GOP governor rallies around historic proposal to slash state's income tax: 'I am optimistic'

Montana is considering making cuts to its individual income tax rate as a growing number of states have completely transitioned to eliminating the tax altogether.

Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte came out in support of Senate Bill 323 last week, which would cut the state income tax from 5.9% to 4.9%, at a news conference with Americans for Prosperity. The cut is what the governor suggested in his November budget proposal. 

"So I came into office back four years ago after 16 years of Democrats in the governor's office in Montana, and we had the highest income tax rate in the Rocky Mountain West," Gianforte told Fox News Digital in an interview. 

"I firmly believe that the citizens of Montana know how to spend their money better than the government does. And so we've made it a priority to bring the tax rate down and to simplify our tax code. We've gone from seven tax brackets to two. With this change that we're proposing, we knock another full percentage point off the income tax rate, and we'd be very close to a flat tax," he added.

MONTANA AG ASKS SUPREME COURT TO UPHOLD LAW REQUIRING PARENTAL CONSENT FOR A MINOR'S ABORTION

If passed into law, it would lower the Treasure State's comparatively high tax rate compared to others in the region even further, after the bracket impacting most people went from 6.9% to 6.75%, down to 5.9% in recent years. The state previously had seven brackets, and now it has two as of 2021. 

"It's the most conservative tax-cut bill in front of our legislature right now, and we are a conservative legislature. I am optimistic," the Republican said. 

The current version of the bill, which is still early in the process, would cut the tax rate to 5.4% in 2026 and the 4.9% rate would start in 2027, according to the legislation's fiscal note. 

"As a fellow Montanan feeling the economic strain from the current rising cost of living in our gorgeous state, the bill would provide some relief," Bianca Lester of Butte said, according to a news release. 

"I’m a single mom of four, which is no easy feat, and I need every penny that I make to help house and clothe and feed my kids. This bill would allow for so many other families like mine to keep all of our hard-earned income," Lester added.

Donald Trump Jr. also came out in support of the proposed cuts. 

"[Gianforte] pushing for the largest income tax cut in Montana history, just like my father’s historic tax cuts! Montana leading the way with conservative, Trump-style tax policies! Get it done! #MAGA," he posted last week.

MORNING GLORY: TRUMP, TARIFFS, THE CR AND THE TAX CUTS

The development comes as Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves just signed legislation that will phase out the state’s income tax entirely in the coming years with the hope of boosting economic development in the southern state. 

In Montana, there are also bills moving through the process to tackle the state's property taxes. 

DEEP RED STATE MAKES MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT INCOME TAX: 'WE PLANT OUR FLAG'

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Nationwide, President Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress are also pushing for major tax reforms, including no taxes on tips and overtime pay, and there have also been other income tax cuts floated by the Trump administration. 

"I'm excited to get this across the finish line, because I think Montanans know how to spend their money better than the government does," Gianforte said. 

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Trump admin’s Signal leak shows ‘profound’ risk of uncontrolled communications: former intelligence official

The Trump administration’s Signal chat leak represents the "profound" risk of "uncontrolled communication," which could have implications on future operations, a former national intelligence official said Sunday.

Sue Gordon, the former principal deputy national intelligence director during President Donald Trump’s first term, reacted to the leak during an appearance on CBS’ "Face the Nation."

"I’m glad the operation was successful," Gordon said, referring to the U.S. military strikes on Houthi terrorist targets. "Now we need to deal with the fact that this should not have happened, there is consequence when it does and you can’t be sure that there’s no persistent risk that follows it."

Gordon said that while there have been errors in the past concerning the protection of a partner’s information, this leak is different due to the Trump administration’s reaction of "there was nothing to see here."

TRUMP ADMIN'S ‘SLOPPY’ SIGNAL LEAK PUT DEMOCRATS BACK ON OFFENSE, SEN WARNER SAYS

"I don't think we should rest on the fact that nothing bad happened this time," Gordon said. "We don't know whether that communications path has been penetrated, so we don't know whether state actors that have lots of resources are just sitting and lurking now knowing we do important things on [Signal]."

Signal, an encrypted messaging app, is now under the spotlight after it was revealed that top national security leaders had been in a group chat discussing plans to strike terrorists in Yemen, which also included The Atlantic's editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg. The chat was made public by a first-hand account of the group chat published by Goldberg in an article Monday. 

DEMS HAVE LONG HISTORY OF SUPPORTING ENCRYPTED SIGNAL APP AHEAD OF TRUMP CHAT LEAK

The Trump administration has maintained that no classified information was shared in the chat, doubling down on Wednesday that The Atlantic's story was a "hoax" after Goldberg published specific texts from the chat. 

The messages included Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth outlining that combat aircraft were set to take off and strike drones were ready for the operation, which were accompanied by timestamps. 

Ret. Gen. Frank McKenzie, former CENTCOM commander, also appeared on the program Sunday, saying that while he was "surprised" at the communications leak, he believed the "larger story" was how the U.S. had "finally begun to strike the Houthis hard," at a speed "that, frankly, eluded the previous administration."

McKenzie said he "wouldn't take anything off the table" about how the U.S. would confront the Iranian-backed terror group.

"I think we have the capability — actually, right now, in Iran's weakened state — to threaten them very strongly," the retired general said.

Fox News Digital’s Emma Colton contributed to this report.

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Tesla hypocrisy: Dems continue investing in Elon Musk company despite painting him as villain

As the spate of violent attacks, vandalism and doxxings against Tesla owners and workers continues, some Democrats continue to invest in the company despite their party villainizing Elon Musk as corrupt and a "Nazi."

In the last several weeks, a Tesla dealership in Las Vegas was firebombed, a man rammed a four-wheeler into multiple Teslas in Texarkana, Tesla vehicles across the country have been keyed, and a website called "DOGEQUEST" has been set up to dox Tesla owners, seeming to encourage violence against everyday Americans.

Democrats have largely ignored these attacks and continued to hit Musk with personal attacks such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, D-N.Y., calling him "sympathetic to Nazis" and "one of the most unintelligent billionaires I have ever met."  

Despite their rhetoric, some Democrats are investors in the company currently bearing the brunt of the Musk hatred. Reps. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., Vicente Gonzalez, D-Texas, Gil Cisneros, D-Calif., and Ro Khanna, D-Calif., have all purchased Tesla shares since President Donald Trump’s inauguration.

TESLA VEHICLES AND DEALERSHIPS THREATENED BY VANDALISM AMID LEFT’S BACKLASH AGAINST ELON MUSK

As of March 2025, several other House Democrats, including Reps. Pat Ryan, D-N.Y., Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., Adam Smith, D-Wash., and Dwight Evans, D-Pa., also remain invested in Tesla.

One month into the new Trump administration, Cisneros went on Forbes Breaking News to slam Musk and President Donald Trump, calling the first month of the administration "atrocious" and saying that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is "causing destruction."

He also slammed Musk personally, saying, "He basically bought himself the presidency of the United States" and "I have no doubt he is the one calling the shots."

Just days later, however, Cisneros purchased between $1,001 and $15,000 worth of Tesla stock as the company faced a protracted decline in value, likely due to Musk’s sudden wane in popularity.

ELON MUSK, DOGE TEAM OFFER UNPRECEDENTED PEAK BEHIND THE CURTAIN OF TRUMP'S COST-CUTTING DEPARTMENT

On Feb. 11, Gottheimer issued a statement in which he went full scorched earth on Musk, saying, "the risks to Americans’ privacy and financial security from Musk’s unchecked access are not only unacceptable, but also outright dangerous."

"My constituents are deeply concerned about Elon Musk having unrestricted access to their Social Security numbers, tax refunds, health, and bank account information," said Gottheimer, adding, "To be clear: No one elected Elon Musk or entrusted him with keeping sensitive data from falling into the hands of our adversaries."

Around the same time, however, Gottheimer disclosed he purchased up to $45,000 in Tesla stock.

This month, as anti-Musk rhetoric and attacks began bursting into literal flames, Gonzalez, who said "DOGE’s action is incredibly concerning," purchased between $65,000 and $150,000 worth of Tesla stock.

