Kamala Harris to publish behind-the-scenes account of failed 2024 campaign

Former Vice President Kamala Harris is teasing a "behind-the-scenes" look at her abbreviated and ultimately unsuccessful 2024 White House bid.

Harris, in a video posted to social media on Thursday, announced that her new book, titled "107 Days," releases in September and will provide details on what she calls "the shortest presidential campaign in modern history." 

"I believe there’s value in sharing what I saw, what I learned, and what I know it will take to move forward," Harris said.

Harris replaced then-President Joe Biden last July as the Democratic Party's 2024 presidential nominee after he dropped out of the race amid mounting questions over his physical and mental stamina following a disastrous debate performance a month earlier against now-President Donald Trump.

KAMALA HARRIS RULES OUT 2026 RUN IN HER HOME STATE OF CALIFORNIA

"What the world saw on the campaign trail was only part of the story," Harris teases.

The news from Harris came one day after she announced that she wouldn't run in 2026 for governor of her home state of California.

But her decision to keep her name off the ballot next year left the door open for a possible second presidential bid in 2028.

In her statement on Wednesday explaining her decision, Harris said, "For now, my leadership — and public service — will not be in elected office."

"I look forward to getting back out and listening to the American people, helping elect Democrats across the nation who will fight fearlessly, and sharing more details in the months ahead about my own plans," she said.

After losing last year's election to Trump and then serving out the remainder of her term as vice president, Harris returned to California and kept close counsel with an inner circle of confidants.

And some in her inner circle, as well as political analysts, suggested that running and winning the election in 2026 for governor of California, the nation's most populous state and home to the world's fifth-largest economy, would likely take a 2028 White House run off the table.

But with a gubernatorial run off the table, that's no longer a concern.

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If Harris eventually does launch a 2028 presidential campaign, she would start her ride on the road to the White House as the most recognizable Democrat in what's expected to be a large field of contenders. And she would also come equipped with a broad fundraising network that she built up last cycle.

"She would certainly be a very serious candidate in the primary in 2028, if she runs," a Democratic strategist and veteran of multiple White House campaigns told Fox News Digital.

The strategist, who asked to remain anonymous to speak more freely, said that "a lot of Democrats think she was put in a tough spot in 2024 and deserves to have a chance to run a race on her own…she was limited in doing some of the things that politically she might have needed to do to make a cleaner break with Biden."

But Harris could also potentially be weighed down with plenty of political baggage from the 2024 campaign, when the Democrats lost not only the White House but also their Senate majority, and failed to win back control of the House. 

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As the party looks to escape the political wilderness, many Democrats are aiming to make a clear break with the past as they strive for a reset.

"If you're trying to take a different path for the party, it's hard to go backwards and pick the person who lost to Trump," a Democratic consultant told Fox News. "There needs to be a fresh start, a new generation."

If Harris does run, she'd have to deal with her unwavering support for Biden as his physical and mental abilities appeared to waver in front of Americans.

Republican Rep. James Comer, who as House Oversight chair is investigating the former president’s use of the autopen and mental fitness while in the White House, said in an interview on Fox News' "The Ingraham Angle" that "the odds of Kamala Harris getting a subpoena are very high."

While Harris has been spending recent months mulling her decision on a gubernatorial run, other potential 2028 Democratic presidential contenders have already been making early moves as they try to move past the Biden administration and last year's election setbacks.

Among them are Govs. Gavin Newsom of California, JB Pritzker of Illinois, Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, Wes Moore of Maryland, Andy Beshear of Kentucky, Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, as well as Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey and former Biden Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

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Mets' Francisco Lindor talks about potentially being named captain, David Wright getting his No 5 retired

The New York Mets retired David Wright’s No. 5 earlier this month, and star shortstop Francisco Lindor had a front-row seat to the ceremony.

Lindor, 31, said it was "so cool" to see Wright’s number retired. The five-time All-Star talked to Fox News Digital about Wright’s special day, and what it would mean to him if he were one day named captain. 

"It was so cool, being here now for five years, I have had the opportunity to see Keith Hernandez, Doc, Strawberry, and now David Wright's number gets retired. This one was definitely special the way the people praised him, the way the people loved him, and it was cool to see the fans with their signs that he played the right way. That is pretty cool," Lindor told Fox News Digital last week ahead of Miracle Treat Day at DQ on July 31.

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"It was special to see him, how much he put into this franchise, and how the fans were giving back to him."

Lindor is a logical choice to be the next captain of the Mets, and Wright spoke highly of the star shortstop prior to his jersey retirement ceremony. 

"I love Francisco Lindor," Wright said via Sports Illustrated. "I’ve gotten to know him over the last couple of years. I recently found out that he played hurt at the end of the season with a hand injury, and nobody knew about it. He never said anything because he wanted to be out there grinding it out with his guys."

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Lindor said if he were named the fifth captain in Mets’ history, he would not take it lightly. 

"(Captaincy is something) I wouldn’t take for granted and something I wouldn’t take lightly, that would be a great honor," Lindor said. 

The two-time Gold Glover said that if he were named captain, he would not change how he goes about himself. 

"It would be an honor and a privilege, I wouldn’t change the way I am, I would be doing the same thing, I just would continue to walk the path that they set, and just being like I like said it, a huge privilege, a huge honor," Lindor said. 

The 31-year-old star shortstop is once again having another strong season for the Mets. Lindor has a .251 batting average with 20 home runs, 59 RBI, and 17 stolen bases while playing outstanding defense. 

Keith Hernandez, Gary Carter, John Franco, and Wright are currently the only four players to be named captain in the franchise’s history.

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WATCH: DEI still in place as college 'finding ways' around ban, official admits: 'Proud of the fight'

FIRST ON FOX: An official in the University of Iowa's Division of Student Life openly admits in a new undercover video obtained by Fox News Digital that she and others at the university are actively "finding ways to operate around" state and federal directives intended to end the practice of reverse discrimination in the name of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). 

The official, Drea Tinoco, assistant director for Leadership and Student Organization Development at the University of Iowa, pointed out in the undercover recording how in early spring the university's leaders began directing an end to DEI initiatives and policies. 

However, as Tinoco points out, that didn't stop her or others at the school from continuing to advance the discriminatory measures.  

"We're essentially finding ways to operate around [the bans], so that was our solution. We were like, ‘Oh, okay, we can’t use that word? Okay – "civic engagement."' I think that's a lot of what we're doing, it's like, ‘Oh, okay, we're not allowed to use this word. Oh, okay. We're just going to do this,'" Tinoco can be heard saying in the video. "That's why you're not going to see DEI listed on any University of Iowa website … but there have been transitions and things that they've done, so they're not like getting rid of certain things."

UNIVERSITY RUNS DAMAGE CONTROL AMID CONCERNS IT HIDES ILLEGALS, UPHOLDS REVERSE DISCRIMINATION

The University of Iowa is just the latest school in a salvo of others that have come under fire recently over attempts to rebrand their DEI initiatives in order to skirt state or federal directives ordering them to be terminated. 

Last week, Fox News Digital also obtained undercover footage showing that, despite state and federal orders aimed at dismantling DEI initiatives, school officials at Vanderbilt and the University of Tennessee described a deliberate strategy to rename, repackage and quietly preserve these controversial programs under new labels like "access and engagement" and "belonging and community." 

"It definitely is still here, it definitely still exists," Tinoco can be heard saying on the undercover recording. She also suggests her superiors are supportive of defying orders to dismantle DEI policies at the university, and says that when collaborating with other schools in the state, the University of Iowa staff are typically the most "combative" when it comes to standing in the way of getting rid of DEI policies.

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"On behalf of my office. We are, we're still going to talk about DEI. We're still going to do all the DEI things. My assistant dean is a Black woman, and I could not imagine her being like, ‘Okay guys. Yeah. We're just not going to talk about DEI anymore,'" Tinoco says on the video recording.

