Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire is the latest Democrat in the Senate to announce her retirement rather than seek re-election in the 2026 midterms.

The Wednesday announcement by the former governor and three-term senator in a key New England swing state will further complicate the Democrats' efforts to regain control of the Senate from the Republicans in next year's elections.

"I ran for public office to make a difference for the people of New Hampshire," Shaheen said. "That purpose has never and will never change. But today, after careful consideration, I am announcing that I have made the difficult decision not to seek re-election to the Senate in 2026."

Shaheen, who turned 78 earlier this year, added that "it's just time."

There was intense speculation regarding whether Shaheen, who first won election to the Senate in 2008 and who this year became the first woman in history to hold one of the top two positions on the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee, will seek another term in office.

Shaheen raised a paltry $170,000 in the final fundraising quarter of 2024, which sparked buzz that the senator might not be preparing for another re-election campaign. But sources in Shaheen’s political orbit noted that the senator did not emphasize fundraising in the fourth quarter of last year, which included the final month of the 2024 presidential election.

Fox News confirmed that Shaheen had a major fundraiser scheduled for March 20 in Manchester, New Hampshire. There's no word yet on whether that event has been canceled.

National Republicans see opportunities to flip the Senate seat in New Hampshire from blue to red, and the National Republican Senatorial Committee had already run ads targeting Shaheen over her defense of USAID funding that the Trump administration is axing.

FORMER TRUMP AMBASSADOR EYES SENATE RETURN

Former Sen. Scott Brown, the former senator from Massachusetts who later narrowly lost to Shaheen in New Hampshire in the 2014 election, is seriously considering a 2026 run, in a possible rematch against Shaheen.

Brown, who served four years as U.S. ambassador to New Zealand during President Donald Trump’s first administration, has been holding meetings with Republicans across New Hampshire for a couple of months and has met with GOP officials in the nation’s capital.

It has been 15 years since Republicans last won a Senate election in New Hampshire, with Democrats victorious in the past four elections.

Republicans flipped four Democrat-held Senate seats in last November’s elections to win back control of the chamber. They now control the chamber and are aiming to expand their majority in 2026.

Besides New Hampshire, the GOP is targeting battleground Michigan, where Democratic Sen. Gary Peters announced in January that he would not seek re-election. Also on their 2026 radar is Georgia, another key battleground state where Republicans view first-term Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff as vulnerable.

Democratic Sen. Tina Smith of Minnesota announced last month that she would not bid for another term in next year’s midterms, giving the GOP hope that it might be competitive in the blue-leaning state.

But Republicans are also playing defense in the 2026 cycle.

Democrats plan to go on offense in blue-leaning Maine, where moderate GOP Sen. Susan Collins is up for re-election, as well as in battleground North Carolina, where Republican Sen. Thom Tillis is also up in 2026. 

The government says it cannot accept any new applications for its key green farming funding scheme.

More than 124,000 young people have had claims for adult disability benefits refused, the BBC finds.

A federal judge appointed by President Donald Trump in 2018 announced that he had resigned from the largest association of federal judges, decrying how the group issued a rare statement last week condemning recent alleged threats against judges but stayed quiet for years while conservative members of the judiciary faced scrutiny and attack. 

Judge James C. Ho, of the New Orleans-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, announced his departure from the Federal Judges Association during a speaking event Saturday hosted by the conservative Federalist Society at the University of Michigan Law School. It comes in response to the 1,100-member group issuing a statement on March 5 saying in part that "judges must be permitted to do their jobs without fear of violence or intimidation of any kind." Trump and his allies have grown increasingly critical of judges who have blocked the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and other aspects of the administration's agenda, while DOGE leader Elon Musk last month called for an "immediate wave of judicial impeachments." 

"I was very surprised by that statement. And the next morning, I sent an email to the organization saying that I wanted to resign," Ho said of the Federal Judges Association. "I researched for myself, and I also asked the association if they ever issued any such statements when Justice Thomas received attacks, or Justice Alito. Justice Kavanaugh dealt with an assassination attempt. We’ve had federal district judges in Texas and in Florida – as well as, I’m sure, other states, but those are the ones that come to mind immediately – all faced the kinds of things that that statement was complaining about and more. Did we see these statements in 2024 or 2023 or 2022? From what I can tell, no." 