EXCLUSIVE: GOP MOVES TO DEFUND ‘CHRONICALLY BIASED’ NPR, PBS AFTER DISASTROUS HEARING

As Musk and his brands continue to take hits, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt came to his defense, saying last week that "the Democrats used to be the greatest cheerleaders for electric vehicles and for Tesla the company until Elon Musk decided to support and vote for Donald Trump."

"It is getting dangerous, and the White House wholeheartedly condemns it, and we applaud Attorney General Pam Bondi for investigating these acts as domestic terrorism because that is what they are," said Leavitt. "It's very clear that the Democrat Party no longer stands for anything; they only stand against Donald Trump, even if it means contradicting themselves." 

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Kildunne marks 50th England cap with hat-trick against Wales

Ellie Kildunne scores a hat-trick on her 50th England appearance in an emphatic victory over Wales at the Principality Stadium in the Women's Six Nations.

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Second South Carolina inmate chooses execution by firing squad

A second South Carolina death row inmate has chosen execution by firing squad. 

Mikal Mahdi, 41, will be put to death on April 11 after pleading guilty to murder for killing a police officer in 2004.  

"Faced with barbaric and inhumane choices, Mikal Mahdi has chosen the lesser of three evils," one of his lawyers, David Weiss, said in a statement. "Mikal chose the firing squad instead of being burned and mutilated in the electric chair, or suffering a lingering death on the lethal injection gurney." 

Brad Sigmon chose to be shot to death in South Carolina on March 7, becoming the first prisoner executed by firing squad in the U.S. in 15 years. A doctor pronounced Sigmon dead less than three minutes after three bullets struck him. 

SOUTH CAROLINA SETS DATE FOR 5th EXECUTION IN UNDER 7 MONTHS 

Only three other inmates in the U.S. have been executed by this method since 1976, and all were in Utah. 

Mahdi stole a gun and a car in Virginia on July 14, 2004, when he was 21, arrest records show. The next day, he shot and killed a North Carolina store clerk as the clerk was checking his identification. A couple of days later, he carjacked someone at an intersection in Columbia, South Carolina. 

On July 18, 2004, while on the run after those crimes, Mahdi hid in Orangeburg, South Carolina, public safety officer James Myers' shed. Mahdi ambushed Meyers when the officer returned from a birthday celebration for his wife, sister and daughter, prosecutors said. 

SOUTH CAROLINA MAN FACES FEDERAL CHARGES FOR ALLEGEDLY THREATENING TO ASSASSINATE TRUMP 

Myers, 56, was shot eight or nine times, including twice in the head after falling to the ground. A pathologist testified that at least seven of the shots would have been fatal. 

Mahdi then set Myers' body on fire and ran away. Myers' wife discovered her husband's dead body in the shed, which they had used for the backdrop of their wedding. 

On July 21, 2004, Mahdi was taken into custody in Florida. 

Fox News’ Landon Mion and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Grizzlies fire head coach Taylor Jenkins in shocking move as Memphis holds fifth seed in conference

The Memphis Grizzlies fired head coach Taylor Jenkins despite being the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference on Friday. The Grizzlies’ shocking decision to part ways with Jenkins comes with just nine regular-season games before the NBA playoffs begin. 

"I’m genuinely appreciative of Taylor’s contributions to this team and this city over the past six seasons," said Grizzlies president and general manager of basketball operations Zach Kleiman in a statement posted to social media.

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"This was a difficult decision, given the consistent and tangible development of our players and overall success under Taylor’s leadership. I wish Taylor the very best going forward."

The Grizzlies are 44-29 and, while they have the same record as the Los Angeles Lakers, the Lakers hold the head-to-head tiebreaker. With the tiebreaker, the Lakers are fourth in the standings over the Grizzlies. 

The decision to fire Jenkins comes on the heels of a 125-104 loss to the top-seeded team in the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder. 

NBA CHAMP SCOLDS LEBRON JAMES FOR COMPLAINTS ABOUT LEAGUE'S COVERAGE: 'THESE PLAYERS ARE SO SENSITIVE'

The Grizzlies are 5-5 in their last ten games, as they will continue to jockey for playoff positioning with the Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, Golden State Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves. The Clippers and Warriors are 41-31 while the Timberwolves are 41-32.

Jenkins, 40, was hired in 2019 and was 250-214 in his Grizzlies tenure. Jenkins' 250 wins are the most coaching wins in franchise history. 

Last season, the team struggled, going 27-55 as star point guard Ja Morant only played in nine games due to injury and suspension. 

With Morant back in the fold, the Grizzlies improved this season and, barring a disastrous final nine games, will make the playoffs. 

As of the time of this writing, an interim head coach had not yet been named. 

The Grizzlies’ next game is against the Lakers at home, on Saturday at 8:00 p.m. ET, where they will take the floor for a pivotal game with a different coach. 

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Fox News to air first interview with stranded astronauts since their return to Earth

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will sit down with Fox News anchor Bill Hemmer for their first interview since returning to Earth on "America's Newsroom" on Monday.

Hemmer's live interview from the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in Houston will air on the top-rated morning news program, which broadcasts from 9-11 A.M. ET. The astronauts will discuss their experience of being stranded in space since last June, the efforts to bring them back, and the future of space exploration. 

NASA REVEALS ASTRONAUTS' RETURN ‘WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED’ WITHOUT TRUMP'S INTERVENTION

Wilmore and Williams, two veteran NASA astronauts and retired U.S. Navy test pilots, had been stuck in space since last June, after their eight-day mission was derailed when their Boeing Starliner spacecraft encountered technical issues. NASA decided it was unsafe to send the astronauts back on the spacecraft, and it returned to Earth unmanned in September.

A rescue mission, conducted by NASA and SpaceX, helped bring the astronauts home on March 18. In all, they were stranded in space for 286 days.

SpaceX, part of NASA’s commercial crew program, has conducted 10 operational human spaceflight missions, including the most-recent Crew-10 launch that is enabling Wilmore and Williams to come home by bringing new astronauts to staff the ISS. 

The White House has used the astronauts' lengthy stay in space to criticize the Biden administration for not acting with "urgency" to bring them home.

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Fox Business' Aislinn Murphy and Louis Casiano contributed to this report.

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Jon Stewart is visibly exasperated hearing about arduous process to get Build Back Better government grants

"The Daily Show" host Jon Stewart appeared visibly exasperated during a recent discussion about the process states had to endure to get funding from the federal government during former President Biden’s term.

Stewart made multiple pained outbursts and uttered obscenities in response to The New York Times columnist Ezra Klein reading aloud the 14 steps it took for organizations to apply for "Build Back Better" funding.

"I'm speechless," Stewart declared after Klein got through the list during a recent episode of his podcast, "The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart." 

BELOVED LA RESTAURANT HIT WITH SOCIAL MEDIA BACKLASH AFTER OWNERS SPOKE POSITIVELY ABOUT TESLA

Klein appeared on the show this week to speak about his new book, "Abundance" – co-authored by Derek Thompson – which details how major progressive policy goals of recent years, like Build Back Better, failed to be implemented in lasting and meaningful ways.

Build Back Better was a nationwide economic investment plan proposed Biden during the early years of his term, which sought to allocate nearly $2 trillion in U.S. infrastructure investment – with nearly a quarter of that going to climate change projects.

Though the plan was not passed by Congress, Biden was able to rework elements of Build Back Better into several other pieces of legislation during his term, including the American Rescue Plan.

During the podcast, Klein described to Stewart how cumbersome it was for states and other jurisdictions to get Build Back Better funding to set up broadband internet throughout the rural U.S. – so much so that only three of the 56 entities seeking these grants got through this "14-stage process" to get the money.

"By the end of 2024, three have gotten to the end of the process," Klein said. "Three of these 56?," Stewart asked. Klein affirmed.

"End of the process meaning they’ve actioned it? They’ve built it," Stewart stammered.

