Author: NOVA Corp

Former acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf sent a letter to House lawmakers Tuesday urging them to investigate the “growing role that Chinese-linked actors and foreign criminal organizations are playing in the proliferation of hemp-derived tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) products and illegal marijuana operations” in the U.S., which he says are “putting our youth and adults at risk.” 

The message addressed to Rep. John Moolenaar, R-Mich., and Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif. — the chairman and ranking member of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, respectively — states that “Beyond the serious public health implications, there is mounting evidence that this issue also presents a significant national security concern.” 

“What began as a narrowly tailored effort to legalize industrial hemp and non-intoxicating cannabidiol (CBD) products has evolved into a dangerous and unregulated market for high-potency THC hemp products that are being sold across the country with little to no oversight,” Wolf wrote. “These products are frequently marketed as gummies, candies, beverages and vapes, often packaged and promoted in ways that appeal to children. They lack acceptable age restrictions, labeling requirements and safety standards.” 

Wolf cited a warning from the White House’s 2026 National Drug Control Strategy, which described how “the marijuana trade in the United States is no longer a scattered, low-level problem; it has been co-opted and industrialized by sophisticated, transnational criminal organizations, particularly those with ties to China.”

CHAD WOLF: CLOSE THE BACKDOOR DRUG PIPELINE THAT’S EMBOLDENING ENEMIES AND HARMING THE PUBLIC

“These groups systematically exploit states where marijuana has been legalized under state law, leveraging these markets and lax regulations to establish massive, unlicensed cultivation operations. A stark illustration of this is Oklahoma, where law enforcement estimates that Chinese criminal groups run more than 80% of the state’s thousands of marijuana and hemp farms,” the National Drug Control Strategy document says. 

“These operations are not just agricultural; they are hubs of poly-crime involving human trafficking of exploited laborers, sophisticated money laundering, and the use of dangerous, unregistered pesticides that threaten public health and the environment,” it adds. 

DOJ CHARGES SEVEN CHINESE NATIONALS IN MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR MARIJUANA TRAFFICKING RING

Wolf referenced how China “has been linked to the export of fentanyl, synthetic narcotics and illicit supply chain materials that have devastated American communities” and that “the intoxicating THC hemp market now risks becoming another avenue through which Chinese-linked actors exploit regulatory loopholes and weak enforcement mechanisms to profit at the expense of the health and safety of the American people.”

“Congress acted last year, with bipartisan support and President Trump’s signature, to close loopholes involving intoxicating THC hemp products and restore the original intent of federal hemp legislation,” he said in the letter. “However, efforts are now underway to weaken, delay or roll back those protections before they fully take effect. This would not only undermine public health and law enforcement objectives, but could further embolden foreign criminal actors seeking to exploit the American marketplace and harm American families.” 

He concluded the letter by asking the committee to “investigate China’s involvement in the intoxicating THC hemp supply chain, including financing, chemical manufacturing, illegal cultivation operations, money laundering activity and ties to the array of criminal organizations operating within the United States.” 

Two days after President Donald Trump’s Fourth of July address, attendees at the Great American State Fair told Fox News Digital they saw the speech as patriotic, not partisan.

“He’s talking about taking down communism,” David from New Jersey said.

“That’s the definition of our whole country. Built on capitalism, that’s our whole country. If that’s what he was talking about, I don’t think that’s political at all. It’s just about the freedom that we have here. If it wasn’t for that, we wouldn’t be here.”

Thousands of Americans packed the National Mall on Saturday to celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary, touring exhibits from all 50 states despite sweltering heat and severe thunderstorms that temporarily paused celebrations.

TRUMP SET TO DELIVER ‘HISTORIC’ SPEECH CELEBRATING AMERICA’S 250TH ANNIVERSARY

Hours later, President Donald Trump delivered his 37-minute address, honoring veterans and the nation’s founding while declaring that “no dream in history is bigger” than the American experiment and adding, “We don’t want communists in our country,” before a record-setting fireworks display.

Matt from Florida said that while others may have disliked Trump’s speech, he saw it as a tribute to veterans and Medal of Honor recipients.

“It’s really nice to see him share the stage instead of just giving a speech and going away like most presidents do,” he said. “It was just nice to actually see him treat the whole thing as a giant event as opposed to just a limelight on himself.”

