Author: Daniel

President Donald Trump put the heat on Attorney General Pam Bondi Saturday, demanding the prosecution of a list of adversaries in a social media post that he quickly deleted.

In a now-deleted Truth Social post, the president called for charges against former FBI Director James Comey, Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., and New York Attorney General Letitia James—slamming Bondi for “all talk, no action.”

“Pam: I have reviewed over 30 statements and posts saying that, essentially, “same old story as last time, all talk, no action. Nothing is being done. What about Comey, Adam “Shifty” Schiff, Leticia??? They’re all guilty as hell, but nothing is going to be done.” 

REPUBLICANS FIXATED ON EPSTEIN ARE GETTING ‘DUPED’ BY DEMOCRATS, TRUMP INSISTS

Trump then turned his attention to the recent ousting of Erik Seibert, former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, who claimed he resigned Friday after pressure from the White House.

“We almost put in a Democrat-supported U.S. Attorney, in Virginia, with a really bad Republican past,” the president wrote in the deleted post. “A Woke RINO, who was never going to do his job. That’s why two of the worst Dem Senators PUSHED him so hard. He even lied to the media and said he quit, and that we had no case. No, I fired him, and there is a GREAT CASE, and many la[w]yers, and legal pundits, say so.”

Siebert, who had worked in the Eastern District of Virginia since 2010, had not yet been confirmed in the Senate.

BONDI SHOULD RELEASE ‘CREDIBLE’ EPSTEIN FILES, TRUMP SAYS

Trump said Bondi could not delay prosecutorial action against his opponents any longer, noting “it’s killing our reputation and credibility.”

“They impeached me twice, and indicted me (5 times!), OVER NOTHING. JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED, NOW!!!” he wrote.

DOJ BRASS VOWED FULL TRANSPARENCY ON EPSTEIN BEFORE TURNING UP EMPTY-HANDED

About an hour after the Truth Social post was sent and deleted, the president sent out a much more amiable post, commending Bondi for her “careful” work over the last eight months.

“Pam Bondi is doing a GREAT job as Attorney General of the United States,” Trump wrote in a second Truth Social post. “She is very careful, very smart, loves our Country, but needs a tough prosecutor in the Eastern District of Virginia, like my recommendation, Lindsey Halligan, to get things moving. What we don’t need is a Democrat Endorsed ‘Republican.’”

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Later, as Trump departed the White House for the American Cornerstone Institute Founder’s Dinner, he was asked by reporters whether he was upset with Bondi.

“No. I just want people to act. They have to act. But now we want to act fast. You know, they were ruthless and vicious. I was impeached twice. I was indicted five times. It turned out to be a fake deal. And we have to act fast one way or the other. One way or the other. They’re guilty. They’re not guilty,” he said. “We have to act fast. If they’re not guilty, that’s fine. If they are guilty or if they should be judged, they should be charged. And we have to do it now.”

Trump said he would be nominating Halligan to be prosecutor in Virginia.

“She will be Fair, Smart, and will provide, desperately needed, JUSTICE FOR ALL!” Trump wrote.

The Department of Justice did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

BLACKSBURG, Virgina – Researchers at Virginia Tech say man’s best friend may also be one of nature’s best defenses against an invasive pest. For the first time, a study shows that pet dogs could help stop the rapid spread of the spotted lanternfly.

Spotted lanternflies feed on different plants and excrete a sugary substance called honeydew, which promotes mold growth. They are considered so destructive that some states have launched campaigns urging residents to stomp them on sight. Experts say the real solution is to wipe out their egg masses, but those can be hard to find because they often resemble dried mud and can blend in with their surroundings. 

That’s where the dogs can come in to help with their strong sense of smell. 

“Dogs have one dominant sense. It’s their nose. We use our eyes. Dogs use their nose like their eyes,” said study participant, Katie Thomas. 

INVASIVE PESTS COULD STAGE DRAMATIC COMEBACK THIS SUMMER, EXPERTS WARN

Thomas and her nine-year-old pitbull mix, Finch, participated in the study, hoping to put their years of recreational scent work to good use. They went through indoor and outdoor tests, sniffing out egg masses, and receiving an award when Finch was right on the money. 

SPOTTED LANTERNFLY: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE INVASIVE INSECT

“To be able to do things that we already do, that we are having a lot of fun with… Train our dogs to sniff stuff, being able to apply that to something like a real problem that affects our community is really fulfilling,” said Thomas. 