MEDIA HYPES CLIMATE DISASTER IF BUILD BACK BETTER PLAN FAILS: 'CIVILIZATIONAL' STAKES 

"No, no, no. Oh no, of course not. I didn’t mean they had built it, Jon. Sorry… I confused you," Klein said. "Oh dear God," Stewart replied, placing his head in his hand.

Klein clarified, "They just got to the point where they, in theory, they could get the money to build it."

Stewart then invited his guest to list out the 14-stage process, which he did, detailing how states and jurisdictions would have to submit letters of intent, request planning grants, and put forward five-year action plans – each of which must be approved by multiple government agencies. 

Klein stunned Stewart by saying that completing those actions only got entities up to "step five" and it took three years for each of them to get to that point in the process.

As Klein continued to read off these guidelines, Stewart exclaimed, "Oh my God!" He then began laughing at the amount of red tape that states and jurisdictions had to get through.

"So having done the NOFO [Notice of Funding Opportunity], the letters of intent, the request for planning grants, then the review, approval, and awarding of the planning grants, then the five-year action plans. In between that, the federal government has to put forward a map saying where it thinks we need rural broadband subsidies. And then, of course, the states need an opportunity to challenge the map for accuracy," Klein said, adding, "And you can imagine this doesn’t all happen in a day."

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Stewart leaned back in his seat, his arms thrown back in exhaustion reacting to the growing list. Still, Klein went on, admitting, "It’s hard even to talk about this, man."

The guest kept listing off steps, with Stewart regularly responding by wincing, and mouthing, "Oh my God."

Eventually, Klein started criticizing the Biden administration, stating, "This is the Biden administration’s process for its own bill. They wanted this to happen. This is how liberal government works now."

"Oh wow," the host said, before losing it as Klein read step 12: "States must run a competitive sub granting process."

"Oh my f------ God!," the host yelled. 

After Klein finished detailing the steps, Stewart admitted, "I’m speechless. Honestly, it’s A, far worse than I could’ve imagined; but the fact that they amputated their own legs over this, is what’s so stunning."

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Secret documents on Nazis who fled to Argentina after WWII being declassified

Argentina is set to declassify all government-held files relating to Nazi fugitives who fled and settled in Argentina after World War II, according to reports. 

The documents will likely include Nazi-linked bank accounts and archival records detailing the use of Nazi "ratlines" which were monetary and logistic pathways Nazis used to escape justice and flee Argentina following the war.

Guillermo Alberto Francos, Argentina’s interior minister, made the announcement Tuesday, the Buenos Aires Times reported citing DNEWS.

HITLER WWII 'ESCAPE' INVESTIGATED BY THE CIA, BOMBSHELL DOCUMENT REVEALS

It is estimated that up to 10,000 Nazis and other fascist war criminals escaped justice for Holocaust atrocities by fleeing to Argentina and other Latin American countries.

Notorious high-level Nazis, including Holocaust mastermind Adolph Eichmann and "angel of death" Josef Mengele, fled to the South American country, while rumors have swirled for years that former Nazi Party leader Adolf Hitler also ended up there.

The pending release comes after Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, requested their release last month in a letter to Argentinian President Javier Milei. Grassley is investigating Credit Suisse and its historic servicing of the Nazi-linked accounts and ratlines.

In the letter, Grassley wrote that the records would help shine a light on the Nazi planning of the covert escape routes. Grassley recently chaired a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing focused on stemming the tide of antisemitism in the U.S.

Milei promised officials of the Simon Wiesenthal Center his full cooperation in granting access to the documents. The center is famous for tracking down Nazis and is named after the famed Nazi hunter.

12,000 NAZIS LIVED IN ARGENTINA IN 1930S WITH SWISS BANK ACCOUNTS, NEWLY DISCOVERED DOCUMENTS SHOW

In 2017, the CIA declassified a document revealed that the intelligence agency investigated the possibility that Adolf Hitler was alive in South America as late as 1955 — nearly a decade after World War II ended.

The three-page document, which appears on the CIA's website, highlights a former SS soldier who told spies he had regularly met with Hitler in Colombia. 

The document suggests that Hitler may have worked as a shipping company employee, prior to potentially fleeing to Argentina. On the second page is a picture of the informant, Phillip Citroen, with a person he claims is Hitler in the mid-1950s.

It is not known if the upcoming declassifications by Argentina will shed any light on the Hitler conspiracy.

Mainstream historians say Hitler committed suicide by taking a cyanide capsule and shooting himself in Berlin in 1945. His body was later discovered by Soviet soldiers and buried in an unmarked spot. A German court declared Hitler dead, but not until 1956, more than a decade after the war ended.

His wife Eva Braun also killed herself by swallowing a cyanide pill.

Eichmann, one of the main architects of the Final Solution, escaped Europe after World War II and was living in Argentina under an assumed name when Israeli agents snatched him off a street in 1960. He was later tried and hung in Israel. 

Mengele, meanwhile, was arrested by U.S. forces in 1945 but released shortly after. He then spent years on the run and was infamous for carrying out brutal medical experiments. He arrived in Argentina in 1949 and lived there for a decade before fleeing to Paraguay and later to Brazil, where he died in 1979.

Nazis fled to several countries in the Americas following the war, including to the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

In 2020, a cache of documents appeared to identify more than 12,000 Nazis who lived in Argentina in the 1930s and who had one or more bank accounts at what is now Credit Suisse bank.

The Simon Wiesenthal Center said the files were found in a storeroom at a former Nazi headquarters in Buenos Aires.

Fox News’ Lucia Suarez Sang and Chris Ciaccia contributed to this report.

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Trump asks Stefanik to withdraw from UN ambassador contention over razor-thin House majority

President Donald Trump announced that he asked Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., to bow out of contention to be U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

He cited the House GOP's slim majority, writing on Truth Social, "I have asked Elise, as one of my biggest Allies, to remain in Congress to help me deliver Historic Tax Cuts, GREAT Jobs, Record Economic Growth, a Secure Border, Energy Dominance, Peace Through Strength, and much more, so we can MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN."

"With a very tight Majority, I don’t want to take a chance on anyone else running for Elise’s seat. The people love Elise and, with her, we have nothing to worry about come Election Day. There are others that can do a good job at the United Nations," he said.

Stefanik had been under pressure to take herself out of contention for the role despite appearing poised to sail through Senate confirmation with bipartisan support, CBS News first reported. 

IVY LEAGUE ANTI-ISRAEL RINGLEADER MAHMOUD KHALIL WITHHELD DETAILS OF FOREIGN TIES FROM VISA APPLICATION: FEDS

Sources told the outlet that House Republicans' razor-thin majority is a major factor in the current considerations, but Fox News Digital was also told that internal politics in Stefanik's home district are at play as well.

New York state's primary structure and the lack of GOP cohesion over choosing a candidate to run in Stefanik's place have led to concerns about a future special election there, two sources familiar with Empire State politics said.

Some people are blaming Stefanik herself for not stepping in earlier, with one of the two sources telling Fox News Digital, "Elise has been saying [they] need to wait for Trump, and it's allowed the process to grow out of control."

But that source also said they "don't think it's fair" to fully blame Stefanik, arguing that it was a failure of Republican Party leaders in general for letting the divisions "fester."

"Nature abhors a vacuum. And you have 15 different county chairs, basically like three different regions of the state, pushing their own person. It's a really messy, ugly process," the source said. "When you have a party leader making a decision versus a primary where you can run a race – it's the kind of thing you have to wrap up quickly."

That person also pointed out Stefanik was "one of the first ones ready to go" as an early favorite for the Trump administration, and questioned whether she would be having the same issues had she resigned from Congress on Jan. 20 instead of being a "loyalist" to the GOP and staying for her vote. 

The second source, however, said of the situation in New York's 21st Congressional District, "She let that happen."

The second source said Stefanik "didn't want to lean in on someone," which resulted in no one having "a clear understanding of what the process is and who has a lane."

Both sources pointed to concerns about a conservative candidate who is threatening to run in a third-party lane if he fails to win the Republican primary.