"I have yet to be told, like 'Dre, you can't say DEI.' And I'm still going to say it," she adds.

During the recording, Tinoco also discuses "loophole[s]" at the university to advance DEI, which she says can be done through student groups that are protected on account of freedom of association rights. 

"I will say personally, like I am proud of the fight," Tinoco said of her and others' efforts to fight against state and federal anti-DEI directives.  

Meanwhile, Tinoco can be heard on the recording disparaging the school's Board of Regents for being White, and calling Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds, who signed anti-DEI legislation into law back in May, "coo-coo bananas." 

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In response to this article, Reynolds told Fox News Digital that she would be referring the matter to Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird for her review as it pertains to the state's anti-DEI laws. 

"I’m appalled by the remarks made in this video by a University of Iowa employee who blatantly admits to defying DEI restrictions I signed into law on May 9, 2024," Reynolds said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "I already issued a letter to the Board of Regents on January 23, 2025, reminding university representatives to comply, not only with state law, but an executive order signed by President Trump ending implementation of DEI policies at public institutions."

The university responded by insisting it holds its faculty to the highest standards of compliance and any deviation from such compliance "is taken seriously," a spokesperson said in a statement to Fox News Digital, indicating the school would be launching an internal investigation probing the matter. 

The university added that it "will take all necessary steps to ensure university policies and procedures as well as state and federal laws are being fully upheld."

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Florida woman charged with child neglect after leaving 2 children in sweltering vehicle

A mother in Florida was arrested after she allegedly left her two children inside a hot car while she went shopping on one of the hottest days so far in 2025, according to officials.

The Lee County Sheriff's Office said on Facebook that Marianne Isnar allegedly left her two children unattended while she shopped at a Dollar Tree in Lehigh Acres, Florida, on Sunday.

According to deputies, the car, which wasn't running while Isnar's two kids were in the car, reached an internal temperature of 100 degrees. The outdoor heat, which was 98 degrees, allowed the car to reach 100 degrees within 10 minutes since every window was rolled up, officials said.

GEORGIA POLICE OFFICERS BREAK INTO CAR PARKED OUTSIDE MALL WITH TWO CHILDREN SWELTERING INSIDE: VIDEO

When deputies arrived, they allegedly found two juveniles inside the car with their seatbelts on. The mother claimed she was only in the store for five minutes when asked by a deputy, but according to officials, she was in the store for 25 minutes.

Isnar was charged with child neglect - unattended child in a motor vehicle. She was released from jail Monday on a $1,500 bond. Her next court appearance is on Aug. 11.

MOM WHO LOST 9-MONTH-OLD SON IN HOT CAR WARNS PARENTS AMID US HEATWAVE: ‘NO WAY THAT COULD HAPPEN’

Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno said this case sends a clear message to parents.

"This woman chose to leave her children in a car during one of the hottest days we have had in Southwest Florida this year," Marceno said. "Let this serve as a clear message, we will not hesitate to hold people accountable for putting a child’s life at risk. We are grateful these children are okay."

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FOX News Media loses beloved field producer Robert Shaffer after long illness

Longtime FOX News Media field producer Robert Shaffer died on Saturday after a long illness, the company announced.

CEO Suzanne Scott and President and Executive Editor Jay Wallace informed FOX News Media colleagues of Shaffer’s tragic passing in a company memo on Monday. 

"It is with fond remembrance that we announce the passing of longtime Seattle-based field producer Robert Shaffer, who sadly died on Saturday after a long illness. Following a stint as a newspaper reporter in California, Robert joined FOX News Channel’s LA bureau in 2000 as an assignment editor/field producer and moved to the Seattle bureau in 2002. He loved breaking news as much as his beloved Hawkeye football and basketball teams as a native of Iowa City and a graduate of the University of Iowa," Scott and Wallace wrote. 

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"Over the course of his 25 years with FOX News Media, Robert traveled extensively as a field producer, covering wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, Israel, and Lebanon. During the Iraq War, he spent months in Kabul and at Bagram Air Base and served regular rotations in Baghdad," Scott and Wallace continued. "He also produced numerous stories on Boeing — from issues with lithium-ion batteries to the global grounding of the 737 MAX 8 — and made regular trips to Alaska where he produced pieces on drilling permits and the years-long battle over opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. He later traveled through Mexico covering the first large migrant caravan." 

Shaffer also made significant contributions to Fox News during multiple election cycles. 

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"Robert covered presidential candidates as they crisscrossed Iowa ahead of the caucuses. He also covered wildfires, floods, hurricanes, and countless protests throughout his time with FNC, all while building and mastering a skill set that was invaluable in the field," Scott and Wallace wrote.

"Robert’s quick wit, hard work, kindness, and midwestern charm made him a favorite of field teams throughout FOX News Media," they added. "We extend our deepest condolences to his wife Michele and his entire family." 

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Sofía Vergara undergoes second knee surgery, posts recovery photos on social media

Sofía Vergara shared a health update with fans.

The 53-year-old "Modern Family" actress posted photos of herself in the hospital in a July 25 Instagram post, sharing that she had undergone a second knee surgery, although she didn't share the reason behind the operations.

"Its done! Round 2 🙏🏼❤️❤️#knee," she captioned the post.

One of the photos featured a makeup-free selfie of Vergara on a hospital bed, resting her cheek on her hand as she smiled for the camera while dressed in a hospital gown.

SPORTS ILLUSTRATED COVER MODEL SALMA HAYEK ADMITS SHE TRIED TO 'BACK OUT' OF RACY PHOTO SHOOT

The second photo showed Vergara's right leg, which showed a bandage taped on the side of her knee and a brace wrapped around her shin.

Many of Vergara's famous friends wished her well in the comments section, including her "America's Got Talent" co-star, Terry Crews, who wrote, "❤️❤️❤️ proud of you!"

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Lauren Sánchez Bezos also commented, writing "Sending you ❤️" while Patrick Schwarzenegger wrote, "Wishing you speedy recovery !!!!"

This is not the first time the "Griselda" star has needed an operation on her knee. She previously shared with her followers on Instagram stories in April 2024 that she had gone through surgery, assuring fans she was in safe hands.

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"If u ever get a [major] knee surgery make sure u Get a handsome doctor who will sleep with u that night... !" she wrote at the time, adding "Luv u." 

Vergara was referring to her boyfriend at the time, orthopedic surgeon Justin Saliman, whom she dated for over a year before announcing they had split in January 2025.

Following her breakup from Saliman, Vergara sparked romance rumors with retired football player, Tom Brady. The two were photographed together while on the Ritz-Carlton yacht during a star-studded European voyage.

In the photo, Vergara can be seen posing with her eyes closed as singer J Balvin kisses the top of her head, while Brady smiled at the camera as he sat next to the actress. 

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The pair have reportedly been spending time together in Ibiza, Spain, as a source described the situation as a "summer romance," according to Page Six. 

"He asked to switch seats to sit next to her at dinner," a source told the media outlet.

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Trump hits EU for lack of Gaza aid, says Israel needs to 'make a decision' with Hamas not releasing hostages

President Donald Trump blasted the European Union for not providing aid to Gaza on Sunday, adding that Israel must "make a decision" about how to handle the region with Hamas still holding hostages.

Trump made the comments while meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Scotland. He said that the U.S. has given millions in aid to Gazans, but claimed there has been no assistance from European countries.

"We gave $60 million two weeks ago for food for Gaza, and nobody acknowledged it. Nobody talks about it. And it makes you feel a little bad when you do that. And, you know, you have other countries not giving anything. None of the European countries, by the way, gave – I mean, nobody gave but us and nobody said, gee, thank you very much. And it would be nice to have at least a thank you."

Trump went on to note that a deal needs to be made between Israel and Hamas to end the war and return the last remaining hostages to Israel, despite many of them being dead.

"But we have a lot of bodies, and the parents want those bodies as much as they would want their child if that child were alive," Trump said of the hostages and their families.