The spotted lanternfly is native to Asia and was first detected in the United States in Pennsylvania over ten years ago. Since then, it has spread to 19 states, according to the USDA. 

“They are everywhere, and we need to search out the eggs. The problem is it’s too late once we have the lanternfly,” said study participant, Carolyn Shelburne. 

CALIFORNIA WINEGROWERS ON EDGE OVER PEST THAT COULD ‘DEVASTATE’ LUCRATIVE INDUSTRY

Carolyn and her 9-year-old border collie, Hermes, was one of the first five K9 and handler teams to pass their field tests. Ultimately, 182 volunteer teams across the U.S. took part in the study.

For indoor tests, dogs identified the lanternfly scent correctly more than 80% of the time. For more real-world outdoor tests, dogs identified the scent correctly more than 60% of the time. That’s still better than most human searches. 

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“Hopefully, more people will see that you can train any dog to do this, and it gives you something fun to do with your dog,” said Shelburne.

Researchers are hoping this is just the beginning for dogs to protect local environments. Even in areas where spotted laternflies aren’t a problem, dogs could be trained to sniff out other invasive species.

Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom on Saturday signed a bill banning law enforcement from wearing face coverings while conducting official business in California.

The bill, which was presented to Newsom on Wednesday, makes it a misdemeanor crime for local, state, or federal law enforcement to wear masks or personal disguises during their duties, unless an officer is undercover or performing a tactical operation that requires protective gear.

The bill would also impose a civil penalty against officers for “tortious conduct,” including false imprisonment or false arrest of an individual while wearing a facial covering. 

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE PASSES BILL PROHIBITING LAW ENFORCEMENT FROM WEARING FACE MASKS TO SHIELD IDENTITIES

Announcing the bill signing on Saturday, Newsom taunted Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, repetitively asking “what are you afraid of?”

“Unmarked cars, people in masks, people quite literally disappearing. No due process, no rights—no rights in a democracy where we have rights, immigrants have rights,” Newsom said. “We have the right to stand up and push back, and that’s what we’re doing here today. This is a disgrace. This is an outrage. What we have allowed to happen in this country. … To ICE: unmask. What are you afraid of? What are you afraid of? What are you afraid of?”

The ban comes after a series of immigration raids in Los Angeles, where federal agents were spotted wearing masks to protect their identities from being leaked.

FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT RISK THEIR LIVES DAILY — NOW SOME DEMOCRATS WANT TO MAKE IT WORSE

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin this week noted federal agents are already required to identify themselves and wear clothing that designates they are with ICE or Homeland Security markers during operations.

“Another day, another sanctuary politician pulling a stunt in attempt to get their 15 minutes of fame while endangering DHS personnel and detainees,” McLaughlin wrote. “The men and women of ICE put their lives on the line every day to arrest violent criminal illegal aliens to protect and defend the lives of American citizens.”

The agency is experiencing a 1,000% surge in assaults against ICE officers, leading to concerns about their safety and their families’ safety, according to McLaughlin.

LOS ANGELES COUNTY PUSHES TO PROHIBIT LAW ENFORCEMENT FROM HIDING THEIR IDENTITIES WHILE ON THE JOB

Several states have introduced similar legislation, including Tennessee, Michigan, Illinois, New York, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, according to a report from the Associated Press.

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It is unclear how the new California bill will be enforced.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s press office came under intense scrutiny Saturday after posting a remark on social media about Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem that was ultimately referred to the U.S. Secret Service for a threat assessment.

In a cryptic X post on Saturday, Newsom’s press office claimed that Noem “have a bad day today,” drawing swift criticism from conservatives such as DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin and Acting U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, Bill Essayli.

NEWSOM SAYS TRUMP HAS ‘RELENTLESS, UNHINGED’ OBSESSION WITH CALIFORNIA DURING STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS

“Kristi Noem is going to have a bad day today,” the Governor Newsom Press Office posted to X. “You’re welcome, America.”

Essayli responded that there is “zero tolerance” for threats — direct or implied — against government officials.

“I’ve referred this matter to [the Secret Service] and requested a full threat assessment,” he said.

McLaughlin replied to the X post from Newsom’s office, calling it “ugly” and saying it read like a threat.

“Your keyboard warrior team may hide behind their laptops and spew this kind of vitriol but you would never have the guts to say this to her face,” McLaughlin said.

POTENTIAL PELOSI SUCCESSOR RE-UPS BILL TO BAN ICE FROM OBSCURING IDENTITIES: ‘SHUT THIS MASK S—T DOWN’

Republican California Assemblywoman Kate Sanchez blasted the comment, telling Fox News Digital that such remarks increase the likelihood of future political violence.

