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Former President Joe Biden is entering a new phase of treatment for the prostate cancer he was diagnosed with in May.

Biden is now undergoing radiation therapy, a spokesperson for the former president told Fox News on Saturday. Previously, he had been receiving routine scans, the spokesperson added. 

“As part of a treatment plan for prostate cancer, President Biden is currently undergoing radiation therapy and hormone treatment,” the spokesperson said.

Biden was diagnosed four months ago with an “aggressive form” of metastatic prostate cancer after health officials detected a prostate nodule following increasing urinary symptoms. His office said the disease, though aggressive, is hormone-sensitive, meaning it may be effectively managed.

JOE BIDEN DIAGNOSED WITH ‘AGGRESSIVE FORM’ OF PROSTATE CANCER WITH METASTASIS TO THE BONE

Biden, who turns 83 years old next month, also underwent surgery on Sept. 4 to remove cancerous skin cells through a procedure known as Mohs surgery, according to his spokesperson.

BIDEN SPOTTED WITH GIANT BANDAGE ON HEAD AFTER HAVING SURGERY TO TREAT SKIN CANCER

During his presidency, Biden had a cancerous skin lesion removed from his chest, the White House previously said. Former White House physician Kevin O’Connor noted in February 2023 that a biopsy of skin tissue taken during a health assessment revealed cancerous cells, all of which were successfully removed.

‘SMALL NODULE’ FOUND IN BIDEN’S PROSTATE DURING ROUTINE EXAM, SPOKESPERSON SAYS

Biden, who became the oldest U.S. president to serve in office, had placed a major focus on cancer treatment.

While in office, he and former first lady Jill Biden revamped the “Cancer Moonshot” initiative to accelerate progress in cancer research. The project aimed to reduce the cancer death rate by 50% over the next 25 years.

In 1988, Biden had two life-threatening brain aneurysms at 45 years old. Doctors said he had a 50% chance of surviving while serving as a U.S. senator for Delaware.

Biden’s surgeries were successful, and there have been no reports of an aneurysm since.

The news of Biden’s radiation treatment comes as President Donald Trump was reported to be in “excellent overall health,” according to a memo released by the White House on Friday.

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Trump underwent a routine semiannual physical last week at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. 

In the evaluation summary, the president’s physician, Navy Capt. Sean P. Barbabella, stated that Trump, “remains in exceptional health, exhibiting strong cardiovascular, pulmonary, neurological, and physical performance.” 

Fox News Digital’s Stepheny Price and Peter Doocy contributed to this report.

President Donald Trump secured a historic peace deal between Israel and Hamas this week that will end the war in Gaza and return the hostages, two years after the terrorist network attacked Israel Oct. 7, 2023 — all while the U.S. government remains in a shutdown due to a stalemate in the Senate. 

The president made the announcement on his Truth Social platform Wednesday.

“I am very proud to announce that Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first Phase of our Peace Plan,” the president posted. “This means that ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace. All Parties will be treated fairly!”

HAMAS ACCEPTS TRUMP PEACE PLAN ENDING 2 YEARS OF WAR IN GAZA, RETURNING HOSTAGES

The president said the day of the agreement was “a GREAT Day for the Arab and Muslim World, Israel, all surrounding Nations, and the United States of America, and we thank the mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, who worked with us to make this Historic and Unprecedented Event happen.”

“BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS!” he posted.

According to Israeli officials, the living hostages are expected to be released in a single phase within 72 hours. The return of the bodies of deceased hostages will take longer, but Israel insists on their inclusion in the deal.

Trump warned that if Hamas did not agree to the deal, Israel would have the full backing of the U.S. to carry out its operational plans in Gaza. 

Moments before the president’s announcement, photos emerged from the negotiation room in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, showing senior officials embracing and shaking hands as reports indicated significant progress toward a hostage release deal. Retired Israeli Defense Forces Major General Nitzan Alon was seen shaking hands with Qatar’s prime minister, with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff in the background.

TRUMP UNVEILS 20-POINT PLAN TO SECURE PEACE IN GAZA, INCLUDING GRANTING SOME HAMAS MEMBERS ‘AMNESTY’

On the other side, Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya and other senior officials appeared smiling. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement, “With God’s help, we will bring them all home.”  

Netanyahu added in a statement in Hebrew, translated: “A great day for Israel. Tomorrow I will convene the government to approve the agreement and bring all our dear hostages home. I thank the heroic soldiers of the IDF and all the security forces — thanks to their courage and sacrifice we have reached this day. I thank from the bottom of my heart President Trump and his team for mobilizing for this sacred mission of freeing our hostages. With God’s help, together we will continue to achieve all our objectives and expand peace with our neighbors.”

