Author: NOVA Corp

Amid many Americans’ plummeting support for Israel, potential Democratic presidential candidate Rahm Emanuel on Wednesday took aim at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Emanuel, who is Jewish and a longtime defender of Israel, appears to have changed his tune and is now cautioning that the alliance between the U.S. and Israel “cannot stand or survive as it’s been.”

The former White House chief of staff to President Barack Obama and one-time Chicago mayor who later served as U.S. ambassador to Japan in the Biden administration, issued the tough-love message for America’s increasingly isolated ally amid its ongoing military operations in Gaza against Hamas.

His message was blunt: Unconditional U.S. support for Israel needs to end, and Israel needs to make major changes if it wants to keep America as its top ally.

HEAD HERE FOR THE LATEST FOX NEWS REPORTING ON ISRAEL

“The hard truth is that America’s silence for years has engendered the worst of your domestic politics. We’ve done you no favors by averting our eyes,” Emanuel argued during his more than 30-minute address at the University of Tel Aviv, the centerpiece of his trip to Israel this week.

And pointing to Netanyahu, Emanuel argued that America’s “unconditional support has produced a prime minister who has presumed that his strategic interests would incur no cost if he ignored America’s concerns.

“I came here from Chicago to tell you directly where things need to head if we are to maintain the historic alliance between two democracies. Without question, the alliance is at a crossroads,” he added.

NETANYAHU REJECTS REPORTS OF A RIFT WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP, SAYS THE TWO REMAIN ALIGNED ON IRAN

A horrific Hamas sneak attack on Oct. 7, 2023, killed roughly 1,200 people in Israel. The continued Israeli response over the past two and a half years has resulted in more than 73,000 people being killed, according to health officials in the Palestinian territory.

Israel’s response has led to condemnation of the country from across the globe, including from longtime advocates for the Jewish state.

“Support for Israel is plummeting around the world. You’ve lost Europe, your biggest economic partner,” Emanuel emphasized.

“Israel has never been more strategically isolated.”

Democrats have become increasingly divided over the war in Gaza, with a growing number of politicians on the left charging that Israel’s actions against the Palestinians are “genocide” and calling for a halt to longstanding U.S. military aid to the Middle East nation.

Roughly half of Democrats questioned in a new Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll said Israel had committed genocide in its war with Hamas. Meanwhile, 58% said the U.S. is “too supportive” of Israel, which is up 13 points since January.

Most Republicans remain strong supporters of Israel, although there’s increasing unease among some in MAGA/America First camp.

The poll indicated a slight deterioration in support for Israel among those in the GOP, but overall only a sliver of Republicans questioned felt that Israel had committed genocide.

Emanuel called for a “new and fundamentally new approach to this alliance. … To maintain the strength of our ties, we need significant changes and a new direction.”

21 DEMOCRATS WHO MAY RUN FOR THE WHITE HOUSE IN 2028

And he sketched out early ideas for a new peace process.

“The now-discredited path to a ‘two-state solution’ should be replaced by a 23-state solution: The 21 Arab nations that have exploited Palestinian rights as a slogan for decades now need to roll up their sleeves and stand up a governing authority capable of accepting the historic Jewish connection to this land,” Emanuel proposed.

“If Israel made peace with 21 … Arab nations, that would be your greatest day and Iran’s worst nightmare.”

EMANUEL PUSHES BACK ON ‘STRAIGHT WHILE MAN’ – SAYS THIS IS WHAT MATTERS MOST IN 2028

Emanuel’s proposals include sanctioning Israelis who attack Palestinian civilians and property, along with companies and banks that support Israeli settlements in the West Bank that most of the international community consider illegal.

He also called for ending U.S. subsidies to Israel’s defense budget, arguing the country “should be able to buy American arms under the same financial terms, the same restrictions and the same requirements as every other trusted ally that abides by our laws.”

For Emanuel, long known as a moderate who has clashed with the left-wing faction of his party, the speech appeared to be an attempt to find what he’s described as a realistic middle ground.

His message: “Those chanting ‘from the river to the sea’ need to hear this: You will never have your way.

“Those calling for a greater Israel, you need to hear this: You will never have your way, either. Both of them are fantasies chanted by fanatics that lead to perpetual endless conflict.”

Netanyahu, who years ago famously slammed Emanuel as a “self-hating Jew,” had yet to respond to the speech at the time this report posted.

Emanuel, who has been crisscrossing the country this year as he considers a presidential bid, has made two stops in New Hampshire, which has traditionally held the first primary in the White House race.

He has also made trips to two other crucial early primary election states — Nevada and South Carolina.

Political heavyweight Dana White, whose endorsement of President Donald Trump was instrumental in his 2024 victory, is now hinting that he may jump back into presidential politics in 2028 because he has “become really close” with Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

This comes as White’s UFC announced a rare “sports diplomacy” partnership with the State Department this week. White and Rubio signed a memorandum of understanding establishing the partnership last month, according to a UFC statement. The league said that as part of the agreement, UFC athletes and coaches will serve as “sports ambassadors” for young athletes around the world through the State Department’s Sports Envoy Program.