MEDIA ATTACKS DONALD TRUMP’S FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION, CLAIMING IT ‘SULLIED’ AMERICA 250

Ed and Linda from Ohio said they missed Trump’s speech while waiting for the fireworks, but Ed said he supports the president “100 percent,” while Linda added, “You should be able to rise above your political opinion and still enjoy the country’s Fourth of July.”

Doug and Karen from Texas said they approved of President Trump’s message.

“It wasn’t too political, it was what we needed to hear,” Doug said.

“It was good,” Karen added. “People need to hear it.”

LEE GREENWOOD SAYS HE’S ‘VERY PROUD’ TO STAND NEXT TO TRUMP DURING AMERICA’S 250TH CELEBRATION

Kim from Michigan called July 4 “a political holiday,” saying people will always find something to criticize.

“Throughout our history, it’s been about our politics and what we stand for as a people, and what we believe in and what we’re willing to fight for,” she said.

Priya from California said politics naturally belongs in a Fourth of July speech, adding that America must change course “from a very negative direction that the country has gone.”

“I think there’s an intricate part that politics play obviously in the 250 years that we have been a nation,” she said. “For it to last another 250 and hopefully beyond, we have to pay attention to that. We have to understand the political climate and what it’s going to take for this nation to last and be prosperous.”

Last week, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division took the unusual step of suing California and Virginia over their gun laws, marking what officials say is an unprecedented effort to enforce Second Amendment rights.

The Justice Department is pursuing a coordinated legal strategy to expand Second Amendment protections, with Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division Harmeet Dhillon telling Fox News Digital the department has launched more than a dozen challenges to firearm restrictions across the country as it seeks to establish broader constitutional precedent.

“Since we started the second amendment section last year and even before that we filed over a dozen lawsuits challenging different restrictions in different jurisdictions,” Dhillon said, pointing to challenges involving Denver’s AR-15 ban, Colorado’s large-capacity magazine restrictions, concealed carry permit delays in Los Angeles County, firearm regulations in the U.S. Virgin Islands and gun restrictions in the District of Columbia.

“This is a really historic amount of activity from the Department of Justice to protect the Second Amendment,” Dhillon told Fox News Digital. “It’s never been done before.”

DOJ TARGETS SPANBERGER, NEWSOM GUN LAWS WITH TWIN LAWSUITS AFTER SCOTUS AFFIRMS SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS

Previous administrations, including the Bush administration, defended individual gun rights through Supreme Court filings such as District of Columbia v. Heller, but did not use the Civil Rights Division to file affirmative lawsuits challenging state or local gun laws on Second Amendment grounds. The department’s current litigation strategy marks a departure from that approach.

Dhillon said the litigation is designed to produce lasting legal precedent rather than simply challenge every firearm restriction enacted by states.

DOJ SUES DENVER OVER BAN ON ‘ASSAULT WEAPONS’ AS CITY’S DEM MAYOR SAYS IT ‘WILL NOT BE BULLIED’

“There are a lot of people out there in the Second Amendment community who would like us to challenge every restriction on guns,” she said. “That’s really not our approach. We have an approach that tries to make law for the land and that’s got some appellate strategy in it.”

The latest phase of that effort came last week, when the Justice Department filed lawsuits against California and Virginia challenging newly enacted gun restrictions. The filings followed the Supreme Court’s recent decision in Wolford v. Lopez, which reaffirmed that the Second Amendment should not be treated as a “second-class right.”

The Virginia lawsuit challenges Senate Bill 749, which prohibits the manufacture, sale, transfer and purchase of certain semiautomatic firearms classified under state law as assault weapons. The California lawsuit targets two separate firearm regulations: a new restriction affecting the sale of Glock-style semiautomatic pistols and the state’s longstanding handgun roster system.

SPANBERGER’S LATEST ‘GUN-GRABBING NONSENSE’ PROMPTS ACTION FROM TRUMP DOJ: ‘STAY TUNED!’

She said the Virginia lawsuit targets the state’s assault weapons ban because differing rulings among federal appeals courts make the issue likely to receive Supreme Court review.

In California, Dhillon said the Justice Department is focusing on two provisions it believes conflict with Supreme Court precedent: the state’s restrictions affecting Glock pistols and its handgun roster requirements, which she argued have prevented Californians from purchasing firearms that are otherwise widely available across the country.