NEWS OUTLETS ‘DESPERATELY CONCERNED’ FOR THEIR JOURNALISTS IN GAZA, URGE ISRAELI AUTHORITIES TO HELP

He suggested that Hamas is reluctant to make a deal for the final hostages because they feel it would be "the end for them" if they lose leverage against Israel.

"You know, they had a routine discussion the other day and all of a sudden they hardened up. They don't want to give them back. And so Israel is going to have to make a decision," Trump said.

The meeting comes as the IDF highlighted its efforts to deliver aid into Gaza after restricting the flow in recent months.

HAMAS LOSING IRON GRIP ON GAZA AS US-BACKED GROUP GETS AID TO PALESTINIANS IN NEED

Israel is now conducting airdrops for aid throughout the region, and the IDF says it conducted 28 drops in a matter of hours on Sunday.

"Let me be clear: Israel supports aid for civilians, not for Hamas. The IDF will continue to support the flow of humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza," an IDF spokesperson said, claiming Israel transferred roughly 250 trucks full of aid into Gaza this week.

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The IDF argues the reports about starvation in Gaza were a false campaign promoted by Hamas, but hunger is spreading across the region after the United Nations and the IDF previously failed to reach an agreement about aid distribution, Fox News’ Trey Yingst reported. 

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Colorado dentist's lover reveals staggering '4,000 texts in 18 days' during murder trial testimony

The lover of a Colorado dentist on trial for allegedly murdering his wife methodically by poisoning her protein shakes took the stand Tuesday, sharing details of their emotional affair.

Dr. Karin Cain, a Texas orthodontist, took the stand in the Aurora trial of Dr. James Toliver Craig, 47. Craig is charged with first-degree murder in the March 2023 death of his wife, 43-year-old Angela Craig. Her cause of death was determined to be lethal doses of cyanide and tetrahydrozoline.

Cain testified that she met Craig at a dental conference in Las Vegas in February 2023. At the time, she had just finalized her divorce after 27 years of marriage and was adjusting to life as a single mother of two adult children. 

"This was the first man I had a one-on-one convo with in 30 years," she told the jury.

COLORADO DENTIST DRUGGED WIFE YEARS BEFORE ALLEGED POISONING MURDER, FRIEND TESTIFIES

The two struck up a conversation while waiting for a shuttle to a conference dinner. 

"He was honest and vulnerable," Cain recalled, describing how Craig shared information about his children and about his divorce. Craig, at his time of meeting Cain in February 2023, was not divorced.

She said his sincerity made her relax, and the two shared dinner two times during the conference. Cain testified that their relationship turned physically intimate during the trip, though she insisted there was no sexual activity. 

"We made out," she said.

Afterward, she pulled back, feeling things were moving too fast.

"I told him that I wouldn’t sleep with anyone unless he was my ‘forever person,'" she told the jury. Craig told her that her boundaries were "reasonable."

Despite the pause, Cain said they texted and called incessantly, and the pair exchanged more than 4,000 text messages over just 18 days.

"He said things that made me feel great," Cain admitted.

Three days into the blossoming relationship, Craig told her that he loved her.

"I’ve fallen in love with you so deeply that the list of attributes has become endless," he wrote.

She said that his messages were often spiritual, and when they spoke on the phone, she heard him praying over his children.

Cain admitted some of their many texts became "sexting."

"He said, ‘I know I can be all right without you. But I don’t want to be,’" Cain recalled. 

"I’m going to try to get through this day without being too turned on the whole time," Craig wrote, according to text messages read in court Tuesday.

Cain admitted, "Yes, some texts became sexting."

DENTIST ACCUSED OF POISONING WIFE’S SHAKE SAID HE GAVE HER 'TOO MUCH PROTEIN': CO-WORKER

In late February, Craig texted, "Soñar conmigo, my eternal love. May Heaven let us bloom together forever."

Cain said their relationship felt "right," saying she believed that James and Angela Craig were separated and close to finalizing their divorce. She said she believed James Craig was living separately in an apartment.

On Feb. 28, Craig complained Angela was upset after spotting a restaurant charge "big enough to cover two people." 

He texted, "I don’t think she understands what it means to be getting divorced." 

Cain began to worry about their relationship, texting Craig, "Maybe she’s not on the same page as you." 

"This is scary. I didn’t want to be part of breaking up a marriage," she wrote.

Craig replied: "I didn’t tell her anything about you."

When prosecutors asked if she saw any red flags in early 2023, Cain answered, "No. Not even in the days or weeks after. Now I do. But at the time? I missed it all." 

She shared her excitement with friends but kept the romance hidden from her children.

Craig frequently texted poetic love notes and confessed to past infidelity as a "mistake." 

He also told Cain, "I could see myself asking you to marry me." 

She replied, "I could see myself saying yes." 

Cain and Craig maintained a long-distance texting relationship until Cain made plans to visit him in March. She ended up postponing her flight due to Angela being sick.

Cain’s flight was rescheduled for March 16-20, 2023.

Craig texted Cain on March 6 that Angela thought he had drugged her. 

"I would never drug you," he wrote. "Just for the record."

Cain said that she wholeheartedly believed him. She said that Craig had told her that Angela was suicidal and "had tried to take her life before."

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On March 15, Craig told her via text, "Crash. Intubated. No brain activity."

Cain replied: "No words. I love you." 

That same day, Craig asked if she would still visit and sent a covert plan for her to attend the funeral without his children knowing.

Just before midnight, he texted, "Worst case scenario, what if they decide [that] I helped her?" 

Cain reassured him, "You were at work both times she went to the ER."

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Cain flew to Colorado on March 16. She and Craig hiked, dined at a sushi spot and spent the night together. 

The next day, he left to pick burial plots while she stayed behind. They met again for dinner, and he stayed in her hotel. 

At 2 a.m. March 19, police knocked on her hotel door and arrested Craig. 

"I told them, ‘They’re divorcing,’" Cain testified.

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In April, Craig began sending her handwritten love letters from jail. 

"Karin, you have ruined me — ruined me in all the best ways," he wrote. Another said, "I die a new death every day I cannot be near you." 

Cain initially burned two of the letters but then said she turned the rest of the letters over to detectives.

She wrote one final reply, "Do not write me anymore."

On cross-examination, defense attorney David Moses pressed Cain on what she didn’t know. 

She said she had no idea Craig was still living with his wife, texting other women or had hired a prostitute in Las Vegas. 

"But he knew," Moses said.

Cain replied. "Yes."

"It was infatuation, right?" the defense asked.

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"It felt exciting, like a high school girl." Cain said. "It felt like love."

A prosecutor closed by mentioning Craig’s lies about still being married, still living at home and hiring a prostitute during the initial Las Vegas business trip. 

"Yes," Cain said, "a lot of what the defendant told me wasn’t true."

Carrie Hageseth, a Lyft driver and single mother, testified Wednesday that she met Craig on Seeking.com and the pair fell into a "sugar babies" relationship. In a statement to Fox News Digital, a spokesperson for Seeking.com said it is not a "sugar babies" website and it "strictly prohibit(s)" any form of transactional dating.

"Our dating platform helps members build meaningful relationships based on shared ambitions and what truly makes them happy, be it romance, travel, luxury, freedom or whatever it is they aspire to in their connections," the spokesperson said.

During one dinner, she testified, Craig referenced the movie "The Purge," in which there is one day when everyone can kill whomever they want without consequence.

Craig, she testified, said that if he could "purge" someone, it would be his wife. 

He went into detail, Hageseth testified, describing how a person could be killed via injection without consequence.

Hageseth went into the intimate details of their "arrangement," sharing that Craig paid for her daughter’s car in exchange for sex.

Fox News Digital has reached out to James Craig's lead attorney, Lisa Fine Moses, for comment.

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Artist pulls art from Smithsonian gallery after museum tries to alter her trans Statue of Liberty painting

The artist who painted former First Lady Michelle Obama’s official White House portrait has pulled her latest show from a D.C. Museum this week after the space’s owners wanted to alter one of her works to avoid offending President Donald Trump, The New York Times reported Thursday.