Meanwhile, the candidate who was endorsed by the New York Conservative Party "never supported Trump," the first source said.

It's not out of the realm of possibility for two right-wing candidates to split their base enough for a Democrat to prevail, though it's a longshot in Stefanik's heavily Republican, upstate New York district.

Still, Republicans in Washington can afford few missteps with a thin majority and a candidate in Florida, Randy Fine, being outraised by his Democratic challenger ahead of an April 1 special election for another GOP-favored seat.

SCOOP: TOP REPUBLICAN CHUCK GRASSLEY SETS PROMPT HEARING ON JUDGES BLOCKING TRUMP

New York state special elections are not open primaries. Instead, both the Republican and Democratic candidates are chosen by the district's 15 county party chairs. 

Meanwhile, Republicans have also been concerned that New York Gov. Kathy Hochul could seek to slow-walk the election, leaving Stefanik's seat open for as long as possible if she ascended to the Trump administration.

Fox News Digital reached out to a spokesperson for Stefanik for comment but did not immediately hear back.

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Corey Feldman claims Johnny Depp forced him out of 'Gilbert Grape' role by telling producers he was a junkie

Corey Feldman revealed he was almost cast in "What's Eating Gilbert Grape," but lost out on the role to Leonardo DiCaprio.

Feldman, now 53, said he's "still bitter" about how everything went down, claiming Johnny Depp pushed him out.

"I was actually cast to play Leonardo DiCaprio's role," he said on an episode of Billy Corgan's "Magnificent Others" podcast. "I never saw the film because I'm still bitter. Bitter leaf in that one. But yes, I was originally cast for that role."

"Did they push you out?" Corgan asked, and Feldman pointed all the blame on Depp.

COREY FELDMAN SLAMS DIDDY AMID SEX TRAFFICKING PROBE, VOWS TO FIGHT SEXUAL ABUSE IN HOLLYWOOD

"He was cast after I was, and apparently whispered into the producer's ear that he wasn't fond of me, and thought that I was… he said that I was a junkie and that he didn't work with junkies."

"And this is the first time I remember ever telling this story, so I'm sure I'm gonna get hung by this one."

Fox News Digital reached out to a representative for Depp and Feldman regarding the claims.

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Feldman insisted he was sober at the time of the casting.

"I had just gotten sober," he told Corgan. "I had just gotten out of rehab. I had turned my life around, and, in fact, was trying to help River [Phoenix] at the time, who [Depp] was running with at the time, as we all know."

"As you can imagine, there was a bit of a thorn in the side on that one. And, had I not been pushed out and done that role, who knows what would have happened from that point forward."

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In fact, DiCaprio's performance as Depp's disabled younger brother landed him an Oscar nomination for best supporting actor.

"There was a bitter tea there," Feldman recalled. "But that said, you don't hang on those, you get past 'em."

According to Feldman, he was also in the running for "Titanic." DiCaprio took that now-famous role as well.

"Ironically, just a couple years later, I also was up for ‘Titanic,' so there was kind of a double banger with Leo," he claimed. "But that was OK, because that one I wasn't as close. I was up for it, I read for it, I know that I was in the contention somewhere."

Feldman began his acting career at the age of 3 by starring in a McDonald's commercial. He landed major roles with "Gremlins," "The Goonies" and "Stand By Me." The actor later turned to music and released three studio albums.

Feldman struggled with addiction throughout his early career and eventually accused several men in the entertainment industry of sexually abusing him and Corey Haim.

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Woman, 66 years old, gives birth to her 10th child: People 'should have more children'

A 66-year-old woman in Germany has given birth to her 10th child.

Alexandra Hildebrandt, owner of the Wall Museum at Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin, welcomed her new son, Philipp, on March 19, according to today.com and other outlets.

The mom had her first child back in 1977, followed by eight children after she turned 50 — who were all born via C-section.

PREGNANT WOMAN AND BABY SAVED AFTER DOCTORS FIND GRAPEFRUIT-SIZED TUMOR: ‘EXTREMELY RARE’

Her children include Svetlana, 45; Artiom, 36; twins Elisabeth and Maximilian, 12; Alexandra, 10; Leopold, 8; Anna, 7; Maria, 4 and Katharina, 2.

Hildebrandt told TODAY that she did not use any fertility drugs and did not have difficulty conceiving.

Her new baby Philipp was born via C-section at Charite Hospital in Berlin. 

He weighed in at a "healthy" seven pounds, 13 ounces, although he was kept in an incubator.

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In an interview with the German newspaper Bild, Hildebrandt shared her happiness in welcoming another child, noting that she feels "like I’m 35."

Professor Wolfgang Henrich, director of the Clinic for Obstetric Medicine at the Berlin Charite where Hildebrandt was treated, told Bild that her age and number of C-sections is an "absolute rarity in obstetric medicine and represented a challenge."

"Because of her particularly good physical constitution and mental strength, Ms. Hildebrandt managed the pregnancy well," he said. 

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"The operation was completely uncomplicated."

Hildebrandt confirmed with the publication, "I eat very healthily, swim regularly for an hour, run for two hours, don’t smoke or drink, and have never used contraception."

"There is such a tendency to be unfriendly to children," Hildebrandt also told Bild. 

"Many people would revise their judgment once they had contact with children. We should encourage people to have more children!"

Fox News Digital reached out to Hildebrandt for further comment.

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‘Malcolm in the Middle’ revival will be missing key actor who ditched Hollywood

"Malcolm in the Middle" is set for a four-episode revival on Disney+ with all but one of the original cast returning.

In December, the streaming service announced the news with stars Frankie Muniz, Bryan Cranston and Jane Kaczmarek on social media.

It was recently announced, per Variety, that Christopher Masterson and Justin Berfield, who played Muniz's brothers Francis and Reese, respectively, on the show, will also be returning.

However, Erik Per Sullivan, who played youngest brother Dewey, will not be back for the series. According to the outlet, his role will be played by Caleb Ellsworth-Clark, who had roles in "Fargo" and "The Expanse."

‘MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE’ STAR FRANKIE MUNIZ REVEALS WHY HE BRIEFLY LEFT HOLLYWOOD: 'PEOPLE GO DOWN A BAD PATH’

Per Sullivan has been absent from Hollywood for 15 years, with his last credited role in the 2010 film "Twelve." The actor has also skipped out on "Malcolm in the Middle" reunions over the years.

Kaczmarek, who played mom Lois on the hit sitcom, spoke about Per Sullivan in a 2024 interview with Malcolm France, saying he is "well, he’s very, very well."

"He wasn’t interested in acting at all. He goes to school at a very, very, very prestigious American university that he’s asked us all to be quiet about," she continued, saying he is doing graduate work in Victorian literature.

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She added that she admired his decision, explaining, "I think so many people think being in show business is just the greatest thing in the world, and it’s not for everybody."

"He’s a very grateful kid, for Dewey," Kaczmarek said.

"Malcolm in the Middle" originally ran on Fox for seven seasons from 2000 to 2006, earning 33 Emmy nominations, including two wins for the late Cloris Leachman as best guest actress in a comedy and two wins each for best directing and best writing for a comedy.

The new episodes will feature, according to the official logline shared with Variety, "Malcolm (Muniz) and his daughter are drawn into the family’s chaos when Hal (Cranston) and Lois (Kaczmarek) demand his presence for their 40th wedding anniversary party."

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No release date has been announced. 

Muniz told E! News in February, "I’m so excited. I think Brian and I first started talking at a dinner that we had in 2015. And the fact that now, 10 years later, 25 years after the show started, it's going to happen—I'm really excited. I think people are going to be thrilled to see everybody and the ideas that they've come up with."

WATCH: FRANKIE MUNIZ EXPLAINS WHY HE CALLED LA A 'HELL HOLE'

He added, "Because that was a big thing for me, too, is like the possibilities are endless on what Malcolm and his family could be up to. I've read the scripts, so I know. And I think people are going to be pretty excited."

