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Biden campaign to launch account on Trump’s Truth Social
EXCLUSIVE: The Biden campaign is launching an account on former President Trump’s Truth Social, Fox News Digital has learned.
Biden campaign officials told Fox News Digital that they are joining Truth Social for the purpose of “meeting voters where they are.”
“Republicans can’t even agree on a Speaker of the House, so clearly, not every Republican thinks the same,” a Biden campaign official told Fox News Digital.
Biden campaign officials say they are “injecting our message” into GOP primary coverage and plan to combat “mis and disinformation” about President Biden that may appear on the social media platform.
FLASHBACK: TRUMP JOINS TRUTH SOCIAL: ‘I’M BACK! #COVFEFE’
“There’s very little ‘truth’ happening on TruthSocial, but at least now it’ll be a little fun,” a senior Biden campaign aide told Fox News Digital on Monday.
The Biden campaign’s handle is expected to be @BidenHQ. Campaign officials said their first post is expected to publish later Monday.
“Well. Let’s see how this goes. Converts welcome!” The campaign’s first post is expected to read.
Campaign officials said they plan to hold “MAGA accountable on their own platform.” The officials pointed to the campaign’s existing account on “X,” previously known as Twitter, in which they post content of Republican politicians and candidates attacking their opponents.
“We will be leveraging the fact that Republicans can sometimes be our best messengers!” a campaign official told Fox News Digital.
The officials likened the move to the Biden campaign “going into the lion’s den to point out Republicans’ hypocrisy and have a little fun at their own expense.”
Truth Social told Fox News Digital that it is a “free, open platform” and “welcomes anyone around the world to join.”
Former Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., is the company’s CEO.
And when asked for comment on the Biden campaign’s move to join Truth Social, Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung told Fox News Digital:
“Crooked Joe Biden and his team are finally acknowledging that Truth Social is hot as a pistol and the only place where real news happens,” Cheung said. “Unfortunately for Biden, his continuation of spreading misinformation to gaslight the American people in order to distract from his disastrous record won’t work and they’ll be rated to oblivion.”
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Jordan pledges to ‘bring all Republicans together’ in letter to House GOP on eve of speaker election
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, pledged to unite the GOP conference and give members without leadership roles a louder voice in party discussions in a letter to colleagues sent Monday.
“The principles that unite us as Republicans are far greater than the disagreements that divide us. And the differences between us and our Democratic colleagues vastly outweigh our internal divisions,” Jordan wrote in the letter obtained by Fox News Digital.
“The country and our conference cannot afford us attacking each other right now. It is time we unite to get back to work on behalf of the American people.”
The letter comes as Jordan is quickly consolidating support ahead of an expected House-wide vote for speaker on Tuesday. Jordan won a closed-door GOP conference vote to be their next candidate, but his conservative credentials and reputation as a bomb-thrower have stirred concerns among moderates.
SOME REPUBLICANS IN TALKS TO CUT DEAL WITH DEMOCRATS IN HOUSE SPEAKER FIGHT
Jordan is also tasked with convincing lawmakers to come around who were unhappy with the treatment of ousted ex-Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., and the previous speaker-designate, Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., who stepped away from the race when it became clear too many people were refusing to back him over Jordan.
“As Republicans, we are blessed to have an energetic conference comprised of members with varied backgrounds, experiences, and skills — just like the country we represent. We may not always agree on every issue or every bill, and that’s all right,” Jordan wrote. “It’s an honor to receive our conference’s nomination as Speaker-designate. Over the past weeks, each of you have communicated the issues that matter most to you and your constituents.”
CAPITOL HILL ROLLER COASTER: JORDAN CLINCHES SPEAKER NOMINATION BUT STILL BATTLES FOR GAVEL
“We’ve discussed frustrations about the treatment of Kevin McCarthy and Steve Scalise and the events of the past month. You’ve been honest and open, and I appreciate the candid conversations. In these conversations, we’ve also discussed your thoughts on how we can best move forward. And we must move forward.”