Artist Amy Sherald withdrew her solo show from the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery after she was told her painting "Trans Forming Liberty" — a depiction of the Statue of Liberty as a trans woman — may be removed by the gallery.

"I entered into this collaboration in good faith, believing that the institution shared a commitment to presenting work that reflects the full, complex truth of American life. Unfortunately, it has become clear that the conditions no longer support the integrity of the work as conceived," Sherald said in a letter to Smithsonian secretary Lonnie Bunch III.

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Sherald painted the portrait of Obama currently owned by the National Portrait Gallery. The work, which is a grayscale image of the former First Lady that features some brighter colors near the bottom of her floor-length dress, generated controversy when it was unveiled in 2018. 

Critics online savaged the more abstract elements of the portrait, and some ripped the work for not looking anything like Obama. 

Courting controversy once again, Sherald refused to have "Trans Forming Liberty" altered or removed from her "American Sublime" gallery that was set to debut at the museum in September. In a statement she produced Thursday that was shared with Fox News Digital, the artist said she was "informed that concerns had been raised internally" about the work. 

"These concerns led to discussions about removing the work from the exhibition," she said. "While no single person is to blame, it's clear that institutional fear shaped by a broader climate of political hostility toward trans lives played a role."

In a separate statement obtained by The Times, Sherald said that Bunch had proposed replacing the transgender depiction with a video of people reacting to it — an idea the artist rejected.

"When I understood a video would replace the painting, I decided to cancel," she said. "The video would have opened up for debate the value of trans visibility and I was opposed to that being a part of the ‘American Sublime’ narrative."

WHITE HOUSE VOWS TO IMPLEMENT 'SYSTEM OF MERIT' IN US, DISMANTLE DEI 'STRANGULATION'

However, a Smithsonian spokesperson disputed Sherald’s account of Bunch’s proposed alterations.

"The video was to accompany the painting as a way to contextualize the piece, "It was not to replace Amy Sherald’s painting," they said in a statement. 

When asked for comment, the Smithsonian pointed Fox News Digital to its recent statement on the matter. 

"While we understand Amy’s decision to withdraw her show from the National Portrait Gallery, we are disappointed that Smithsonian audiences will not have an opportunity to experience ‘American Sublime,'" it read.

"Unfortunately, we could not come to an agreement with the artist. We remain appreciative and inspired by Ms. Sherald, her artwork and commitment to portraiture," it added.

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Sherald’s exit comes after Trump signed an executive order in March to remove leftist ideology and historical revisionism from government institutions. In the order, he called out the Smithsonian for having "come under the influence of a divisive, race-centered ideology."

"This shift has promoted narratives that portray American and Western values as inherently harmful and oppressive," he added. 

Trump also declared he would be firing the Portrait Gallery’s director, Kim Sajet, for being a "strong supporter of D.E.I." Sajet resigned from her role in June.

The White House provided Fox News Digital with a quote from Trump admin official Lindsey Halligan blasting Sherald's artwork.

"The ‘Trans Forming Liberty’ painting, which sought to reinterpret one of our nation’s most sacred symbols through a divisive and ideological lens, fundamentally strayed from the mission and spirit of our national museums. The Statue of Liberty is not an abstract canvas for political expression — it is a revered and solemn symbol of freedom, inspiration, and national unity that defines the American spirit."

She added, "President Trump’s Executive Order mandates that such institutions serve not as platforms for ideological division, but as sources of unity, inspiration and pride of our shared history. The removal of this exhibit is a principled and necessary step toward restoring that purpose."

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Epstein files divide House Republicans in growing 'summer of discontent'

William Shakespeare wrote about "the winter of our discontent" in Richard III. The line which follows that famous quotation suggests a grim winter morphed into a "glorious summer" and that "the clouds" are now "in the deep bosom of the ocean buried."

Well, that "glorious summer" may have dissipated for House Republicans.

2025 is now the summer of discontent. The party is cleaved over the Epstein files.

Or, as the Bard might say, "To release or not to release. That is the question."

‘CLEAR CORRUPTION’: JEFFRIES FACES COMPLAINT FOR PRESSING JUDGES TO OUST ALINA HABBA 

Many Republicans want the Epstein issue to disappear. But there’s a cohort of conservative House Republicans – well tapped into the MAGA base – who are apoplectic that the Trump administration hasn’t coughed up the files. That group of lawmakers represents a core component of the Trump coalition which prevailed last year. And it’s growing more disaffected by the day.

"I don't think this issue is going away over August," said Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky. "You don't lose your base over one single thing. But [President Donald Trump] is eroding his base. More importantly, if we don't take the right side of this issue, it's going to cost us votes in the midterms. People are becoming despondent. They're apathetic."

Massie teamed several weeks ago with Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., to compel the House to vote to demand the release of the files. But that measure doesn’t ripen until late this week. But if the House isn’t in session…

MARK GREEN RESIGNS FROM CONGRESS, FURTHER SHRINKING HOUSE GOP MAJORITY 

Democrats were more than happy to egg on the Epstein file effort – especially since some Republicans were upset with Johnson and how GOP leaders handled the issue.

"I’m not quite certain what his strategy is," mused House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., about Massie. "I don't understand Thomas Massie's motivation. I really don’t know how his mind works."

But House GOP leaders cut the House loose a day earlier than planned for the five-and-a-half week "August recess." Johnson characterized August as "arguably the most important work month on our calendar" as Republicans try to meet with constituents and tout passage of the "big, beautiful bill." Johnson called releasing the Epstein files running "roughshod."

By Wednesday, Johnson gaggled with the congressional press corps to combat the narrative that the House was letting out early to avoid dealing with the Epstein issue.

"The published schedule of Congress was decided in December 2024. And it's been published ever since. We are fulfilling the calendar," said Johnson.

But the House didn’t convene for votes as scheduled on Thursday. And even some Republicans weren’t buying Johnson’s argument.

"I guess we're getting tired of these two-hour work weeks up here," complained Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn. "I'm sick of it. I came here to work."

But the impasse over the Epstein files forced the House to scrap a bill by Rep. Stephanie Bice, R-Okla., to bolster penalties against persons who enter the U.S. illegally and are deported – and then try to come back. That’s one of the reasons the House cashed out Thursday from the schedule.

"I want to get some of these issues put to bed. Certainly the Epstein one seems to be the topic du jour. We’ve got to get past that," said Bice. "We have to come to some sort of resolution. Sooner rather than later. We cannot let this drag on."

But with the House done, that subject – which should be a layup for House Republicans – will remain in abeyance until after the recess.

Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., didn’t mind the House cutting town early.

"We weren't going to do that much this week anyway," said Norman.

But he pointed out how Democrats were suddenly championing the Epstein issue because the mischief put Republicans in a fix and potentially caused headaches for Trump.

"The Democrats are trying to use this as a wedge issue This is the only thing they've got," said Norman.

Massie said his resolution with Khanna would ripen for a vote when the House reconvenes in September. He suggested it would marinate under the hot, August sun.

"Dogs don't bark at parked cars, right? This bill is moving. This is coming to a vote. We've got enough Republican co-sponsors of the bill. Twice as many as we need right now," said Massie. "We’re going to force a vote on it. It's not going away."

In fact, as the House tried to take its last votes until September, Rep. Summer Lee, D-Penn., sprang a vote on the House Oversight Subcommittee on Federal Law Enforcement, requiring a subpoena of the Epstein files.

"I expect my Republican colleagues to care about this because their constituents certainly care about child sex trafficking, whether it's through the immigration system like this hearing alleges, or by a U.S. citizen facilitating other powerful U.S. citizens. It's time for them to prove it right now," said Lee.