WHO IS JUDGE AMIR ALI? THE BIDEN-APPOINTED FEDERAL JUDGE AT THE CENTER OF TRUMP'S USAID BATTLE

"You can’t say that you’re in favor of judicial independence only when it comes to decisions that you like. That’s not protecting the judiciary, that’s politicizing the judiciary," Ho said, arguing that such statements actually harm the cause they try to further. "Because one of two things turns out to be true when you’re selective in this way. And either of these options, I think, is a bad thing. Option number one is that you’re basically lying, that you actually don’t care about this principle because you didn’t stand up for it when the shoe was on the other foot, and so you’re telling the world essentially we’re not seriously committed to judicial independence." 

"The alternative is perhaps even worse, which is that you are telling the truth – you do care about this, this principle, whether it’s judicial independence or free speech. I think this concept applies to a lot of things," Ho continued. "If you’re telling the truth, you really care about this principle, but there are just some people who have views that are so anathema to you that you don’t think they are worthy of this principle that you expound on." 

"And so what you may think is a statement born of righteousness I think is perceived by a lot of people as merely sanctimonious," he concluded. 

Fox News Digital reached out to the Federal Judges Association for comment, but they did not immediately respond.

JUDGE RULES DOGE LIKELY SUBJECT TO PUBLIC RECORDS REQUESTS, SAYS DEPARTMENT OPERATING IN 'UNUSUAL SECRECY'

The president of the Federal Judges Association, U.S. Circuit Judge J. Michelle Childs, who was appointed by former President Joe Biden, wrote in an email to members last week that the "judiciary faces growing threats, including violence, intimidation, disinformation, and unprecedented impeachments that challenge its independence," according to Reuters. 

The Federal Judges Association then released a lengthier public statement the next day that did not elaborate on specific threats against specific judges. 

It began by saying that "recent events are a clear and urgent reminder that federal judges play a crucial role in upholding our democracy as guardians of the rule of law." 

"In the history of our Republic, there has always been tension between the three separate and equal branches of the federal government, including criticism of judicial interpretations. The FJA strives to ensure that accurate information is shared with all American citizens regarding the role of the judiciary as defined in the U.S. Constitution: to impartially interpret the laws that have been created by the U.S. Congress and enforced by the Executive branch," the group said. "Specific decisions issued by judges are not formed from individual opinions, but rather are prepared against evaluation of what the ‘laws on the books’ require." 

The group commended those, including Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, "who have commented recently on the rise in criticism, threats and violence aimed at members of the judiciary."

"Irresponsible rhetoric shrouded in disinformation undermines the public’s confidence that our justice system can fulfill its constitutional duties," the statement said. "The security of federal judges and all those serving in the judicial branch of our government is fundamental to their ability to uphold the rule of law, and to fulfill their constitutional duty without fear or undue influence. Any erosion in the independence of the judiciary is a threat to our Constitution and to democratic rule of law. Ensuring judicial security is not just about protecting individuals, it is about preserving the integrity of our legal system and the public’s trust in an impartial judiciary." 

Rachel Reeves set up the Office for Value for Money (OVfM) in October to "root out waste and inefficiency".

The Great Yarmouth MP is accused of making "verbal threats" against Reform UK's chairman.

The measure is part of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, which has been introduced to Parliament.

The government is identifying cuts to the welfare budget ahead of the Spring Statement, with the PM working to rally MPs to support the move.

The ex-SNP leader says she will not seek re-election at the 2026 Scottish Parliament election.

Some Labour MPs urge ministers to tackle the "crisis of economic inactivity", while others oppose cuts.

A group of MPs want workers to get the right to leave if they suffer a miscarriage before 24 weeks.

Rep. Keith Self, R-Texas, abruptly adjourned a congressional hearing on Tuesday after Rep. Bill Keating, D-Mass., vehemently objected to Self recognizing Rep. Sarah McBride, D-Del., as "the representative from Delaware, Mr. McBride."

