were surrounded by flowers, with the caption, "Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married 🧨."

The two began dating after he attended one of her stops during the Eras Tour and later went on his podcast, "New Heights," to share how disappointed he was not to have met her following the concert.

The Eras Tour was a massive undertaking for Swift. It spanned nearly two years, beginning in March 2023 and concluding in December 2024, during which she traveled to five continents and performed 149 shows, each of which was three hours long.

The singer also revealed that she had the stomach flu ‘multiple times’ during the Eras Tour, and performed despite not feeling well.

"My goal was like, never let them know you have the stomach flu," Swift said.

Swift explained she felt like a "flickering lightbulb" at the end of every show, and had a very specific routine in place to wind down.

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"I'll go back to the hotel, get out of the costume, into the bath. Immediately into the bath, mermaid time. And then I get, like, the most amount of room service possible," she said. "My kind of profession is coming up with ideas for stuff, so if I can kind of turn off the ideas for a second, very exciting."

Part of turning off the ideas part of her brain involves true crime, with the singer also noting, "I'll put on my Dateline." She also admitted to listening to audiobooks, which usually involve a mysterious love story, murder plot or ghosts, or characters who turn out not to be who they initially seem to be.

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When the South Korean boy band/K-pop sensation BTS takes the stage in Seoul this June, ending a four-year touring hiatus, it will mark more than just a comeback — it will validate one of the shrewdest soft-power decisions in recent memory.  

In 2022, at the absolute apex of their global dominance, the group’s seven members chose to fulfill their mandatory military service rather than seek exemptions, which would almost certainly been granted. Their management company, HYBE, supported the decision. The world got a masterclass in how cultural power is created. 

The cynics predicted career suicide. Instead, BTS demonstrated that soft power isn’t built on avoiding obligations — it’s built on embracing them. When they reunite on stage, they’ll do so with enhanced credibility, having proven their success didn’t exempt them from the responsibilities of ordinary citizens. Americans remember Elvis taking a similar course at the height of his fame.  

The great thing about soft power is that, while generated by creative individuals and companies, it’s to the entire nation’s benefit. Like economic and martial power, soft power generates influence that can be used to bolster a nation’s standing. Examples of soft power abound from Britain’s cricket legacy and rock ’n’ roll "invasion" of the 1960s to French and Italian cinema to America’s NBA, jazz music and Hollywood’s entertainment machine. Now, South Korea is stepping up.

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Thus, it is almost tragic that while BTS was serving in the military, the ecosystem that made the band possible faces mounting scrutiny. South Korea has become expert at creating cultural phenomena that captivate the world — and equally expert at treating the architects of that success with suspicion once they achieve scale. This is a pattern South Korea cannot afford.   

South Korea’s cultural preeminence did not emerge from a government plan. It sprang from creative ambition, commercial ruthlessness, and just enough regulatory space for experimentation. The K-pop system requires massive capital investment, sophisticated global distribution and executives willing to bet nine figures on whether teenagers in Jakarta and São Paulo will stream the same songs. 

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Yet, there’s a reflex in South Korean public life that treats popularity itself as evidence of wrongdoing. Bang Si-hyuk, the producer who built HYBE and shaped BTS into a global phenomenon, now faces legal scrutiny over stock transactions — the kind of corporate governance questions that seem to emerge almost inevitably once South Korean companies achieve sufficient scale.   

The particulars matter less than the pattern: bold risk-taking generates soft power, then invites investigation once it succeeds. 

Executives who might build the next BTS or international TV steaming sensation like, "Crash Landing on You," watch what happens to those who came before and recalibrate their ambition accordingly. In cultural soft power, this reflex is potentially fatal. 

South Korea’s competitors are watching. China has spent billions trying to manufacture soft power through state directed enterprises. The PRC has largely failed — because audiences smell propaganda. South Korean free enterprise is succeeding in creating cultural exports that are simultaneously local and universal, specific enough to feel authentic in Seoul and accessible enough to travel across the globe.  

This is South Korea’s opportunity. Japan was given a similar window in the 1990s with anime and video games, but largely failed to capitalize on the trend because of governmental missteps. South Korea could easily repeat that mistake and lose the global influence that comes serious national soft power. 