The terrorist organization Hamas announced in an official statement, “After responsible and serious negotiations conducted by the movement and the Palestinian resistance factions regarding President Trump’s proposal in Sharm el-Sheikh, with the aim of ending the war of extermination against our Palestinian people and the withdrawal of the occupation from the Gaza Strip, Hamas announces the reaching of an agreement that ends the war on Gaza, provides for the withdrawal of the occupation, allows the entry of aid and implements a prisoner exchange.” 

TRUMP TEASES TRIP TO THE MIDDLE EAST AS GAZA PEACE DEAL TALKS CONTINUE

“We greatly appreciate the efforts of the mediators in Qatar, Egypt and Turkey, and thank U.S. President Donald Trump for his efforts to bring about a final end to the war and the full withdrawal of the occupation from the Gaza Strip. We call on President Trump, the guarantor states of the agreement, and all Arab, Islamic and international parties to oblige the government of the occupation to fulfill all the agreement’s commitments, and not to allow it to evade or delay implementation of the accords.”

Trump is now expected to travel to the Middle East Sunday amid continued peace negotiations.

“I may go there, sometime toward the end of the week. Maybe on Sunday, actually, and we’ll see,” Trump said Wednesday from the White House as he kicked off a roundtable discussion event focused on the left-wing radical group Antifa. 

“We have a great team over there, great negotiators, and there are, unfortunately, great negotiators on the other side also,” Trump added. “But it’s something I think that will happen. Got a good chance of happening.” 

Meanwhile, the government shutdown continued this week, as Senate lawmakers again failed to reach a budget agreement.

SENATE LEAVES WASHINGTON AS GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN NEARS 3RD WEEK, MILITARY PAY AT RISK

Now, senators have left Washington, D.C., and plan to return to Capitol Hill early next week, as Republicans and Democrats in the upper chamber remain in a stalemate.

Lawmakers voted deep into the night Thursday on the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, which advanced on a largely bipartisan vote. But the $925 billion package, which authorizes funding for the Pentagon, effectively was the last hurrah for the week in the upper chamber.

While there was discussion of putting the House GOP’s continuing resolution (CR), along with congressional Democrats’ counter-proposal, on the floor for one last vote, the plan never came to fruition. Both likely would have failed for an eighth consecutive time.

The president has slammed Democratic leaders for shutting down the government amid one of “the most successful economies.”

Trump said he is “happy to work with the Democrats on their Failed Healthcare Policies, or anything else, but first they must allow our Government to re-open.”

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and most Democrats say they won’t support funding the government unless Congress agrees to extend expiring Obamacare subsidies.

COMEY PLEADS NOT GUILTY IN COURT AFTER INDICTMENT ON ALLEGED FALSE STATEMENTS, OBSTRUCTION

Meanwhile, the president also saw two of his political foes face federal indictment this week. 

Former FBI Director James Comey appeared in federal court in the Eastern District of Virginia Wednesday morning and pleaded not guilty to two counts of making a false statement in the jurisdiction of the legislative branch and one count of obstructing a congressional investigation related to the Trump–Russia probe.

Comey’s trial is set to begin Jan. 5, 2026.

GRAND JURY INDICTS NY AG LETITIA JAMES ON BANK FRAUD CHARGES IN VIRGINIA FEDERAL COURT

And Thursday evening, New York Attorney General Letitia James was indicted for mortgage fraud.

A federal grand jury in Virginia charged James with bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution. The indictment centers on James’ purchase of a home in Norfolk, Virginia. Prosecutors allege she falsely claimed it as a second residence to secure better loan terms before leasing it to tenants. 

James has denied wrongdoing, describing the charges as “political retribution.”

“These charges are baseless, and the president’s own public statements make clear that his only goal is political retribution at any cost,” James said in a statement.

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Lindsey Halligan, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, said James faces up to 30 years in prison per count, up to a $1 million fine on each count and forfeiture if she’s convicted.

“No one is above the law. The charges as alleged in this case represent intentional, criminal acts and tremendous breaches of the public’s trust,” Halligan said. “The facts and the law in this case are clear, and we will continue following them to ensure that justice is served.”

FIRST ON FOX: Republicans in New York’s congressional delegation are pressing their two Democratic senators to end the ongoing government shutdown, casting their opposition to the GOP’s funding bill as “radical and harmful” to residents of the Empire State.

The government shutdown has entered its eleventh day with Republicans and Democrats still unable to agree on a path forward. Thousands of government workers, including members of the military and federal law enforcement, are set to miss their first paychecks next week barring a breakthrough.

“You have abdicated your responsibility to New Yorkers. By consistently voting against the clean Continuing Resolution (CR), you have shut down the government with no willingness to reopen operations,” seven House Republicans wrote to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y.

JOHNSON RAISES STAKES ON SCHUMER AS GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN BARRELS INTO WEEK 3

“Throughout both of your decades in federal office, you have consistently supported clean CRs as a way to keep the government funded and open until Congress can pass bipartisan spending bills.”