“Our Governor can’t keep his foot out of his mouth,” Sanchez told Fox News Digital.

Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi told Fox News that the agency had received the Department of Justice’s communication, noting that it was not able to comment on “specific protective intelligence matters.”

“However, the Secret Service must vigorously investigate any situation or individual, regardless of position or status, that could pose or be perceived as posing a threat to any of our protectees,” Guglielmi said. “Especially in a politically charged climate, such as this.”

Several hours after the initial X post, the governor’s press office followed up with news of a legislative package aimed at protecting immigrant communities and that would “hold Trump accountable” — seemingly the development they suggested would give Noem “a bad day.”

Newsom appeared with community members and legislative leaders on Saturday to sign a series of bills intended to “protect Californians, respond to federal overreach and push back against Trump and Stephen Miller’s ‘secret police’ tactics in California,” according to Newsom’s press office.

NEWSOM’S OFFICE CONTINUES TO MOCK TRUMP USING HIS SOCIAL MEDIA WRITING STYLE: ‘TINY HANDS’

This included a bill that prohibits most law enforcement — including federal immigration agents — from concealing their faces while carrying out official duties, the Associated Press reported.

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“We celebrate that diversity. It’s what makes California great. It’s what makes America great. It is under assault,” Newsom said at a press conference in Los Angeles on Saturday. “This is the United States of America, and I’m really proud of the state of California and our state of mind that we’re pushing back against these authoritarian tendencies and actions of this administration.”

DHS and Newsom’s press office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

Erik Seibert, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, resigned on Friday after the White House gave him the option to step down or be fired, Fox News has learned.

Siebert’s perceived unwillingness to bring local charges against New York Attorney General Letitia James, one of Trump’s top political nemeses, was the main reason for his ouster, according to multiple sources.

Siebert, who had worked in the Eastern District of Virginia since 2010, had not yet been confirmed in the Senate and was on track to be.

NY AG’S OFFICE HIRES ATTORNEY THAT REPPED HUNTER BIDEN TO DEFEND LETITIA JAMES AGAINST FRAUD ACCUSATIONS

A housing and finance banker familiar with the investigation into James told Fox News the mortgage fraud case against her is viable and that she is under scrutiny for, in at least one instance, declaring an investment property she owns as her primary or secondary residence, which would give her better loan terms.

The Eastern District of Virginia is one of the most closely watched U.S. attorney’s offices in the country, known in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks for successfully prosecuting Zacarias Moussaoui, who is serving life in prison for his role in planning the attacks.

The court district has since been a go-to office for high-profile national security and counterterrorism cases.

ABC News first reported on the Trump administration’s plans to force Siebert out of his job.

Trump said later on Friday to reporters that he had withdrawn Siebert’s nomination; however, the president attributed it to the support Siebert had garnered from the two Democratic senators of Virginia. Sens. Tim Kaine and Mark Warner had approved Siebert’s nomination through the Senate’s blue slip tradition. U.S. attorney nominees typically require blue-slip approval from home state senators as part of the confirmation process.

“When I saw that he got approved by those two men [Kaine and Warner], I said, ‘Pull it because he can’t be any good,” Trump said, adding that he wanted Siebert “out.”

U.S. Pardon Attorney Ed Martin was given authority by Attorney General Pam Bondi to lead the investigation of James, a role that requires him to work in coordination with the Eastern District of Virginia’s U.S. attorney if he wants to bring charges in that jurisdiction.

Martin’s one-time nomination to be the U.S. attorney in Washington, D.C., was withdrawn this year amid concerns from certain Republicans about his lack of experience and other controversies surrounding his time as the temporary head of the office.

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In a letter to Martin last month, James’ attorney Abbe Lowell said he did not think Martin was “conducting a serious investigation or review of ‘mortgage fraud,’ and that, despite the lack of evidence or law, you will take whatever actions you have been directed to take to make good on President Trump’s and Attorney General Bondi’s calls for revenge for that reason alone.”

Fox News reached out to James’ attorney for comment. The White House, DOJ and Siebert declined to comment.

Erik Seibert, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, resigned on Friday after the White House gave him the option to step down or be fired, Fox News has learned.

Siebert’s perceived unwillingness to bring local charges against New York Attorney General Letitia James, one of Trump’s top political nemeses, was the main reason for his ouster, according to multiple sources.

Siebert, who had worked in the Eastern District of Virginia since 2010, had not yet been confirmed in the Senate and was on track to be.