Jordan’s letter appears to be an indirect olive branch to moderates and other Republicans who may have been skeptical of his leadership. It comes after reports that some moderates may be considering working with Democrats to find a consensus speaker candidate.
Jordan promised to empower members outside of those in leadership and heads of the “Five Families,” what the GOP calls its formal separate factions.
“The role of a Speaker is to bring all Republicans together. That’s what I intend to do. We will make sure there are more Republican voices involved in our major decisions beyond the Five Families. Our goal will be to empower our committees and committee chairs to take the lead on the House’s legislative work through regular order,” he said.
“This will bring us together to pass responsible legislation to fund our government and support our military. I will tirelessly work to defend and expand our majority and help every Republican member back at home.”
Jordan told reporters on Monday that he intends to hold a vote at noon Tuesday, regardless of whether he knows he has the 217 votes necessary to win the speaker’s gavel.
Go to Source: Latest Political News on Fox News
Blue state delivers crippling blow to green energy development, jeopardizing Biden’s climate goals
New York’s state government rejected requests from a group of offshore wind energy developers who asked to renegotiate existing contracts amid rising prices and inflation.
The New York State Public Service Commission (NYPSC), the state’s main regulator overseeing electric, gas and water utilities, issued the decision late last week, saying it would “preserve the robust competitive bidding process that provides critically needed renewable energy resources to New York.” The energy developers had requested billions of dollars in additional taxpayer funding for four proposed offshore wind projects and 86 onshore green energy projects.
“The requested amendments to the contracts would have provided adjustments outside the competitive procurement process; such relief is fundamentally inconsistent with long-standing Commission policy,” Commission Chair Rory Christian said in a statement.
“The Commission has repeatedly stated that competition in the procurement process is necessary to protect ratepayers and provides the soundest approach to mobilize the industry to achieve our critical State goals dependably and cost-effectively, and we do so again through today’s action,” Christian continued.
CEO OF BANKRUPT ELECTRIC VEHICLE COMPANY STILL ON TOP WHITE HOUSE ADVISORY COUNCIL
The NYPSC said the rejected request would have led to an up to 6.7% increase in utility costs for residential customers and as much as a 10.5% for commercial or industrial customers on monthly bills.
The petition had been filed by Empire Offshore Wind LLC and Beacon Wind LLC, Sunrise Wind LLC, and the Alliance for Clean Energy New York, Inc. (ACENY). Energy companies Equinor and BP are jointly developing the Empire Offshore Wind and Beacon Wind projects; energy companies Orsted and Eversource are developing Sunrise Wind; and ACENY is a coalition of large energy developers and environmental organizations.
REPUBLICANS UNLEASH OVERSIGHT INTO BIDEN’S GLOBAL WARMING GOVERNMENT WORK PROGRAM
The petitions from the companies asked the state to adjust Renewable Energy Credit and Offshore Wind REC purchase and sales agreements they entered into with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority years ago to address inflationary pressures “impacting project economics.”
“The renewable energy industry is deeply disappointed with the Commission’s unfortunate ruling denying relief for renewable energy projects dealing with unprecedented inflation in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said ACENY Executive Director Anne Reynolds. “The decision is shortsighted. We were hoping the Commission would act strategically on behalf of ratepayers and the environment; instead, their decision will result in increased costs and greenhouse gas emissions.”
“Today’s PSC decision denying relief to the portfolio of contracted offshore wind projects puts these projects in serious jeopardy and deals a potentially fatal blow to the progress these projects have made to localize clean energy manufacturing, reinvigorate New York’s ports and harbors, train and deploy New York’s skilled union workers, and revitalize environmental justice communities,” added New York Offshore Wind Alliance Director Fred Zalcman.
Zalcman said the four projects impacted – Empire Wind 1, Empire Wind 2, Beacon Wind and Sunrise Wind – represent almost half of the offshore wind capacity the New York state government has vowed to achieve by 2035.