The Republicans accused their senators of changing course now “to spite President Trump and congressional Republicans,” and called it “a disservice to our nation and our institutions.”

“In fact, both of you have been vocal about your past opposition to shutdowns and the dangers they wreak on the American people,” they wrote.

The letter is being led by Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., and is signed by the six other House Republicans representing parts of New York: Reps. Nick Langworthy, Nicole Malliotakis, Claudia Tenney, Nick LaLota, Elise Stefanik, and Andrew Garbarino.

The House passed a measure to keep the government funded at levels roughly even to fiscal year (FY) 2025 through Nov. 21 — called a continuing resolution (CR) — on Sept. 19, mostly along party lines.

HOUSE PASSES TRUMP-BACKED PLAN TO AVERT GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN

But Democrats in the House and Senate were largely infuriated by being sidelined in federal funding talks and are now demanding any spending deal also include an extension of COVID-19 pandemic-era enhanced Obamacare subsidies that are set to expire at the end of this year.

Democrats have argued that a failure to act on those subsidies now will lead to higher health care premiums for millions of Americans by the end of the year. 

Republican leaders who control the House and Senate have said they are willing to hold negotiations on those subsidies, but have insisted the CR must be “clean” without any policy riders. CRs are aimed at giving congressional negotiators more time to strike a longer-term funding deal for FY2026, which began on Oct. 1.

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Schumer had been under particular pressure from his left flank to resist the GOP’s plan after his vote was key to helping advance the same bill in March, which extended FY2024 federal funding levels through Sept. 30.

“Just last year in 2024, you said that no reasonable member on either side of the aisle wants a government shutdown. I agree, Senator, your position now is unreasonable,” the House GOP’s Saturday letter read.

The CR has now failed in the Senate seven times. Under the most recent tallies, five more Democrats would be needed to cross the aisle and meet the Senate’s 60-vote threshold to break the filibuster and advance the bill to a final vote. 

Fox News Digital reached out to Schumer and Gillibrand’s offices for a response but did not hear back by press time.

As liberal pundits and networks across the country downplay the rise of violence carried out by Antifa, a journalist who has covered the domestic terrorist designated group extensively pushed back on that narrative in an interview with Fox News Digital. 

Social media has been littered with posts in recent weeks featuring elected officials and pundits dismissing concerns about Antifa violence as simply an “ideology” rather than an organized effort, which Ngo argues is a message driven by tacit support of the cause. 

“It is an ideology, but Neo-Nazis organize around an ideology, jihadists organize around an ideology, so what’s your point really? The point you’re really trying to do, when people bring that up, is to run cover for Antifa because these people on the left know that organized militant Antifa networks themselves and individuals operate as shock troops for their cause.”

“They have the same enemies, they want the same outcomes in terms of the institutions destroyed and they want the political opposition intimidated into silence and disengaging from the political process.”

UNC PROFESSOR REVEALED ANARCHIST GROUP REQUESTED SECURITY FROM FAR-LEFT GUN CLUB DURING 2017 RIOT

Ngo went on by explaining that individuals who doubt the existence of Antifa networks should watch the footage that he and other independent journalists have published. 

“I would show them the video from June 2019 when people working in an organized manner beat me with their faces covered, having weapons, and escaped,” Ngo said. “Nobody was ever arrested for that. If that’s not convincing enough, I would tell them to watch the shooting video of the assassination of Aaron Danielson in Portland in 2020, a Trump supporter who was killed by somebody who actually left behind a manifesto. If you don’t believe the video, you can read his manifesto. He describes himself, I am 100% Antifa.”

President Trump, who issued an executive order last month declaring Antifa a domestic terrorist organization, hosted a roundtable at the White House on Wednesday where Ngo, and other prominent independent journalists, spoke to the president about the violence they have seen and experienced first hand.

Antifa is a far-left militant movement that describes itself as antifascist. It has been accused of organizing or encouraging violent riots, notably during the 2020 “defund the police” protests and, more recently, in attacks targeting federal immigration facilities.

Ngo said his biggest takeaway from that event with Trump was the recognition of the dangerous work journalists have done covering Antifa violence in recent years with little to no support from mainstream outlets or elected officials. 

TEXAS AG LAUNCHES UNDERCOVER OPERATIONS TO INFILTRATE ‘LEFTIST TERROR CELLS’ ACROSS THE STATE

“I’ve been reporting on Antifa now for about nine years, and for some of that time it did feel like I was reporting on something that nobody who could do something about it would listen,” Ngo told Fox News Digital. “And there was a lot of despair through that time. I saw a lot violence, saw death, and I suffered violence myself. I feel optimistic now. I think Antifa’s a confusing topic and subject, and I’m thankful that I have the expertise to be able to share that with the administration.”

