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  • Kamala Harris says Biden rattled her before Trump debate in new book

    Kamala Harris says Biden rattled her before Trump debate in new book

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    Former Vice President Kamala Harris revealed in her upcoming book, “107 Days,” that then-President Joe Biden rattled her right before she went head-to-head with then-candidate Donald Trump on the debate stage.

    Biden reportedly called Harris as she sat in a hotel room preparing for the only debate of her abbreviated campaign. He apparently wanted to wish her luck — and to scold her.

    The then-president said, “My brother called. He’s been talking to a group of real power brokers in Philly,” according to an excerpt of the book in The Guardian. He then allegedly asked if Harris was familiar with several people related to the matter, which she was not.

    KAMALA HARRIS COMPLAINS ABOUT ‘IMPOSSIBLE’ LACK OF SUPPORT FROM BIDEN’S COMMS TEAM, INNER CIRCLE

    Former Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Joe Biden

    Former Vice President Kamala Harris revealed in her book, “107 Days,” what then-President Joe Biden said when he called right before her debate with now-President Donald Trump. (Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BET; Mandel Ngan – Pool/Getty Images)

    “His brother had told him that those guys were not going to support me because I’d been saying bad things about him. He wasn’t inclined to believe it, he claimed, but he thought I should know in case my team had been encouraging me to put daylight between the two of us,” Harris wrote in the book, according to an excerpt of the book in The Guardian.

    Biden then went on to talk about his past debate performances, leaving Harris confused, “angry and disappointed,” according to The Guardian. She was upset that her boss had called before a critical moment in her political career and made “it all about himself.” Harris added that Biden was “distracting me with worry about hostile power-brokers in the biggest city of the most important state.”

    Then-first gentleman Doug Emhoff apparently noticed his wife was in distress and advised her to “let it go” before facing off against Trump.

    Harris at debate after party

    Then-Democratic presidential nominee and Vice President Kamala Harris visits a watch party after participating in a presidential debate with Republican presidential nominee and former President Donald Trump, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Sept. 10, 2024. (Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters)

    HARRIS TAPS DEM EMAILS LISTS TO MARKET NEW BOOK, SPARKING PARTY NEUTRALITY CONCERNS

    While Harris avoided criticizing Biden during her campaign, she has used her upcoming book to shed light on the tensions between them as she took his place as the Democratic presidential nominee. Harris’ book is set to hit shelves on Sept. 23, but it has already sparked conversations about the 2024 election cycle.

    In another section, Harris said while “it’s Joe and Jill’s decision” became a mantra ahead of the 2024 election cycle, she said it was “recklessness,” rather than “grace,” according to an excerpt released by The Atlantic.

    President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris

    Outgoing President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris stand together at the White House ahead of the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump on Jan. 20, 2025, in Washington, D.C.  (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

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    “‘It’s Joe and Jill’s decision.’ We all said that, like a mantra, as if we’d all been hypnotized. Was it grace, or was it recklessness? In retrospect, I think it was recklessness. The stakes were simply too high. This wasn’t a choice that should have been left to an individual’s ego, an individual’s ambition. It should have been more than a personal decision,” Harris wrote.

    Harris also revealed in her book that then-Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg was her “first choice” as running mate, not Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. However, she said it was “too big of a risk” because the campaign was “already asking a lot of America: to accept a woman, a Black woman, a Black woman married to a Jewish man.”

    Fox News Digital’s Deirdre Heavey and Greg Norman contributed to this report.

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  • Trump closes UK tech deal week, will head to Kirk memorial in Arizona

    Trump closes UK tech deal week, will head to Kirk memorial in Arizona

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    President Donald Trump spent the bulk of the week in the U.K. where he inked a new tech deal, and closed out the week gearing up to attend the memorial service of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Arizona. 

    During the trip abroad, Trump and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer unveiled a new $350 billion tech investment plan, which is expected to generate 15,000 jobs across the U.K. and up to 2,500 jobs in the U.S. 

    Specific details of the “Tech Prosperity Deal” are sparse, but officials said that the plan will invest in the development of 12 advanced nuclear reactors and that energy will go toward supplying energy needs for the U.K. and the U.S. 

    “It’s a blueprint to win this new era together. Shape it according to our shared values, and seize the incredible opportunities that are on offer,” Starmer said. “We have huge new investments from Nvidia N scale, Open AI, Google, Salesforce and many more backing cutting-edge British jobs for years to come.”

    TRUMP HEADS TO UK FOR RARE SECOND STATE VISIT, THEN TO ARIZONA FOR CHARLIE KIRK’S FUNERAL

    Trump says WIII could happen over war in Ukraine

    President Donald Trump speaks at a press conference with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer at Chequers at the conclusion of a state visit Sept. 18, 2025, in Aylesbury, England.  (Leon Neal/Getty Images)

    The plan will accumulate $50 billion in economic value and will deliver power to as many as 1.5 million homes, according to Trump. 

    Trump also touted the close relationship between the U.S. and the U.K. during a state dinner at Windsor Castle with members of the U.K.’s royal family, including King Charles III. 

    “His Majesty spoke eloquently about the bond which inspired Sir Winston Churchill — the bust is in the Oval Office right now — the beautiful bust of Winston Churchill, to coin the phrase ‘special relationship,’ but seen from American eyes, the word ‘special’ does not begin to do it justice,” Trump said Wednesday. “We’re joined by history and fate, by love and language and by transcendent ties of culture, tradition, ancestry and destiny.”

    TRUMP EYES REMARKS AT CHARLIE KIRK MEMORIAL IN ARIZONA, BLAMES LEFT FOR SUSPECT’S RADICALIZATION

    President Trump and King Charles in mid conversation during the state dinner at Windsor Castle.