McBride, who identifies as a transgender woman, responded to Self — who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee's Europe Subcommittee — by saying, "Thank you Madam chair."

As McBride sought to continue speaking, ranking member Keating interrupted, asking Self, "could you repeat your introduction again please?"

HOUSE REPUBLICAN INTRODUCES TRANSGENDER LAWMAKER AS ‘THE GENTLEMAN … MR. MCBRIDE’ FOR FLOOR SPEECH

"Ah, yes," Self replied, adding, "we have set the standard on the" House floor.

"What is that standard Mr. Chairman?" Keating questioned, before again asking Self to repeat what he had said when introducing McBride.

"I will," Self replied. "The representative from Delaware Mr. McBride," Self repeated.

"Mr. Chairman you are out of order," Keating declared. "Mr. Chairman, have you no decency?" he asked, going on to say "this is not decent."

Self said they would continue the hearing.

"You will not continue it with me unless you introduce a duly-elected representative the right way!" Keating declared.

In response to the ultimatum, Self announced, "This hearing is adjourned."

GOP LAWMAKER SCRAPS WITH DEMOCRAT IN HEARING OVER TRANSGENDER ‘SLUR,' BATHROOM RIGHTS: ‘NOT GOING TO HAVE IT’

Last month Rep. Mary Miller, R-Ill., recognized McBride for a House floor speech by referring to the Democrat as "the gentleman from Delaware, Mr. McBride for five minutes."

In a tweet after the episode on Tuesday, Miller sided with Self, saying that Self "is right to state the biological reality that Tim ‘Sarah’ McBride is a man. Enough with the lies. As God ordained and President Trump declared, there are only TWO GENDERS: Male and Female!" 

 Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., said in a post on Tuesday, "You know what’s indecent? A mentally ill man pretending to be a woman. Biology. Science. The Left should try it some time(sic)."

AFTER DECLINING TO STATE WHETHER TRANS REP-ELECT IS A MAN OR WOMAN, JOHNSON SAYS ‘A MAN CANNOT BECOME A WOMAN’

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McBride stated in a Tuesday post on X, "No matter how I'm treated by some colleagues, nothing diminishes my awe and gratitude at getting to represent Delaware in Congress. It is truly the honor and privilege of a lifetime. I simply want to serve and to try to make this world a better place."

Lawmakers in Oregon are considering three bills that, if passed, would ease public safety requirements for convicted sex offenders and significantly downsize the state's backlog for reassessing offenders.

Senate Bills 819, 820 and 821 all revolve around creating an easier process for the state Board of Parole and Post-Prison Supervision to classify convicted sex offenders, but the suggestions in the bills ultimately reduce the number of convicted sex offenders in the community that are being monitored.

A letter from the Oregon District Attorneys Association (ODAA), which was listed as public testimony on the state legislature's website, to the Senate Committee on Judiciary asks that all three bills be reconsidered.

LOUISIANA BILL TO CASTRATE SEX OFFENDERS MOVING TOWARD GOVERNOR’S DESK FOR SIGNATURE 

Senate Bill 819 aims to eliminate the hearing required when a sex offender's requirement to report or classification level is changed. 

The ODAA said it is concerned that the suggestion would make the process not as thorough as the Parole Board is currently required to consider ten criteria before making such decisions. The association is also worried that victims of sex offenders would not be allowed to give input on the decision if the hearing is no longer required.

The bill does state that the attorney general, district attorney or a victim could request a hearing, but the ODAA said lack of resources or notice could result in a hearing not being possible.

"For instance, who is going to be tasked with tracking down all the victims years after these cases have been completed and the offender is seeking to get off the sex offender registration list," the letter states.

LAWMAKER'S BILL MANDATES AUTOMATIC DEATH PENALTY FOR CHILD SEX CRIMES FOLLOWING EPSTEIN FILES RELEASE 

Senate Bill 820 seeks to change the way sex offenders are currently classified by the state by limiting the criteria for who needs a classification. It suggests only the following sex offenders be classified: those with two or more convictions for sex crimes, those being released from the Department of Corrections and those younger than 35 years old on Jan. 1, 2026.