The California lawsuit was filed after Attorney General Rob Bonta declined to negotiate with the Justice Department over the state’s firearm regulations. Bonta defended the challenged laws as “commonsense handgun design safety laws” intended to reduce accidental shootings and prevent illegal firearm modifications.

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office also defended the regulations, arguing California’s firearm safety measures have contributed to one of the nation’s lowest gun death rates while respecting the rights of lawful gun owners.

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Virginia officials similarly defended their law, with Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s office saying firearms designed to inflict mass casualties “do not belong in our communities” and that the legislation was intended to protect families, children and law enforcement from gun violence.

Dhillon said the Justice Department’s actions reflect a broader commitment within the administration to treat the Second Amendment as a core civil right.

“This is a pioneering effort by this Department of Justice,” she said. “We view the Second Amendment as a very important, indeed fundamental civil right.”

Several Democrats are speculated to be options to replace Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner on the ballot if he ends his campaign, which many expect him to do following an ex-girlfriend’s allegation of rape on Monday.

Under Maine law, if Platner formally withdraws as the Democratic nominee by 5 p.m. on July 13, the Maine Democratic Party can replace him on the general election ballot by selecting a new nominee through its party process, with the replacement required to be chosen by July 27.

A handful of Democrats in the state are being discussed as viable options to challenge incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins.

Platner’s campaign, the New York Post reported, is deliberating about potentially dropping out, but that any potential replacement would need to align with the same political platform as Platner.

GRAHAM PLATNER’S CHANCES OF DROPPING OUT SKYROCKET TO 94% AFTER PARTY REVOLT: KALSHI

Former state Senate President and gubernatorial candidate Troy Jackson is a name circulating on social media as someone who could potentially jump into the race a month after his failed primary bid for governor.

“This is something I never considered, but if Graham’s stepping away, I am very, very interested and think I’m the best person to replace him,” Jackson told the Bangor Daily News on Monday.

Jackson, who, like Platner, is backed by Vermont independent Senator Bernie Sanders, came in third in the Democratic gubernatorial primary last month.

On Tuesday, the Bangor Daily News reported that Jackson filed paperwork to explore a Senate run, the first potential candidate to do so. 

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

Democratic Rep. Dan Golden, who represents Maine’s right-leaning and mostly rural 2nd Congressional District since first winning election to the U.S. House in 2018, passed on launching a Senate run last year.

Golden, a Marine veteran who served in combat in Afghanistan and Iraq, also decided against seeking re-election and is retiring from Congress when his term ends at the beginning of next year.

Golden, a moderate, has often been at odds with his party leadership over policy.

On Tuesday evening, a Golden spokesperson distanced the congressman from speculation he would run for the seat. 

The 56-year-old son of Sen. Angus King and 2026 Democratic gubernatorial candidate who finished at the bottom of the pack in the single digits in last month’s primary is considering a bid for the Senate if Platner exits the race.

In a statement to News Center Maine, King said: “Right now, I’m taking time to reflect, spend time with my family, and think carefully about how I can make the greatest contribution to the state I love. I’ve never been motivated by holding office. If I decide to run again in any capacity, it will be because I believe I have something meaningful to offer and because it’s the right way to help Maine move forward—not because of the office itself”

Mills, the current Democratic governor of the state until her term expires in January, suspended her Senate campaign in April citing anemic fundraising after jumping into the race in October 2025 with the backing of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.

The 78-year-old governor remained on the ballot in the June primary and received 19.2% of the vote compared to Platner’s 72.1%.

EXPLOSIVE SEXUAL ASSAULT ALLEGATION ROCKS PLATNER CAMPAIGN AHEAD OF KEY DEADLINE IN CRUCIAL SENATE RACE

Attention is also focused on Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, who was a leading contender in the gubernatorial primary.

Bellows, the first woman to serve as Maine’s Secretary of State, grabbed national attention during the 2024 election cycle for attempting to remove President Donald Trump from the state’s ballot.

“While Graham ignited a powerful movement to challenge the status quo, given the seriousness of the allegations, he needs to step down,” Bellows said of Platner in a social media post Monday.

Former Maine House Speaker Sara Gideon was the Democratic Senate nominee in the 2020 election.

Polls indicated Gideon leading longtime GOP Sen. Susan Collins, but Gideon ended up losing to the incumbent by nine points.