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NPR chief admits dismissing Hunter Biden laptop story was a mistake

NPR CEO Katherine Maher conceded during her congressional testimony on Wednesday that her organization missed the mark in its lack of serious coverage of the Hunter Biden laptop story during the 2020 election. 

Maher and PBS CEO Paula Kerger were grilled by House Republicans on the newly formed Delivering on Government Efficiency (DOGE) subcommittee regarding accusations of biased news coverage backed by federal funding. 

"I do want to say that NPR acknowledges we were mistaken in failing to cover the Hunter Biden laptop story more aggressively and sooner," Maher told Rep. Michael Cloud, R-Texas.

She later reiterated "we made a mistake" about not covering the laptop in a separate exchange with Rep. Brian Jack, R-Ga. Maher was named CEO of NPR in 2024, so she wasn't with the taxpayer-backed outlet at the time the story first broke.

NPR, PBS CHIEFS SET TO CLASH WITH GOP LAWMAKERS DURING DOGE SUBCOMMITTEE HEARING

The New York Post's bombshell reporting on the laptop was released in the heat of the 2020 election where then-Democratic nominee Joe Biden faced off against President Donald Trump. The story shed light on Hunter Biden's overseas business practices and his father's possible involvement, and the laptop also had shocking videos and photos of drug use and lewd acts.

Many mainstream news outlets disparaged the story at the time and even credulously repeated suggestions the laptop was a Russian disinformation operation. At the time, NPR public editor Kelly McBride addressed a listener's question about the news outlet's blackout of coverage. She said the Post's reporting had "many, many red flags," including its potential ties to Russia, and the assertions within the story weren't significant.

"We don't want to waste our time on stories that are not really stories, and we don't want to waste the listeners’ and readers’ time on stories that are just pure distractions," NPR managing editor Terence Samuel told McBride. "And quite frankly, that's where we ended up, this was … a politically driven event, and we decided to treat it that way."

TRUMP SAYS HE'D LOVE TO YANK FUNDING FOR NPR, PBS, WOULD BE ‘HONORED’ TO SEE IT END

In a stunning tell-all essay published last April, then-veteran NPR editor Uri Berliner recalled the attitude of his liberal colleagues to the laptop revelations. 

"The laptop was newsworthy. But the timeless journalistic instinct of following a hot story lead was being squelched," Berliner wrote. "During a meeting with colleagues, I listened as one of NPR’s best and most fair-minded journalists said it was good we weren’t following the laptop story because it could help Trump."

"When the essential facts of the Post’s reporting were confirmed and the emails verified independently about a year and a half later, we could have fessed up to our misjudgment. But, like Russia collusion, we didn’t make the hard choice of transparency," he continued. 

NPR EDITOR REBUKES OWN OUTLET'S COVERAGE OF HUNTER BIDEN LAPTOP, COVID LAB LEAK AND RUSSIAGATE

During her exchange with Cloud, Maher also acknowledged the legitimacy of the Wuhan lab-leak theory by the CIA after NPR previously dismissed speculation about the COVID pandemic's origins at the time. 

Maher remained adamant that NPR is a "nonpartisan" news organization despite her admissions.

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Ben Affleck wasn’t at LA home when FBI came knocking, had to ‘track down’ reason for visit

Ben Affleck shared the "strange" reason the FBI visited his home amid the Palisades fire earlier this year.

FBI agents were photographed outside Affleck's home in January, and the "Argo" star revealed he wasn't even home at the time. Affleck only learned about the visit through media headlines.

"As it turns out, the FBI did, in fact, visit my house," he told GQ in the April cover issue. "But this is pretty revealing, right? So I come home and I see there’s a story with sources that say, ‘Hey, the FBI was at your house.’ I’m like, ‘Well, this is strange.’ So I call them and say, ‘Hey, FBI, were you at my house? Do you want to talk to me?’ ‘Oh, we don’t know.’ I get transferred along. Finally, somebody who is actually responsible for what was happening was like, ‘Oh, we had no idea that was your house.’ There was a break-in of a federal official’s home in that area."

"So the FBI went around and whoever lived there, the FBI rang their bell, but because there are photographers sitting outside and these guys have their FBI jackets on, then it’s: The FBI has visited your house."

BEN AFFLECK SETS RECORD STRAIGHT ABOUT JENNIFER LOPEZ SPLIT, PRAISES ‘WONDERFUL’ JENNIFER GARNER

FBI spokesperson Laura Eimiller confirmed that agents were stationed in the area in a statement shared with Fox News Digital at the time.

"Members of the FBI's Ground Intercept task force are conducting activity in the area of the Palisades fire. Agents and our local partners may be visible throughout the area, including at residences, for this reason," Eimiller explained.

BEN AFFLECK SPEAKS TO POLICE ABOUT SECURITY MATTER OUTSIDE HIS BRENTWOOD HOME DAYS AFTER FBI VISIT

However, Affleck noted he was told something different after tracking down the real story.

"Whoever wrote the story made up something about how it was related to an investigation about a drone that I guess did crash into one of the helicopters two or three miles up Mandeville Canyon," he explained to the outlet. "Turns out, no, it wasn’t about that. In fact, we were very far from where the drone was. So it’s like: You’ve seen this event about the FBI at my house. I had no idea. My only involvement was to track it down, figure it out."

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The Palisades and Eaton fires scorched thousands of homes, businesses, cars and electronics, turning everyday items into hazardous ash made of pesticides, asbestos, plastics, lead, heavy metals and more.

Both ignited on Jan. 7, burning for weeks.

Twenty-nine people were killed in the Palisades and Eaton fires; 23,448 acres burned in the Palisades Fire and 6,833 businesses and homes were destroyed, according to Cal Fire.

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Affleck confirmed his rental home and his permanent residence were not affected by the fires, despite reports to the contrary.

"I noticed that there’s been stories about me," he told GQ. "My house burning down and all these various things."

"I was thinking to myself that this person’s impression of my week is probably formed by three Daily Mail articles that are mostly absurd," Affleck said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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ICE detains Tufts University student amid Trump admin's campus crackdown

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has detained a Tufts University student in Somerville, Massachusetts, according to the agency and a statement from university President Sunil Kumar.

ICE confirmed Rumeysa Ozturk's detention to Fox News on Wednesday. She is originally from Turkey.

"We have received reports that an international graduate student was taken into custody this evening by federal authorities outside an off-campus apartment building in Somerville," Kumar said in a statement. "The university had no pre-knowledge of this incident and did not share any information with federal authorities prior to the event, and the location where this took place is not affiliated with Tufts University."

Kumar noted that the school was told Ozturk’s visa had been terminated, and the university is looking into "whether that information is true."

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY STUDENT PROTESTER SUES TRUMP ADMIN TO PREVENT DEPORTATION

"The university has no additional information at this time about the cause or circumstances of the student’s apprehension and is attempting to learn more about the incident," Kumar said. "Following university protocol, the Office of University Counsel will assist in connecting the student to external legal resources should the individual request our assistance."

The legal team representing Ozturk told Fox News she had a valid F-1 visa status prior to her arrest. They also said no charges have been filed against their client and are demanding her release.

IVY LEAGUE ANTI-ISRAEL RINGLEADER MAHMOUD KHALIL WITHHELD DETAILS OF FOREIGN TIES FROM VISA APPLICATION: FEDS

"Rumeysa was heading to meet with friends to break her Ramadan fast on the evening of March 25th when she was detained near her home in Somerville, MA by DHS agents," Khanbabai Immigration Law told Fox News in a statement. "We are unaware of her whereabouts and have not been able to contact her. No charges have been filed against Rumeysa to date that we are aware of."

On Tuesday night, U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani granted a habeas petition from Ozturk's lawyers requesting she not be removed out of the District of Massachusetts.

The lawyers say no charges have been filed against her at this time and demand her release. The legal teams say Ozturk has not been disciplined for any involvement in campus protests but would not say if she has participated in pro-Palestinian campus protests.