    President Donald Trump and Britain’s King Charles III attend a State Banquet at Windsor Castle, in Windsor, Sept. 17, 2025.  (Yui Mok/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

    Trump arrived back in Washington later Thursday and will leave for Kirk’s memorial service Sunday at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The venue holds 63,400 people and has the capacity for up to 73,000 for “mega-events,” according to its website.

    Kirk, 31, was killed during a stop on his American Comeback Tour Sept. 10 at Utah Valley University. Kirk’s death has also raised questions about Trump’s own security, amid two assassination attempts on Trump’s life in 2024. 

    A senior administration official confirmed to Fox News Digital Friday that federal law enforcement agencies like the Department of Homeland Security released a report Thursday cautioning that they are monitoring “several threats of unknown credibility” against Trump, Vice President JD Vance and others expected to attend Kirk’s memorial service. 

    TRUMP’S SECURITY UNDER SCRUTINY AS SECRET SERVICE BRACES FOR KIRK MEMORIAL 

    Charlie Kirk on Utah Valley University campus

    Charlie Kirk speaks at Utah Valley University Sept. 10, 2025 in Orem, Utah, prior to his assassination. (Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune/Getty Images)

    The assessment asserts that the memorial may be an attractive target for violent extremists or lone wolf actors due to the significant media coverage it’s expected to attract.

    Meanwhile, Trump said he likely will share some remarks during the memorial service. 

    “It’s going to be big,” Trump told reporters Monday. “I’m going to be at the stadium, and I guess I’ll say a few words. I don’t know, but I guess I will, but I knew him very well. He was an amazing guy. He was all about young people and getting them started.”

    Fox News’ Caitlin McFall contributed to this report. 

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  • Army expands AI use with Ray-Ban smart glasses for soldier training

    Army expands AI use with Ray-Ban smart glasses for soldier training

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    The Army is expanding its use of artificial intelligence beyond drones — from wearable smart glasses that train mechanics in the field to automated defenses against swarms of cheap enemy aircraft — as leaders warn the counter-drone fight is now “problem 1A” for the nation.

    Speaking to reporters this week, Army Secretary Dan Driscoll described a pilot program in which soldiers wearAI-enabled Ray-Ban glasses that record repair jobs and then use generative models to walk less-experienced troops through infantry squad vehicle maintenance. He said it reflects a new push to bring consumer technology into the force “a lot more quickly” than in the past. While Meta may have spent billions developing the glasses, the Army is testing them for about $400 a pair.

    Gen. Randy George, the Army’s chief of staff, said the same approach applies to the Pentagon’s top emerging challenge: defending against drones.

    “This is problem 1A that we’re facing as a country,” Driscoll said, stressing that counter-drone technology must be cheap, fast and automated. “If you think of a drone swarm … it is a nearly impossible idea for even human beings [to handle].”

    AI ARMS RACE: US AND CHINA WEAPONIZE DRONES, CODE AND BIOTECH FOR THE NEXT GREAT WAR

    Army Secretary Dan Driscoll

    Army Secretary Dan Driscoll said counter-drone technology is “problem 1A.” (Spc. Luke Sullivan/75th Ranger Regiment)

    That challenge has been underscored overseas, where advanced aircraft have been used to intercept relatively inexpensive drones. “If you’ve got a $5,000 drone, you want a $2,000 or $3,000 or $4,000 interceptor, and that’s what we’re focused on,” George said. 

    Last week, Dutch F-35s and Polish F-16s deployed to take out dozens of Russian drones flying into Russian territory.

    George added that the Army is testing proximity rounds and high-energy lasers, while the bigger hurdle is defending against drones in crowded civilian airspace.

    As part of the Army’s “continuous transformation” initiative, George said 25 brigades will be overhauled in the next two years to make them more lethal, mobile and survivable in high-threat environments. The first armored brigade combat teams are set to rotate through the National Training Center in California this November, followed by a large-scale exercise in Hawaii.

    George also pointed to armor modernization, saying the Army’s next-generation M1E3 tank — envisioned as a lighter, faster replacement for the Abrams — could reach units as early as next year. That would mark a major acceleration, since earlier projections suggested the vehicle would not field until the 2030s.

    To pay for its modernization drive, Driscoll said the Army plans to cut $48 billion over five years from programs it no longer needs, reinvesting in drones, air defenses and long-range fires. 

    PENTAGON UNVEILS $961B BUDGET REQUEST: FUND FOR GOLDEN DOME, MISSILES AND DRONES, FEWER F-35 JETS

    Soldier pictured with drone

    A soldier holds a drone in the Pentagon parking lot on June 14, 2025, in Arlington, Va., during the Army’s 250th anniversary parade and festivities in Washington, D.C. (Samuel Corum/Getty Images)

    The service also launched a $750 million “Fuse” fund to support small and mid-sized businesses and previewed new acquisition reforms to be detailed at next month’s AUSA conference. Modeled partly on the rapid iteration practices of commercial companies, the changes will co-locate soldiers, engineers and contractors to speed up design and fielding.

    Officials also highlighted in-house efforts. George said the Army is now building its own drones at depots with all-American parts — including models already flying in Ukraine — to help replenish stockpiles. Driscoll said 3D printing is being tested as a way to overcome the “tyranny of distance” in the Indo-Pacific, allowing soldiers to fabricate parts in theater instead of waiting on long supply lines.

    Army soldiers training

    Army soldiers train in the field as the service integrates AI into training and command-and-control. (Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images)

    George pointed to battlefield command as another area of change. The 4th Infantry Division is now testing command-and-control apps on ruggedized tablets — replacing the trucks and racks of radios that have long anchored Army command posts. 

