House GOP leader rips 'socialist' Zohran Mamdani after 18 people freeze to death in NYC

The No. 2 House Republican in Congress tore into Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Tuesday after cold weather left 18 New York City residents dead.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., made the comments in the context of warning that Democrats' rejection of a bipartisan compromise on funding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will leave critical offices — like the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) — with a dire lack of money.

"What is not funded if the Democrats get their way? They will literally shut down funding for disaster relief and FEMA," Scalise said. "In the middle of a storm that in New York City alone — you want to see what socialism gets you — people now have frozen to death under the leadership of the socialist Mamdani. That's what Democrat leadership gets you."

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Mamdani confirmed on Monday that an 18th person died in New York City during a period of dangerously low temperatures up and down the East Coast.

"Since Friday's press conference, one additional New Yorker lost their life on the streets of our city as a result of this cold snap. The total lives lost is now 18. Each life lost is a tragedy, and we will continue to hold their families in our thoughts," Mamdani said during a press conference about a separate issue.

He urged homeless residents to shield themselves from below-freezing temperatures at a shelter, while his administration has also deployed warming vehicles throughout the city.

Republicans, however, have accused Mamdani of not doing enough to expand access to emergency services during the bitter winter.

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It's not clear what role FEMA currently has in aiding New Yorkers during the city's cold snap, but its potential cutoff in funding if DHS shuts down at the end of this week is one of Republicans' main pressure points in forcing Democrats to agree to a deal.

Scalise also pointed out that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) could also see its employees forced to work without pay if DHS funding lapsed.

"They want to shut down TSA. So just take Atlanta's airport, LaGuardia [in New York City]. Those two airports alone having been shut down, if the Democrats get their way, will wreak havoc with tens of millions of Americans who just want to go see their family members, want to travel for a wedding, or whatever the case may be," he said.

"Maybe they're trying to start a small business and want to go to another city to try to create some jobs. They won't be able to do that because Democrats want to have a tantrum, not to defund ICE, because again, ICE is fully funded, but just because they want to cause chaos in America to get open borders."

Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE), whose funding Democrats have taken issue with specifically, got an injection of billions of dollars from President Donald Trump's "big, beautiful bill" last year.

Fox News Digital reached out to the New York City mayor's office for a response to Scalise's comments.

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Authorities release video of potential subject in Nancy Guthrie case

TUCSON, Ariz. — Photos of what authorities are calling a "subject" in the Nancy Guthrie investigation has been released ny the FBI. 

FBI Director Kash Patel took to X to post the photos, which show a masked person near the entrance of the Guthrie home. 

"Over the last eight days, the FBI and Pima County Sheriff’s Department have been working closely with our private sector partners to continue to recover any images or video footage from Nancy Guthrie’s home that may have been lost, corrupted, or inaccessible due to a variety of factors - including the removal of recording devices," Patel said. 

"The video was recovered from residual data located in backend systems. Working with our partners - as of this morning, law enforcement has uncovered these previously inaccessible new images showing an armed individual appearing to have tampered with the camera at Nancy Guthrie's front door the morning of her disappearance."

Minutes after the photos were posted, NBC  law enforcement and national intelligence reporter Tom Winter reported that the Guthrie family does not recognize the person in the image. He also said the individual has an apparent gun in his or her waistband.  

NBC's "Today" anchor Savannah Guthrie, Nancy's mother, also shared the images on her Instagram account. 

"We believe she is still alive," she said. "Bring her home."
 

The Pma County Sheriff's Department echoed Patel's message in an X post of their own. 

Guthrie, 84, is the daughter of NBC's "Today" anchor Savannah Guthrie. She has been missing since Sunday, Feb. 1. 

So far, no suspects have been named in the case. 

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates. 

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PHOTOS: Meet the 2026 US Olympic medalists

The 2026 Milan Cortina Olympic Games officially kicked off last week. Here is a slideshow of all the Americans who won a medal in Italy.

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Venezuelan opposition leader seized by armed men after being released from jail

María Corina Machado said Monday that a Venezuelan opposition leader was seized in Caracas shortly after being released from jail.

Machado wrote in a post on X that Juan Pablo Guanipa, a key ally, was kidnapped by heavily armed men in civilian clothing in the Los Chorros area of the capital.

"We demand his immediate release," she said.

Alfredo Romero, the president of the Venezuelan human rights group Foro Penal, said 35 political prisoners were released on Sunday, including Guanipa, who was initially arrested in May.

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Reuters reported that Venezuelan authorities were seeking court approval to place Guanipa under house arrest.

The country’s Public Ministry alleged that he violated the terms of his release but provided no additional details and did not say whether he had been re-arrested.

Guanipa’s Primero Justicia party said on X that he was forced into a silver Toyota Corolla during the incident.