White was explicitly asked by OutKick’s Tomi Lahren, whether there are any leaders he is looking at for 2028, to which he responded, “It’s funny, As I was, leading up to the White House fight, doing all this media, you know, a lot of the left media was saying to me, ‘So, you’re out of politics after this, right?’ And I can’t remember who it was that I said it to but … I said, ‘I’ve become really close to Rubio.’ We’ve become really close.”

“People are asking me if I’m going to get out of politics when the president leaves and I just said, ‘I’ve become very close to Rubio.’ He and I have become friends,” he emphasized.

RUBIO ANNOUNCES FRAMEWORK DEAL BETWEEN ISRAEL AND LEBANON AS EXPERTS WARN IRAN WILL FIGHT TO SABOTAGE IT

White said that Rubio “is a great guy, I like him,” adding, “He’s smart, I like the way he handles himself.”

He also said, “I’ve met his sons, and I like his kids and, you know, so, never say never.”

Pressed on whether Rubio is his official pick to succeed Trump as president, White clarified, “I’m not saying I’m picking.” He noted that he also likes Vice President JD Vance, who, alongside Rubio, is a rumored 2028 presidential frontrunner.

“JD is a great guy too,” said White, adding, “It’s a tricky situation, and I don’t know enough about politics to even comment on that, but, yeah, I don’t know, but it’s not a bad thing to have two strong candidates.”

Rubio and Vance are the two Republicans most discussed as possible successors to Trump. While Rubio ran for president in 2016, he has expressed support for Vance, calling him a “close friend” and saying the vice president “would be a great nominee if he decides he wants to do that.”

VIRAL MARCO RUBIO CLIP ON HIS VISION FOR AMERICA SPARKS MORE 2028 SPECULATION

Though White stopped short of issuing a full-throated endorsement of Rubio, his partnership with the State Department through UFC underscores the high regard he appears to have for the secretary.

This is the first time the UFC has entered into such a partnership with the State Department. The NFL, which entered into a similar agreement in January, is the only other major sports organization to have signed such a formal agreement with the department.

SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER

UFC Chief Operating Officer Lawrence Epstein said the league is “thrilled” about the partnership. He said it would allow the State Department and UFC to “work together to build bridges through community engagement.”

“We’re excited to join this program, led by Secretary Rubio, as UFC is a truly global organization with athletes representing 75 countries. We can’t wait to get started later this year,” said Epstein.

VANCE TAKES LEAD SELLING TRUMP’S IRAN GAMBLE AS RUBIO, HEGSETH AND RATCLIFFE CEDE SPOTLIGHT ON FRAGILE DEAL

In turn, Rubio spoke very highly of the UFC, saying it “has become a global phenomenon by embracing values that resonate far beyond the Octagon: excellence, discipline, opportunity, and meritocracy.”

The secretary said the State Department is “proud” to launch the sports diplomacy partnership with UFC and to “continue growing the sport of MMA.”

With Graham Platner facing mounting pressure to end his Senate campaign after rape allegations surfaced Monday, longtime Maine Democrat Troy Jackson filed paperwork Tuesday positioning himself to enter the U.S. Senate race should the Democratic nomination become available.

Prominent Democratic leaders, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., have withdrawn their support for Platner and urged him to end his campaign. Platner has denied the allegations as “categorically false” and has remained in the race.

Under Maine law, Platner has until Monday, July 13, 2026, to withdraw if Democrats hope to replace him on the November ballot. If he steps aside before the deadline, the state Democratic Party will have until July 27, 2026, to choose a new nominee.

Jackson, who lost the Democratic gubernatorial primary just weeks ago, signaled his interest in the Senate race by filing a Statement of Candidacy with the Federal Election Commission. He later took to social media to condemn the allegations against Platner while emphasizing that he has not yet decided whether to seek the nomination.

PLATNER CAMPAIGN PUTTING ‘THUMB ON SCALE’ TO INFLUENCE POSSIBLE REPLACEMENT, MAINE DEM ALLEGES

“While I haven’t made any final decisions yet, I’m deeply humbled by the outpouring of support and encouragement I’ve received,” Jackson wrote. “I’m currently weighing the best path forward to support our progressive movement and the working class political revolution Mainers are fighting for.”

Jackson and Platner ran closely aligned progressive campaigns and appeared together at campaign events throughout the 2026 election cycle. Both embraced a progressive platform and earned the backing of Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.

KINGMAKER MAMDANI CALLS ON PLATNER TO ‘DROP OUT OF THE RACE’ AFTER RAPE ALLEGATION

Following the allegations against Platner, however, Our Revolution — the progressive political organization Sanders founded after his 2016 presidential campaign — withdrew its endorsement of Platner and instead backed Jackson, whom it had also endorsed during his gubernatorial campaign.