Loud, a social worker, finished fourth out of four candidates in the Democratic primary for Maine’s 2nd Congressional District earlier this year, finishing with 10% of the vote. 

“Paige has filed as a Senate candidate for the 2026 midterm in light of the Platner situation,” a spokesperson for Loud said on Tuesday. “In the event Platner drops out, Paige is being proactive in keeping options open for supporters across the state who have voiced a desire for a woman to be considered as the nominee.”

Dr. Nirav Shah, who came second in Maine’s Democratic gubernatorial primary, is also being looked at as a potential Platner replacement.

Shah served as director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention from 2019 to early 2023 and steered the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He later served as principal deputy director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) during former President Joe Biden’s administration.

“In the past 24 hours, my team and I have received hundreds of encouraging messages, as Graham Platner signaled he will withdraw from Maine’s U.S. Senate race,” Shah said in a statement Tuesday.

He added that he has been having conversations and evaluating “whether I should enter the Senate race.”

Shah, who is viewed as more moderate than Platner, emphasized, “I’m not an establishment politician, and I’m not an insider.”

Wood, who served as chief of staff to then-Rep. Katie Porter of California, last year launched a bid for the Senate in Maine. But as Platner’s political star started to rise, Wood switched his bid to the U.S. House in the race in the state’s 2nd Congressional District to succeed retiring Democratic Rep. Jared Golden.

Wood, who vowed to take on the establishment and battle corruption, ended up finishing third in last month’s Democratic primary.

“I am continuing conversations with voters across Maine if I should enter an open Senate race,” Wood wrote in a social media post on Tuesday. “If my fellow Maine Democrats decide through an open and democratic process that I am the best candidate to defeat Susan Collins, I would be humbled by your trust.”

Former Deputy Secretary of the Maryland Department of the Environment David Costello was the Democratic Senate nominee in Maine in the 2024 election, coming in a distant third to incumbent independent Sen. Angus King.

Costello ran a second straight cycle, coming in a distant third to Platner in last month’s Democratic Senate primary.

In a social media post on Tuesday, Costello wrote, “I’m back in, if Graham Platner withdraws,” and he touted that he believes he’s “the best candidate to defeat Susan Collins.”

Maine Beer Company co-founder Dan Kleban is also considered a potential candidate. A source in Kleban’s camp said the former candidate has been receiving calls and encouragement to run again.

State law does not require a new primary election or specify how the replacement must be chosen, leaving the process to the Maine Democratic Party’s internal rules. Party leaders said in a Monday press release that they intend to use an open and inclusive process, though they have not yet announced exactly how a replacement would be selected.

Late Tuesday night, the Maine Democrats X account posted a video reacting to the situation.

“As you know, the Maine Democratic Party has been working around the [clock] and we are committed to ensuring that Democrats across [Maine] [have a voice in the process],” Maine Democratic Party Executive Director Devon Murphy-Anderson said.

“Unfortunately, Graham Platner’s team has repeatedly reached out to us in an attempt to put their thumb on the scale of determining our next Democratic nominee for the U.S. [Senate].  We have also reiterated [that the focus] in Maine can [now] focus on defeating Susan Collins this November as soon as Graham Platner formally withdraws from this race.”

FIRST ON FOX: Josh Turek, a two-time Paralympic gold medalist, a state legislator and Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Iowa, has taken over $20,000 in per diem payments while missing more than half of his 2026 votes, records reveal.

From Jan. 12, 2026, through May 3, he missed 261 of the chamber’s votes, accounting for nearly 60% of his votes.

The absences, some of which were clustered around campaign events and spanned several high-profile bills, suggest Turek has struggled to balance his role as a legislator and candidate as he wages an uphill battle to fill the seat being vacated by Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa., who is retiring.

Throughout his campaign, Turek has framed himself as a classic example of the American underdog story, having overcome being born paralyzed from the waist down to play basketball for the U.S. in the Paralympic Games, winning championships in 2016 and 2020.

DEMOCRATS TURN TO PARALYMPIAN IN BID TO FLIP KEY GOP-HELD SENATE SEAT

As a candidate for Senate, Turek has pledged to defend the government programs that made his journey possible.

“I wouldn’t have gotten that far without VA health coverage from my dad’s service, free summer lunch programs when my parents were struggling and the local AEA that made sure I had access to a good education,” Turek said in a campaign video.