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    The move is designed to make headquarters smaller and harder to target, though outside experts have warned that relying on commercial-style devices could introduce new cyber vulnerabilities and durability issues in combat.

    Driscoll also credited President Trump with backing the Army’s overhaul. “They’ve held the line every single time when we have made a hard decision,” he said. Still, he acknowledged that each of the $48 billion in cuts has defenders in Congress and industry.

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  • McCaul plans exit from Congress, looks back on 20 years in Republican Party

    McCaul plans exit from Congress, looks back on 20 years in Republican Party

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    Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, believes there are just four ways people end their time on Capitol Hill.

    “You can die, you can lose, you can get indicted, or you can go out on top, and that’s door number four,” he told Fox News Digital. “And I think door number four looks attractive.”

    And for McCaul, going out on top means ending a career of over two decades serving Texas’ 10th congressional district. He’s served two three-term stints as the top Republican on the committees on Foreign Affairs and Homeland Security, respectively – the maximum allowed time for members of the House GOP conference. He is not running again in the November midterms.

    The Texas Republican, who will be 64 when he leaves Congress at the end of 2026, is still hoping to have an impact on the U.S. national security sphere when he’s gone.

    HOUSE PASSES TRUMP-BACKED PLAN TO AVERT GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN

    Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas

    Rep. Mike McCaul, R-Texas, walks off the floor of the House of Representatives at the U.S. Capitol Building on Oct. 17, 2023. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

    He told Fox News Digital that he’s expressed interest to the Trump administration about potentially serving as U.S. ambassador to Australia.

    “Being ambassador to Australia, I think would be a very good fit for me – after AUKUS, do what I did there, AI, advanced weapons systems – stuff I’ve worked on could play well both as ambassador, but also on a board of directors of a company that does that,” McCaul said.

    AUKUS refers to a trilateral security agreement between the U.S., U.K. and Australia, widely seen as a response to China’s encroachment in the Pacific.

    McCaul was one of AUKUS’s lead champions in Congress both as Foreign Affairs Committee chair and co-chair of the Friends of Australia Caucus.

    58 HOUSE DEMS VOTE AGAINST RESOLUTION HONORING ‘LIFE AND LEGACY’ OF CHARLIE KIRK

    “I think I’d be good at it. I mean, I know all the players,” he said of a potential ambassadorship. “I know their issues. But in the meantime, these offers are coming in – I’ve got a year and a half still around. I’ll figure it out.”

    He said of other post-Congress possibilities, “Most of the offers, they’re in the national security space.”

    “I’ve had several offers in the intelligence space as well. So I’d still be in it. There are a couple of think tanks where you still get on television. I could still be a relevant voice on the issues I care about. And in a way, I can focus more about what I’m passionate on, and be a voice for that, rather than being bogged down with a lot of other stuff.”

    Afghanistan Airport Military Withdrawal

    U.S. Army soldiers assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division patrol Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, Aug. 17, 2021.  (Senior Airman Taylor Crul/U.S. Air Force via REUTERS)

    He’s worked on a lot of those issues that he cares about over his 20-plus years in Congress, as well.

    “It’s been an honor of a lifetime – chairing Homeland Security during one of the most dangerous times with the rise of the ISIS caliphate and all the external operations that we want to stop, establishing the cybersecurity agency. I did TSA PreCheck and Global Entry – those were fun things to work on. But then, as the chairman of Foreign Affairs, working on very big foreign policy issues like the fall of Afghanistan,” McCaul said. 

    “Everything I’ve done with Ukraine after [Russian President Vladimir Putin] invaded – that emergency wartime supplemental bill was probably the highlight, because had we not passed that, I think Russia would be occupying Ukraine today, and they’d be in Moldova and Georgia and maybe threatening the Baltic States and Poland.”

    The senior lawmaker has been a leading voice on foreign policy in a Republican Party that’s seen a growing isolationist streak – something McCaul said concerned him.

    “I think it’s a very dangerous mentality. It didn’t work in 1939, and there are a lot of parallels to 1939 today. Now, I think burden sharing, that’s real. I think, you know, having NATO standing up – I think [President Donald Trump] is right about that. I think he wants other NATO countries to do secondary sanctions, and it should be a team effort,” he said.

    President Donald Trump speak in front of American flag

    President Donald Trump speaks at a hearing of the Religious Liberty Commission at the Museum of the Bible, Monday, Sept. 8, 2025, in Washington.  (Alex Brandon/AP Photo)

    “But I think there are certain people in the administration that are very much – the America First I agree with, but it’s not at the expense of abdicating our responsibility to lead the world. And I think that’s dangerous if that’s what they think America First is all about.”

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    Asked if he had any regrets over his time in Congress, McCaul said he was proud of his work on Capitol Hill. 

    “There was a time when, you know, there was a Senate possibility, but I wouldn’t trade what I have done for anything,” he said. “I feel very at peace with this, because I feel like I’m going out on top. I’ve chaired two major committees. I’ve been effective. There’s a good expression – I’ll miss the clowns, but I won’t miss the circus.”

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  • Erika Kirk plans to expand Turning Point USA operations after taking over

    Erika Kirk plans to expand Turning Point USA operations after taking over

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    Turning Point USA’s future could entail expanding the organization under the leadership of Erika Kirk, who was appointed to lead the conservative nonprofit following the assassination of her husband, Charlie Kirk, last week.

    Alex Clark, host of the podcast “Culture Apothecary with Alex Clark” and a longtime TPUSA personality, explained that Kirk held a Zoom call on Wednesday with employees, noting that she has been an “absolute force” who wants to “10x the organization.”