“We have days, not weeks, to make sure a real progressive is on this ballot,” Our Revolution Executive Director Joseph Geevarghese said in a statement. “If we do not organize now, we risk watching the Democratic establishment handing Maine a corporate placeholder while the party that just got outvoted decides it knows better. We refuse to let that happen.”

Jackson’s ties to Sanders stretch back more than a decade. He was one of the few Democratic National Committee superdelegates to endorse Sanders over Hillary Clinton during the 2016 Democratic presidential primary and later served as Sanders’ Maine political director, introducing him at campaign rallies across the state. Sanders later returned the favor, endorsing Jackson’s gubernatorial campaign and appearing alongside him on the campaign trail.

FOX NEWS POLL: MAINE SENATE RACE IS TIGHT, WITH CONCERNS ABOUT BOTH CANDIDATES

“Fighting for the working class of Maine is not something new for Troy,” Sanders said during a campaign rally. “That’s what he has done for his entire life as a logger and as a member of the Maine state legislature. Troy knows what’s going on with the working class of Maine because he’s part of that working class.”

SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER

A fifth-generation logger and one of Maine’s best-known labor Democrats, Jackson spent more than two decades in the state Legislature, including six years as president of the Maine Senate before leaving the post in 2024.

During his gubernatorial campaign, he ran on a platform that included universal child care, Medicare for All and the creation of a Department of Affordable Housing. He also secured endorsements from more than 20 labor unions, cementing his reputation as a working-class progressive.

Despite his progressive politics, Jackson has repeatedly won elections in one of Maine’s most Republican regions. He represented northern Aroostook County, a largely rural district that has consistently supported President Donald Trump by double-digit margins in recent presidential elections. Jackson has argued that his success stems from focusing on working-class economic issues rather than partisan labels.

Fox News Digital reached out to Jackson for comment.

Manny Rutinel, a state legislator and Democratic candidate for Congress in Colorado’s 8th Congressional District, has a long track record of activism against ranching and other animal-related businesses — even as the district he’s running to represent depends heavily on the sector.

His past positions cast doubt on his current posture towards the meat business as he looks to unseat Rep. Gabe Evans, R-Colo., in one of the most competitive districts in the country.

Rutinel said he had recently rethought his position towards ranching during an interview with the Colorado Sun late last year.

MAMDANI COMPARISONS FOLLOW COLORADO DEMOCRAT INTO PIVOTAL HOUSE RACE AFTER PRIMARY WIN

“Like all industry, there are bad apples, and I’ve spoken out against those bad apples that cause extreme and unnecessary animal cruelty in parts of the food industry and against the environmental cost of unsustainable food practices,” he said.

“They’re good stewards of the land, they care for their animals and they are the backbone of our economy and our communities. Colorado ranchers are my friends and neighbors, and I’ve gotten to know them,” he added.

Notably, Colorado’s 8th district is Colorado’s leading producer of beef cattle and dairy, accounting for 26% of the state’s output, according to Upstate Colorado Economic Development. Of its 2.5 million acres, 75% are devoted to farming and raising livestock.

“Meatless Manny makes PETA look reasonable and he wants to force Coloradans to scrounge for berries and nuts off the ground like cave men,” Republican National Committee spokesperson Zach Kraft told Fox News Digital. “The lack of protein in Rutinel’s diet must be messing with his brain because there is a zero percent chance the ranching capital of Colorado votes for a vegan.

DSA’S THIRD MAJOR PRIMARY WIN DEEPENS DEMOCRATS’ FIGHT OVER THE PARTY’S FUTURE

Despite his reframing on ranching, Rutinel has suggested his ideal world might exclude them.

“In order to go green, you have to eat green,” Rutinel said when, as a 21-year-old, he prompted veganism by stripping and wearing a pro-vegan sign at an Earth Day celebration.

He reflected that thinking in testimony before the Connecticut legislature during his time at Yale Law School.

STEVE FORBES: CHUCK SCHUMER HAS A BEEF WITH BEEF, BUT DOESN’T EVEN KNOW HOW TO GRILL IT

“The report concludes that the globe must dramatically shift away from animal products and towards fruit, vegetables, legumes, whole grains and nuts. This environmental shift will also have tremendous health benefits for consumers,” Rutinel said, referring to the Planetary Health Diet, a collaborative report on food production ideals to address climate change.

Years later, as a state legislator, he would call a proposed ban on fur “really awesome,” even as the Denver Democrats opposed the idea.

Additionally, Rutinel began a petition to get Popeyes to implement a plant-based menu as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, arguing that doing so would lessen the risk of employees at slaughterhouses contracting the disease.

Rutinel would also go on to found Climate Refarm, a group that helped readers make the transition towards more plant-based food sources.

“At Climate Refarm, we exist to turn everyday choices into powerful tools for climate action. Our mission is to help institutions transition to plant-based food systems while reducing greenhouse gas emissions through science-backed carbon credit solutions,” the group’s website reads.