Despite a powerful message that has drawn national attention, Turek has struggled to raise capital for his campaign, having accumulated $3.4 million from July 2025 through the end of May, according to FEC records.

The sum is on the lower end of campaign contributions for a campaign to flip an empty Senate seat.

By comparison, Sherrod Brown, a former U.S. senator trying to reclaim his seat in Ohio, has raised nearly $26 million since last November.

Records show that Turek skipped critical votes to raise campaign cash across the country — while at the same time maxing out the daily $201 tax-free per diem that Iowa offers its legislators to cover costs of the job. For Turek, that amount reached $20,100, according to the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives.

Legislators in Iowa may collect the per diem 100 times per legislative session, according to state law.

DEMOCRATS TURN TO PARALYMPIAN IN BID TO FLIP KEY GOP-HELD SENATE SEAT

He missed a set of 12 votes while, between March 25 and March 31, raising $43,000 in donations from residents of Southern California. Campaign payments for hotels in Los Angeles suggest Turek’s campaign had been in the area at the time.

Among the twelve, Turek was absent for a vote on a rural health and medical licensing bill. In another similar case, Turek raised $36,500 from donors in Washington, D.C., between February 17 through March 23, missing 16 votes during that time, including consideration of an educational standards bill.

During that time, campaign expenses suggest he was there in person. In one such entry, his campaign reported hosting an event at 800 Maine Ave, paying $250 for an “event venue rental.”

At one point in March, Turek missed 30 consecutive votes.

In response to an inquiry from Fox News Digital, Turek’s campaign pointed out that the pattern isn’t unique to him and that other candidates — including Turek’s Republican challenger, Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa — also miss votes to fundraise.

“Just last week, Ashley Hinson skipped votes on the annual defense funding bill to attend a ritzy D.C. fundraiser. Meanwhile, Josh Turek is ranked one of Iowa’s most bipartisan and effective lawmakers and has regularly worked with Republicans to cut taxes for Iowa families and keep dangerous criminals off the streets,” a spokesperson for his campaign said.

Hinson was absent for a portion of the 2027 defense bill markup while at a fundraiser on June 24.

“While Josh continues his ‘go everywhere’ approach to meet directly with Iowans, Ashley Hinson has not held a single town hall since launching her campaign while repeatedly voting to hurt Iowa families,” the spokesperson added.

TRUMP-ENDORSED HINSON SECURES IOWA SENATE NOMINATION AS DEMOCRATS EYE GOP SEAT

Hinson’s campaign responded by noting that she has a 98.8% lifetime voting record since her election to the House of Representatives in 2020 while also lambasting Turek’s record.

“Not only did Josh Turek skip the vote to fund the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs while fundraising with a Schumer-aligned Super PAC, he also skipped votes on the Iowa Farm Bill, rural health funding, child abuse investigations, and, in 2023, gender transition procedures for minors. Josh Turek is an absentee legislator who doesn’t deserve the promotion he’s trying to get,” Billy Fuerst, Hinson’s campaign communications director, said in a statement.

Turek convincingly defeated Iowa Democratic Sen. Zach Wahls in the party primary earlier this month.

He will face off against Hinson in the state’s Nov. 3 general election.

President Donald Trump threatened Wednesday to end U.S. trade with Spain after criticizing the NATO ally for refusing to commit to the alliance’s new defense spending target.

Speaking during the NATO summit, Trump repeatedly singled out Spain, calling the country a “wasted cause” and urging an end to trade with one of America’s European allies.

“Spain is a wasted cause,” Trump said. “We don’t want to do any trade business with Spain anymore, by the way.”

Trump went further, saying, “Cut off all trade with Spain, please, including visits.”

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The president’s comments came after NATO leaders backed a new defense spending benchmark calling on allies to invest 5% of gross domestic product in defense and defense-related expenditures. Spain was the lone member of the alliance to publicly reject committing to the full target, instead negotiating flexibility in how it will meet NATO capability goals.

Trump argued Spain has benefited from the alliance while failing to contribute its fair share.

“They don’t participate, they don’t pay. I don’t want anything to do with Spain,” Trump said.

He later added, “I don’t want to do any more trade with him. All right? Take it immediately. Don’t even talk to them.”

Trump also predicted Spain would eventually seek to restore trade ties with the United States.