The projects, which all remain in the proposed phase, have been under development for years and are all expected to enter operations between 2025-2028, producing enough electricity to power millions of homes. Excluding those projects, South Fork Wind, approved by the federal government in late 2021, is the only other offshore wind development in New York.
OFFSHORE OIL AND GAS PERMITTING PLUMMETS TO 2-DECADE LOW UNDER BIDEN
“With one shortsighted decision, the NYSPSC has thrown New York’s environmental and clean energy future into peril. Absent a robust offshore wind industry, it will not be possible for New York State to achieve its climate or environmental justice goals,” American Clean Power Association CEO Jason Grumet said in a statement.
Meanwhile, following the decision from the NYSPC, Democratic New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a 10-point plan to “expand and support” the large-scale renewable energy industry in the state. One of the plan’s action points was to expand offshore wind development by increasing competition in the market and widening the pool of developers.
And the decision comes amid the Biden administration’s aggressive push to expand green energy development nationwide.
Days after taking office, President Biden issued an executive action ordering his administration to increase opportunities for the offshore wind industry as part of his aggressive climate agenda to curb greenhouse gas emissions and stop global warming. Months later, he outlined goals to deploy 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2030, the most ambitious goal of its kind worldwide.
As part of those plans, the administration has leased hundreds of thousands of acres to energy corporations and plans future lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico and off the coast of California.
Hochul’s office didn’t respond to a request for comment.
Go to Source: Latest Political News on Fox News
Biden administration reaches settlement on family separations
The Biden administration official on Monday reached a settlement in a class-action suit filed against the federal government in 2018 over the separation of families at the southwest border between 2017 and 2021.
The Justice Department (DOJ) announced its proposed settlement agreement, which will codify and strictly limit the cases in which federal officials can separate families in immigration proceedings.
“The practice of separating families at the southwest border was shameful,” said Attorney General Merrick Garland in a statement.
“This agreement will facilitate the reunification of separated families and provide them with critical services to aid in their recovery.”
Under the settlement, family separations will essentially be banned for the next eight years, with exceptions for national security, safety of the child, medical emergencies and some criminal warrants.
The settlement will also provide mental health, medical and housing assistance to affected families, as well as legal immigration services.
“This agreement helps family members reunify with their loved ones in the United States and receive services to help them address the trauma they have suffered,” Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in a statement.
The agreement will also allow eligible family members to remain in the United States.
“As part of the agreement, the government has agreed to extend the ongoing parole processes for class members that allow them to reunify with their separated parent or legal guardian or child in the United States. The settlement will also give certain additional family members an opportunity to live with the unified parent or legal guardian and child in the United States,” said an administration official.
The plaintiffs had sought financial compensation from the government, but the Biden administration has resisted that claim, which is not part of the settlement agreed to Monday.
“When we brought this lawsuit, no one thought it would involve thousands of children, take us to so many countries searching for families, or last for years. While no one would ever claim that this settlement can wholly fix the harm intentionally caused to these little children, it is an essential beginning,” said Lee Gelernt, deputy director of the ACLU’s Immigrants’ Rights Project and lead attorney in the lawsuit.
The settlement must be approved by U.S. District Judge Dana Sabraw of the Southern District of California before coming into effect.
Administration officials lauded the agreement between the government and plaintiffs in the case known as Ms. L, while censuring the Trump administration for its zero-tolerance policy that led to family separations.
The Justice Department, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have been leading the effort to reunify families separated by officials in 2017.
“The settlement agreed upon today is the culmination of three years of negotiation efforts and is a key milestone and the efforts of the DHS-led family reunification task force,” a senior administration official told reporters on a call Monday.
“It reflects the Biden Harris administration’s unwavering commitment to reunify families who suffered because of the prior administration’s cruel and inhumane policy and our steadfast adherence to our nation’s most dearly held values.”