The Pennsylvania Democrat could read the room. Conservative Republicans interested in the Epstein files comprised the membership of the panel: Rep. Clay Higgins, R-La., is the subcommittee chairman. Reps. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo.; Paul Gosar, R-Ariz.; Brian Jack, R-Ga.; Nancy Mace, R-S.C.; Andy Biggs, R-Ariz.; and Scott Perry, R-Penn., made up the rest of the GOP roster.

The panel voted 8-2 to subpoena the Epstein files – but only after Perry amended Lee’s plan by simultaneously issuing subpoenas for former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former FBI Directors James Comey and Robert Mueller, along with former Attorneys General Loretta Lynch, Eric Holder, Merrick Garland, Bill Barr, Jeff Sessions, and Alberto Gonzales.

In short, this isn’t going away.

The House Appropriations Committee scheduled a "markup session" for Thursday to prepare the annual Commerce, Justice and Science spending bill for the floor. But leaders abruptly canceled that meeting Wednesday night. Some of it was due to "exhaustion," as members have been lingering in Washington so long this summer. Some of it was because the House canceled votes. Appropriations Committee members didn’t want to be in Washington. But the other component was the threat of Epstein-related amendments.

So, they pulled the plug.

This came after both Johnson and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., made a point of telling reporters that committees would still meet – even though the House canceled votes for the rest of the week.

"We have nine or ten committees working through, markups this week. Many tomorrow," said Johnson on Wednesday.

"We're going to have committee meetings through Thursday. And there's still a lot of work being done," said Scalise. "Most members know that the work of Congress is mostly done in committee."

But not this time.

Granted, the House Oversight Committee took closed-door testimony from former Biden administration Chief of Staff Ron Klain about President Joe Biden’s cognitive abilities. But that was about it for the House.

"Today marks the first day of the House embarking on their Epstein recess," declared Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. "And already the story Republicans hoped would quietly fade is growing louder by the hour."

"It's going to keep percolating," predicted Khanna. "This is just breathing more life."

August is often a news vacuum. And so something has to fill the void. The Epstein files could be it.

And that only fuels the summer of discontent.

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Washington Post abandons newsroom integration for its social media-focused 'WP Ventures' division

The Washington Post informed staffers on Tuesday that the paper’s "third newsroom," dubbed WP Ventures, would undergo significant changes.

The Post last year announced a vague plan to introduce a "third newsroom" that was separate from both the paper’s traditional news and opinion sections and appealed to social media users. Less than a year after its launch, Krissah Thompson, who was running WP Ventures, took the Post’s latest voluntary separation package and will exit the company at the end of the month. 

Thompson's exit coincides with the "next iteration of WP Ventures," which will be completely separated from the paper’s newsroom because "the industry has shifted." 

WASHINGTON POST CEO URGES STAFFERS WHO DON'T 'FEEL ALIGNED' WITH PAPER'S NEW DIRECTION TO TAKE BUYOUT

"A year ago, we set out to understand and respond to the evolving dynamics of news, specifically off-platform and within the creator space. We formally launched WP Ventures in January, with a focus on reach, relevance, and revenue: expanding our presence on social media and creating new commercial opportunities, especially for consumer and lifestyle journalism. Even as we have pursued that effort, the industry has shifted," WP Ventures general manager Samantha Henig wrote to staffers in a joint memo alongside Thompson. 

The memo, which has been obtained by Fox News Digital, insists the project "was always intended for continuous evolution and has always been experimental."

LONGTIME WASHINGTON POST COLUMNIST QUITS PAPER, SLAMS GROWING EDITORIAL CONSTRAINTS UNDER BEZOS

"It’s become clear that in order to most effectively operate in this new environment, we should double down on the original premise of creating a third space alongside — but outside — the newsroom and Opinion. So the next iteration of WP Ventures will be developed apart from The Post newsroom," Henig and Thompson wrote. 

Chief Strategy Officer Suzi Watford will now oversee WP Ventures.

"Going forward, we will focus entirely on building personality-driven content and franchises around personalities in topic areas that are of interest to our target audience of Confident Strivers, and with strong commercial opportunities. This could include audio, video, newsletters, and events. We will responsibly embrace AI to tell and promote stories in new ways and at scale on new platforms," Henig and Thompson wrote. 

JEFF BEZOS' TENURE AS WASHINGTON POST OWNER IN SPOTLIGHT AS PAPER GRAPPLES WITH LOW MORALE, STAFFER EXODUS

The memo concluded: "Not all of Ventures will be making this move. The teams that are deeply tied to the newsroom will remain in the newsroom. We will be meeting with all teams over the coming days to discuss the transition plan after Krissah’s departure. And we will have more details on what this next phase and this new team look like in the coming weeks and months." 

The changes to WP Ventures come as the Post has faced an unprecedented exodus of its top talent, low morale and wholesale changes to the Opinion section. 

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Alabama Christian school teacher, 35, accused of sexual relationship with student

A teacher at an Alabama Christian school was arrested Friday after she was accused of having a sexual relationship with a student, an incident the school described as "heart rending for all involved."

North River Christian Academy, a private Pre-K-12 school in Tuscaloosa, on Friday posted a statement online about the arrest and allegations against "a former employee."

The Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s Office confirmed to Fox News Digital on Wednesday that deputies arrested Sarah Huggins Logan, 35, on Friday and charged her with one count of a school employee engaging in a sex act.

The parents of the student alerted authorities on Wednesday that their juvenile daughter was involved in a sexual relationship with a teacher, Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit (VCU) Capt. Jack Kennedy told Fox News Digital in a statement.

FORMER PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER, 33, CHARGED AFTER 'PROLONGED PATTERN OF ABUSE' WITH TEEN BOY

The VCU’s Sexual Assault Section launched an investigation and obtained warrants for Logan after conducting interviews and recovering evidence, the statement said. 

No details about the victim or what evidence investigators uncovered were immediately provided. Kennedy confirmed that Logan was no longer an employee of the school.

The school said it was made aware of the allegations earlier in the week and alerted state and local authorities. The school added it has been cooperating with the agencies’ investigation.

MICHIGAN TEACHER, 26, FACING CHARGES AFTER ALLEGEDLY TELLING COWORKER SHE HAD SEX WITH 16-YEAR-OLD STUDENT

"Our first concern is for the health and welfare of our students, staff, and families," the school said. "Please respect the privacy of all these parties. Contributing to rumors and suspicions profits no one and contributes only to the hardships experienced by those impacted."

"It should be self-evident to say that this incident is heart rending for all involved," the school continued. "This includes especially the families directly impacted. We have prayed for them and encouraged our entire school family to hold them up in their personal prayers. This situation is easy for no one; there are only degrees of difficulty."

Kennedy said that there may be more victims and encouraged them to speak with investigators.

The sheriff’s investigation is ongoing, and more charges could be forthcoming.

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Columbia University disciplines 70 students more than a year after violent library takeover

Columbia University on Monday finally disciplined more than 70 students for their involvement in unruly pro-Palestine demonstrations that took place on campus several months ago, sources revealed to Fox News Tuesday.

The "disruptions," which Columbia also referred to as "high-volume events," included the May 7 riots at Butler Library, an encampment during Alumni Weekend in spring 2024, and three other chaotic events in spring 2024.

Fox News learned two-thirds of the more than 70 students were expelled or suspended, according to sources.

TRUMP ADMIN ALLEGES COLUMBIA VIOLATED CIVIL RIGHTS LAW WITH 'DELIBERATE INDIFFERENCE' TO CAMPUS PROTESTS

The decision marks the first since the university judicial board was moved under the provost's office, a change mandated by the White House after the Joint Task Force to Combat Antisemitism launched its probe into the Ivy League school.

School officials claimed that "immediately following the disruption" at Butler Library during reading period, which affected hundreds of students attempting to study, the university began an investigation into rules violations, banned participating individuals from affiliated institutions and non-affiliates from campus, and placed Columbia participants on interim suspension. 

"The University Judicial Board held hearings, in which respondents had an opportunity to be heard and make their case, and then determined findings and issued sanctions approximately 10 weeks following the incident," Columbia University wrote in a statement.