TRUMP’S PERSONAL FEUDS WITH ALLIES FROM ITALY TO ISRAEL REVEAL HOW PERSONALITY DRIVES HIS FOREIGN POLICY

“They’re hostile about it, and let’s see how hostile they remain when they call up and they, ‘Please, please, we want to trade with you, sir,’” Trump said. “They make so much money with us and we’re going to see that they make a lot less. I want no business with them.”

The remarks represent an escalation of Trump’s longstanding criticism of NATO allies that spend less on defense. 

Throughout both of his administrations, Trump has argued that countries failing to meet alliance spending commitments unfairly rely on the United States for their security.

Any effort to significantly restrict trade with Spain, however, could present legal and diplomatic hurdles. Spain is a member of the European Union, which negotiates trade policy as a customs union rather than through separate bilateral trade agreements with individual member states.

It was not immediately clear whether Trump was announcing a formal policy or expressing his frustration with Spain’s position on NATO spending. The White House had not immediately provided details on whether the administration is considering trade restrictions targeting Spain.

The U.S. and Spain maintain a significant trading relationship. 

The two countries traded roughly $47 billion in goods in 2025, with the United States exporting about $26 billion worth of goods to Spain and importing about $21 billion from Spain, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Spain exports pharmaceuticals, machinery, chemicals, food products and vehicles to the U.S., while the United States exports energy products, machinery, aerospace equipment and chemicals to Spain.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and the Spanish embassy for comment.

Trump’s criticism of Spain also comes after months of growing friction between Washington and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez over national security and foreign policy.

Earlier in 2026, Sánchez condemned the U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran as an “extraordinary mistake” and called for de-escalation, while Spain refused to allow the U.S. to use the jointly operated Rota Naval Base and Morón Air Base to support offensive operations against Iran under Operation Epic Fury. 

Spanish officials argued the strikes lacked international legal backing and said the bases could not be used for unilateral military action.

The high-stakes fight between the left-wing and the center-left establishment for the future of the Democratic Party took center stage Tuesday in battleground Michigan.

That’s where moderate Rep. Haley Stevens, who is backed by Senate Minority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and the party establishment, faced off in a fiery Senate nomination debate against former Wayne County Health Department Director Abdul El-Sayed, a far-left candidate endorsed by progressive champions Sen. Bernie Sanders I-Vt., and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y.

The sharpest exchanges centered on campaign money, outside spending and U.S. policy toward Israel, with El-Sayed repeatedly accusing Stevens of benefiting from millions of dollars in outside spending from pro-Israel and corporate-aligned groups.

“If you want your politics dictated by AIPAC or Chuck Schumer, then I’m not your guy,” El-Sayed said, arguing the Democratic Party would not change if it continued to elect leaders who take money from corporations. Stevens countered by accusing El-Sayed of benefiting from Republican efforts to boost him in the primary. “What my opponent needs to answer is, why is the GOP spending thousands of dollars to prop up his campaign, saying that he will make Mike Rogers the next U.S. senator?” Stevens said.

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The showdown came four weeks before Michigan’s primary, with the winner taking on former Republican Rep. Mike Rogers, who is on a glide path to the GOP nomination, in the crucial midterm battle to succeed retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters.

The rare open Senate seat is a top Republican target and is a must-hold for the Democrats as they aim to win back the Senate majority from the GOP, which currently controls the chamber with a slim 53-47 margin.

The anti-establishment El-Sayed, who has been sharply critical of Israel, blamed AIPAC’s influence in American politics and accused politicians, like Stevens, of being “bought off by AIPAC” on Tuesday night. “So long as our politicians continue to be bought off by AIPAC do not be surprised when we fight wars that are in their best interest,” El-Sayed said.

LEFT-WING ACTIVISTS HECKLE PRO-ISRAEL DEMOCRAT HALEY STEVENS AT MICHIGAN CONVENTION

Stevens, meanwhile, sought to flip El-Sayed’s attacks over outside spending back onto him, pressing the progressive candidate to release his tax returns and accusing him of being less than transparent about who was funding his own campaign and career. 

“Well, look, transparency is also important, and this is why I have released my tax returns. My opponent, Abdul, he said that transparency is key, but yet he hasn’t released his tax returns,” Stevens said. “Abdul, you talk about getting money out of politics and putting money in people’s pockets. But who is putting money in yours? What are you hiding?”