Ngo told Fox News Digital he carries “so much gratitude to the president” for holding the event, saying, “They have a million things to do. There’s a lot of important things on the world stage. Yet, nearly two hours is dedicated on this topic. So I don’t take any of it for granted, and I’m just thankful to have been able to be there.”

Ngo also told Fox News Digital the event was “bittersweet” for him personally due to losing his father earlier this year. 

“I wish he had been around to see that,” Ngo said. “My parents were refugees of communism from Vietnam. I don’t know how they would take it if they knew the full extent of far-left militancy in America and that they raised a son who’s put himself at a lot of risk to try to expose it. So I wish my father was there to share in that moment.”

CHARLIE KIRK KILLING PUTS RISE IN LEFT-WING TERROR IN SPOTLIGHT AS STUDY SHOWS VIOLENCE HITTING 30-YEAR HIGH

Ngo’s family history living under communism is relevant in the conversation today regarding Antifa, the Portland-born journalist told Fox Digital, given the underlying communist beliefs espoused by radical left movements in the United States today.. 

“For a century now, communists and anarchists, particularly in Europe, have engaged in violent acts that have sparked revolutions and the Antifa today look to those historical examples in the acts of violence they carry out,” Ngo said, adding that many “normal” and mainstream liberals in the country are confused by the “deception and misinformation” in the media regarding Antifa.

“If you read the mainstream, one can leave with the impression that these are people who are opposed just to fascism and racism. So why not come on board with that, right?” Ngo explained. “When really the ideology is anarchist communism and violent anarchist-communism a lot of them engage in violence for the purpose of nihilistic violence. They want to see things burnt down. Their own slogan has become ungovernable. So if you care about democracy, liberal democracy in institutions, civil rights…you should not. You cannot be anywhere on the side of advocating or running cover for these so-called Antifa.”

Ngo went on to say that Antifa messaging and ideology is becoming more and more “mainstream” with the evidence for that being the “depraved worldview philosophy” that has given rise to those who celebrated the assassinations of Charlie Kirk, United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, and those who “call for myself and others to be assassinated.”

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem slammed Antifa during the Wednesday roundtable arguing that the network is “just as sophisticated as MS-13, as TdA, as ISIS, as Hezbollah, as Hamas, as all of them.”

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She said that authorities recently arrested the girlfriend of the founder of Antifa in Portland, and that investigators are trying to garner more information from her about the network of newly-labeled “domestic terrorists” during their prosecution.

Noem said the administration’s explicit goal is to “eliminate [Antifa] from the existence of American society.”

“These individuals do not just want to threaten our law enforcement officers, threaten our journalists and the citizens of this country. They want to kill them,” Noem said.

Fox News Digital’s Peter D’Abrosca contributed to this report.

MANCHESTER, N.H. – Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear isn’t sugarcoating the work ahead for his party as it aims to escape the political wilderness.

“I’ve got a lot of hope for the Democratic Party, but I’m also honest enough to say the Democratic Party has a lot of work to do. The Democratic Party has to re-earn the faith of the American people,” Beshear told around 100 Democratic politicians, officials, and activists this week during a stop in New Hampshire.

Beshear, the two-term governor of red state Kentucky, is hitting the campaign trail, helping fellow Democrats running in elections this November and in next year’s midterms.

And his mission comes as Democrats work to rebound after last year’s ballot box setbacks, when they lost control of the White House and Senate and failed to win back the House majority. They also lost ground to Republicans among Black, Hispanic and younger voters, all traditional members of the Democratic Party’s base.

DEMOCRATIC PARTY POLL NUMBERS KEEP HITTING ALL-TIME LOWS 

This year, a slew of polls have flashed red alerts for the Democrats, as the party’s favorable ratings have plunged to all-time lows.

“Number one, we’ve got to spend 80% of our time on things that matter to 100% of Americans,” Beshear said, as he outlined his three steps Democrats need to take for political redemption.

Beshear said that Democrats also have “to talk to people like normal human beings” instead of “talking down to people.”

His third step — focus less on policy specifics and more on energizing voters. “We are really good at the ‘what,’ but not so good at talking about the ‘why,’” he said.

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Beshear, the son of former Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear, was elected state attorney general before topping Republican Gov. Matt Bevin by a razor-thin margin in the 2019 gubernatorial showdown. He won re-election as governor two years ago.

The moderate Democrat is currently vice chair of the Democratic Governors Association, and takes over next year as DGA chair.

Beshear traveled to New Hampshire the day before a campaign stop in Virginia, where he campaigned on behalf of former Rep. Abigail Spanberger, the Democratic Party’s gubernatorial nominee.

New Jersey and Virginia are the only two states to hold contests for governor the year after a presidential election, which means the races traditionally grab outsized national attention.

And this year’s ballot box showdowns are viewed as crucial early tests of President Donald Trump’s popularity and second-term agenda, and are considered key barometers ahead of next year’s midterms, when the House and Senate majorities are up for grabs.