VIDEO SHOWS ARREST OF COLUMBIA ANTI-ISRAEL RINGLEADER MAHMOUD KHALIL 

"We hope Rumeysa will be released immediately. Those who wish to support Rumeysa are welcome to attend a rally this evening in Somerville," the Wednesday statement continued.

In March of last year, Ozturk co-authored an op-ed in the Tufts Daily, a student newspaper, taking issue with the university's response to several resolutions passed by the Tufts Community Union Senate on March 4, 2024, writing, "demanding that the University acknowledge the Palestinian genocide, apologize for University President Sunil Kumar’s statements, disclose its investments and divest from companies with direct or indirect ties to Israel."

Ozturk was a medical graduate student at the Tufts University Eliot-Pearson Department of Child Study and Human Development.

President Donald Trump on Jan. 30 signed an executive order to cancel the student visas of Hamas sympathizers on college campuses.

Executive Order 13899 aims to combat the "unprecedented wave of vile anti-Semitic discrimination, vandalism, and violence against our citizens, especially in our schools and on our campuses," since Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked Israel, sparking the beginning of a 15-month war that has left tens of thousands of people dead.

"To all the resident aliens who joined in the pro-jihadist protests, we put you on notice: come 2025, we will find you, and we will deport you," the president said in a Jan. 30 fact sheet on the executive order. "I will also quickly cancel the student visas of all Hamas sympathizers on college campuses, which have been infested with radicalism like never before."

Hamas is a designated terrorist organization that the Department of National Intelligence describes as "the largest and most capable militant group in the Palestinian territories and one of the territories’ two major political parties."

The Trump administration has also rescinded federal grants from Columbia University over its alleged failure to address antisemitism on campus.

"We realize that tonight’s news will be distressing to some members of our community, particularly the members of our international community," Kumar said in his statement. "We will continue to provide information, support, and resources in the days ahead as more details become available to us."

The cost of attendance at Tufts, before financial aid, is listed as between $80,000 and $90,000 on the university's website.

Tufts is receiving $115.2 million in funds from the National Institutes of Health as of fiscal year 2025, the university's website says, including $88.3 million in direct costs and $26.9 million in facilities and administrative costs.

Fox News' Andrew Fone contributed to this report.

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Democrat Jasmine Crockett laughingly mocks disabled Republican: ‘Governor Hot Wheels’

Progressive Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, mocked a disabled, wheelchair-bound Republican governor, calling him "Governor Hot Wheels" during a pro-LGBTQ benefit dinner this weekend.

Crockett is already in hot water over other controversial recent comments such as calling for Elon Musk to be "taken down" and for Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, to be "knocked over the head, like hard."

Speaking at a benefit for the Human Rights Campaign in Los Angeles, Crockett mocked Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, whose legs were paralyzed in a running accident in 1984.

"We in these hot a-- Texas streets, honey. Y’all know we got Governor Hot Wheels down there, come on now! And the only thing hot about him is that he is a hot a-- mess, honey!" she said, laughing.

PAM BONDI ON JASMINE CROCKETT'S COMMENTS: WORDS HAVE CONSEQUENCES | FOX NEWS VIDEO

In response, the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) slammed Crockett, saying she is indicative of the state of the Democratic Party today.

"House Dems' top spox Jasmine Crockett applauded after attacking Texas Governor Abbott for using a wheelchair," the NRCC posted on X. "Recent polling shows Crazy Crockett as one of the leaders of the Democrat Party. This is who they are."

Meanwhile, Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., responded, "FYI to the new spokeswoman for the Democrat party – Greg Abbott became paralyzed after a huge oak tree fell on him, crushing his spine. But sure, go with ‘hot wheels.’"

Conservative women's sports activist Riley Gaines also chimed in, saying, "Democrats, please keep giving Jasmine Crockett the microphone We'll never lose an election again."

JASMINE CROCKETT DESCRIBES DEMOCRATIC DONOR TALK ON SCHUMER 'REMINISCENT' OF BIDEN BEING TAKEN DOWN

Crockett’s rhetoric has garnered significant condemnation from other leaders as well as outrage online in the last several days.

On Sunday, Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a stark warning to Crockett, telling her to "tread carefully" or face possible legal repercussions.

Seemingly not heeding Bondi’s warning, an interview clip surfaced on Monday of Crockett advocating for figuratively "punching" another leading Texas Republican, Cruz.

In response to a question about how Democrats can win elections, specifically in the red state of Texas, Crockett said, "I think that you punch, I think you punch, I think you OK with punching."

"It’s Ted Cruz," she went on. "I mean, like this dude has to be knocked over the head, like hard, right? Like there is no niceties with him, like at all. Like you go clean off on him."

FAR-LEFT DEMOCRAT SLAMMED FOR ‘UNHINGED’ THREAT AGAINST PROMINENT GOP SENATOR: 'INCITING VIOLENCE'

Her latest comments to surface – this time against Abbott – were firmly condemned by Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, who pointed out her take would have caused national outrage if a Republican had said such a thing.

"Crockett’s comments are disgraceful," said Cornyn. "Can you imagine if a Republican said something like this? It would be on [the] front page of NYT [New York Times] and all over CNN."

Conservative influencer Charlie Kirk also spoke out against Crockett’s comments, saying, "Jasmine Crockett continues to embarrass herself, the state of Texas, and the US Congress by referring to Governor Greg Abbott as ‘Governor Hot Wheels.’"

"Gov. Abbott was paralyzed at the age of 26 when an oak tree fell and crushed his spine while jogging. This woman is trash," said Kirk.

DEMOCRAT MAYOR BLASTED FOR VOWING TO MAKE MAJOR CITY ‘SAFE HAVEN’ FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS

Abbott, who took office in 2015, is a vocal supporter of President Donald Trump and has made border security one of his top priorities as governor. He launched "Operation Lonestar" in 2021, in which he deployed state officials and the Texas National Guard to the border. His efforts to build fortifications along the border also led to several confrontations with the Biden administration, perhaps most notably including a standoff between federal and state officials at Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, Texas, in 2024.

Abbott has been wheelchair-bound since he was struck by a falling tree while on a jog at age 26.

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Top GOP governor makes key endorsement in border state gubernatorial race: 'Deeply honored'

EXCLUSIVE: Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders is endorsing Karrin Taylor Robson in the Arizona 2026 gubernatorial Republican primary. 

Robson is seeking to unseat Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs in what’s expected to be one of the most competitive races in the country.

"I am proud to join President Trump in endorsing Karrin Taylor Robson for Governor. Karrin is the conservative outsider and business leader Arizona needs. I know she will join me in partnering with the Trump Administration to secure our borders, create a strong economy, and say NO to the Woke Agenda. Join me in supporting Karrin today!" Sanders said in an exclusive statement to Fox News Digital.

REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS CAN'T WAIT FOR TRUMP TO UNLEASH PROSPERITY IN THE STATES

Sanders was a press secretary for President Donald Trump during his first term, and then followed in her father Mike Huckabee's footsteps and became governor in 2023, succeeding Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson.

"I am deeply honored to have Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ support. Her leadership in Arkansas and her dedication to President Trump’s America First agenda is an example for every Governor in the country to follow. I’m thrilled she’s joining President Trump in supporting my campaign to deliver results for Arizona by defeating radical Katie Hobbs, locking down our border, and building a stronger, safer state," Robson said in response to the endorsement.

SARAH HUCKABEE SANDERS ON TARIFF THREAT: TRUMP IS TIRED OF AMERICA GETTING RIPPED OFF

At Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest in December, Trump said he planned on backing her campaign if she jumped in. 

"Are you running for governor? I think so, Karrin, 'cause if you do you’re gonna have my support, OK?" Trump said during his speech.

In 2022, she mounted a primary bid for the governor’s office and narrowly lost to Republican Kari Lake, who serves as a senior advisor to the U.S. Agency for Global Media. Lake and Robson had a bitter primary battle in 2022, but Robson ultimately endorsed both Trump and Lake in their 2024 general election bids.