Rutinel’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether he continues to believe that climate reform must, on some level, mean change for farming industries.

Having cleared the Democratic primary, Rutinel will face off against Evans in the state’s Nov. 3, 2026, general election.

FIRST ON FOX: A scandal-plagued Democratic congressional candidate who previously claimed the U.S. has “an abusive cop problem” suggested in a resurfaced tweet that half of the police officers he has interacted with are “abusive a–holes.”

In a since-deleted 2017 post on what was then Twitter, Bobby Pulido, a Latin music star running for Congress as a Democrat in a critical South Texas swing district, wrote, “I’ve had many incidents with cops.”

He said he was pulled over in Mississippi for swerving out of his lane and that one of the officers pulled a gun on him after asking for his identification. In a follow-up tweet, still viewable on X, Pulido suggested that the officers “really wanted to search my jag for money.”

“Bull f—— s—,” he wrote. “Half of the ones [police officers] have been courteous (even when ticketing me) the others, abusive a–holes.”

DEM SENATE HOPEFUL UNDER FIRE FOR RESURFACED COMMENTS CALLING COPS ‘OPPORTUNISTIC COWARDS’

That same day, Pulido also tweeted that “Not all cops abuse power, but many do.”

In reference to an Arizona police officer being acquitted of second-degree murder after a fatal shooting in 2017, Pulido wrote, “The fact that he was found not guilty makes me question the validity of our justice system.”

Pulido is running to unseat Republican Rep. Monica De La Cruz in Texas’ Congressional District 15. As a former Tejano music star running in a heavily Hispanic district, Pulido poses a serious threat to De La Cruz’s seat because of his strong name recognition. However, his campaign thus far has been marred by controversy, including facing scrutiny over his relationship with longtime bandmate and convicted child sex offender Frankie Caballero.

He has also been criticized for saying that “White nationalists” are joining immigration enforcement to “hunt people down.”

Pulido’s campaign has dismissed both matters as “lies” and “desperate attacks.”

In another resurfaced post from 2018, Pulido wrote that “we have an abusive cop problem.” His post referenced a video of an El Paso police officer appearing to point his gun at a mob of children who seemed to be attempting to interfere with an arrest.

In the same thread, Pulido wrote, “I long for the day when we teach our children how to behave even when a cop is way out of line. He should be punished legally and to the fullest, not by abhorrent curse words from children.”

A year later, Pulido wrote that, “unfortunately, many people including some judges and police when given power, turn into monsters. Human nature?”

TALARICO CAMPAIGNS WITH SURGEON WHO OPERATED ON TRANSGENDER MINORS: ‘WOLF IN SHEEP’S CLOTHING’

In response to the resurfaced tweets, Zach Kraft, a spokesperson for the Republican National Committee, accused Pulido of smearing law enforcement.

“Pedophile protecting Pulido has displayed a disturbing pattern of befriending criminals while smearing the brave men and women of law enforcement,” Kraft told Fox News Digital.

Kraft ripped into Pulido, calling him the Spanish word for “rotten,” and predicting that South Texans “will reject this creep because, unlike Bobby ‘Podrido,’ they want sex predators in jail, not performing at middle schools.”

Fox News Digital reached out to Pulido and the Democratic National Committee for comment.

SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER

Beyond these comments, Pulido has also faced scrutiny for claiming that President Donald Trump and Republicans’ immigration enforcement agenda is motivated by the “theory of White replacement.”

“When President Trump ran, he ran on getting rid of the bad guys. They lied to us,” Pulido said.

“It’s race. It’s always down to race. And I hate to say this, because I hate to inflame it, but I’m going to call it out because that is what it is. Look, when they have this theory of White replacement, they’re saying, ‘Oh, no, no, if it weren’t for this and this and crime,’ they’ll throw in all these other things to dance around the true issue,” he said. “Which is there’s too many Brown and Black people, which they’re saying they’re just going to stay the same and be poor.”

Pulido noted during the interview, “I do not want to demonize law enforcement.” However, he expressed that when it comes to immigration enforcement, “a lot of the people that are joining, not all of them, OK. There’s a lot of White nationalists that want to join because they want to go hunt down people, right, they’re yahoos.”

EXPERT WHO FLED CUBA WARNS OF ‘VICIOUS CYCLE’ THAT WILL LEAD TO ‘COMMUNISTS IN DOUBLE DIGITS’ IN CONGRESS

After De La Cruz’s campaign accused Pulido of smearing Border Patrol officers, a spokesperson for his campaign told Fox News Digital that “these desperate attacks prove one thing. The GOP establishment is in full panic mode because Mentirosa [Spanish for ‘liar’] Monica De La Cruz is running a dumpster fire of a campaign, and they know they’re going to lose.”