"Some sex offenders may only have one crime conviction date, or one conviction for a sex crime, or a conviction for a lesser sex crime because of consideration from a plea agreement. This does not mean that they did not engage in serious conduct and have multiple sex crimes, victims, or dates of offense," the ODAA wrote, in part.

Lastly, Senate Bill 821 suggests that the Dec. 1, 2026, deadline for the Parole Board to complete all classifications for existing sex offenders be removed. Another deadline is not provided, but the ODAA suggested it be postponed three years.

"ODAA understands that handling sex offender relief or classification hearings is only one of the Parole Board’s important duties and there are limited resources to get all the work done. At the same time, these are very important decisions for both the victims of these serious crimes and the community," the association wrote.

Local outlets in Oregon report that the Parole Board is facing a massive backlog of unclassified sex offenders that cannot be handled. Of the 33,000 registered in the state, approximately 18,000 were unclassified in January 2025, according to The News-Review in Roseburg, Oregon.

All three bills have received massive backlash from community members, family members of victims, law enforcement agencies and other advocates for women and children. Though a few people have shown support for the suggestions, including Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek.

The Senate Committee on Judiciary is set to hold a hearing Thursday afternoon.

EXCLUSIVE — The House GOP's campaign committee is taking aim at congressional Democrats for voting against a measure to fund the federal government through Sept. 30 and avoid a government shutdown at the end of this week. 

The National Republican Congressional Committee is launching digital ads against 35 House Democrats who may face challenging or competitive races in the 2026 midterms, when the GOP aims to defend its fragile majority in the chamber.

The spots, shared first with Fox News Wednesday morning, are going up hours after the House, almost entirely along party lines, voted 217-213 to pass a Republican-crafted bill that cuts non-defense spending by roughly $13 billion, boosts defense spending by around $6 billion and gives President Donald Trump more leeway in how to spend the funds.

Thanks to heavy last-minute lobbying by Trump and his allies inside and outside the chamber, the House GOP didn't need a single Democrat's vote to pass the bill.

TRUMP-BACKED BILL TO KEEP GOVERNMENT FUNDED CLEARS KEY HURDLE

One Democrat, moderate Jared Golden of Maine, who represents a district carried by Trump the past three presidential elections, voted for the Republican measure.

And the one Republican to vote against the bill, far right Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, is being threatened by Trump and his allies with a possible primary challenge next year when he's up for re-election.

CLICK HERE TO READ WHAT'S IN THE FULL BILL 

The digital ads by the NRCC, which are identical for all the targets, will run online in the districts of Democratic representatives Josh Harder (CA-09), Adam Gray (CA-13), Jim Costa, (CA-21), Raul Ruiz (CA-25), George Whitesides (CA-27), Derek Tran (CA-45), Dave Min (CA-47) and Mike Levin (CA-49) of California; Darren Soto (FL-09) and Jared Moskowitz (FL-23) of Florida; Eric Sorensen (IL-17) of Illinois; Frank Mrvan (IN-01) of Indiana; Kristen McDonald Rivet (MN-08) of Michigan; Don Davis (NC-01) of North Carolina; Chris Pappas (NH-01) and Maggie Goodlander (NH-02) of New Hampshire; Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05) and Nellie Pou (NJ-09) of New Jersey; Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) of New Mexico; Dina Titus (NV-01), Susie Lee (NV-03) and Steven Horsford (NV-04) of Nevada; Tom Suozzi (NY-03), Laura Gillen (NY-04), Pat Ryan (NY-18) and Josh Riley (NY-19) of New York; Greg Landsman (OH-01), Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), and Emilia Syles (OH-13) of Ohio; Janelle Bynum (OR-05) of Oregon; Henry Cuellar (TX-28) and Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34) of Texas; Eugene Vindman (VA-07) of Virginia; and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03) of Washington state.

The NRCC says there's a modest ad buy behind the digital spots.

"House Democrats threw a tantrum at the expense of the American people, shutting down the government just to score political points. After months of failure, they’ve learned nothing and doubled down on their embarrassing dysfunction." NRCC spokesman Mike Marinella said.

HOUSE GOP CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE CHAIR MAKES PREDICTION ABOUT 2026 MIDTERM ELECTIONS

Democrats disagree.