Stevens, who agreed with El-Sayed on an immediate end to U.S. involvement in Iran, also drew a contrast between herself and her opponent by emphasizing her support for a two-state solution.

“The difference between my opponent and myself on this issue is that I believe in a two-state solution,” Stevens said. “I can say that Israel has a right to peacefully exist alongside the people of Palestine and in Gaza.”

Immigration enforcement also became a flashpoint during the debate, with El-Sayed saying ICE needed to be abolished and accusing Stevens of shifting her tone to be more aggressive towards the agency Tuesday night than she has in the past. 

Stevens responded by accusing El-Sayed of using “Republican tactics,” saying a House vote El-Sayed referenced, claiming Stevens “voted to thank ICE and increase their budget,” was a “cynical” move by the GOP to include condemnation for an antisemitic terrorist attack in Boulder, Colorado alongside funding for the federal immigration agency.

FOUR MONTHS TO MIDTERMS: 12 RACES THAT WILL DETERMINE THE SENATE MAJORITY

“There was a bill on the House floor to condemn an antisemitic terrorist attack that in Boulder, Colorado, that killed an individual and injured a Holocaust survivor. Instead of bringing us together, Republicans put in a cynical point about thanking ICE,” Stevens said in response to El-Sayed’s claims she is a supporter of ICE. “I am always going to stand up to violence, and I just wish my opponent wouldn’t pursue the cynical approaches of Republicans when we do need to be united.”

On child care, Stevens pointed to expanding grants and paid family leave, while El-Sayed called for making child care “100% free” and paying for it by taxing billionaire wealth. The debate also featured a lengthy exchange on artificial intelligence and data centers. El-Sayed called for stricter federal guardrails, union labor requirements, community benefit agreements and an “FDA for AI’s,” while Stevens said data centers should be forced to pay utility and water bills, so Michigan families are not stuck with higher costs.

Tuesday night’s debate was held two days after progressive state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, once the third major Democrat in the primary, suspended her campaign.

McMorrow, who has seen her national profile expand in recent years and was running as a progressive in an ideological space between El-Sayed and Stevens, suspended her campaign amid faltering poll numbers and fundraising that weren’t keeping pace with her two main rivals.

McMorrow pledged to fully support whichever Democrat wins the primary and will ultimately face-off with Rogers, who is running for the Senate for a second straight cycle after losing in 2024 to now-Sen. Elissa Slotkin by a razor-thin margin.

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Following McMorrow’s exit from the race, Stevens praised her fellow Democrat by calling her an “important voice” for policies that benefit Michigan families. Stevens, who has been backed by millions in super PAC spending, including big bucks from Israel-aligned groups, argued that she is the strongest Democratic candidate to win the primary and defeat Rogers in November.

El-Sayed praised McMorrow for having the “courage” to challenge what he described as a rigged political system, accusing Democratic Party insiders of spending millions to influence the primary. While he did not name specific groups, his remarks appeared to reference corporate PACs and establishment party leaders such as Schumer.

El-Sayed, who, if elected, would make history as the nation’s first Muslim senator, is an epidemiologist who unsuccessfully ran for governor as an insurgent candidate in 2018. He has made support for “Medicare-for-all” a major component of his campaign.

The far-left candidate has also called for abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and is a vocal critic of Israel amid its war with Hamas — even characterizing Israel’s actions in Gaza as “genocide” against Palestinians. And El-Sayed, who served as a top surrogate on Sanders’ 2020 presidential campaign, has vowed not to accept PAC donations.

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Schumer and the party establishment view Stevens as more electable than El-Sayed, who has sparked controversy with his past comments. They worry that El-Sayed as the party’s nominee would jeopardize the Democrat-controlled Senate seat by pushing the party too far to the left in a state that President Donald Trump carried two years ago by just over one percentage point.

A victory by El-Sayed over Stevens in next month’s primary would give the far left a major win on a statewide stage, and likely further boost their momentum in the battle for the Democratic Party’s future.

On Tuesday night, Stevens leaned into her congressional record, tenure in the Obama administration’s U.S. Auto Rescue Task Force, her manufacturing background, and bipartisan efforts in Congress, including work on legislation aimed at blocking Chinese cars from undercutting American automakers. 

“We can build affordable cars here in Michigan without having the Chinese come in and eat our lunch. Not on my watch,” Stevens said.