The spokesperson said that Pulido “has been a lifelong supporter of our law enforcement” and added that “South Texas knows that, and they’re going to make it loud and clear in November.”

President Donald Trump addressed speculation about the dangers of flying home from the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, amid Iranian threats, saying he is not flying home on the new Air Force One because the aircraft is being sent to the United Kingdom.

“It’s flying to Europe, to one of the big bases,” Trump said. “Two or three of the big bases where we can show it to the people. And we’ll be going home by normal methods.”

Trump said the aircraft would stop at “a couple of bases,” including one in particular, “so the soldiers can see it, because it’s truly magnificent.”

NEW AIR FORCE ONE TAKES FLIGHT AS TRUMP UNVEILS REVAMPED PRESIDENTIAL AIRCRAFT

In a Truth Social post earlier Wednesday, Trump said the new aircraft was being sent to Mildenhall Air Force Base in the United Kingdom to honor U.S. troops.

“To honor our brave men and women of the Military, we are sending the brand new, and truly spectacular, Air Force One to Mildenhall Air Force Base, in the United Kingdom, to give them a chance to tour the Aircraft — Everybody is so excited, and we thought that they should be the first,” Trump wrote.

“For old time’s sake, we’ll be taking the former Air Force One, from Turkey to Mildenhall, a short trip that is totally worth doing in order to give our Great Military Heroes a chance to appreciate our beautiful new addition to the Air Force Fleet!” he added.

TRUMP SAYS NATO FAILED TWO KEY TESTS DURING HIGH-STAKES TURKEY SUMMIT: ‘NOT HAPPY’

Trump was pressed during a news conference about speculation that he was leaving Turkey on the older presidential aircraft due to possible threats from Iran.

“Well, I speak about it a lot because, you know, the life of a president is very dangerous,” Trump said, adding that he is “No. 1 on the kill list for Iran.

“They’re lovely people. I’m No. 1.”

TRUMP FACES UNPRECEDENTED THIRD ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT

Trump, the target of at least three assassination attempts, has frequently addressed the danger of being the leader of the free world, noting the mortality rate is “5.2%” for U.S. presidents.

“You know what a race car driver is? One tenth of 1%,” Trump continued. “A bull rider – that looks pretty dangerous to me – it’s one tenth of 1%.

“You should have told me,” the president said. “You’re an excellent reporter. You should have told me that years ago, maybe I wouldn’t have run. It’s a very dangerous profession.”

Trump added he doesn’t “really care” about the threats or danger, “because I’m doing my job.”

“I like being No. 1 on TikTok better,” Trump said, “but I’m No. 1 on the list for killing.”

Americans who say they aren’t proud of the United States may need a refresher on the nation’s history or a visit to other countries, Mike Rowe told Fox News Digital on America’s 250th anniversary.

Rowe, founder of the skilled-trades nonprofit mikeroweWORKS, narrator of “Deadliest Catch” and host of “Dirty Jobs,” said celebrities should avoid dispensing political advice but argued history shows why socialism has repeatedly fallen out of favor.

Asked about a Gallup poll showing only 53% of Americans are very proud of the U.S., Rowe said that while he’s no “mind reader,” his first thought was “if you’re not proud of the country, then it’s possible you might not be up to speed on where the country came from and how the country evolved or maybe how the rest of the countries and the world function.”

WORLD CUP SOCCER FANS ARE DISCOVERING AMERICA’S GREATNESS. IT’S TIME AMERICANS DID, TOO

“Nobody wants a lecture or a sermon or a history lesson, but it’s hard to appreciate who and what we are today unless you really remember who and what we were 251 years ago (in 1775) — back when the American dream was really just a dream.”

Rowe said the constant stream of bad news makes it easy to draw short-term conclusions about the country, but America’s founding offers a longer historical perspective.

NEWT GINGRICH: THE DECLARATION STILL TERRIFIES SOCIALISTS AND TYRANTS, HERE AND ABROAD

Rowe said the Founders effectively signed their own “death warrant” when they declared independence from Great Britain in pursuit of “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

“That’s what the American dream was. It [became reality] in 1783 when we signed the Treaty of Paris. … We’re living in the American reality. And it’s not perfect. It will always be a work in progress, but to look at the country and say, ‘Ah, I’m not that impressed’, I would suggest maybe visit some other countries and look back at our own history and reimagine your worldview.”

Given recent wins by socialist politicians in New York, New Jersey, Colorado and elsewhere, Rowe said that “history is a wheel” that always spins.

DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISM IS SWEEPING THE NATION. VOTERS SHOULD BE ALARMED

“Personally, I rack my brain to think of all the instances where socialism paid off. I got nothing, man.”

Ideas that are out of favor suddenly return to the fore, and then fade again as people experience their own history in their own time, he said.

While the best political ideas won’t always win short-term, they ultimately wash out in the end, he said, pointing to history as a guide to why “we kicked [socialism] to the curb every time it reared its head.”