"The strong House Democratic vote in opposition to this reckless Republican spending bill speaks for itself," House Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York, the top Democrat in the chamber, told reporters after the vote.

And House Democratic Caucus Chair Rep. Pete Aguilar of California took aim at what he called a "partisan" measure and emphasized that "we put up a strong vote in opposition of this bill because this hurts families." 

Duty on steel and aluminium imports is a major hit for some of the US's top trading partners.

The PM suggests ministers should take a more active role in delivering the government's priorities.

While issues at NASA grew under former President Joe Biden, the space agency prioritized embedding diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives into its workforce, according to a new report from watchdog group OpenTheBooks.

Amid preparations for its Starliner capsule mission — which ultimately went awry, leaving two astronauts stranded in space — NASA spent more than $13 million on related efforts between 2021 and 2024. During the ongoing Starliner spaceship debacle, an Inspector General report highlighted even further shortcomings by the agency, particularly related to quality control around NASA's efforts to return astronauts to the moon.

Simultaneously, while NASA was facing these mission-critical deficiencies, it was also reportedly taking substantial steps to embed DEI into agency practices through a variety of avenues, including grants, contracts, employee guidance, agency-wide strategic equity commitments, book talks and more.

NEW STUDY REVEALS ‘STAGGERING’ SCOPE OF HOW MUCH DEI WAS INFUSED INTO GOVERNMENT UNDER BIDEN

During President Donald Trump's first term, he sought to root out DEI programs in the federal government, similar to his efforts today. Before ending his first term, in September 2020, Trump signed an executive order to combat race and sex stereotyping within federal government programs. His order was rescinded just a few months later by the Biden administration. During former President Joe Biden's first few days in office, he signed several executive orders aimed at embedding the equity considerations Trump sought to get rid of in federal government programs.

Following Biden's directives, NASA went full force at embedding these principles into its day-to-day operations, OpenTheBooks' report illustrates. At the same time, NASA was preparing its Starliner capsule to transport two astronauts to the International Space Station for what was intended to be a week-long mission. Instead, due to multiple malfunctions with the rocket that carried them there, the astronauts were stranded in space for months. Elon Musk's SpaceX was ultimately tapped to help bring the astronauts home, and they are expected to return sometime this month.

In 2021, the same year NASA's Starliner capsule was undergoing test flights, NASA employees were engaged in a book talk about "open[ing] the lines of communication on anti-racism," alongside author Uju Asika. Asika, who was also invited back the following year, spoke to parents at NASA about her book, "Bringing Up Race: How to Raise a Kind Child in a Prejudiced World," in which she laments her "Eurocentric" education in the U.K., "colonialism," and the results of the 2016 election. An earlier book talk at the space agency in 2020 included talks by infamous anti-racist scholar Ibram X. Kendi. 

NASA ASTRONAUTS NOT ‘FRETTING’ OVER EXTENDED MISSION, ‘GRATEFUL’ FOR MORE TIME IN SPACE AFTER STARLINER WOES

Around the same time as Asika's talks to NASA employees, the agency also unveiled its 2022-2026 "Strategic Plan for Diversity, Equity Inclusion & Accessibility." Major goals of the plan included race and sex-based hiring and promotion initiatives. The same year, NASA unveiled its 2022 Equity Action Plan, which included new DEI-related contractor policies. Those policies, among other things, included "a requirement for contractors to provide a DEIA plan upon award to demonstrate commitment to diversifying their workforce." The Equity Action Plan also retooled NASA's grant and procurement process, aimed at encouraging grant proposers to consider DEI principles, even when seemingly unrelated.

In 2022, employees were also provided guidance "for Supporting Gender Transition/Affirmation in the Workplace." The guidance encouraged employees to "be willing and available to collaborate with the transitioning employee on the development, implementation, and evolution of a Workplace Gender." It added that any "transitioning employees" should be allowed to use the restroom, locker room, or other facility of their choice, and not compelled to use one that does not align with their choice.

In total, NASA spent at least $13 million on DEI-related programs under Biden, according to OpenTheBooks. One contract uncovered by the organization provided more than $2.3 million for a consulting group to help "incorporate and deeply engrain diversity, inclusion, equity, and accessibility in the culture and business" at NASA. 