NY AG’S OFFICE HIRES ATTORNEY THAT REPPED HUNTER BIDEN TO DEFEND LETITIA JAMES AGAINST FRAUD ACCUSATIONS

A housing and finance banker familiar with the investigation into James told Fox News the mortgage fraud case against her is viable and that she is under scrutiny for, in at least one instance, declaring an investment property she owns as her primary or secondary residence, which would give her better loan terms.

The Eastern District of Virginia is one of the most closely watched U.S. attorney’s offices in the country, known in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks for successfully prosecuting Zacarias Moussaoui, who is serving life in prison for his role in planning the attacks.

The court district has since been a go-to office for high-profile national security and counterterrorism cases.

ABC News first reported on the Trump administration’s plans to force Siebert out of his job.

Trump said later on Friday to reporters that he had withdrawn Siebert’s nomination; however, the president attributed it to the support Siebert had garnered from the two Democratic senators of Virginia. Sens. Tim Kaine and Mark Warner had approved Siebert’s nomination through the Senate’s blue slip tradition. U.S. attorney nominees typically require blue-slip approval from home state senators as part of the confirmation process.

“When I saw that he got approved by those two men [Kaine and Warner], I said, ‘Pull it because he can’t be any good,” Trump said, adding that he wanted Siebert “out.”

U.S. Pardon Attorney Ed Martin was given authority by Attorney General Pam Bondi to lead the investigation of James, a role that requires him to work in coordination with the Eastern District of Virginia’s U.S. attorney if he wants to bring charges in that jurisdiction.

Martin’s one-time nomination to be the U.S. attorney in Washington, D.C., was withdrawn this year amid concerns from certain Republicans about his lack of experience and other controversies surrounding his time as the temporary head of the office.

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In a letter to Martin last month, James’ attorney Abbe Lowell said he did not think Martin was “conducting a serious investigation or review of ‘mortgage fraud,’ and that, despite the lack of evidence or law, you will take whatever actions you have been directed to take to make good on President Trump’s and Attorney General Bondi’s calls for revenge for that reason alone.”

Fox News reached out to James’ attorney for comment. The White House, DOJ and Siebert declined to comment.

Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell warned that no illegal activity at Sunday’s memorial for Charlie Kirk at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., will be tolerated. 

Mitchell’s comments come as an estimated 100,000 attendees are expected at the service, which will feature speakers including President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance. THe federal government has deemed it a Level 1 Special Event, the same categorization as the Super Bowl, and requiring extensive federal interagency support to ensure security. 

“This moment calls for Maricopa County to step up and show the nation—and the world—that we value dignity, civility, and the rule of law. We can be role models that even in times of grief and disagreement, our community is united in its commitment to free speech without violence or lawlessness,” Mitchell said in a statement posted to X on Friday.

CHARLIE KIRK’S MEMORIAL: WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE EVENT IN ARIZONA

“Let me be clear: my office will defend the rights of those who come to mourn or protest peacefully. Anyone who chooses to break the law—through violence, destruction of property, or obstruction— will be held accountable,” she added.

“Let us honor Charlie Kirk’s memory and the blessings of liberty not with division or disruption, but with peace and respect for others,” she further stated.

The Secret Service said Saturday that an armed man with a knife and a firearm managed to get inside the stadium. He was taken into custody and faces charges of impersonating an officer, a felony, and carrying a weapon where one was not permitted, a misdemeanor, according to the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

CHARLIE KIRK FUNERAL RECEIVES HIGHEST SECURITY DESIGNATION FROM FEDERAL OFFICIALS AMID REPORTS OF THREATS

“The individual was approached by Secret Service and stated during the encounter that he was a member of law enforcement and that he was armed,” the statement read, Fox News reported Saturday morning. “The individual is not a member of authorized law enforcement working the event and is currently in custody. The U.S. Secret Service and local law enforcement are investigating the circumstances as to why he was at the location.”

The high attendance at the event will likely lead to an overflow crowd at Desert Diamond Arena, another large event venue in the same area that regularly hosts concerts, as well as rallies for Trump and former Vice President Kamala Harris during the 2024 election.

The Glendale Police Department issued a traffic alert on Friday ahead of the event, stressing that they are “committed to ensuring a secure environment.”

TRUMP, VANCE, OTHER PROMINENT POLITICAL FIGURES TO SPEAK AT SUNDAY STADIUM EVENT HONORING CHARLIE KIRK

“Plan ahead for parking & allow extra time to arrive at [State Farm Stadium]. Let’s respect one another, be patient, & create a safe atmosphere,” the department posted to X.