    Since the assassination, the group has received more than 62,000 new requests for high school and college chapters.

    ‘SLEEPING GIANT’ LIKELY WOKE UP FOR TURNING POINT USA AFTER CHARLIE KIRK’S ASSASSINATION

    Charlie Kirk and Alex Clark

    Charlie Kirk and Alex Clark together on stage at Turning Point USA’s Young Women’s Leadership Summit in 2021. (Turning Point USA)

    I’m excited because Charlie had said on his show at one point that Erika was actually more conservative than he was, so I can’t wait to see what that means,” Clark told Fox News Digital in a phone interview on Thursday.

    “I think that’s kind of a poetic justice that will be done to the left, because, obviously, they were excited that they took out Charlie, and they thought that everything would die with him. And that’s just clearly not even close to the reality of the situation.”

    The election of Kirk as CEO and chair of the board was announced on Thursday.

    “In prior discussions, Charlie expressed to multiple executives that this is what he wanted in the event of his death,” the organization posted on X.

    Clark noted that preserving the mission of the group is critical during this time.

    TURNING POINT USA ELECTS ERIKA KIRK AS NEW CEO, CHAIR OF THE BOARD FOLLOWING CHARLIE KIRK’S ASSASSINATION

    Erika Kirk tribute speech

    Erika Kirk delivers an emotional speech two days after Charlie Kirk’s killing, with a tribute message and photo of him displayed on the podium. (Turning Point USA)

    Erica is very sharp, and she already knows who is circling us that is an opportunist, and she is going to protect the integrity and legacy of Turning Point USA with everything that she has,” she said.

    “So, for employees that work here, for donors, people that want to be involved, nobody should be afraid of what made Turning Point so special and so successful, that any of that would slip away. I think that she’s going to have the perfect ingredients to add to our success recipe to make it even better.”

    Clark noted that the tragedy has brought people within the organization closer together.

    ERIKA KIRK’S FIRST SPEECH SINCE HUSBAND’S ASSASSINATION SPARKS MASSIVE TPUSA CHAPTER SURGE NATIONWIDE

    kirk memorial

    Well-wishers add to a makeshift memorial set up at Turning Point USA headquarters in honor of Charlie Kirk, the late 31-year-old founder and CEO of the organization, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025, in Phoenix, Ariz. (AP/Ross D. Franklin)

    I think the overall mood is like, ‘We want justice,’ and we are closer as a staff than ever before. I mean, it’s the new normal to see somebody that you’ve never really spoken to in the office and get them a hug and just say, ‘I love you, thank you for being here,’” she said.

    Kirk’s celebration of life service is scheduled for Sunday at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, where President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance are among the list of speakers.  

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    When asked about the political next steps following the shooting of Kirk, she said, “Every election is ours to lose for the foreseeable future here.”

    “Charlie was very adamant that the next election is JD Vance’s and that we’re going to be playing a critical role in helping him with that,” Clark said, noting the role of TPUSA’s sister organization, Turning Point Action.

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  • FBI agent testifies about surveillance, money transfers and Trump plane tracking

    FBI agent testifies about surveillance, money transfers and Trump plane tracking

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    Prosecutors on Friday presented their final witness in the federal trial of Ryan Routh, accused of attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump at his West Palm Beach golf club on Sept. 15, 2024.

    FBI Supervisory Special Agent Kimberly McGreevy testified about financial records, phone data, license plate readers and surveillance evidence that traced Routh’s movements from Hawaii to Florida ahead of the assassination attempt.

    McGreevy read aloud a handwritten note Routh allegedly left in a box at Lazaro Plata’s home in Greensboro, North Carolina. The note began: “Dear World, .. This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump, but I am so sorry I failed you… it’s up to you now to complete the job.” The letter also mentioned a $150,000 reward. McGreevy testified that bank transfers showed Routh had the money to pay that sum.

    PROSECUTORS TO REST CASE IN TRUMP ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT TRIAL, DEFENSE PREPS WITNESSES

    A sketch depicting court proceedings during the Ryan Routh trial

    A sketch depicting court proceedings during the Ryan Routh trial in Fort Pierce, Florida on Sept. 15, 2025. Ryan Routh is accused of an attempted assassination on President Donald Trump at his West Palm Beach golf club in 2024. (Lothar Speer)

    Jurors were shown evidence of accounts shared by Routh, his daughter Sara, and his son Adam, including a March 15, 2024 deposit of $162,000 into Sara’s account followed the same day by a $160,000 transfer to another account in her name. McGreevy also displayed alleged Venmo transactions moving money from Sara’s accounts to Ryan Routh.

    Prosecutors introduced phone records showing web searches about Trump’s campaign schedule, rally tickets, golf courses, and personal whereabouts. McGreevy said the phones also showed searches for “how many bullets does an SKS rifle hold?” on Sept. 4, 2024, and hundreds of firearm images. One text exchange presented to jurors was between Routh and a contact named Vladmir. After an aerial image was sent, the exchange read:

    Vladimir: “Palm Beach, yours?”

    Routh: “Trump’s plane. He gets on and off every day.”

    EXPLOSIVES EXPERT DETAILS DEVICES AS TRUMP ASSASSINATION TRIAL NEARS CLOSE

    Ryan Routh’s federal trial for attempts to assassinate President Trump

    A sketch depicting court proceedings during the Ryan Routh trial in Fort Pierce, Florida on Sept. 17, 2025. Ryan Routh is accused of an attempted assassination on President Donald Trump at his West Palm Beach golf club in 2024. (Lothar Speer) (Lothar Speer)

    McGreevy testified that Routh’s “home base” between Aug. 14 and Sept. 15, 2024 was the Marathon truck stop in South Bay, Florida. Receipts showed he paid cash for overnight parking there, according to McGreevy.