TRUMP LOOMS LARGE OVER 2025 ELECTIONS

“I think both Virginia and New Jersey are races that we are going to win, and we are going to win by providing Americans with a vision. A vision that the American dream is still attainable. That a Democratic governor can deliver on good jobs, can deliver on making things more affordable,” Beshear said in an interview with Fox News Digital.

Looking ahead to next year, when he takes over steering the DGA, Beshear said, “I’m going to work to win as many races as I can.”

Beshear’s trip to New Hampshire, which for over a century held the first-in-the-nation presidential primary, sparked more speculation about his national ambitions in 2028, when a large field of Democrats are expected to run for their party’s presidential nomination.

The Kentucky governor spent his entire day Tuesday in New Hampshire, headlining a fundraiser in Concord for State House Democrats, a happy hour in Manchester for City Democrats, and a house party in Nashua hosted by a state senator.

It was his second trip to New Hampshire in a year, after keynoting the state party’s major autumn fundraising gala in 2024. And the latest trip to New Hampshire followed a stop earlier this year in South Carolina, another key early voting state in the Democratic Party’s presidential primary calendar.

Unlike other potential White House hopefuls, Beshear acknowledges he’s mulling a 2028 bid.

Asked about a 2028 run, Beshear reiterated to Fox News that after next year’s midterm elections, “my family and I will sit down” to decide on whether to run for president.

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Beshear, pushing a vision of inclusiveness, said that “when I look at what my job is right now, I want to be a commonsense, common ground voice, in this crazy partisan climate we see right now, to try to get people focused on the things that matter most to our families”

And looking ahead to the next presidential election, Beshear said, “What’s most important to me is that we have a candidate that can heal the country. We have too much of this us versus them. Our neighbor is not our enemy, and we’ve got to recognize that even if we disagree with them, we want what’s best for them, and we really want their kids to have a great life.”

FIRST ON FOX: A group of House GOP veterans are pressing Senate Democrats who also served in the military to support Republicans’ federal funding bill and end the government shutdown.

U.S. troops are poised to miss their first paycheck of the ongoing shutdown on Oct. 15 with Republicans and Democrats still not able to agree on a path forward by next week.

“We are a group of military veterans now serving in the House of Representatives who voted YES for the House’s September 19th Continuing Resolution. We write to you, fellow Veterans now serving in the United States Senate, who have voted NO on that same resolution multiple times. We hope you receive this letter in the manner in which it is intended: as brothers and sisters in arms, not as partisans,” a letter sent on Saturday read.

“This short-term measure contains no cuts, no policy riders, and no gimmicks. It simply keeps the government open while giving Congress time to responsibly negotiate the twelve long-term appropriations bills. Most importantly, it ensures that our troops, the same men and women with whom we once served, continue to receive their pay without interruption.”

JOHNSON RAISES STAKES ON SCHUMER AS GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN BARRELS INTO WEEK 3

The Senate would need to pass the House GOP’s funding bill by Monday, Oct. 13, for military paychecks to go out on time the following Wednesday, according to Military Times.

But the Senate will likely not be in session because Monday is a federal holiday, meaning the next earliest possible vote is Tuesday.

Active duty service members, like other federal employees deemed essential, must keep working through a government shutdown.

The possibility of them missing their next paychecks has become a particularly painful flashpoint in the standoff on government funding.

The Senate has now rejected the House-passed measure — a bill that would keep spending roughly on par with fiscal year (FY) 2025 levels through Nov. 21, called a continuing resolution (CR) — seven times.

It passed the House along mostly partisan lines on Sept. 19. But Democrats in the House and Senate were largely infuriated by being sidelined in federal funding talks and are now demanding any spending deal also include an extension of COVID-19 pandemic-era enhanced Obamacare subsidies that are set to expire at the end of this year.

Republican leaders who control the House and Senate have said they are willing to hold negotiations on those subsidies, but have insisted the CR must be “clean” without any policy riders. CRs are aimed at giving congressional negotiators more time to strike a longer-term funding deal for FY2026, which began on Oct. 1.

“This short-term measure contains no cuts, no policy riders, and no gimmicks. It simply keeps the government open while giving Congress time to responsibly negotiate the twelve long-term appropriations bills. Most importantly, it ensures that our troops, the same men and women with whom we once served, continue to receive their pay without interruption,” the Saturday letter said.

“We understand that you oppose certain policies in the One Big Beautiful Bill and that you have strong preferences regarding the future of the Affordable Care Act credits. We respect that you have those priorities. But for the sake of our troops, we ask that you vote for the continuing resolution and assert those policy preferences during subsequent discussions and debates that do not interrupt troop pay.”

It’s being led by Rep. Nick LaLota, R-N.Y., a military veteran, and is signed by 21 other House Republicans who also served.  The letter is addressed to seven Senate Democrat military veterans who have all voted against the CR.