"We hold Delcy Rodríguez, Jorge Rodríguez, and Diosdado Cabello responsible for any harm to Juan Pablo's life," the party wrote. "We call on the international community for the immediate release of Juan Pablo Guanipa and for an immediate and unconditional end to the persecution of the opposition."

The U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

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Rodríguez has been serving as the interim president of Venezuela since the U.S. capture of Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores earlier this year.

In late January, President Donald Trump said Venezuela was releasing political prisoners at a "rapid rate," praising the move as a "powerful humanitarian gesture" by the country’s leadership.

An estimated 687 political prisoners remain in custody in Venezuela as of Feb. 2, according to Foro Penal.

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Disturbing allegations emerge in Falcons rookie's arrest in Florida

New details emerged Monday in the arrest of Atlanta Falcons defensive end James Pearce Jr.

Pearce was arrested outside of Miami last week and is facing several felony charges, including two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, aggravated stalking, and fleeing or eluding police. Pearce was involved in a domestic dispute with his WNBA girlfriend, Doral police said.

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He posted $20,500 bond on Sunday and was released from the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Facility. He was ordered to stay away from his girlfriend.

Pearce allegedly crashed his vehicle into another car being driven by his girlfriend and struck a police officer while he tried to flee law enforcement, ESPN reported, citing a criminal complaint from the Miami-Dade County state attorney’s office.

The alleged victim told police that she noticed Pearce was following her in a white luxury vehicle and when she stopped at a red light, the NFL player tried to open her vehicle. The victim said she started to drive toward the Doral Police Department, while Pearce allegedly followed her. As she got closer to the station, she said Pearce cut her off and collided with her head on.

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Doral police officers responded to the scene, according to ESPN. An officer reportedly pulled a gun on Pearce to try to force him to get on the ground and end the incident, but he allegedly got back into his car and drove away. He allegedly struck an officer as he drove away.

Pearce later crashed his vehicle and was accused of resisting arrest.

"We look forward to working with the State Attorney's Office in fully investigating this case and uncovering the truth," Pearce’s lawyers told ESPN. "Mr. Pearce maintains his innocence and urges the public to understand that while allegations have the power to shape a narrative, that it is hardly the full, complete story. We look forward to vigorously defending our Client and remain confident that he will continue contributing positively to both his team and the community he serves so well."

The Falcons said they were "gathering more information" about the incident, but face the decision of whether to keep him rostered as the official start of the 2026 NFL season is weeks away.

Pearce was third in NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year voting and was at the NFL Honors on Thursday night in California.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Arizona Mexican restaurant offering free meals to ICE agents sparks online reaction

An Arizona restaurant is making waves online for saying that it is giving free meals to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and other federal law enforcement personnel. 

In a recent video shared on social media by the outlet Pulso, Sammy’s Mexican Grill is highlighted as a restaurant that respects federal immigration enforcement agents, and even offers them free meals. 

In the video of a Spanish interview translated to English, Jorge Rivas, who owns the restaurant, says, "Everyone who works for ICE, all federal agents can come to Sammy's Mexican Grill. Here, they will be treated with respect and as they deserve."

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In a recent podcast interview published on The Ray Stevens Show on Feb. 4, Rivas further explained that the restaurant has long displayed a sign welcoming law enforcement and offering them free meals.

"We here at Sammy, which is the name of our restaurant, Sammy's Mexican Grill. We have a sign if you come into the door into the restaurant, it just says, ‘Welcome to Sammy's, where law enforcement always eats free,'" Rivas said. 

"And we have this sign for about five, probably five years or more," Rivas added. "And that's because we personally feel that it is important to recognize the sacrifice that law enforcement does every day protecting every single citizen, putting their life on the line, even though they don't know personally who are they protecting. But, you know, you and I know that once we're in trouble, we call 911, and we expect someone to show up as soon as possible." 

Rivas is an outspoken supporter of President Donald Trump and has been active in state Republican politics. He ran unsuccessfully in the GOP primary for Arizona's 7th Congressional District last year.

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San Diego Red reported that the restaurant has faced fierce criticism online, and has been "inundated with a renewed wave of threatening phone calls, hateful messages on social media, and calls for a boycott."

Tensions over ICE have increased after the death of Renee Nicole Good, who was shot and killed in January in Minneapolis by an ICE agent after she allegedly attempted to ram an officer with her vehicle after refusing to exit it. 

Protests against federal agents have continued to escalate since the Border Patrol killing of Alex Pretti on Jan. 24.

In January, ICE reported that it has had an over 1,300% increase in assaults, a 3,200% increase in vehicle attacks aimed at officers and an 8,000% increase in death threats.

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The restaurant previously faced backlash in 2016 for the owner publicly supporting Trump's presidential campaign. 

Rivas told Fox News Digital it was important to give law enforcement support, particularly ICE agents who are "being attacked."

"We must give them our support," he said, adding it was "not correct" if they didn't get the respect they deserved.

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