‘GUTFELD!’: HOLLYWOOD DITCHES DEI

"NASA's mission is too risky to get distracted by identity politics," John Hart, CEO at OpenTheBooks, said. 

"Newtonian physics and atmospheric reentry do not care about antiracism talks and gender ‘affirmation’ policies," Hart added. "NASA has an opportunity to take one small step toward fiscal responsibility and one giant leap toward common sense."

Beyond the Starliner mission debacle that left two astronauts stranded in space, a report from the Inspector General last year detailed widespread quality control issues in NASA and contractor Boeing's efforts to return astronauts to the moon. The report pointed out that workers on NASA's Space Launch System program lacked sufficient experience, among other issues.

This week, the Trump administration began a "phased reduction in force" at NASA, which included shuttering the agency's Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility branch in the Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity.

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Acting NASA administrator Janet Petro said in a memo to employees at NASA this week that while the force reduction, which includes the closure of multiple offices, will mean "difficult adjustments," the agency is viewing it as an opportunity to "reshape" its workforce and ensure it is "doing what is statutorily required … while also providing American citizens with an efficient and effective agency." 

"NASA is committed to engaging the best talent to drive innovation and achieve our mission for the benefit of all," Cheryl Warner, a NASA spokesperson, told Fox News Digital when reached for comment. "As new guidance comes in, we’re working to adhere to new requirements in a timely manner. Our agency has complied with the requirements of executive orders and additional guidance from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management."

FIRST ON FOX: Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., is introducing new legislation to make President Donald Trump’s executive order banning the use of federal funds for transgender surgical procedures permanent, ensuring it remains in effect long after he leaves office.

Marshall's End Taxpayer Funding of Gender Experimentation Act will prohibit the use of federal funding for gender transition procedures and bars federal healthcare facilities, physicians, and providers from providing such procedures.

"Heaven forbid we don't get a Republican back in the White House here in four years, the next president could end that order just as easily," Marshall, who is also an OB/GYN, told Fox News Digital in an interview. "So that's why we need legislation to give this a permanent fix."

HOSPITALS WARNED THEY MUST PROTECT CHILDREN FROM CHEMICAL AND SURGICAL MUTILATION: HHS AGENCY MEMO

Marshall's bill would outlaw federal healthcare facilities, physicians, and providers from providing gender transition procedures. Exceptions to the ban include individuals born with medically verifiable sex-development disorders. Treatments for complications arising from gender transition procedures, regardless of the legality of the original procedure, are also allowed. 

The bill would cut off federal funding for sex change surgeries for currently serving military or veterans, as well for civilians through Medicare and Medicaid, Marshall said.

"Probably about a third of transgender folks are on Medicaid right now, which would be federal taxpayer dollars, so I think this is a big deal. This is a lot of people," Marshall said. "The military probably is spending $2 or $3 million a year on this particular treatment as well. I don't think that Americans want federal taxpayer dollars used for this purpose."

NEWSOM'S 'UNFAIR' REMARK ON GIRLS' SPORTS BELIES RECORD AS GOVERNOR: 'ABSOLUTE BULLS---'

President Trump has been cracking down on transgender issues since he went on the campaign trail. So far, he's issued several executive orders dealing with gender-identity, including banning trans women in women's sports, gender transition treatments and surgeries for children and an order defining two sexes as only male and female.

While Marshall's bill calls for the restriction of taxpayer dollars toward all gender transition surgeries — regardless of age — he reiterated that children are the most vulnerable.

"I just think the last thing we want to do is on a young person that's going through puberty to make irreversible changes," Marshall said. "I just don't think that they're ready to make those decisions yet, and they'd be better to hold off at least till adulthood, and maybe treat some of the other underlying challenges going on in their life as well."

Even Democratic voters appear moderate on the issue, recent polling suggests. A January New York Times/Ipsos poll found that 67% of Democratic respondents opposed transgender athletes competing in women's sports, but the issue remains a central party platform issue. 