South Korea needs to recognize soft-power assets as strategic resources. France protects its luxury brands because Paris recognizes these companies project French taste globally in ways no government agency could. South Korea should ask: What institutional arrangements allow us to maintain standards while protecting our champions? 

BTS’s decision to fulfill their national military service obligations demonstrates what’s possible when artists, companies and national interest align voluntarily. HYBE supported that choice. But South Korea can’t count on such choices being made repeatedly if the system treats success as inherently suspect.

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In June 2026, when BTS embarks on a global tour generating billions in economic impact and incalculable goodwill toward South Korea, remember this moment almost didn’t happen. The members could have sought exemptions. Instead, they chose service and came back stronger. 

But South Korea can’t count on such choices if the message to cultural entrepreneurs is that success invites scrutiny. The next generation is watching, deciding whether to aim for global impact or settle for domestic safety.

South Korea stumbled into becoming a cultural superpower. It doesn't have to stumble out of it. But that requires recognizing that the bold, imperfect figures who build global cultural enterprises are assets to be protected, not problems to be managed. 

BTS made their choice — they bet on their country. Now, South Korea needs to decide if it's going to bet on the people who create the next BTS, or put them under investigation instead. 

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM ROBERT C. O'BRIEN

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The Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) says it plans to take Gov. Ron DeSantis to court after the Republican governor issued an executive order labeling the Muslim civil rights organization a "foreign terrorist organization."

Hiba Rahim, the chapter’s deputy executive director, said during a news conference that the order was an attack rooted in conspiracy theories and compared it to historical efforts that targeted Jewish, Irish and Italian American communities.

"We are very proud to defend the founding principles of our Constitution, to defend free speech," Rahim said at a news conference. "We are proud to defend democracy, and we are proud to be America first."

Rahim argued that the governor’s support for Israel played a role in the order, saying the group’s activism had caused "discomfort" to the U.S. ally. She said CAIR does not intend to back down.

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Governor DeSantis, meanwhile, defended the move, saying his administration had sufficient grounds for the designation. Speaking to reporters Tuesday, he said he welcomed CAIR’s legal challenge and described the designation as "a long time coming."

DeSantis’ order also lists the Muslim Brotherhood as a "foreign terrorist" organization. Last month, President Donald Trump issued an executive order to begin a federal process to consider designating certain chapters of the Muslim Brotherhood as a foreign terrorist organization.

The governor said he expects Florida lawmakers to pursue related legislation when the legislature reconvenes in January, calling the executive order "the beginning."

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Under DeSantis’ directive, state agencies are barred from awarding contracts, employment or funds to CAIR, the Muslim Brotherhood, or any groups deemed to have materially supported them.

At the Tampa news conference, attorney Miranda Margolis criticized the order and argued DeSantis had exceeded his authority by unilaterally designating a nonprofit as a terrorist organization. 

"This designation is without legal or factual basis and constitutes a dangerous escalation of anti-Muslim political rhetoric," Margolis said.

Florida’s action comes after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued a similar proclamation. CAIR has challenged Abbott’s designation in federal court, arguing it violates the U.S. Constitution and Texas law. Muslim and interfaith organizations have urged Abbott to rescind the order.

State-level designations do not carry the same legal weight as federal Foreign Terrorist Organization classifications, which can only be issued by the U.S. State Department.

CAIR argues the Florida order violates its First Amendment rights and due-process protections and that terrorism designations fall under federal jurisdiction, not state power.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Three people were arrested after allegedly supplying drugs to seven Providence College students who overdosed during a party outside of campus, according to police.

Providence Police said officers responded to the party last week on Liege Street in Providence, Rhode Island, where they located four students passed out in the front yard of the home, according to WBZ-TV. A total of seven people at the party overdosed, were given Narcan and then were transported to a hospital, where they reported to be conscious and alert.

Officers later searched a home on Hawkins Street and seized about 20 grams of fentanyl, $1,700 in cash, two rifles and three handguns, including a "ghost gun."

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Angel Williams, 33, Patrick Patterson, 32, and Kimsheree Simoneau, 33, were arrested. Williams and Patterson face various drug and gun charges, while Simoneau was charged with possession of a ghost gun.