    Body cam footage from a welfare check at the truck stop showed Routh wearing madras-print shorts, later found in his Xterra and seen in airport surveillance when Routh watched Trump’s plane lift off on Sept. 7.

    Jurors were also shown license plate reader data placing Routh’s black Nissan Xterra in the Palm Beach area on multiple occasions, including March 29, March 30, March 31, and April 3, 2024. McGreevy said one plate was registered to Sara Routh, another to a different car, and one was unassigned.

    FBI PHONE EXTRACTIONS, DNA TESTIMONY HEADLINE DAY 7 OF RYAN ROUTH TRIAL

    Evidence shown to the court at the Ryan Routh trial for attempts to assassinate President Trump.

    Images of exhibits presented in court by the government during the Ryan Routh trial in Fort Pierce, Florida on Sept. 17, 2025. Ryan Routh is accused of an attempted assassination on President Donald Trump at his West Palm Beach golf club in 2024. (DOJ)

    Prosecutors also presented a photo taken on one of Routh’s burner phones that showed a map of the 14th hole at Trump’s golf course with multiple pins dropped — and Routh visible in the reflection. They compared it with another photo showing the SKS rifle propped in a tree at the same hole. Nearby, investigators found a 56-ounce Sunny Delight bottle that matched a receipt recovered from Routh’s vehicle.

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    Inside the courtroom, Routh entered smiling and wore a blue suit coat, white shirt and red striped tie, according to Fox News reporters inside the courtroom. His daughter, Sara, was the only family member present, taking notes. Routh also took notes, occasionally leaned back with one leg propped up and grinned when testimony alleged he paid for hardware supplies in cash.

    The trial is set to continue next week, with the defense expected to begin calling its own witnesses after the government rests its case this afternoon.

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  • AOC opposes House resolution honoring Charlie Kirk after assassination

    AOC opposes House resolution honoring Charlie Kirk after assassination

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    Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., on Friday opposed a resolution honoring the life and legacy of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated Sept. 10 during a speaking engagement at Utah Valley University.

    In a speech on the House floor, Ocasio-Cortez claimed the resolution was introduced on a “purely partisan basis, instead of uniting Congress.”

    After condemning Kirk’s murder, she noted the resolution “brings great pain to the millions of Americans who endured segregation, Jim Crow and the legacy of bigotry today” and tore into the late 31-year-old’s ideology.

    “We should be clear about who Charlie Kirk was, a man who believed that the Civil Rights Act that granted Black Americans the right to vote was a mistake, who, after the violent attack on Paul Pelosi, claimed that ‘some amazing patriot’ should bail out his brutal assailant and accused Jews of controlling ‘not just the colleges – it’s the nonprofits, it’s the movies, it’s Hollywood, it’s all of it,’” Ocasio-Cortez said. 

    58 HOUSE DEMS VOTE AGAINST RESOLUTION HONORING ‘LIFE AND LEGACY’ OF CHARLIE KIRK

    “His rhetoric and beliefs were ignorant, uneducated and sought to disenfranchise millions of Americans — far from the ‘working tirelessly to promote unity’ as asserted by the majority in this resolution.”

    Charlie Kirk speaks during a Turning Point USA conference

    Charlie Kirk, who founded Turning Point USA, was killed Sept. 10 while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

    The resolution described Kirk as a “devoted Christian,” “dedicated husband” and a “loving father” of two, explaining his founding of Turning Point USA and commending his personification of the First Amendment.

    It resolved the House of Representatives to condemn Kirk’s assassination and all forms of political violence; commended law enforcement for catching Kirk’s alleged killer; extended condolences to Kirk’s family; honored Kirk’s life, leadership and legacy; and called upon all Americans — regardless of race, party affiliation or creed — to “reject political violence, recommit to respectful debate, uphold American values, and respect one another as fellow Americans.”

    AOC speaking on the House floor

    AOC claimed Charlie Kirk’s “rhetoric and beliefs were ignorant, uneducated and sought to disenfranchise millions of Americans.” (Fox News)

    ‘FEARLESS’ TOUR TAKES CHARLIE KIRK’S FREE SPEECH MISSION TO COLLEGES NATIONWIDE

    In addition to Ocasio-Cortez, 57 other Democrats voted against the resolution, including Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Maxine Waters of California. 

    However, 95 Democrats voted to adopt the resolution, including Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., Whip Katherine Clark, D-Mass., and Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar, D-Calif.

    Here is a breakdown of public comments Kirk made regarding the topics Ocasio-Cortez mentioned in her dissent.

    AOC CLAIM: Charlie Kirk was “a man who believed that the Civil Rights Act that granted Black Americans the right to vote was a ‘mistake’”

    During a Feb. 2, 2024, podcast episode with “Fearless” host Jason Whitlock, Kirk acknowledged his ideas about the Civil Rights Act and its role in American society were “provocative,” thanking Whitlock for the opportunity to further explain.

    “It’s an awful provocative conversation I started. I stand by it, and I appreciate the opportunity. I mean this sincerely, Jason — to explain it. There’s even some people on the right that have been just throwing insults, and they would never have me on the show to explain it.”

    Kirk went on to say he extensively researched what the Civil Rights Act was, what it tried to accomplish, how it was sold to the American people at the time and how it is perceived now by the modern academic consensus.