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Kirk was assassinated at Utah Valley University on Wednesday, Sept. 10, and his casket was flown on Air Force Two from Utah to Phoenix, where his organization, Turning Point USA, is headquartered.

Fox News’ Greg Norman, Matt Finn, Stepheny Price, Ashley Papa, and Michael Ruiz contributed to this report.

Democratic New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani lost the endorsement of a longtime state party leader despite having the backing of New York Gov. Kathy Hochul.

New York State Democratic Committee (NYSDC) Chairman Jay Jacobs announced this week that he will not back Mamdani for mayor despite Democratic voters selecting the Democratic socialist as the party’s nominee. 

“Mr. Mamdani and I are in agreement that America’s greatest problem is the continued growth of income disparity in our nation,” Jacobs said in a statement to The Hill. “On how to address it — we fundamentally disagree.” 

EX-MAYOR DE BLASIO TOUTS SOCIALIST MAMDANI AS NEW YORK CITY’S ANSWER TO TRUMP POLICIES

The Hill reported that the NYSDC leader said that he disagreed with Mamdani’s stance on Israel. 

Mamdani has been a vocal critic of Israel’s actions throughout the war against Hamas terrorists in Gaza. His stance on the issue has become a major topic of the campaign cycle, particularly when he refused to condemn the phrase “globalize the intifada,” which some view as a call for violence against Jews. Mamdani has since distanced himself from the phrase, saying he would discourage his supporters from using it. 

While he would not back Mamdani for mayor, Jacobs dismissed “fearmongering” surrounding the self-described Democratic socialist’s campaign as “a gross over-reaction.”

MAMDANI APPEALS TO NON-DEMOCRATS WITH GENERAL ELECTION PUSH, VOWS GOVERNMENT CAN MEET VOTERS’ ‘MATERIAL NEEDS’

It remains unclear how the loss of Jacobs’ endorsement will affect Mamdani’s campaign.

However, it could have an impact on Jacobs’ position as a leader of the party. According to Politico, Jacobs said he would resign from his post if Hochul were to request it.

“If the governor should ever ask any state chair to resign, they should resign,” Jacobs told Politico.

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Hochul announced her endorsement of Mamdani in an opinion piece in The New York Times on Sept. 14. 

She shared the article on X and captioned the post, “New York City deserves a mayor who will stand up to Donald Trump and make life more affordable for New Yorkers. That’s [Zohran Mamdani].”

A recent Quinnipiac University survey showed Mamdani garnering 45% support among likely New York City voters. He was followed by former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo at 23%, Guardian Angels co-founder Curtis Sliwa at 15%, and New York City Mayor Eric Adams at 12%. Cuomo and Adams are running as independents, while Sliwa is running as a Republican.

Fox News Digital reached out to Jacobs, Mamdani and Hochul but did not immediately hear back.

Elon Musk resurfaced former Vice President and former Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris’ years-old call for President Donald Trump’s ban from social media as she claims “free speech” concerns over Jimmy Kimmel being pulled off the air.

Harris has weighed in on Disney’s decision to pull ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” off the air “indefinitely,” defending Kimmel and slamming what she calls an “outright abuse of power” by the Trump administration.

“What we are witnessing is an outright abuse of power. This administration is attacking critics and using fear as a weapon to silence anyone who would speak out. Media corporations — from television networks to newspapers — are capitulating to these threats,” Harris wrote on X about Kimmel’s suspension. “We cannot dare to be silent or complacent in the face of this frontal assault on free speech. We, the people, deserve better.”

Many X users, including Musk, the platform’s owner, were quick to point out Harris’ own past statements, some suggested they appeared to support censorship.

Musk resurfaced a 2019 tweet by Harris when Trump was serving his first time. Harris, a U.S. senator representing California at the time, was running for vice president when she made the post on X, now Twitter. 

“Look let’s be honest, @realDonaldTrump’s Twitter account should be suspended,” Harris wrote on Sept. 30, 2019. 

DISNEY’S JIMMY KIMMEL BENCHING PROMPTS CELEBRATION, BUT ALSO CAUTION, FROM CONSERVATIVES

Musk re-posted the message on Friday, adding a thinking face emoji. 

Kimmel’s show was pulled after he accused conservatives of reaching “new lows” in trying to pin a left-wing ideology on Tyler Robinson, who is accused of assassinating Charlie Kirk, even though prosecutors reaffirmed those ties in an indictment.