Williams and Patterson are being held without bail, and Simoneau was released on a $10,000 bond.

None of the three suspects are students at the college.

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"This investigation reflects the department's continued commitment to combating the deadly flow of fentanyl and illegal firearms into our community," Providence Police Col. Oscar Perez said in a statement.

"The coordinated efforts of our Narcotics and Organized Crime Bureau ensured that dangerous weapons and narcotics were removed from the streets of Providence," he continued.

The college said it would also conduct an investigation.

"We want to thank the City of Providence first responders on scene, as well as college public safety officials, who administered lifesaving care to our students," a college spokesperson told WBZ-TV.

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FIRST ON FOX: Senate Republicans are teeing up an investigation into former President Joe Biden’s immigration parole programs, which they argue are what allowed the alleged D.C. National Guard shooter into the country.

Sens. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Josh Hawley, R-Mo., are set to lead a hearing looking into the Biden administration’s parole policies later this month, Fox News Digital has learned.

The announcement of the hearing, slated for Dec. 16, comes on the heels of the shooting of two National Guard members — U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, who was wounded, and U.S. Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, 20, who was killed — allegedly by Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan man that entered the country under Biden’s Operation Allies Welcome in 2021.

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Operation Allies Welcome was launched in the midst of Biden’s botched withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, which led to the eventual Taliban takeover of the country after U.S. forces exited.

Biden at the time directed the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to coordinate the resettlement of "vulnerable Afghans, including those who worked alongside us in Afghanistan for the past two decades, as they safely resettle in the United States," according to an archived explainer from the Biden-led DHS.

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Cornyn, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Border Security and Immigration, said in a statement to Fox News Digital that he had been warning of repercussions that the policy would have, and that "now those concerns have become reality, with deadly consequences."

"There will be no greater stain on Joe Biden’s legacy than that of his failed immigration parole programs, which he abused time after time to welcome into the U.S. hundreds of thousands of unvetted illegal aliens and potential terrorists who hate our country and want to kill Americans," Cornyn said.

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Hawley, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism, said in a statement to Fox News Digital that he had been sounding the alarm on "the Biden Administration’s refusal to vet evacuees," since 2021.

The lawmaker noted in a post on X at the time that an email shared with him by a U.S. official present during the evacuation in Afghanistan that he was ordered by Biden to "fill up the planes — even without vetting."

"And now their recklessness has opened the door to terrorism within our borders, including the deadly attack on our national Guardsman two weeks ago," Hawley said. "There needs to be accountability."

Their hearing also follows demands from several Senate Republicans in a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, which Cornyn also signed on to, that vetting standards for Afghan nationals be revisited and beefed up in the wake of the shooting in Washington, D.C.

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The FBI is looking for a Michigan-born woman who allegedly orchestrated a multimillion-dollar fraud scheme in Southern California.

Investigators say that Mary Carole McDonnell, 73, is wanted on charges of bank fraud and aggravated identity theft in connection with the alleged scheme carried out in Los Angeles and Orange counties between July 2017 and May 2018, the FBI said.

"Beginning in approximately July 2017 and continuing to May of 2018, McDonnell is alleged to have knowingly, and with intent to defraud, devised and participated in a scheme to obtain money, funds, assets, and property owned by Banc of California," the FBI said.

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Federal investigators say McDonnell posed as an heir to the McDonnell Aircraft family and falsely claimed she would eventually gain access to an $80 million secret trust.

She was able to obtain approximately $14.7 million from Banc of California although she knew she was not authorized and did not repay it.

She used similar methods to defraud other financial institutions of more than $15 million, according to the FBI.

SEN ADAM SCHIFF UNDER FEDERAL CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION FOR ALLEGED MORTGAGE FRAUD VIOLATIONS

She previously served as the CEO of Bellum Entertainment LLC, a Burbank-based production company, and has documented ties to Los Angeles, Montgomery, Alabama, and Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

A federal arrest warrant for McDonnell was issued on Dec. 12, 2018, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

A report by Deadline cites that Bellum Entertainment came under investigation by the California Labor Commission in 2017 for the alleged nonpayment of wages to dozens of former employees.