    Charlie Kirk in 2023

    Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, speaks during the Turning Point Action conference July 15, 2023, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)

    “At the time, of course, there were legislative priorities that needed to be done by the federal government to stop bitter segregation — I’ve always held that,” Kirk said. “The American people thought they were getting minor legislative adjustments to say that segregation based on race is evil and wrong. In reality, what they got was the birthing of a permanent deep state of bureaucrats that were looking for racism where it didn’t exist, eventually with affirmative action, quotas and hiring practices expanded beyond race into LGBTQ-type issues. 

    “What the Civil Rights era really birthed was this idea that it’s the federal government’s job not just to say that discrimination is wrong, but to actively go against any sort of disparate outcome and try to even the score under the guise of equity.”

    ANTI-TRUMP VOICES PRAISE CHARLIE KIRK’S LEGACY AFTER ASSASSINATION, SAY HE WAS DOING POLITICS ‘THE RIGHT WAY’

    Kirk went on to discuss Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I have a dream” speech, saying he “100% bought into” the need for equality, but adding he believed the Civil Rights Act was expanded further than the initial intention.

    “At the time, a majority of Americans wanted to see an end to desegregation,” he said. “They didn’t want to see new segregation put forward in eventually anti-White hiring practices, affirmative action or the entire federal bureaucracy having racial hiring quotas.

    “Eventually, you look around and you have the left defending Black-only dormitories at hundreds of universities across the country, Black-only graduation ceremonies. … You look back to the Civil Rights Act and you say maybe we overreached and built something we didn’t intend, a federal Leviathan in the form of anti-racism.”

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    AOC CLAIM: After Paul Pelosi’s violent assault, Charlie Kirk claimed ‘some amazing patriot’ should bail out his brutal assailant

    In an Oct. 31, 2022, episode of “The Charlie Kirk Show,” titled “A Naked Smear of MAGA,” Kirk discussed the Oct. 28, 2022, attack against Nancy Pelosi’s husband, saying directly, “I’m not qualifying it, I think it’s awful.”

    David DePape, a Canadian citizen living in the U.S., was sentenced to life in prison in 2024 after attacking Paul Pelosi with a hammer, causing two head wounds and injuries to his right arm and hand.

    DePape, who Kirk described in the episode as someone who was “not sane,” admitted to devising a plot to hold then-Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi hostage and “break her kneecaps” if she did not admit to allegedly telling “lies” about the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential campaign. She was not home at the time of the attack.

    Paul Pelosi attends ceremony unveiling of wife's portrait

    Kirk condemned the violent attack against Paul Pelosi, who was attacked by a man with a hammer in San Francisco Oct. 28, 2022. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

    Kirk’s comments about “bailing out” DePape were in relation to the concept of disparity within cashless bail policies.

    Under cashless bail policies, a suspect who is arrested for a crime is released before a trial without having to pay bail or bond. The fees were put in place to ensure suspects do not flee and incentivize them to make scheduled court appearances.

    While many liberal jurisdictions have enacted the policies, critics claim cashless bail puts the public at risk and enables repeat offenders.

    “I’m not qualifying [the attack], I think it’s awful,” Kirk said. “It’s not right. But why is it that, in Chicago, you’re able to commit murder and be out the next day? Why is it that you’re able to trespass, second-degree murder, arson, threaten a public official, [and receive] cashless bail? This happens all over San Francisco, but if you go after the Pelosis … you’re [not] let out immediately. Got it.”

    CHARLIE KIRK PAINTED AS ‘CONTROVERSIAL,’ ‘PROVOCATIVE’ IN MEDIA’S ASSASSINATION COVERAGE

    Kirk went on to question why DePape was still incarcerated in San Francisco, a Democratic stronghold that had cashless bail policies in place at the time of Paul Pelosi’s attack.

    Just a few months prior to the assault, San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins announced her office established a policy that would seek cash bail in certain misdemeanor cases, claiming bail “unfairly penalizes those with less financial means and disproportionately affects defendants of color.”

    “Why is the conservative movement to blame for gay, schizophrenic nudists that are hemp jewelry makers, breaking into somebody’s home?” Kirk said while discussing DePape’s ideology. “Why are we to blame for that exactly, and why is he still in jail. Why has he not been bailed out? By the way, if some amazing patriot out there in San Francisco or the Bay Area wants to really be a midterm hero, someone should go and bail this guy out. I bet his bail is like 30[,000] or 40,000 bucks. Bail him out and then go ask him some questions.”

    WATCH: CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE FULL EPISODE

    Kirk went on to wish Paul Pelosi a quick recovery and condemned the attack a second time.

    “So, look, I wish him the best. I wish him a speedy recovery,” Kirk said. “No one should have to encounter that sort of violence.”

    Charlie Kirk in October 2024.

    Charlie Kirk was a conservative activist who led Turning Point USA. (Alex Brandon/The Associated Press)

    AOC CLAIM: Charlie Kirk “accused Jews of controlling ‘not just the colleges – it’s the nonprofits, it’s the movies, it’s Hollywood, it’s all of it.’”

    In an Oct. 26, 2024, episode of the “The Charlie Kirk Show” podcast, Kirk claimed Jewish donors have been the No. 1 funding mechanism of radical, open-border neoliberal quasi-Marxist policies, cultural institutions and nonprofits.

    “This is a beast created by secular Jews,” Kirk said. “Now it’s coming for Jews, and they’re like, ‘What on Earth happened?’ It’s not just the colleges. It’s the nonprofits, it’s the movies, it’s Hollywood, it’s all of it.”

    Kirk, a longtime supporter of Israel, later argued in a Nov. 16, 2023, episode of “The Charlie Kirk Show,” titled “Elon Musk Smashes the Digital Narratives,” that some Jewish organizations and donors, including the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), helped fund “anti-White” or “cultural Marxist” ideas aligned with the Black Lives Matter movement or Diversity and Equity Inclusion (DEI).