COLUMBIA SUSPENDS ANTI-ISRAEL AGITATORS AFTER TAKEOVER, SPREADING OF PAMPHLETS GLORIFYING ALLEGED TERRORIST

The sanctions, issued July 21 by the university judicial board, were determined by a UJB panel of professors and administrators over the summer.

While the university does not release individual disciplinary results of any student, it said the sanctions from the Butler Library riot include probation, suspensions (ranging from one year to three years), degree revocations and expulsions. 

COLUMBIA FACULTY RIGHTS GROUP CONDEMNS UNIVERSITY'S HANDLING OF LIBRARY TAKEOVER: 'AUTHORITARIAN ETHOS'

"Over the past year, the University has worked to strengthen and clarify the disciplinary process for our community and devoted significant resources to the Rules Administration, including the development of an Office of Rules Administration, and situating the University Judicial Board and Rules process and the interpretation and modification of the Rules in the Office of the Provost," the university wrote in a statement. "These structural reforms are currently in place … have helped to provide that the University’s Rules are applied and enforced fairly, consistently, and effectively, and that the Rules process operates more expeditiously."

Fox News Digital reported Israeli Columbia University professor Shai Davidai left the school earlier this month, citing ongoing frustration with anti-Israel protests on campus.

COLUMBIA'S ACTING PRESIDENT SLAMS STORMING OF CAMPUS LIBRARY BY ANTI-ISRAEL AGITATORS: 'UTTERLY UNACCEPTABLE'

An unfounded investigation claimed he "repeatedly harassed and intimidated" students during an Oct. 7 anniversary protest in 2024, prompting his suspension. 

The administration also allegedly banned him from the school’s main campus in April 2024 after he coordinated a pro-Israel demonstration against anti-Israel protesters.

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Columbia leadership emphasized "respect for each other," noting disruptions to academic activities are in violation of university policies and rules.

"Such violations will necessarily generate consequences," the school wrote. "The speed with which our updated UJB system has offered an equitable resolution to the community and students involved is a testament to the hard work of this institution to improve its processes."

Fox News Digital's Lindsay Kornick contributed to this report.

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ABC's Martha Raddatz admits Trump border policies 'certainly working' in stemming migrant flow

ABC News correspondent Martha Raddatz hit the Los Angeles mayor with a surprising fact-check on the success of President Donald Trump’s immigration agenda on Sunday.

After airing an interview that she had with Democratic Mayor Karen Bass, Raddatz disputed her claim that Trump’s immigration crackdown hasn't been successful.

"And whatever they’re doing is certainly working at the border itself," the reporter said on ABC News, responding to Bass’ take.

'TRUMP EFFECT' TOUTED AS SOUTHERN BORDER NUMBERS STAY LOW, INCLUDING NEW RECORD

The network aired a segment of the interview where Raddatz asked the mayor about Trump's use of Immigration and Customs Enforcement to detain illegal immigrants in her city.

"Los Angeles is a city of immigrants, 3.8 million people, and about 50% of our population is Latino," Bass said. "And so, when the raids started, fear spread. Fear spread like a virus around the entire county."

Raddatz followed up, asking, "Is there anything good you think the administration has done in these six months at the border?"

NEW DATA REVEALS BORDER CROSSINGS REACH RECORD LOWS AMID TRUMP ADMIN'S CRACKDOWN

The mayor replied the administration did well when responding to the L.A. fires that ravaged the county in January.

"[But] if you ask me, is there anything that they have done good in terms of immigration? I don’t know, I don’t think so. I think that the viewpoint has been punitive, has been, ‘Let’s make it as miserable as possible so that these people don’t come,'" Bass said.

Following the interview clip, Raddatz disputed Bass’ statement, saying that the Trump administration’s crackdown has produced dramatic results on the U.S. southern border.

"We were down on that border, and it is dramatically, dramatically different than it was a year ago," she declared.

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As U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported earlier this month, June 2025 saw the lowest number of southern border crossings in U.S. history.

Nationwide, there were 25,228 CBP encounters, the lowest monthly number the agency has recorded, including a "historical low" of 8,024 apprehensions. Encounters include legal ports of entry, whereas apprehensions are arrests of those coming into the United States illegally.

The Biden administration, on the other hand, saw record numbers of illegal border crossings during its term. Dec. 2023 was the "worst month for encounters of inadmissible aliens on the southern border in U.S. history – 251,178," The Heritage Foundation wrote last week. 

The mayor's office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. 

Fox News Digital's Cameron Arcand contributed to this report.

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Poll Position: Mamdani's the frontrunner, but isn't running away with NYC mayoral race just yet

The winner of the New York City Democratic primary for mayor is traditionally considered the overwhelming frontrunner in the general election.

That's because Democrats outnumber Republicans roughly six-to-one in the nation's most populous city.

However, that's not the case this year, one month after democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani, the 33-year-old Ugandan-born, state assemblyman from Queens, stunned the political world by topping former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and nine other candidates in a come-from-behind primary victory to capture the nomination.

President Donald Trump believes that Cuomo, who last week officially announced he would continue his mayoral bid as an independent candidate, has a solid chance of defeating Mamdani, whom the president has repeatedly claimed is a "communist."

"I would think that he would have a good shot at winning," the president told reporters at the White House last week, a day after Cuomo's announcement.

MAMDANI ON EXTENDED AFRICA TRIP AMID NYC MAYORAL CAMPAIGN

A handful of polls conducted this month in New York City suggest that Mamdani is the frontrunner, but that he is far from running away with the race. The surveys indicate Mamdani ahead of Cuomo anywhere from around 15 points to as few as three points.

Trailing Mamdani and Cuomo in the surveys are Mayor Eric Adams, the embattled incumbent who announced earlier this year that he would seek re-election as an independent candidate, and Guardian Angels co-founder Curtis Sliwa, who for a second straight election is the Republican mayoral nominee.

CUOMO QUIPS ‘EVEN I WILL MOVE TO FLORIDA’ IF MAMDANI WINS NYC MAYORAL BID

Also on the ballot in the general election is Jim Walden, a former federal prosecutor running as an independent.

Walden has proposed that an independent survey be conducted in September to determine which candidate would have the best shot of defeating Mamdani, with the other candidates agreeing to drop out.

Cuomo has embraced the idea, with Adams and Sliwa not signing on board.

Having the former governor, who resigned in 2021 amid multiple scandals, and Adams, who has faced a slew of controversies since winning election as mayor four years ago, both agreeing that such a scenario seems remote, both have urged the other to exit the race.

"We have to put our political ambitions in the backseat to the interests of New Yorkers," Walden said this past weekend in an interview with Fox News' Bryan Llenas.

POTUS THE PUNDIT: TRUMP SAYS CUOMO'S GOT A 'GOOD SHOT' OF BEATING MAMDANI

He charged that the other candidates "right now, they're putting their own political ambitions above New Yorkers."

Since his Democratic Party nomination victory, some of the unions and elected officials that supported Cuomo in the primary are now backing Mamdani.

Mamdani, who was backed by progressive champions Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, surged to a primary victory thanks to an energetic campaign that put a major focus on affordability and New York City's high cost of living.

Mamdani made smart use of social media platforms, including TikTok, as he engaged low-propensity voters. He proposed eliminating fares to ride New York City's vast bus system, making CUNY (City University of New York) "tuition-free," freezing rents on municipal housing, offering "free childcare" for children up to age 5 and setting up government-run grocery stores.

Republicans have targeted Mamdani and tried to turn him into the new face of the Democratic Party. They aim to anchor him to vulnerable Democrats across the country running in elections this year and next year.

Republicans have spotlighted recent news items regarding Mamdani that have gone viral. They include a 2020 photo Mamdani posted online that shows him flipping off a statue of Christopher Columbus, stories about comments Mamdani made last December when he said as mayor he would arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his recent comments in a cable news interview that "I have many critiques of capitalism."