NEWSOM CALLS BIOLOGICAL MEN IN WOMEN'S SPORTS 'DEEPLY UNFAIR' IN PODCAST WITH CONSERVATIVE ACTIVIST

"But the Democrats are so dug in, they just won't give an inch on this particular issue," Marshall said, referring to elected Democratic Party leaders.

The bill is co-sponsored by Republican Sens. Jim Risch of Idaho, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Kevin Cramer of North Dakota, Tim Sheehy of Montana, Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, Mike Lee of Utah, Ted Budd of North Carolina, Josh Hawley of Missouri, Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, Roger Wicker of Mississippi, Jim Banks of Indiana, and Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi.

Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Calif., will introduce the companion legislation in the House.

Sen. Mark Kelly, a decorated Navy veteran as well as a former astronaut, just finished a visit to Ukraine.

While the country invaded by Russia is surviving through American and allied aid, the Arizona Democrat says, "I saw how cutting it off now risks everything so many Ukrainians have laid down their lives for. And while our support hasn’t been free, we haven’t sent even half of what President Trump says.

"Hospitals should never be targets in war, but Putin is a war criminal who targets hospitals routinely. I visited one in Kyiv. Injured soldiers told me how they want to get back to the fight. Nurses there shared their stories of the invasion with me through tears. Stories of violence that women and children of Ukraine suffered during the invasion."

Elon Musk had a venomous reaction: "You are a traitor." 

DONALD TRUMP, FACING TERRIBLE COVERAGE, SOFTENS TONE AND TACTICS FOR ELON MUSK’S DOGE CRUSADE

Seriously? A traitor? To whom? America? Donald Trump? The world’s richest man just loves to pick fights.

Kelly punched right back: "Traitor? Elon, if you don’t understand that defending freedom is a basic tenet of what makes America great and keeps us safe, maybe you should leave it to those of us who do."

As a United States senator, Kelly was doing his job and posted a moving account of the toll of the war. He also criticized Trump for cutting off military aid to Ukraine after that Oval Office slugfest which Volodymyr Zelenskyy botched, trying to talk over Trump as he was scolded, and ended up being evicted from the White House. 

We all know that Musk is a business genius and an impulsive guy. He often delivers punches on the X platform he has transformed, with a post-first-ask-questions-later approach.

He clearly relishes political combat. Musk has engaged in bitter exchanges with Marco Rubio (though they’re playing nice now) and with Steve Bannon. But Elon has become a lightning rod, especially since his DOGE team has made a series of high-profile mistakes, firing and rehiring crucial experts.

Trump decided to stand by his man, and posted this:

"To Republicans, Conservatives, and all great Americans, Elon Musk is ‘putting it on the line’ in order to help our Nation, and he is doing a FANTASTIC JOB! But the Radical Left Lunatics, as they often do, are trying to illegally and collusively boycott Tesla, one of the World’s great automakers, and Elon’s ‘baby,’ in order to attack and do harm to Elon, and everything he stands for…In any event, I’m going to buy a brand new Tesla tomorrow morning as a show of confidence and support for Elon Musk, a truly great American. Why should he be punished for putting his tremendous skills to work in order to help MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN???"

I get Trump’s defense, but he’s also opposed to electric cars and concentrates on saving American auto jobs for gas-powered vehicles.

VANCE PITCHES GOP REBELS ON DOGE, BORDER IN 11TH-HOUR PLEA FOR UNITY AGAINST SHUTDOWN

Musk goes off the reservation at times, such as calling Social Security, which Trump has vowed to protect, a "Ponzi Scheme" on Joe Rogan’s podcast.

And he told former Trump economic adviser Larry Kudlow, on Fox Business, that $500 to $700 billion in so-called "waste" needed to be cut from Social Security: "Most of the federal spending is entitlements. That’s the big one to eliminate."

Perhaps Musk should concentrate on the plunging stock market, caused primarily by uncertainty over Trump’s tariff wars but also by worries about the impact of DOGE’s mass firings. 

People pay into Social Security over a lifetime with the expectation it will be there when they retire. It’s the main source of income for many elderly people. Of course the program eventually has to be rescued from insolvency, but talking about "the big one to eliminate" – including Medicare – seems rather callous.