When asked his suggestions to Republicans in combating socialism or Democrats in managing their new schism, Rowe quipped that he knows “one thing the country absolutely, positively doesn’t need.”

“My opinion on any of that crap,” he said. “I would be so far out of my lane to mouth off like that. We’ve got enough celebrities and enough public figures with enough opinions on telling both parties what to do.

“I’ve got a lane. The lane right now is mikeroweWORKS and BuildFreedom. And in that lane are hundreds of thousands of great jobs that are wide open. … And I mean that sincerely to anybody on the left, anybody on the right.”

MikeroweWORKS and BuildFreedom are “so aggressively uninterested in your politics,” Rowe said, focusing instead on work ethic and a willingness to learn skills that are in demand.

In regard to his focus on blue-collar work and warnings that the artificial intelligence revolution is endangering it, Rowe said of AI pioneers like Elon Musk that he won’t bet against the mogul or his work.

SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER

“Three-quarters of the country is uneasy with AI … but the people building this infrastructure are talking about a $10 trillion investment in our future.”

Rowe said Americans have a habit of becoming suspicious of the very industries and technologies they eventually depend on. Still, he remained confident that the country’s democratic process and spirit of innovation will prevail.

“We’re going to argue like hell,” he said. “And, in the end, hopefully somebody somewhere in this town will be talking about these same things 250 years from now.”

Something big went down 250 years ago at Independence Hall in Philadelphia.

The Founders finalized the Declaration of Independence there.

But something big also went down at Independence Hall just a few days ago — literally.

As in the ground.

Congress adopted a resolution mandating burial of a time capsule just a few feet away from Independence Hall to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary. And the instructions are clear — do not open until the year 2276, 250 years from now.

FLASHBACK: AS AMERICA TURNS 250, HERE’S HOW THE NATION CELEBRATED ITS BIGGEST BIRTHDAYS

“Our responsibility is not simply to remember what happened here on these grounds. But to preserve those same ideals of whose generation came before and that will come after us,” said Rep. Robert Aderholt, R-Ala., who traveled with a coterie of bipartisan lawmakers to Philadelphia for the occasion.

Congress met in Philadelphia from 1790 to 1800 before decamping to what is now Washington, DC. In fact, the District of Columbia exists because of the Pennsylvania Mutiny of 1783. That’s when a mob of Continental Army soldiers threatened the security of Independence Hall after the fledgling American government failed to pay them.

Alexander Hamilton advocated for what the Constitution describes as a federal “District” to serve as the “seat of government.” The primary purpose of the unique federal enclave was to protect the Congress.

“The Congressional time capsule is a reflection of our faith in the future of this grand experiment in self-governance,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La. “When this capsule is finally opened, those Americans will be as distant from us as we are today from the men who signed their names on our declaration.”

Each U.S. state and all six of its territories furnished artifacts to bury in the stainless steel time capsule.

There were letters from Congressional leaders. Also, ones from NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred.

Fox asked MLB what Manfred wrote in the letter. But he wouldn’t say. That’s because the missive is intended for those in the future.

Manfred’s words will remain a mystery. Much like how the New York Mets can have the second-highest payroll in baseball and remain mired in last place.

At least the Mets still won’t be paying Bobby Bonilla in 2276.

Three temporal lines intersected for the burial of the time capsule in Philadelphia. Each item represented something from America’s past. The burial was about present day — America’s 250th birthday. But, the ceremony was simultaneously about the future.

So imagine for a moment the likes of Thomas Jefferson crossing that green by Independence Hall 250 years ago. Then consider those who journeyed to Philadelphia to tour the National Constitution Center and spy the Liberty Bell for the holiday this year. Finally, propel yourself into the future and envision what that green would look like and who you might encounter in 250 years.

The time capsule included some items from one of the most harrowing days in American history: 9/11.

THE REVOLUTIONARY LANDMARKS WHERE WASHINGTON, ADAMS AND JEFFERSON CHANGED AMERICA

“We have a piece of metal from the Freedom Tower that obviously represents both the struggle initially and what happened on September 11th. But then ultimately, the resilience of rising from the ashes, as America has always done,” said House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y.

But everyone longed to include something else important to them.

“Well, a New York Knicks championship ring would be incredible,” said Jeffries.

Rep. Brendan Boyle, D-Penn., represents Independence Mall and the location of the time capsule. He pushed his colleagues to adopt a resolution for lawmakers to meet in Philadelphia for a Joint Session of Congress. But that didn’t happen.

However, lawmakers did convene in Philadelphia in 1987 to mark the 200th anniversary of the Constitution. They also traveled to New York for a Joint Session in 2002, one year after the 9/11 attacks.

But like Jeffries, Boyle hoped to include whimsical items as well.

“Part of me as a Philadelphian wants to say a Philly cheesesteak. But that would not age well over 250 years,” said Boyle. “If there could be a piece of Independence Hall as part of the time capsule, I think that that would be wonderful.”