“We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it,” Kimmel said, sparking outrage.

There have been several questions about the role the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) played in the suspension. Those questioning the move are on both sides of the aisle, with Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, warning conservatives that they “will regret” setting the precedent.

“What he is saying is Jimmy Kimmel was lying. That’s true, he was lying, and lying to the American people is not in the public interest,” Cruz said on an episode of his podcast. “He threatens explicitly — we’re going to cancel ABC News’ license. We’re going to take him off the air, so ABC cannot broadcast anymore … He threatens it.”

CRUZ WARNS CONSERVATIVES ‘WILL REGRET’ FCC CENSORSHIP PUSH AGAINST ABC, OTHER MEDIA OUTLETS

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr joined Fox News’ Sean Hannity on Sept. 17, the day the suspension was announced, and defended the move.

“Broadcasters are different than any other form of communication,” Carr said, pointing to affiliate groups like Nexstar and Sinclair that announced they would no longer carry “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” He argued that local stations acted appropriately, saying they were “standing up to serve the interests of their community.” 

“Over the years, the FCC walked away from enforcing that public interest obligation,” Carr said. “I don’t think we’re better off as a country for it.”

FCC CHAIR BRENDAN CARR DEFENDS ABC AFFILIATES PULLING JIMMY KIMMEL SHOW AFTER MONOLOGUE ABOUT CHARLIE KIRK

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News on Saturday that the decision to “fire Jimmy Kimmel and to cancel his show came from executives at ABC.”

“That has now been reported,” Leavitt said. “And I can assure you it did not come from the White House and there was no pressure given from the president of the United States.” 

The Biden-Harris administration has seen its share of censorship controversies, particularly in its interactions with social media companies during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

During a 2021 press conference, then-White House press secretary Jen Psaki said that the administration was “flagging problematic posts for Facebook that spread disinformation.”

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In August 2024, just ahead of the presidential election, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg admitted in a letter that the Biden-Harris administration pressured Facebook to censor Americans.

Zuckerberg made the admission in a letter to House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, more than a year after providing the committee with thousands of documents as part of its investigation into content moderation on online platforms.

Fox News Digital’s Greg Wehner contributed to this report.

The Senate confirmed the last member of President Donald Trump’s Cabinet on Friday after months of delay from Senate Democrats.

Lawmakers confirmed Mike Waltz to be Trump’s ambassador to the United Nations on a bipartisan 47-45 vote. Sens. John Fetterman, D-Pa., Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., and Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., crossed the aisle to confirm him.

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., was the lone Republican to vote against his confirmation. He also voted against Waltz’s advancing out of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

SENATE CONFIRMS DOZENS OF TRUMP NOMINEES IN FIRST TEST OF NEW NUCLEAR RULES

Waltz’s confirmation ends a nearly nine-month gap during which the U.S. was without a representative at the U.N., and it comes as the organization gears up for its General Assembly in New York City next week.

Waltz, a retired Army National Guard colonel and former Green Beret, previously served as a House Republican from Florida before being tapped to serve as Trump’s national security advisor.

However, he was dismissed from his position at the National Security Council following the “Signalgate” controversy after Waltz added a journalist to a group chat with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Vice President JD Vance and others as they discussed strikes in Yemen.

GOP TRIGGERS NUCLEAR OPTION IN SENATE TO BREAK DEM BLOCKADE OF TRUMP NOMINEES

Waltz took responsibility for the blunder and told Fox News’ Laura Ingraham at the time, “It’s embarrassing. We’re going to get to the bottom of it.”

Despite the hiccup, Trump tapped Waltz in May to be the U.S. ambassador to the U.N.

The move came after he subbed out Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., from the position. At the time, Trump cited concerns that losing her from the House would make it difficult to pass legislation, particularly his “big, beautiful bill,” given the GOP’s razor-thin majority in the lower chamber.

DEMS DIG IN AS GOP PREPARES TO GO NUCLEAR IN TRUMP NOMINEE RACE

Still, Waltz was scrutinized by Senate Democrats during his confirmation hearing in July, where lawmakers accused the former House Republican of an “amateurish” move for including a journalist into a sensitive conversation. Waltz pushed back that there was no classified information shared in the chat.

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During the hearing, Waltz advocated for reforms at the U.N. and argued that “we should have one place in the world where everyone can talk.”

“Where China, Russia, Europe, the developing world, can come together and resolve conflicts,” he said. “But after 80 years, it’s drifted from its core mission of peacemaking.”