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    He noted he does not believe all Jewish people are anti-White, specifying that he did “not like generalizations.”

    “I don’t like generalizations,” Kirk said in the episode. “Not every Jewish person believes that. But it is true the Anti-Defamation League was part and parcel with Black Lives Matter. It is true that some of the largest financiers of left-wing anti-White causes have been Jewish Americans. They went all in on woke, and it wasn’t just ADL. It was some of the top Jewish organizations in the country that have done that. In fact, we have seen this with the recent retreat of Jewish donations that are no longer going to be administered to colleges.”

    Kirk added that, after the October episode, critics labeled him antisemitic, clarifying he was “glad that Jewish Americans are reconsidering their financing of cultural Marxism, and people misunderstood it intentionally and slandered us as being antisemites.”

    While “Cultural Marxism” has been used as an antisemitic phrase, commentators have been known to use it without antisemitic intent.

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  • WATCH: Rhetoric and free speech collide after Kirk assassination, lawmakers react

    WATCH: Rhetoric and free speech collide after Kirk assassination, lawmakers react

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    In the aftermath of conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s assassination, a debate about political rhetoric and its impact on recent spates of political violence has taken hold on Capitol Hill and across the country. 

    While both Republicans and Democrats have condemned political violence of all kinds, their views vary on how much inflammatory political rhetoric plays a role. Some Republicans have accused the left’s rhetoric of fostering an “assassination culture” on the left, while Democrats have accused Republicans of attacks on free speech. 

    One member of Congress, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., attempted to steer the conversation towards gun control as opposed to rhetoric as the cause for the increase in political violence.

    “This isn’t just about what happened to Charlie Kirk. At the same time his tragic killing was happening, three kids were getting shot in school, and that was one or two weeks after another couple of kids were getting shot, in church, at mass, at a Catholic school,” Ocasio-Cortez said. 

    EXPERTS WARN LEFTIST CELEBRATIONS OF CHARLIE KIRK’S DEATH SIGNAL A DANGEROUS MAINSTREAM SHIFT IN POLITICS

    AOC during a news conference

    Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., suggested gun control was more to blame than violent rhetoric when asked about the potentially growing ‘assassination culture’ in the United States.  (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

    But GOP firebrand Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., did not mince words about those who continue to foment hatred for conservatives with inflammatory rhetoric.

    “We need to shame these people out of polite society, shame them out of existence. They need to be fired from their jobs. They are putting lives in danger,” Mace said. “They are denying that they’re celebrating the political assassination and murder of Charlie Kirk, but they’re liars. They’re lying through their teeth.”

    Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have called on others to “turn down the heat” in the wake of Kirk’s assassination. Americans from all walks of life have been facing repercussions over their decision to mock, or praise, Kirk’s death, including K-12 education officials, college professors, healthcare professionals, political pundits, writers and a list of other professionals from various sectors and major companies, such as the law firm Perkins Coie, the company behind the New York Stock Exchange, NASDAQ, and Office Depot, among others.

    Charlie Kirk memorial in Berlin

    Memorials honoring Charlie Kirk have been held across the country and overseas, including in Berlin. Kirk was assassinated on Sept. 10, 2025. ( Ilkin Eskipehlivan /Anadolu via Getty Images)

    FOLLOWING KIRK’S ASSASSINATION, LAWMAKERS REACT TO LETHAL POLITICAL CLIMATE: ‘VIOLENT WORDS PRECEDE VIOLENT ACTIONS’

    Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y., said that everyone should have “the right to speak freely, otherwise America’s democratic tradition could be threatened. 

    “Look, there’s a limit to what Congress can do, because, you know, we have the First Amendment, which protects all forms of speech, including hate speech, but we should have a culture of condemning any rhetoric that glorifies violence. I see violence as the downfall of American democracy,” Torres said. “We all should have the right to speak freely, to think freely, without fear of harassment or intimidation or violence. And once we lose the ability to speak freely in the public square then democracy as we know it has come to an end.”

    Rep. Ritchie Torres

    Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y., said political violence may become the “downfall of American democracy.” (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

    Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., suggested possible remedies Congress could take to help reduce inflammatory rhetoric and its potential impact on violence. 

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    “You have to look at the role that social media companies play in allowing violent rhetoric to be on their sites. And what more can we do so that law enforcement can see these attacks sooner?” Swalwell asked. “I wait, and stand ready to learn, where there are signs that were missed by law enforcement. Because if that’s the case, we have to do better, because the temperature is only increasing.”

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  • DHS releases names of detainees after protesters demand access to ICE offices

    DHS releases names of detainees after protesters demand access to ICE offices

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    The Department of Homeland Security on Friday released the names of some of the “worst of the worst” detainees being held at the Federal Plaza in New York City a day after security locked down the federal facility because of demonstrators. 

    A group of Democratic lawmakers and protesters, including New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, staged a sit-in on the 10th floor of the facility on Thursday, demanding access to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) offices and holding cells.

    ICE sources claim officers had to secure doors with locks and zip ties after protesters pushed to enter, and additional security had to be added. 

    In a statement to Fox News Digital, DHS called the detainees “some of the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens, including MS-13 gang members and criminals convicted of illegal possession of a weapon, drug trafficking and serial drunk drivers.”

    ‘WORST OF THE WORST’ ARRESTED IN NATIONWIDE CRIMINAL ILLEGAL-ALIEN CRACKDOWN: DHS

    Detainees Khutov, Ramirez and Soriano

    Three of the detainees being held at the facility: Asker Aslanovich Khutov, Miguel Ramirez and Juan Enrique Pena Soriano.  (DHS)

    “Another day with more politicians pulling a stunt in an attempt to get their 15 minutes of fame while endangering DHS personnel and detainees,” Tricia McLaughlin, DHS assistant secretary for public affairs, said in a statement.