"I don’t think that race is over yet. We do have a couple of people running. There are things coming out about him," Trump said last week, as he referred to Mamdani.

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Chris Paul, Clippers agree on deal in last push for NBA title: reports

NBA star Chris Paul will reportedly sign a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Clippers in a potential final bid to win a championship.

Paul and the Clippers agreed to the deal as the point guard had multiple teams interested in his services, ESPN reported on Monday. He previously spent six seasons with Los Angeles from 2011 to 2017.

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The All-Star will be entering Year 21 of his future Hall of Fame career. But the Clippers will mark his fourth team in four years. He was with the Phoenix Suns in 2022-23 before he played with the Golden State Warriors in 2023-24 and then the San Antonio Spurs last season.

He played and started all 82 games for the Spurs, however, and averaged 8.8 points and 7.4 assists on a team anchored by Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle.

Paul is a 12-time All-Star, an 11-time All-NBA First-Team selection and was named to the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team. Yet, he still has not been on a championship team. The closest he came was when he was with the Suns in the 2020-21 season. Phoenix made the NBA Finals but lost to the Milwaukee Bucks in six games.

10 STARS WITH HALL-OF-FAME TALENT WHOSE CAREERS WERE STUNTED BY INJURIES

The Clippers have never made the NBA Finals in the history of their franchise.

Paul will join a Clippers team that has Kawhi Leonard, James Harden and the recently acquired Bradley Beal.

Los Angeles positioned itself as a legitimate title contender but will have to get through the reigning champs, the Oklahoma City Thunder.

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ICE director blames left-wing 'rhetoric' for rise in attacks on immigration officers

Acting ICE director Todd Lyons blamed rhetoric from "elected officials" for the rise in attacks against immigration officers on Sunday.

Lyons made the comments during an interview with CBS' "Face the Nation" that aired Sunday, tying the increased violence to President Donald Trump's political opponents.

"I think the sharp increase in the rhetoric, especially from a lot of elected officials, that are shaming, if you will, or speaking out against ICE law enforcement mission is what's really increasing these attacks on officers," he said.

Lyons noted that there has been an 830% increase in assaults on officers compared to 2024.

ICE AGENT SHARES FEARS ABOUT FAMILY SAFETY AS ASSAULTS ON OFFICIALS SURGE

He added that the spike in violence is also due to ICE officers being more "visible" in communities across the country as Trump's deportation campaign expands.

"The immigration mission is one of the forefront of this administration, so there is a lot of scrutiny and publicity to it," Lyons said.

NO CAGES, DUE PROCESS RIGHTS INTACT: ICE AGENTS SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT ON TRUMP'S IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT

The official also confirmed that ICE is not limiting its arrests to illegal immigrants who have been convicted of a separate crime. He said many illegal immigrants without criminal records have been taken in as "collateral arrests" during operations targeting violent migrants.

Nevertheless, he added that ICE "targets the worst of the worst."

ICE officers themselves have spoken out about the increased violence and criticism they have faced under the new administration.

"It has been very sad to see how we're villainized, the names used towards us," officer Kristian Moreno told "My View" host Lara Trump on Fox News this weekend.

"Just doing this [interview] right now, I had to talk to my family about it and say, 'Hey, this is something that I believe in, something I think is important for us to get our stories out there and let the American public know we're humans.' We got a job to do. We're just enforcing the law. We're not making up the law, and it's sad, but we just keep pushing through it," he added.

He and officers Edgardo Centeno and Chris Sandoval shared their perspectives on the violence ICE officers risk daily.

"We have to do our job. We raised our hands to defend the Constitution, and we're enforcing the law, so we're adjusting as we see what's going on in our country, but it's saddening my heart, especially when you serve in combat and come back and see your country so divided," Centeno said.

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Washington Post editorial connects misinformation by Biden to why people believe conspiracy theories

In an article published Friday, The Washington Post editorial board linked misinformation from President Joe Biden’s administration to a growing acceptance of conspiracy theories among the American public.

The editorial argued that the Biden administration's efforts to pressure social media companies into suppressing the information contained on Hunter Biden's laptop, as well as covering up for the former president's apparent cognitive decline, has led to the public losing trust in government institutions.

"In 2020, a group of 51 former intelligence officials shredded their credibility by signing a public letter insisting the release of Hunter Biden’s emails ‘has all the classic earmarks of a Russian information operation.’ The laptop that contained them was authentic. Joe Biden’s campaign knew that when it pressured social media companies to suppress stories about its damaging contents. These same operatives also covered up Biden’s decline in hopes of winning in 2024," the editorial board insisted.

WASHINGTON POST DECLARES AMERICANS DESERVE THOROUGH INVESTIGATION INTO BIDEN'S HEALTH, POSSIBLE COVER-UP

Fox News Digital reached out to representatives of the former president for comment. 

The editorial was titled, "Conspiracy theories take root when government misleads." 

According to the Post, this mistrust of the government among the public started a long time ago and has only gotten worse as time went on.

They noted that at the time Lee Harvey Oswald killed former President John F. Kennedy, three-quarters of Americans trusted the federal government to do the right thing, at least most of the time. From 2007 on, that number has never eclipsed 30%.

The Post tied this drop-off in trust to the United States' preemptive invasion of Iraq, "based on cherry-picked intelligence about weapons of mass destruction."

"Trump’s 2016 victory was partly a response to these and other failures," they argued.

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The editorial board speculated that previous fumbles of the public's trust, such as the Pentagon Papers and the federal government's stonewalling surrounding the CIA's connection to Oswald, have exacerbated the public's suspicions of President Donald Trump's handling of the Epstein files.

Citing a Reuters-Ipsos poll released this week, 69% of Americans believe that the federal government is hiding details about the Epstein files. Another poll, by CNN, showed that only 3% of Americans are satisfied with the information the government has released about the case.

While the Post editorial board is critical of the government's propensity to erode its trust with the public by misleading them with misinformation, it doesn't believe that the government should start releasing information "willy-nilly" to satisfy conspiracy theorists. 

"Even if the full Epstein file were opened and revealed nothing of interest to the public, it probably would not deter fabulists from spinning new theories," they asserted. "But Americans would not be so receptive to such theorizing had elite institutions avoided some of their spectacular stumbles — or if U.S. leaders refrained from amplifying them. The government’s long-term challenge is to rebuild trust with the public. At the moment, too many officials are eroding it further."

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At least 34 dead after tourist boat capsizes during violent thunderstorm in Vietnam

At least 34 people are dead after a sudden thunderstorm caused a tourist boat to capsize in Vietnam on Saturday, according to local reports. 

The vessel, named Wonder Seas, was carrying 48 passengers and five crew members during a sightseeing excursion of Ha Long Bay, a popular destination for visitors, according to reports cited by The Associated Press. 

Rescue workers saved 11 people and recovered the dead near the site of the capsizing, VNExpress newspaper said. Search teams are frantically looking for the missing victims of the disaster. 

AT LEAST 2 DEAD, 43 MISSING AFTER FERRY SINKS NEAR BALI

Video footage shows two exasperated survivors being rescued on a smaller boat as choppy waters rock the vessel from side to side, illustrating the rough conditions at sea. 

Footage also shows several people standing on the hull of the capsized Wonder Sea boat waiting to be rescued.

The boat turned upside down because of strong winds, the newspaper said. A 14-year-old boy was among the survivors, and he was rescued four hours after being trapped in the overturned hull. 

"Even though the ship overturned and the passenger compartment was locked, there was still a gap of about 50-60 cm [20 to 24 inches], enough for oxygen to enter so the baby was still alive," Bui Cong Hoan, deputy branch of the Ha Long Cruise Ship Association, told VNExpress.

"Rescuers then broke the window and put the victim in a rescue boat."

Hospital director Le Ngoc Dung said that a 10-year-old boy was also among those saved and is currently in a stable condition at Bai Chay Hospital, according to the outlet. 