Trump’s zero-tolerance policy was spearheaded by former Attorney General Jeff Sessions early on in the Trump presidency, but it was blocked by courts amid widespread condemnation of the forced family separations.
Under Sessions’ vision, adult migrants — including asylum seekers — who crossed the border without permission were criminally prosecuted, and forcibly separated from any minors they were accompanying.
The agreement has the dual purpose of setting bureaucratic guardrails against any future administration’s potential attempts to recreate the Trump-era policy, and to speed up the reunification of families.
“There are still many families that remain separated. We have been working to conduct outreach and inform the remaining families of the options that they have and the services available to them. So far, we’ve contacted approximately 1,300 families,” said an administration official.
“We’re hopeful that with this agreement going forward that the word will get out and we’ll be able to reach more families and begin that reunification process.”
Among the 4,000 children identified by DOJ, DHS and HHS were 290 U.S. citizen children separated from their parents who had not previously been identified.
But not all families have come forward to request reunification, and federal officials are allowing individuals to set the pace.
The settlement comes after years of negotiations backed by civil society groups ranging from human rights groups to medical organizations.
“We also recognize the important work of non-governmental organizations that have stood by the families and continue to support their reunification,” said Mayorkas.
“Our partnership is unified in condemning the cruelty of the past. The Department of Homeland Security has taken steps to ensure that the prior practice of separating families does not happen again, and we are continuing the work of reuniting children with their parents.”
Go to Source: Administration News | The Hill
There’s Still No House Speaker. What Happens Now?
US can ‘certainly’ afford to provide military aid to Israel, Ukraine: Yellen
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Monday the U.S. can “certainly” afford to provide military aid to Israel in its war against Hamas and Ukraine in its war against Russia.
“America can certainly afford to stand with Israel and to support Israel’s military needs, and we also can and must support Ukraine in its struggle against Russia,” Yellen said in an interview with Britain’s Sky News.
Yellen reaffirmed the U.S.’s support of Israel, while urging caution over civilian deaths as Jerusalem prepares for a major counteroffensive into the Gaza Strip.
“America has also made clear to Israel, we’re working very closely with the Israelis, that they have a right to defend themselves,” Yellen told Sky News. “But it’s important to try to spare innocent civilian lives to the maximum extent possible.”
Yellen said both Israel and Ukraine were a “priority” and the U.S. “need[s] to come up funds, both for Israel and for Ukraine.”
President Biden in a recent “60 Minutes” interview dismissed the idea that the U.S. could not simultaneously support both Israel in its war against Hamas and Ukraine in its war against Russia. Arguing both conflicts impact the safety of the American people, Biden said the U.S. can “take care of both of these and still maintain our overall national defense.”
While much of Washington agrees on the need to continue arming Ukraine, House Republicans have become increasingly skeptical of support for Kyiv, with chaos over the Speaker further complicating matters. Some Republicans have pushed back on the White House’s request for billions in additional Ukraine aid, arguing the money should be spent on domestic issues.
Israel’s war with Hamas, the militant group that controls the Gaza Strip, has already claimed more than 4,000 lives on both sides after Hamas’s bloody surprise assault on Israel last week.
More than 1,400 Israelis were killed, and at least 199 others, including children, were captured by Hamas and taken into Gaza. Israel has pounded Gaza with air strikes in response. The Gaza Health Ministry said 2,750 Palestinians have been killed and 9,700 wounded.
Yellen called upon the U.S. House to choose a new Speaker after former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) was ousted nearly two weeks ago.
“It’s really up to the House to find, seat a Speaker and to put us in a position where legislation can be passed,” Yellen said.
In the chaotic days since McCarthy’s historic ousting, no Republican has been able to pull together the 217 votes needed to take the top spot.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (La.) won the Republican nomination vote last Wednesday against Rep. Jim Jordan (Ohio), but he dropped out later Thursday when it became apparent he would struggle to get the necessary votes.