At the current vote tallies, just five more Democrats are needed to cross the aisle and support the CR for it to overcome the Senate filibuster and move to a final vote.

SCREAMING MATCH ERUPTS BETWEEN HAKEEM JEFFRIES, MIKE LAWLER AS GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN CHAOS CONTINUES

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The letter is being sent after Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., faced increasing pressure from Republicans and Democrats to hold a vote next week on a standalone bill to ensure troops are paid.

But Johnson has all but rejected the idea, arguing the onus is on Senate Democrats to pass the GOP-led funding bill that would let the military and others in the federal government get their paychecks on time.

Federal workers who miss paychecks during the government shutdown are normally entitled to receive that money as backpay when the shutdown is over.

A Democrat-led bid to force through a bill to pay the military during the government shutdown was blocked in the House on Friday.

Democrats and some Republicans have been demanding a House vote on ensuring U.S. troops do not miss their coming Oct. 15 paycheck or any others as the government shutdown barrels into a third week.

But GOP leaders have largely dismissed the request, panning it as a Democrat bid to save face after rejecting Republicans’ funding bill that would have kept the military and other federal workers paid.

Rep. Sarah Elfreth, D-Md., attempted to ask for unanimous consent to pass the legislation on Friday afternoon during a pro forma session in the House.

JOHNSON RAISES STAKES ON SCHUMER AS GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN BARRELS INTO WEEK 3

But House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Mike Bost, R-Ill., who was presiding over the chamber, gaveled out of session before Elfreth could finish reading her request.

Active duty service members are deemed “essential” and so must keep working during the government shutdown. But they and other federal employees are expected to miss pay until the government is funded — at which point they would receive back pay from the checks skipped during the shutdown.

The House passed a GOP-led CR largely along party lines on Sept. 19. It would keep current government funding levels roughly flat until Nov. 21 to give Congress more time to strike a deal on fiscal year 2026 spending levels.

The measure is free from other policy riders, save for about $88 million toward enhanced security for lawmakers, the White House and the judicial branch — which has bipartisan support.

But Democrats, furious at being sidelined in those government funding discussions, are calling for both an extension of COVID-19 pandemic-era Obamacare subsidies and an end to Republicans’ recent Medicaid cuts in exchange for their support.

The funding bill has been stalled in the Senate, where it’s been rejected by Democrats seven times.

Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., was visibly frustrated on Friday when he addressed reporters for his now-daily shutdown press conference and broached the issue of military pay.

“By way of reminder, the House passed a clean, nonpartisan CR three weeks ago today to keep the government funded and, by extension, to pay our troops and TSA agents and Border Patrol agents and air traffic controllers and the rest of our federal workforce,” Johnson said.

SCREAMING MATCH ERUPTS BETWEEN HAKEEM JEFFRIES, MIKE LAWLER AS GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN CHAOS CONTINUES

“We had that vote three weeks ago. And since then, Senate Democrats have voted repeatedly to keep the government closed. And the Senate, they have now voted seven times to block paychecks for 2 million federal civilian workers and 1.3 million active-duty military men and women.”

Johnson later told reporters on a press call that a standalone vote would be a “pointless exercise,” because “Senate Democrats will block it.”

House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., told Fox News Digital that Democrats’ Friday effort on the chamber floor was a political stunt “of gargantuan proportions.”

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“You can’t do that in a pro forma session. So again, it’s just to get attention,” Emmer said.

And while the GOP has been largely united on the issue, at least two House Republicans, Reps. Jen Kiggans, R-Va., and Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., have publicly pushed for standalone votes on military pay.

Under rules dictated by the Constitution, the chamber must meet for brief periods every few days called “pro forma” sessions to ensure continuity, even if there are no formal legislative matters at hand.

Pro forma sessions can also be opportunities for lawmakers to give brief speeches or introduce legislation that they otherwise would not have. 

As the government shutdown slogs into a third week and service members and federal workers are set to begin missing out on paychecks, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., and other Democrats continue to point to President Donald Trump and Republicans.

In a fundraising email sent to supporters this week, Jeffries signed off with his usual slogan, “keep the faith.”

In the email, Jeffries indicated his party would not bend on its demands before reopening the government, saying that “Democrats will continue to stand up to address the Republican healthcare crisis, and we will NOT back down until it’s fixed. America deserves better.”

In the Senate, talks have continued in the background behind closed doors, but nothing has quite yet materialized into full-blown negotiations on expiring Obamacare tax credits to find an off-ramp to end the shutdown.

DEMS NOT BUDGING ON GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN DEMANDS AHEAD OF HIGH-STAKES TRUMP MEETING, JEFFRIES SUGGESTS

If Jeffries’ rhetoric is an indication, the Democrats are nowhere near budging.