'I WILL NOT REST': BORDER STATE GUBERNATORIAL HOPEFUL LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN WEEKS AFTER TRUMP BACKED HER

Rep. Andy Biggs, who also supports Trump, threw his hat into the ring, and he’s racked up the endorsements of fellow Republican Arizona Reps. Eli Crane and Paul Gosar, as well as Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert. Critics of Robson believe that Biggs will have a better shot of winning over the Republican base and hope that the president will have a change of heart.

Meanwhile, there’s a long way until the primary, which is scheduled for Aug. 4, 2026. It’s unclear if any other major contenders will enter the race on either side. Cook Political Report ranks the general election race as a toss-up. Other statewide offices, including secretary of state and attorney general, will be up for grabs as well in the battleground state that Trump won in 2024.

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Incendiary devices located at Tesla dealership, Austin police say

Incendiary devices were discovered at a Tesla dealership in Austin, Texas, on Monday morning, authorities said, the latest in widespread acts of violence targeting the electric carmaker.

The bomb squad investigated and removed the devices without incident after they were discovered at the dealership along U.S. Highway 183, the Austin Police Department said.

Police did not provide details about the incendiary devices.

Police said the investigation remains open and there is no further information available for release at this time.

HOW TESLA ‘SENTRY MODE’ BUSTS ATTACKERS, AND HOW OWNERS CAN ENABLE IT

Tesla security has been spotlighted after nationwide incidents targeting the electric vehicles, dealerships, storage lots and charging stations in protest of Musk, who President Donald Trump tapped to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). DOGE was tasked with slashing wasteful federal spending and has laid off tens of thousands of federal employees as part of its cuts.

So far, three individuals have been charged in federal cases after using Molotov cocktails to attack Tesla properties around the country. Each faces charges that carry a minimum penalty of five years and up to 20 years in prison.

"The days of committing crimes without consequence have ended," Attorney General Pamela Bondi said Thursday. "Let this be a warning: if you join this wave of domestic terrorism against Tesla properties, the Department of Justice will put you behind bars."

This is a breaking news story; check back for updates.

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Youngkin efforts lead slew of VA colleges to nix DEI, as Hokie alums reportedly push back

FIRST ON FOX: Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Monday praised the domino effect of Virginia colleges nixing their diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) departments and initiatives, just weeks after President Donald Trump issued a nationwide order to that effect.

"Discriminatory DEI policies are being dismantled across Virginia's colleges and universities," Youngkin told Fox News Digital.

"This is a win for common sense, for civil rights, and for students and faculty at some of the world's most premier institutions of higher learning we proudly have in Virginia. I am pleased our college and university boards continue to prioritize merit-based opportunity over race-based discrimination."

Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, along with Virginia’s community college system, Longwood University in Farmville, and Radford University in Radford, all announced or passed resolutions Friday to end such policies.

DEI CHARGED CLAIMS FLY OVER CONTRACT FOR MILITARY SCHOOL'S LEADER AS LAWMAKER DEMANDS ETHICS PROBE

Those announcements follow the Old Dominion’s "flagship" university, UVA – founded by President Thomas Jefferson himself – which made its move on March 7 along with its satellite institution, UVA-Wise, near the Kentucky border.

Youngkin has been one of few governors publicly leading such efforts to bring an end to DEI practices at educational institutions.

Sources familiar with Youngkin's work said Virginia – where the governor is uniquely limited to one consecutive term by law – will see the effects of the Republican's board of visitors appointments at colleges across the commonwealth for many years after he leaves office in January.

Youngkin added in a recent interview with Fox News’ Laura Ingraham that Virginia is leading the way on "ending illegal discrimination and restoring merit-based opportunity." The governor made education a priority issue in his administration, telling the Ronald Reagan Foundation last year that proper schooling is the "bedrock to attaining the American dream."

As for the newest DEI departures, Virginia Tech in Blacksburg is also primed to end DEI by midweek – with its board expected to vote Tuesday on the matter. 

Virginia Tech is considered the commonwealth’s flagship land-grant university and the collegiate anchor of Southside Virginia.

VCU’s resolution read that the college will continue to be an "open-admission institution" for every learner, and that its mission seeks to "give everyone the opportunity to learn and develop the right skills so lives and communities are strengthened."

It shuttered all systems, programs, procedures and initiatives that failed to comply with federal civil rights protections, across its 23 institutions.

UVA ENDS DEI

Longwood did the same, as well as blocking out any use of third-parties to try to circumvent the new prohibitions, according to an appendix in the college’s resolution.

The VCU Board of Visitors’ vote favored ending its Division of Inclusive Excellence, but it was not unanimous. 

Two former Gov. Terry McAuliffe appointees – Edward McCoy and the Rev. Tyrone Nelson – joined two Youngkin appointees – Dr. Clifton Peay and Gurpreet "P2" Sandhu – in voting "nay."

Virginia Tech’s quarterly board meeting was listed for 1 p.m. ET on Tuesday at an inn in Montgomery County, as some critics said it should be made more public.

"Permissible programs" affected by the potential end to its DEI department will be moved to "a new organizational home," according a copy of the resolution published by the Augusta Free Press paper of the Staunton-Waynesboro area.

The paper separately reported that an alumni group is warning against adopting the resolution, warning future students would not have the same opportunities as past graduates.

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The Hokie alums are also demanding a town hall-style meeting to address the issue and be able to speak with administrators.

Dr. Tekisha Dwan Everette, vice president of the Trust for America’s Health policy organization in Washington, D.C., and a Hokie alum, told the paper she and others are "deeply disappointed and concerned about the tactics used to challenge Virginia Tech’s commitment to creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive learning environment."

The petition itself will be delivered to Virginia Tech President Timothy Sands, and reads in part that "DEIAB programs are not only valuable—they are essential to ensuring that Virginia Tech remains a place where all students, regardless of their background, have a chance to succeed and make meaningful contributions to society."

Christopher Newport University in Newport News, the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, James Madison University in Harrisonburg and George Mason University in Fairfax are all set to hold board meetings in April.

Fox News Digital reached out to Virginia Tech for comment.

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Trump gives Harris advice on potential CA governor run

President Donald Trump offered up some advice for former Vice President Kamala Harris if she decides to make a run for governor of California.

"One thing she's gotta do, she's gotta start doing interviews," Trump said during an interview with OutKick's Clay Travis aboard Air Force One. "You can't get away with both of them, during COVID he did no interviews, and he got away with it because of COVID," Trump added, referencing former President Joe Biden.

The comments come as Harris is "seriously considering" a run for governor of California, according to a report from CBS News, with a person close to the former vice president's decision-making process telling the outlet that Harris would likely make the decision by the end of summer.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who many consider to be a presidential contender in 2028, is term limited from running again in 2026, opening the door to what is expected to be a large field of potential Democratic candidates to seek the highest office in the dependably progressive state.

TRUMP SAYS KEEPING MALES OUT OF WOMEN'S SPORTS IS '90-10 ISSUE'

One former Harris advisor told CBS News that the former vice president would be a "great" fit for the job, noting her experience at both the national and state level.

"On a national level, what Newsom has been able to do with that job, there is a lot of upside with what she can do as the governor of the fifth-largest economy with her name ID, when our party is looking for national leadership and California looking for good governance – especially at a time when California is going through a lot," the former advisor said.

But Harris also faces questions over how she handled her bid for president, which included accusations that she consistently shied away from doing interviews.

KAMALA HARRIS REVEALS TIMETABLE FOR MAKING MAJOR POLITICAL DECISION IN DEEP BLUE STATE

After Biden dropped out of the race and immediately endorsed Harris, the vice president went 39 days without sitting down for an interview before appearing in one with her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, on Aug. 29.

As accusations continued to fly that Harris was dodging interviews, she picked up the pace of her appearances with both national and local outlets, but then faced accusations of dodging difficult questions.

Perhaps most damning was a reported potential interview with influential podcaster Joe Rogan that fell through, with Rogan suggesting that the Harris team put conditions on questions the host could ask the candidate.

Trump famously did appear on Rogan's podcast, an interview that eventually led to the podcaster endorsing Trump's bid for the White House.