The outlet also reported that McDonnell told employees the company couldn’t meet payroll because of "significant bank fraud."

Investigators say they believe that McDonnell is currently in Dubai and describe her as a White female, 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighing 145 pounds, with blonde hair, blue eyes, and a scar on her right knee.

Anyone with information on McDonnell’s whereabouts is urged to contact their local FBI office or the nearest American embassy or consulate.

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The Los Angeles Chargers forced Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts to commit a career-high in turnovers, including a game-winning interception in overtime near the end zone to seal a 22-19 victory on "Monday Night Football."

Both the Eagles and Chargers came into this game with an 8-4 record, but it’s the latter who helped their playoff chances as they move to 9-4.

Meanwhile, the Eagles, still owners of the NFC East lead, moved to 8-5.

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It was a turnover-filled game for both of these teams, but it was Hurts who had five total turnovers as he threw four interceptions, including one on what could’ve been a game-winning drive in overtime.

On first-and-10 from the Chargers’ 17-yard line and down three points, Hurts sold a play-action to Saquon Barkley and rolled out to his right. He was looking to hit Jahan Dotson near the goal line, but Cam Hart, who had one of the interceptions earlier in the game, laid out and made a tremendous tip of the pass.

Safety Tony Jefferson was streaking over to cover Dotson, and he quickly located the football in the air, secured it, and stayed in bounds as SoFi Stadium erupted.

EAGLES STAR TURNS THE BALL OVER TWICE IN ONE CHAOTIC PLAY VS CHARGERS

It was a play that helped the Chargers squeak out a victory at home, but it wasn’t easy as the Eagles’ defense kept their team in the game with forced turnovers themselves.

Justin Herbert, who was seven days from having his left hand surgically repaired, was also intercepted and saw a strip-sack go the Eagles’ way on back-to-back drives near the end of the first half.

But while Herbert struggled in the pass game (12-of-26 for 139 yards and a touchdown pass to Omarion Hampton on the opening drive), he was able to get the job done with his legs.

Herbert rushed 10 times for 66 yards to lead his team in the ground game, which included 26 yards on the final drive in regulation to allow Cameron Dicker the chance to nail his fourth of five field goal attempts to force overtime.

He did so again when the Chargers first got the ball in overtime, where Dicker would bury a 54-yard attempt to go a perfect 5-for-5 to take the 22-19 lead.

Philadelphia would catch a massive break in their overtime drive after Odafe Oweh was called for a neutral zone infraction on fourth-and-4, allowing a fresh set of downs on what could’ve been the game-ending play.

Nonetheless, this Chargers' defense came through when they needed another turnover all night long, and it was only right they sealed the deal in the end.

The leading receiver for the Chargers was Kimani Vidal, who took a short pass 60 yards on the opening drive for Los Angeles that ultimately set up Hampton’s touchdown catch in his return since breaking his left ankle in Week 5.

For the Eagles, they were able to sack Herbert seven times, as Jalyx Hunt led the way with 2.5 sacks on the night. On offense, Hurts connected well with A.J. Brown, as he secured six of his 13 targets for 100 yards. Dallas Goedert added 78 yards on eight catches, while DeVonta Smith had four catches for 37 yards.

Saquon Barkley, who the Eagles and its fanbase have been hoping could break out like he did in 2024, managed to fly for 52 yards into the end zone at the beginning of the fourth quarter for a touchdown that made it 16-13 Eagles. He had 122 yards rushing on 20 touches in the backfield.

Hurts finished the game 21-of-40 for 240 yards with no touchdowns — one to Brown was called back earlier in the game due to a Jordan Mailata holding penalty — and his four interceptions.

Hurts also fumbled on a play where he was intercepted, as he scooped up an initial fumble by the Chargers defender who picked him off, but the ball was knocked out of his hands and recovered by Los Angeles.

The Eagles will hope to break their three-game losing streak next week when they host the Las Vegas Raiders at home.

Meanwhile, Herbert and the Chargers will look to keep it rolling against their bitter AFC West rival, the Kansas City Chiefs, who are desperate to keep their own playoff hopes alive at 6-7.

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