“Republicans thought we’d back down because of their deepfake videos, threats and lies,” he wrote. “Not a chance. Cancel the Cuts. Lower the Cost. Save Healthcare. Keep the faith.”

Other House Democrats have also been actively fundraising off of the shutdown.

Rep. Janelle Bynum, D-Ore., has been particularly active, sending several fundraising emails, including one in which her team told supporters, “The stakes couldn’t be higher.”

“That’s why Janelle won’t back down from her fight to put Oregonians first and ensure our government works for the people,” wrote Bynum’s team. “If you’re with her, pitch in today to help her keep up this critical fight for hardworking Americans in the House.”

In another email to supporters, Bynum complained that “Republicans just launched an attack ad blaming me for the government shutdown.”

TOP HOUSE DEM EXPOSES PARTY’S STRATEGY TO BLAME REPUBLICANS FOR LOOMING GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN

“They’re targeting me for their failed leadership and the chaos they’ve created in Washington. We can’t allow their shameful attacks to go unanswered,” she wrote, adding, “Will you rush a donation now to help our team push back on National Republicans and stand up for Oregonians?”

Rep. Dave Min, D-Calif., wrote in another fundraising email that “if we want to stop these shutdowns from happening in the future, we need to take back control of Congress next year.”

“That’s why I’m turning to you: If you’re in a position to give, will you chip in whatever you can to help me defend this toss-up district next year?” he implored.

“Democrats’ demands are simple,” he wrote in another email.

“Reversal of GOP Medicaid cuts, and the extension of Obamacare tax credits to make health insurance more affordable. Neither of these should be controversial!” he wrote, providing a link to donate.

DEMOCRATS ROLL OUT NEW CAMPAIGN ADS TARGETING REPUBLICANS OVER ONGOING GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN

Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio, cut straight to the chase and askedsupporters in an email to “chip in $10, $25, or whatever makes sense for you to stand with me against this reckless shutdown and help us take back the House next fall.”

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Speaking with reporters on Friday, Jeffries tripled down on his rejection of the GOP’s continuing resolution spending bill that would reopen the government, calling it a “partisan spending bill that continues to gut the healthcare of the American people and threatens to raise the costs of living on tens of millions of people.”

Fox News Digital reached out to the offices of Jeffries, Bynum, Min and Kaptur for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

Fox News Digital’s Alex Miller contributed to this report.

Patriotism is taking the spotlight at the Kennedy Center in the nation’s capital. 

The National Symphony Orchestra will kick off every show in its 2025–2026 season by performing the national anthem in honor of America’s 250th birthday, Fox News Digital learned.

“The National Symphony should be playing the national anthem,” Ambassador Richard Grenell, the Kennedy Center’s president, said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

KENNEDY CENTER BOARD MEMBER SAYS FAMILIES ARE ‘WELCOME’ AGAIN AS GALA BREAKS FUNDRAISING RECORDS

The new tradition for the season follows the Kennedy Center’s celebration of the National Symphony Orchestra’s 95th anniversary with a gala in September, which featured music Director Gianandrea Noseda and works by famed composers Aaron Copland and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. The event raised $3.45 million, breaking an all-time fundraising record, Fox News Digital previously reported. 

While the National Symphony Orchestra’s performance highlights American pride, the Kennedy Center also is expanding its reach through another mission of honoring those who’ve served.

KENNEDY CENTER’S PRO-FAITH SHIFT REFLECTS A ‘NEW DAY IN AMERICA,’ CONSERVATIVE LEADERS SAY

Through its partnership with Vet Tix — a massive U.S. veteran-focused nonprofit that provides free tickets to live events for vets and their families — more than 2,000 tickets valued at more than $100,000 were donated to veterans, the Kennedy Center said in a statement sent to Fox News Digital.

“We are incredibly grateful for our partnership with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts,” Michael A. Focareto III, founder and CEO of Vet Tix and a U.S. Navy veteran, said in the statement. “Their generosity allows countless veterans, service members and their families in the Capital Region to experience amazing performing arts productions and create memories that will last a lifetime.”

HOUSE REPUBLICANS APPROVE RENAMING THE KENNEDY CENTER OPERA HOUSE AFTER MELANIA TRUMP

More than 100 veterans and their families attended “The Sound of Music” in September, for example, while Grenell also donated tickets in his box to Gold Star Families, which are the immediate family members of U.S. service members who have died in the line of duty, Fox Digital learned.

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“We’re committed to creating opportunities for everyone to experience the power of the performing arts, especially those who have served our great nation,” Roma Daravi, vice president of public relations at the Kennedy Center, said in the statement.

Fox News Digital’s Cortney O’Brien contributed to this report.

Abigail Spanberger, the Democratic candidate for Virginia governor, declined to call on her party’s attorney general hopeful, Jay Jones, to drop out of the race during a Thursday night debate. She stands among many other Democrats who have also declined to do so after text messages surfaced in which Jones fantasized about killing his Republican colleague in 2022.