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Jake Paul announces engagement to Dutch speedskater Jutta Leerdam in social media post

Jake Paul announced his proposal to Dutch speed skater Jutta Leerdam on social media on Saturday. 

Paul's and Leerdam’s relationship became public in March 2023 when they were seen on a date in Florida. 

Paul’s post announcing his engagement showed him kneeling down, clad in white, on a balcony with white flowers and candles, with mountains in the background. 

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"We’re engaged," Paul captioned his post. "We can’t wait to spend forever together."

Paul, 28, showered praise onto Leerdam, 26, after her performance at the World Championships last weekend. 

"So proud of my baby 1st, 2nd, and 3rd this weekend at the world championships. She’s a 7 time world champion now.. The hardest worker and the most gorgeous. You inspire me babe," Paul said in a post. 

BOXING STAR AMANDA SERRANO SIGNS LIFETIME DEAL WITH JAKE PAUL-BACKED PROMOTION

"Isn’t (it) ironic how the person who is the most important athlete to a sport is the one that they try to tear down the most. Can’t relate because we don’t fly at y’all’s altitude. I hope love runs the universe one day."

Leerdam became the junior world champion at the 2017 World Junior Championships and then finished second in the 2018 Championships the following year. 

She is the 2020 and 2023 World Single Distance champion, 2022 World Sprint Champion in the 500 and 1,000 meters. Leerdam won silver at the 2022 Beijing Olympics in the 1,000 meters. 

Paul was in support of her during the 2025 World Championships in Norway, where Leerdam and her team won gold in the women’s team sprint. 

Paul has a reality TV show coming out that features him and his brother Logan, which will release on the streaming platform MAX on March 27. 

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Pope Francis set to be discharged from hospital on Sunday: doctors

Gemelli Hospital medical director Dr. Sergio Alfieri announced Saturday that Pope Francis is expected to be discharged on Sunday. 

At a press conference, Alfieri said the Holy Father experienced "two very critical episodes" during his hospitalization when his life was in danger but has since shown a "slow but progressive" improvement due to "pharmacological therapy, the administration of high flow oxygen and assisted mechanical ventilation." The pope, however, was never intubated and never lost consciousness, Alfieri said. 

Alfieri was joined by the head physician of the Vatican's Health and Hygiene Office, Luigi Carbone and the pope's spokesperson, Matteo Bruni, in the entry hall of Rome's Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic, where Pope Francis has been treated since Feb. 14 after a bout of bronchitis worsened. The pope was hospitalized for 38 days while battling a life-threatening case of pneumonia in both lungs, his doctors said. 

KING CHARLES III TO MEET POPE FRANCIS DURING VISIT TO VATICAN NEXT MONTH

The pope experienced "acute respiratory failure due to a polymicrobial infection," Alfieri said. 

The Saturday evening briefing was the first since Feb. 21, a week after the 88-year-old Francis was brought to Gemelli hospital. He subsequently experienced several respiratory crises that landed him in critical condition, though he has since stabilized.

In another development, the Vatican announced that Francis would appear on Sunday morning to bless the faithful from his 10th floor suite at the hospital. 

While Francis released an audio message on March 6 and the Vatican distributed a photo of him March 16, Sunday’s blessing will be the first live appearance since Francis was admitted on Feb. 14 for what has become the longest hospitalization of his 12-year papacy. The Argentine pope, who has chronic lung disease, is prone to respiratory problems in winter and had part of one lung removed as a young man. 

When the pope was admitted, doctors first diagnosed a complex bacterial, viral and fungal respiratory tract infection and soon thereafter, pneumonia in both lungs. Blood tests showed signs of anemia, low blood platelets and the onset of kidney failure, all of which later resolved after two blood transfusions, according to officials.

The most serious setbacks began on Feb. 28, when Francis experienced an acute coughing fit and inhaled vomit, requiring him to use a noninvasive mechanical ventilation mask to help him breathe. He suffered two more respiratory crises in the following days, which required doctors to manually aspirate the mucus, at which point he began sleeping with the ventilation mask at night to help his lungs clear the accumulation of fluids.

Over the past two weeks, the Vatican press office had reported that the pope has stabilized, no longer needs to wear the ventilation mask at night, and is cutting back his reliance on high flows of supplemental oxygen during the day.

This is a developing news story. Check back for updates. Fox News' Courteney Walsh and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Parents of girl who died after measles infection said they wouldn't get MMR vaccine

The parents of a young girl who died after contracting measles last month in West Texas are speaking out about their position on the MMR vaccine.

The child, age 6, died on Feb. 26 after being hospitalized in Lubbock, as reported by the Texas Department of State Health Services. 

The agency stated it was "the first death from measles in the ongoing outbreak in the South Plains and Panhandle regions" — adding that the child was not vaccinated.

NUTRITION IMPACTS MEASLES SEVERITY, RFK JR. SAYS

On March 15, the child’s parents spoke with Children’s Health Defense about the experience in an interview that aired on "Good Morning, CHD."

The family lives in Seminole, Texas, in Gaines County, which is where the vast majority of measles cases have occurred in the current outbreak.

When the girl, named Kaylee, first got sick, the parents said they figured it was measles because the illness was "going around" in their community.

FLY SAFELY AMID MEASLES OUTBREAK WITH THESE IMPORTANT TRAVEL TIPS

Two days after the girl developed a rash, her mother took her to the doctor, who provided a cough remedy and recommended fever-reducing medication.

Although Kaylee’s measles started to go away, she began developing complications, including a fever that continued to rise, her parents told Children’s Health Defense.

"And then I just noticed one morning that she was saying she was getting very tired, and I was just noticing her breathing wasn't normal," the girl’s mother said. "That’s when we decided to take her to the emergency room."

At the hospital, in addition to measles, Kaylee was found to have pneumonia in her left lung. She was admitted to the ICU and put on a ventilator.

"I just remember before they wanted to put her on the ventilator that she was very thirsty," the mother said in the interview. "Her mouth was all sticky and I wanted to give her water, but they didn’t let me."

The child passed away shortly after that.

MEASLES VACCINES GIVEN LONG AGO COULD BE LESS EFFECTIVE NOW, DOCTORS SAY

The couple’s four other children developed measles after their sister’s death — but all recovered after receiving breathing treatments, the parents said.

Even after their daughter’s death, the parents are not proponents of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR vaccine).

"We would absolutely not take the MMR [vaccine]," Kaylee’s mother said. "The measles wasn't that bad. They got over it pretty quickly."

The couple said they have not yet received their daughter’s death certificate, noting that it is possible she died of pneumonia rather than measles.

The girl’s father added that measles could help to "build people’s immune systems in the long run."

"God does no wrong, and He wanted this to wake people up," he told Children’s Health Defense. "He’s woken us up for sure, to start a better life and come closer to Him."

Texas DSHS has reported that the majority of measles cases have been mostly unvaccinated, school-aged children.

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Measles is a highly contagious virus for those who have not previously been infected or vaccinated, with up to a 90% chance of transmission.

The MMR vaccine is one of the most common childhood inoculations and has been a requirement for school attendance since its development in the 1970s.

"The standard recommendation from health authorities like the CDC is a two-dose series of the MMR vaccine," Fox News medical contributor Dr. Nicole Saphier previously told Fox News Digital.

"For most people, these two doses provide lifelong immunity — about 97% effectiveness against measles."

Each person’s situation is different and should be weighed carefully after a thorough conversation with a trusted medical team, Saphier added.

Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and Fox News' senior medical analyst, also emphasized the importance of measles vaccinations — "particularly with the number of circulating measles cases and underimmunized people coming into the U.S. at a time when there is a big measles surge around the world."

For those who are traveling to an area where a measles outbreak is occurring, Siegel recommended they see a doctor for a measles "titer test" and get a booster if they are not showing immunity. (The titer test measures an individual’s level of immunity to the virus.)

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MMR is a live virus vaccine and cannot be given to pregnant women or immunocompromised people, the doctor noted.

As of March 20, a total of 378 confirmed measles cases had been reported in 18 U.S. states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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