And in case you think the market is only for elite investors, if you have a 401-K, the calamity on Wall Street affects you, and your retirement fund just lost a helluva lot of value.

EXPERT CALLS OUT MEDIA FOR NEGATIVE COVERAGE OF TRUMP'S ADDRESS: 'THAT MAKES YOU LOOK LIKE A JERK, NOT TRUMP'

The market dropped again yesterday when Trump, responding to retaliation by Ontario taxing electricity to the U.S., raised the tariff on all Canadian steel and aluminum exports from 25 percent to 50 percent. The Ontario premier reacted by dropping the electricity threat.

Tesla stock has tanked since its mid-December high, with a 16 percent decline Monday, causing Musk’s net worth to plunge by $140 billion. But don’t worry–he’s still the richest guy on the planet.

He’s also become a highly visible target. As the New York Times notes, "Someone set fire to Tesla charging stations near Boston; shots were fired at a Tesla dealership in Oregon; and protesters were arrested at a nonviolent protest at a Tesla dealership in Lower Manhattan."

Tesla cyber trucks were also torched in Seattle. 

I don’t care what you think of his politics, this kind of targeted violence is completely unacceptable, not to mention illegal.

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Trump is still backing his high-profile colleague, while quietly trying to rein him in and shift power to his agency heads.

Elon Musk is a guy who wants to colonize Mars. But he often seems detached from the political realities here on Earth.

The Environmental Protection Agency is terminating $20 billion in grants awarded by the Biden administration for climate and clean-energy projects, Administrator Lee Zeldin announced Tuesday.

In a video posted to X, Zeldin said $20 billion in U.S. tax dollars were "parked at an outside financial institution in a deliberate effort to limit government oversight, doling out your money through just eight pass-through, politically connected, unqualified, and in some cases brand-new NGOs."

The money has since been frozen, he said, noting that the Department of Justice and FBI are investigating.

STACEY ABRAMS SLAMMED AFTER DEFENDING $2 BILLION IN BIDEN-ERA EPA FUNDS TO BUY GREEN ENERGY APPLIANCES

The program, approved by Congress under the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, was formerly known as the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund but is more commonly referred to as the green bank. Two initiatives, worth $14 billion and $6 billion, respectively, aimed to offer grants to nonprofits, community development banks and other groups for projects focusing on disadvantaged communities.

The eight nonprofits that were awarded the money included the Coalition for Green Capital, Climate United Fund, Power Forward Communities, Opportunity Finance Network, Inclusiv and the Justice Climate Fund. These organizations have partnered with various groups, including Rewiring America, Habitat for Humanity and the Community Preservation Corporation.

The EPA "just notified 8 recipients of $20 BILLION in Biden EPA 'gold bars' that their grants have been TERMINATED!" Zeldin wrote on X.

LEE ZELDIN LIKENS BIDEN ENERGY 'SCHEME' CONNECTED TO STACEY ABRAMS TO 'THROWING GOLD BARS OFF THE TITANIC'

In his video, Zeldin cited reports that Power Forward Communities, a group linked to Democrat Stacey Abrams, received $2 billion after reporting just $100 in total revenue the year before.

He also said the founding director of the EPA's program allocated $5 billion to his former employer after working on the legislation that created the program from his role in the White House.

"These two examples have only been the tip of the iceberg," Zeldin said. "I'm here to report back to the American people that, as of today, I have officially terminated these grant agreements entirely. Not only does the EPA have full authority to take this action, but frankly, we were left with no other option."

BIDEN SENT $2 BILLION TO STACEY ABRAMS-LINKED GROUP IN GREEN ENERGY 'SCHEME,' EPA SAYS

"This termination is based on substantial concerns regarding program integrity, objections to the award process, programmatic fraud, waste and abuse and misalignment with the agency's priorities, which collectively undermine the fundamental goals and statutory objectives of the awards," he continued.

Zeldin said the "only way" to reduce waste, increase oversight and meet the intent of the law as it was written is by terminating the grants. He said it is his "unwavering commitment" to President Donald Trump, Congress and the American people.

"The EPA will once again be an exceptional steward of your tax dollars. I will have it no other way," Zeldin said.