Here are some of the other contents:

Georgia donated a medallion from the Masters Golf Tournament. And, being the home of Coca-Cola, the state also sent along a vintage glass Coke bottle.

One of the biggest items in the time capsule was a piece of bone from a North Atlantic Right Whale. It’s listed as one of the most-endangered of the large whale species. It would be a testament to aquatic preservation if the North Atlantic Right Whale is still swimming in 2276.

One of the most intriguing items in the collection came from California. The Golden State included an AI prompt from the chatbot Claude. People asked Claude what the country would be like in 250 years.

Like Manfred’s letter, what Claude spat back out is lost to the future, sealed in the time capsule.

THE LESSON WE CAN LEARN FROM BICENTENNIAL HISTORY IS TO PARTY LIKE IT’S 1976

In 1776, the colonists wore tri-cornered hats and powdered wigs. Those aren’t around anymore. New Mexico’s contributions included bolo ties, culturally important apparel in the American Southwest. One wonders if anyone will still be wearing those in 250 years. To say nothing of any sort of necktie.

Lawmakers who traveled to Philadelphia noted that the Founding Fathers were bold. Courageous. And willing to take risks – not knowing we’d still celebrate their actions today.

“The 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence were signing their death forms. After all, they knew what they faced had they not succeeded,” said Boyle.

The artifacts in the time capsule represent where America stands. But also suggests where it might go.

There’s an Olympic Gold medal, won by an American athlete at the Winter Games in Milan and Cortina earlier this year. And, there’s an Apple iPhone.

As important as iPhones are now, people in the future might see little difference between an iPhone and a BlackBerry.

Ironically, the biggest enemy of a time capsule is time itself.

“Our main takeaway here is that of the longer generation time capsules, water has destroyed most of them. Time has destroyed many others and things get lost or the items inside react,” said Michael Berilla with the National Institute of Standards and Technology. “I made time capsules back in high school – maybe you have too – where they just failed miserably.”

That’s one of the reasons they didn’t include a football in the time capsule. The leather would degrade over time.

And you thought “Deflategate” was a big deal.

The hope is that the time capsule at Independence Hall doesn’t fail. And, that the country doesn’t fail either. That way, people can gather on the green by Independence Hall and see the treasures we sent them from the past.

And as they crack the time capsule open, maybe devour a cheesesteak — if those are still a Philadelphia delicacy in 2276.

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s Madison Square Garden wedding is drawing backlash from socialist commentators who say the celebrity spectacle showcased billionaire excess and disrupted New York City during a crowded holiday weekend.

“Controversial opinion: I think this is a dramatic misuse of public resources,” socialist Twitch host Hasan Piker in a livestream Friday. “I think it’s insane. I think it’s a bad look. I think it’s, it’s, it’s heightening the contradictions. It’s showcasing one again that like, no matter how beloved a public figure you might be, you’re still, if you’re a billionaire, you’re still a billionaire and you are going to do billionaire s–t.” 

The pop star has historically been embraced by the left, including when she endorsed then-President Joe Biden and then-Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 race, when she criticized President Donald Trump over the George Floyd protests in 2020 and for her pro-abortion stance. Her massive Madison Square Garden wedding has reopened criticism of her billionaire status, with socialist voices blasting the spectacle as Manhattan dealt with holiday-weekend crowds, street closures and added pressure from the ongoing World Cup games. 

DEMOCRATIC INFIGHTING GROWS AS CONGRESSWOMAN EXPOSES ‘DISRESPECTFUL’ WELCOME OF SOCIALISTS INTO ‘BIG TENT’

“This is a glaringly obvious example of that. This is straightforwardly a flex I think. It is straightforwardly a flex to be like, ‘Yeah, I can do this, f it.’ And I kind of think it is a little tacky, at best,” Piker added.

Swift and Kelce tied the knot on Friday at Maddison Square Garden (MSG) in front of 1,000 guests, keeping much of their garden-themed wedding under wraps to the public.

Fox News Digital previously reported Swift wore a Christian Dior wedding dress, comedian Adam Sandler officiated the ceremony, and guests played a raffle game to win lavish prizes.

TAYLOR SWIFT AND TRAVIS KELCE’S WEDDING: LEAKED DETAILS REVEAL INSIDE LOOK AS PHOTOS CAPTURE A-LIST DEPARTURES

Like other large events at MSG, the Swift-Kelce wedding led to street closures in the area, complicating access to transportation such as nearby Penn Station. 

“She’s just another psychotic billionaire. On a holiday weekend. Amidst all this worldwide suffering, the ultra-wealthy still have no compunction. Unreal,” Democratic Socialists of America member and political talk show “Majority Report” host Emma Vigeland posted on X.

“I’m sorry but he’s right. I’m sorry, swifties,” wrote pro-socialist account on X.

The backlash comes as socialist-aligned voices are gaining more influence in New York Democratic politics, with several candidates backed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani defeating incumbents in recent primaries.