    She said Lander showed up at the plaza “unannounced with agitators and media and proceeded to obstruct law enforcement and cause a scene. He yelled inside the building that he was ‘not leaving’ until detainees were ‘released’.”

    As a result, she said Federal Protective Service called the NYPD, and local police and federal law enforcement and 71 arrests were made, including Lander, two New York State senators and nine New York State Assembly members. 

    DHS ARRESTS ‘WORST OF THE WORST’ MIGRANTS IN LA DESPITE RIOTERS, POLS PUSHING BACK

    Detainees Kuca, Saravia and Alvarado

    Detainees Vladimir Kuca, David Abrego Alvarado and Juan Hernandez Saravia. (DHS)

    “MS-13 Gang members, drug traffickers, serial drunk drivers and illegal possession of a weapon. These are the criminal illegal aliens these sanctuary politicians were fighting to be released back onto the streets of New York City,” McLaughlin said. “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.” 

    DHS identified six of the detainees, including Vladimir Kuca, an Albanian national who illegally entered the U.S. in 2023 after being convicted of drug trafficking in Switzerland. He was handed over to ICE by the FBI on Thursday. 

    David Abrego Alvarado and Juan Hernandez Saravia, Salvadoran nationals, are confirmed MS-13 gang members, DHS said. Alvarado was removed from the U.S. in 2017 and illegally returned in 2023. He had a DWI conviction. 

    Saravia has three DUIs and has two additional convictions for possession of a weapon. He was removed in 2007, eventually returning illegally at an unknown time.  

    ICE protesters in NYC

    A group of Democratic lawmakers and protesters, including New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, staged a sit-in on the 10th floor of the facility on Thursday, demanding access to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement offices and holding cells. (Brad Lander)

    Juan Enrique Pena Soriano, a national from the Dominican Republic, came into the U.S. illegally at an unknown time and was arrested by the DEA for possession of a controlled substance and turned over to ICE.  

    Asker Aslanovich Khutov, a Russian, overstayed his B-2 tourist visa and has a final order of removal from an immigration judge. He was convicted of criminal possession of stolen property. 

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    Miguel Ramirez, a Mexican national, illegally entered the U.S. at an unknown date and was charged with restricted consumption and was previously convicted of resisting arrest.  

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  • Trump invokes Charlie Kirk amid TikTok negotiations with China

    Trump invokes Charlie Kirk amid TikTok negotiations with China

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    President Donald Trump on Friday credited the late Charlie Kirk while announcing a deal with Chinese President Xi Jinping to keep TikTok available in the U.S.

    Speaking with reporters in the Oval Office Friday, Trump shared that he had a successful phone call with Jinping on Friday morning in which he reached a deal to keep the social media platform available to American users by divesting some of its ownership to U.S. business leaders.

    He said that Chinese leaders, American youth and even conservative leaders wanted to keep the platform available in the U.S.

    “The TikTok deal is well on its way,” he said.

    CHARLIE KIRK CREDITED WITH HELPING TRUMP GAIN SIGNIFICANT GROUND WITH YOUNG VOTERS

    A split photo of President Donald Trump and the late Charlie Kirk

    President Donald Trump and the late Charlie Kirk (Francis Chung via Getty Images; Tess Crowley via AP)

    He noted the platform’s popularity among American youth and emphasized that Kirk encouraged its use to engage with young people.

    “Charlie was very much in favor of TikTok; he liked TikTok,” he added. “He said, you know, ‘You should use it.’”

    Trump credited Kirk with leveraging social media platforms like TikTok to get “massive numbers of youth” out to vote for him and Republicans in 2024.

    “If you take a look at my numbers, no Republican has ever done anything like it. We got massive numbers of youth, and, by the way, helped very much by Charlie Kirk,” he said. “It probably had a pretty big effect on the election because we won the election by a lot.”

    TPUSA INSIDER: ERIKA KIRK IS ‘ABSOLUTE FORCE’ READY TO GROW GROUP ’10X’ AFTER TRAGEDY

    Donald Trump in the Oval Office

    President Donald Trump during a Cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington Aug. 26, 2025. (Aaron Schwartz/CNP/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

    This comes as Trump has repeatedly delayed implementing a law passed by Congress in 2024 to ban TikTok in the U.S. unless it divests its ownership of U.S. operations from China to America.

    Following his negotiations with Jinping, Trump said TikTok’s U.S. operations will be “controlled by very powerful and very substantial American people, all American.”

    “It’s a great deal for our country. It’s a great deal for all of the young people in the country and for people generally,” he said.

    Trump acknowledged his initial opposition to TikTok, saying, “I wasn’t a fan of TikTok, and then I got to use it. And I became a fan, and it helped me win the election in a landslide.

    WHITE HOUSE RELEASES VIDEO TRIBUTE TO CHARLIE KIRK

    A split of TikTok and Trump

    Trump said he wasn’t initially a fan of TikTok but later credited the platform for helping him win the 2024 election. (Getty Images)

    “I had a great call with President Xi and, as you know, we approved the TikTok deal, and we’re in the process. We have some great investors, some of the biggest in the world, American investors, great people, and we look forward to getting that deal closed,” he said.  

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    Pressed on whether the deal is fully approved, Trump answered, “I think so. And when you say fully approved, I don’t know what that means. We have to get it signed, I guess. I guess it could be a formality. I found his word to be very good.

    “They wanted to see it,” he said of China, “and I can tell you, the young people in our country wanted to see it stay open very badly.” 

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