HUMAN REMAINS FOUND IN SUNKEN BOAT BRING CLOSURE TO TEXAS FAMILY'S ALASKA TRAGEDY

A group of 15 divers went into the sea to search for victims and survivors. 

An eyewitness told AFP news agency that the sky darkened around 2 p.m. local time on Saturday.

There were "hailstones as big as toes with torrential rain, thunderstorm and lightning", he said, per the BBC.

It does not appear that any Americans were on board. Fox News Digital has reached out to the State Department for clarification,

Ha Long Bay is located in Quang Ninh Province in northern Vietnam and is one of the country’s most iconic natural landmarks, featuring more than 1,600 limestone islands and islets. "Ha Long," means "Descending Dragon," and local folklore says the islands were formed by a dragon's tail crashing into the sea.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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GOP senator reveals the 'dirty' secret to Trump's Make America Healthy Again movement

FIRST ON FOX: For one lawmaker, the path to making Americans healthier starts in the dirt.

Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., has styled himself as an early adopter of the Make America Healthy Again movement, a political slogan born on the 2024 campaign trail that has since seen major companies tweak their products to nix artificial additives.

But Marshall sees the initiative, commonly known as MAHA, as one that can start sooner than switching the oil in deep friers or swapping out high-fructose corn syrup for cane sugar in soda.

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He has his own four pillars of MAHA, which include dialing up efficiency in agriculture; healthier, more nutrient-rich food; affordable access to primary care healthcare; and addressing mental health challenges among young people.

But it all starts below the surface with soil health.

"Soil is a dirty topic, you know, pun intended," Marshall told Fox News Digital in an interview.

MAHA diehards and farmers are, at a surface level, at odds with one another, he said. For example, returning to an entirely organic food production process devoid of fertilizers would create healthier food, but also crank up the costs on consumers and strain farmland.

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Earlier in the week, Marshall held a roundtable with Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to try and bridge that gap.

"Soil health seems to be the common ground," he said. "So healthy soil meets healthy food meets healthy people. Rather than MAHA telling these farmers what you can and can't do, we wanted to say, ‘What's our goal here?’ If we have the same goals, then we're going to figure this out. Well, the goal is healthy soil."

Getting those two in a room together, along with experts on regenerative agriculture, which is a more holistic approach to farming that targets soil health by restoring and enhancing ecosystems, is just a part of his plan.

He also intends to drop a massive package of bills that is divided up into categories that echo his four pillars, including legislation geared toward health care, mental health, nutrition and agriculture.

Among the nearly 30 bills and amendments in the package is one Marshall is particularly keen to see codified. The Plant Biostimulant Act would spur usage of organisms that can be placed into the soil and that latch onto the roots of plants that absorb nitrates and more water, he said.

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The bill ties in directly with his passion for regenerative agriculture, which uses fewer fertilizers, water and other status-quo farming techniques to produce healthier foods on more sustainable farmland, which, in turn, would yield a cheaper, more nutritious diet for Americans.

"It's growing more with less," he said.

Among the various, bipartisan pieces of legislation from both chambers are bills that would push mobile cancer screenings with grant funding, add mental health warnings for kids scrolling through social media, require more transparency in food ingredients, expansion of employer healthcare coverage for chronic diseases, and measures that would allow bleeding edge soil health technology and processes to be considered conservation practices and eligible for Farm Bill funding, among others.

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Most bills need to get 60 votes to pass in the Senate, Marshall noted, and that led to a desire to incorporate as many bipartisan measures in the package as possible. It’s also a topic that, in spite of the political polarization in Washington, "unites us, rather than divides us."

Still, with President Donald Trump in office, he sees the chance for the measures to pass as a kind of now or never moment.

"We're seeing a time in our lives where the incidence of cancer, the age of cancer, is growing younger and younger, the age of Alzheimer's onset is growing younger and younger, and we believe it's an inflammatory reaction to the food that we're eating that leads to all that," he said.

"We think heart disease, hypertension, is really an inflammatory reaction… to the food we're eating and the constantly high sugar levels in our blood system," he continued. "So absolutely, I think, seize the moment. This is it." 

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ICE mask debate heats up as doxxing and agent assaults surge

The growing national debate over whether federal immigration agents should be allowed to wear masks during dangerous enforcement actions is intensifying into a showdown between the Trump administration, Democrats and anti-ICE activists.

The news comes as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has raised concerns about the doxxing of ICE agents, as attacks on them have skyrocketed by 830% since January, the agency said.

In a new July memo, the DHS has called on the Justice Department to prosecute anyone suspected of "doxxing" ICE agents by posting agents’ photos and personal information online or in public.

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"We will prosecute those who dox ICE agents to the fullest extent of the law. These criminals are taking the side of vicious cartels and human traffickers," DHS Secretary Kristi Noem is quoted in the memo. "We won’t allow it in America." 

In California, a bill aimed at preventing law enforcement from covering their faces passed a key committee this week, edging it one step closer to becoming state law.    

Similar bills have been introduced in Massachusetts and New York, while 21 Democrat attorneys general have also urged Congress to ban federal immigration agents from wearing masks or plainclothes during enforcement operations. 

Sens. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., and Cory Booker, D-N.J., two of the leading Capitol Hill critics of President Donald Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration, introduced legislation that would require immigration enforcement officers to clearly identify themselves without masks.

Democrats like Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Congressman Lou Correa of California have also spoken out against the facial coverings. 

"Only the bad guys wear masks, let's knock it off," Correa said.

There is currently no standalone federal statute that criminalizes doxxing, although if someone posts ICE agents’ personal info with the intent to harass, threaten or incite violence, it may violate the law. 

Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R- Tenn., last month introduced the Protecting Law Enforcement from Doxxing Act, which would make doxxing federal agents a serious crime, carrying up to five years in prison and fines.

"When their name, their operation, their work is being revealed, we will make that a federal crime," Blackburn told Fox News.

MASSACHUSETTS BILL WOULD FORCE ICE AGENTS TO UNMASK

Blackburn introduced the legislation after Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell, a Democrat, faced backlash for releasing a public report naming federal officers, which ultimately resulted in doxxing accusations.

There are also websites and social media accounts growing in notoriety that have the self-described missions of revealing who federal immigration agents are. Some cases go into great detail with photos, history and identifying information of federal immigration workers.

A current ICE special agent told Fox News that he was shocked to learn that he and his wife’s photos and their small town location were posted on a doxxing website recently. 

"My wife is home a lot with my three kids, and she doesn't have the ability to protect herself like I do," said the agent, who asked not to be identified.

The agent’s doxxing is costing his family emotionally and financially. He said that after he puts his kids to sleep at night, he walks the perimeter of his property and is constantly worried about his family at home while he’s in the field.

"We spent close to $1,000 on additional cameras for various points of our home," the agent said.

Anti-ICE activists across the U.S. have been protesting immigration enforcement, sometimes harassing ICE agents and demanding their badge numbers and the removal of their masks.  

At times, the protesters have turned violent.

ICE agents were attacked and had rocks thrown at their moving vehicles during a raid on a marijuana farm last week, while ICE agents have also come under attack outside an ICE detention facility in Portland. Law enforcement vehicles were also pelted with rocks during deportation-linked rioting in Los Angeles.

DHS accused Rep. Salud Carbajal, D-Calif., of showing a violent mob an ICE employee’s business card, prompting a mob to attack him. The official was struck by a rock and sent to the emergency room, where he received multiple stitches, DHS said. 

"Brave ICE law enforcement are risking their lives every day to keep our communities safe from the worst of the worst criminals," McLaughlin said. "ICE law enforcement are succeeding to remove terrorists, murderers, pedophiles and the most depraved among us from America’s communities, even as crazed rhetoric from gutter politicians are inspiring a massive increase in assaults against them."

"It is reprehensible that our officers are facing this threat while simply doing their jobs and enforcing the law."

Fox News’ Deirdre Heavey contributed to this report. 

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