Jones, a former delegate from Norfolk, Virginia, has faced mounting calls – mostly from Republicans – to bow out of the race for Virginia attorney general. But Virginia Democrats and other party leaders around the country have refused to cave to pressure they are getting to demand Jones drop out. 

The Jones’ text message scandal has become a flashpoint in Virginia’s elections, particularly considering it came at a time of heightened sensitivity to inflammatory and violent political rhetoric following the assassination of Charlie Kirk and two attempted assassinations of President Donald Trump. 

SPANBERGER EXCORIATED ONLINE AS A ‘COWARD’ FOR REFUSAL TO DITCH ‘UNHINGED’ JAY JONES

Sens. Mark Warner, D-Va., remained silent when asked by Fox News Digital repeatedly if Jones should drop out of the race. Warner was also pressed on whether he would demand Jones return a $25,000 donation made to his campaign in August, or whether he regretted the show of support in light of the controversy about Jones’ violent political speech, but he once again averted his gaze and remained silent. 

Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., was also unwilling to call on Jones’ to drop out. He told Fox News Digital he’s still a supporter of the embattled candidate for his state’s attorney general seat. “I think those statements were not in character, and he has apologized — I wish other people in public life would sincerely apologize for stuff,” the 2016 Democratic vice presidential nominee said. “I’ve known Jay Jones for 25 years.”

Several other Democrats outside of Virginia who were approached by Fox News Digital similarly walked away, or refused to respond when asked about the Jones controversy, which revolves around a text message exchange he had in 2022 with another lawmaker. 

During the texts, Jones fantasized about putting “two bullets” into the head of then-Virginia House Speaker Todd Gilbert. He also quipped about murdering Gilbert’s children.  

“Three people, two bullets. Gilbert, Hitler and Pol Pot. Gilbert gets two bullets to the head,” Jones wrote. In a subsequent text, Jones also wrote, “Spoiler: put Gilbert in the crew with the two worst people you know and he receives both bullets every time.”

“Jay. Please stop,” the lawmaker on the receiving end of the tests from Jones said at the time. Jones has since apologized, calling the remarks “embarrassing and shameful,” and said he had reached out personally to Gilbert and his family.

“I’m really not familiar with the situation in Virginia,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said when asked if Jones should drop out. 

“Haven’t given it a thought,” said Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I. 

Meanwhile, Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., called the texts “horrifying,” but when pressed further on whether Jones should drop out, Wyden said, “I’m going to leave it at that, thank you.”

SANDERS, DEM LEADERS DODGE QUESTIONS ON VIRGINIA CANDIDATE WHO JOKED ABOUT SHOOTING GOP LAWMAKER 

Other Democrats who Fox News approached, such as Sens. Andy Kim, D-N.J., and Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., condemned political violence but admitted they were not following the matter involving Jones. 

“I can’t say that I’ve done my due diligence to really understand, but what I will say is that what I saw was absolutely horrible,” said Kim. “I hope that in a time right now, where there’s so much concern about political violence, we can say that, ‘Yes, we need to make sure that we are holding ourselves up to a high standard, especially those in elected office.’”

Republican responses to the Jones text scandal were starkly different. Speaking with Fox News Digital, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, called the text messages “staggering, particularly with the spate of political violence we have seen.” 

“There are far too many on the left that celebrate political violence,” Cruz continued, adding, “When Charlie Kirk was assassinated, we saw leftists, college professors, leftist schoolteachers, politicians, journalists celebrating that heinous murder.”

“And every Democrat in Washington is turning a blind eye,” Cruz added. “In my view, the notion that someone advocating for the murder of children because he disagrees politically with their father is manifestly unsuitable for public office, especially the chief law enforcement officer of Virginia. And I wish there were even one Democrat with the courage to say that publicly.”

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“It’s really sickening calling for the assassination of a rival, calling for the death of his children. I mean, I think, hopefully, all of us can agree that’s beyond the bounds of what is reasonable here, and he ought to step down,” Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., said when asked about the controversy. “What’s amazing though, is, I’ve not heard one Democrat – hopefully you’re asking that question to other Democrats. I’ve not heard anybody say anything about it, which is pretty sad.”

During a debate Thursday night between Republican and Democrat candidates for governor in Virginia, Republican candidate Winsome Earle-Sears repeatedly pressed her Democratic opponent, Spanberger, to call on Jones to step down. 

“Jay Jones advocated the murder — Abigail — the murder of a man, a former speaker, as well as his children who were 2 years and 5 years old. You have little girls. Would it take him pulling the trigger? Is that what would do it?” Earle-Sears asked Thursday night. “Please ask him to get out of the race. Have some courage.” 

Fox News Digital’s Peter Pinedo and Charles Creitz contributed to this report.