Jordan put his name back in the ring and went on to clinch the nomination in a second vote last Friday, beating challenger Rep. Austin Scott (R-Ga.). However, it is still unclear if Jordan can shore up the necessary votes. Jordan has emphasized the need for the House GOP conference to unite to allow Congress to support Israel.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) told NBC’s “Meet the Press” Sunday that Democrats want to reopen the House to tackle domestic issues as well as “make sure that we can stand with our close friend, Israel, during her time of need in terms of ensuring Israel’s ability to decisively defeat Hamas, a brutal terrorist organization.”
Meanwhile, in a press conference Sunday from Tel Aviv, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said the Senate will “not wait for the House” to assemble the “most generous package” for Israel.
“We believe if the Senate acts in a strong, bipartisan way, it may indeed improve the chances that the House, even with its current dysfunction, will act,” Schumer said, alongside a bipartisan delegation of Senate lawmakers who are visiting Israel.
Go to Source: Administration News | The Hill
Judge imposes a narrow gag order on Trump, limiting speech about prosecutors and possible witnesses in US election case
Go to Source: ABC News: Politics
Court settlement prohibits family separation policy at border for 8 years, provides temporary legal status, housing aid
Go to Source: ABC News: Politics
‘Squad’ Dem pays thousands to husband in ‘wage expenses’ for mystery role despite backlash
FIRST ON FOX: Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., has continued shoveling campaign cash to her husband, Cortney Merritts, but altered the description of the payments amid scrutiny. She has sent over $100,000 to him since she added him to the campaign’s payroll nearly two years ago.
According to new filings reviewed by Fox News Digital, Bush’s committee paid Merritts $12,500 for “wage expenses” between July and August. Merritts previously gathered money for security services, but the committee switched their characterization in April as they continued to bring headaches for the campaign.
The new cash follows the $30,000 Bush’s campaign paid him before the third quarter. So far this year, Merritts has received $42,500 from the committee. He’s collected $102,500 since he first emerged on its payroll in January 2022.
The “Squad” member has said she requires protection due to previous attempts on her life and has paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to security firms on top of the earlier payments to her husband.
‘SQUAD’ REP CORI BUSH HIT WITH FEC COMPLAINT OVER PRIVATE SECURITY PAYMENTS TO HUSBAND
According to her filings, her campaign began paying a new security firm in the third quarter. The committee sent $5,000 to a St. Louis-based company called All American Protective Consultants, which was established in March, business records show. The firm is registered under a company called 720 Firm, which launched late last year.
Bush’s campaign did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment on its payments to her husband and why they had switched their description from security to wage expenses. They also did not respond to a question regarding All American Protective Consultants.
After Bush and Merritts married in February, her office announced they had been together more than a year before her campaign began paying him in early 2022. Her campaign regularly sent Merritts bimonthly $2,500 checks while disbursing hundreds of thousands to other protection firms, primarily PEACE Security.
Merritts, meanwhile, did not have a private security license as of late February, Fox News Digital reported. He also did not appear in a Washington, D.C., database of licensed security specialists, and Bush’s campaign did not respond to several prior emails on the matter. The payments have subsequently triggered at least two FEC complaints from watchdog groups.
The campaign also paid Nathaniel Davis, who has claimed he’s 109 trillion years old and can summon tornadoes, tens of thousands of dollars for security services.
Even before adding Merritts to her payroll, Bush faced criticism for using private security. In July 2021, Fox News Digital first reported on Bush’s security payments while pushing to defund police, prompting CBS News inquiries about the cash and whether hiring a security detail while pushing to strip money from law enforcement was hypocritical.
“They would rather I die?” Bush asked. “You would rather me die? Is that what you want to see? You want to see me die? You know, because that could be the alternative.”
The progressive lawmaker said she would ensure she has security because she has had attempts on her life and has “too much work to do.”
“So suck it up, and defunding the police has to happen,” she added.
Local St. Louis’ KMOV4 later found that Bush had hired two sheriff’s deputies as part of her security detail. The discovery of their unapproved side gig led to their termination.
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