MET GALA BACKLASH GROWS AS CELEBRITIES AND POLITICIANS TARGET JEFF AND LAUREN BEZOS’ SPONSORSHIP

Democrats also took shots at the wedding, including former NYC Mayor Eric Adams’ spokesman Fabien Levy. 

“Unpopular opinion but this takes Groomzilla and Bridezilla energy to a new level,” wrote Levy on X.

“This wedding is inconveniencing thousands of local residents, impacting the nation’s largest transit hub, and taking cops away from patrolling streets when we’re in a heightened threat environment,” Levy continued.

The White House also weighed in, using the moment to poke fun at the fanfare surrounding the couple’s nuptials by sharing a meme of Madison Square Garden’s pink sign altered to read, “Trump is your president.”

China is using control over global seas as a tool of “political coercion,” the U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom warned, as President Donald Trump is restating his interest in Greenland for that very same reason.

China is seeking to turn ports, ships and supply chains into instruments of geopolitical leverage, U.S. Ambassador to the U.K. Warren Stephens warned in a statement to the International Maritime Organization Council (IMO).

“I spoke about a challenge that we cannot afford to ignore: China’s systematic effort to use maritime power as an instrument of political coercion,” Stephens wrote in a Truth Social post after the speech. “Beijing has pursued an aggressive strategy of acquiring port concessions and infrastructure around the world — not simply for commercial gain, but to extend its strategic reach and weaponize that access against sovereign nations.”

The U.S. is “not a passive observer of maritime affairs,” Stephens told the IMO, calling America a “cornerstone of the global maritime economy.” He said the U.S. Maritime Transportation System supports $5.4 trillion in economic activity each year and nearly 30 million jobs.

SEN TODD YOUNG: THE HIDDEN DANGER CHINA’S SHIPS COULD BRING TO OUR SHORES

The warning comes as Trump continued peacemaking efforts in the Strait of Hormuz and pressing Demark and NATO for U.S. control over Greenland due to Chinese and Russian threats to free navigation in the Arctic.

“Denmark doesn’t spend money to really help Greenland, but it’s an important part for the United States, and it’s surrounded by China ships and Russian ships,” Trump said at the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey.

For global security, Greenland “should be controlled by the United States, not by Denmark,” Trump added.

“They wouldn’t go along with it,” Trump said of Denmark. “And with all the money we spend to help them with Russia. And we don’t have to spend any money, we could remove all of our soldiers out of Europe because, as you probably noticed, Europe is a very different place than it was 20 years ago. A lot different.”

DENMARK VOWS TO DEFEND GREENLAND AFTER TRUMP REITERATES US SHOULD CONTROL TERRITORY

Greenland’s position between the Arctic and North Atlantic has made it a key piece of U.S. security planning.

“President Trump has made restoring American maritime leadership a national priority,” Stephens said in his IMO remarks warning on China’s broader maritime footprint.

“The evidence is clear and growing,” Stephens said. “China currently builds more than half of the world’s ships. It dominates the production of ship-to-shore cranes and shipping containers.”

Stephens cited Panama as a recent example, pointing to a ruling by Panama’s Supreme Court that found CK Hutchison’s port concessions at the Balboa and Cristóbal terminals unconstitutional. The terminals sit at opposite ends of the Panama Canal, one of the world’s most strategically important trade corridors.

TRUMP MAKES FRESH GREENLAND PLAY AFTER XI TALKS AS CHINA’S ARCTIC AMBITIONS LOOM

Stephens said China’s response to the Panama ruling was “swift and punishing,” accusing Beijing of taking action against Panama-flagged vessels in a move the U.S. characterized as an attempt to undermine Panama’s sovereignty and disrupt global supply chains.

“What happened to Panama is a warning to every nation in this room,” Stephens said.

“When a country allows a foreign power or its proxies to control its ports, it does not simply accept a commercial arrangement,” he added. “It accepts a vulnerability.”

Stephens urged IMO member states to closely scrutinize deals allowing foreign entities, especially state-linked enterprises, to operate critical port infrastructure.

“Transparency, the rule of law, and genuine sovereignty are not obstacles to commerce,” Stephens said. “They are its foundation.”

The ambassador also said the U.S. would press for maritime security, sanctions enforcement, protection of flag state rights, freedom of navigation and updated standards on polar operations, autonomous vessels and cyber risk management.

“The pattern is consistent: China uses its maritime and economic power to coerce, to intimidate, and to punish those who assert their sovereign rights,” Stephens said.

The Chinese government has routinely rejected U.S. accusations that its overseas infrastructure investments are coercive, portraying its port, shipping and Belt and Road projects as commercial partnerships that support global trade and development.

Stephens said the U.S. will continue contributing expertise, resources and leadership at the IMO, but warned that the rules-based maritime order cannot be taken for granted.

“A free and open ocean is not guaranteed,” he said. “It must be defended.”