El-Sayed leaned on being a political outsider who refuses corporate and Super PAC donations, while he pointed to his UAW endorsement and argued that Democrats need to be more aggressive in confronting Wall Street and corporate influence across many areas. 

“There’s a reason that the UAW has endorsed me in this race,” El-Sayed said, arguing that corporations are “a lot more interested in a quarterly bottom line than they are in the long term sustainability of manufacturing.”

President Donald Trump said the tentative ceasefire with Iran is “over” after an intense bombing campaign overnight that followed Iranian attacks on commercial shipping.

“For me? I think it’s over,” Trump told reporters during a meeting with Secretary-General Mark Rutte at the NATO Summit in Ankara Wednesday. “I don’t want to deal with them anymore, they’re scum.”

He said talks with Iran could continue, but they’re a waste of time. “They’re liars, they’re cheats. They’re sick people.”

US CLAWS BACK KEY CONCESSION TO IRAN AFTER FRESH ATTACKS ON COMMERCIAL SHIPS IN STRAIT OF HORMUZ

The comments may signal an end to weeks of talks that followed both sides signing a memorandum of understanding, in which they agreed to allow traffic to resume in the the Strait of Hormuz.

But Iran struck at least three commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Monday and Tuesday, and the U.S. military responded with strikes on over 80 targets in Iran.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated. 

President Donald Trump enters the final day of the NATO summit Wednesday as alliance leaders seek to project unity on defense spending, support for Ukraine and the future of transatlantic security following a series of headline-making announcements and bilateral meetings during the opening day of the gathering.

Trump will join fellow NATO leaders for the summit’s only plenary session before holding bilateral meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa. He is expected to conclude the summit with a press conference before departing Ankara, Turkey, for Washington.

The final day comes after Trump used Tuesday’s bilateral meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to announce the United States would lift sanctions on Turkey, saying, “We don’t sanction friends.” Trump also signaled he is prepared to move forward with the sale of F-35 stealth fighter jets to Ankara despite years of U.S. opposition stemming from Turkey’s purchase of the Russian-made S-400 air defense system.

TRUMP COULD HAND PRIZED STEALTH JETS TO NATO ALLY ONCE SEEN AS ALLIANCE HEADACHE

Wednesday’s agenda is expected to focus on the alliance’s efforts to strengthen collective defense as members continue implementing higher defense spending commitments and coordinate support for Ukraine more than four years after Russia’s full-scale invasion.

Trump’s meeting with Zelenskyy will be among the day’s most closely watched events as Kyiv continues pressing allies for military assistance and air defense capabilities while seeking to maintain Western backing for its war effort against Russia.

Kyiv has warned it is running critically low on Patriot interceptor missiles, which Ukrainian officials describe as the country’s most effective defense against Russia’s ballistic missile attacks. Ukrainian officials said none of the ballistic missiles launched during a massive barrage this week could be intercepted because of dwindling supplies.

UKRAINE’S BATTLEFIELD IS TRANSFORMING THE FUTURE OF NATO

Ahead of the summit, Ukrainian officials appealed to nearly 40 partner nations to immediately transfer Patriot interceptors from their existing stockpiles while longer-term production catches up. Kyiv also has secured European backing for hundreds of Patriot missiles financed by Germany, though many of those deliveries are not expected for months or years, underscoring Ukraine’s push for allies to bridge the gap with existing inventories.

Trump also is expected to meet with Syrian President al-Sharaa, whose government has sought closer engagement with Washington following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, a shift that has reshaped the security landscape in the Middle East and created new opportunities for U.S.-Turkish cooperation.

Trump is expected to cap the summit with a press conference outlining the administration’s priorities for the alliance and any agreements reached during the two-day gathering before departing Turkey Wednesday afternoon.

Wednesday’s discussions also are expected to focus on how allies turn 2025’s landmark commitment to spend 5% of gross domestic product on defense and defense-related investments into tangible military capabilities. 

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has urged member nations to present “clear, concrete and credible plans” for meeting the target, arguing the alliance must accelerate the production of weapons, ammunition and military infrastructure to deter Russia.

The final day also follows another round of criticism from Trump aimed at European allies. Speaking Tuesday, the president again questioned whether NATO members were doing enough to support the United States and suggested he could withdraw U.S. troops from Europe as he renewed his push for U.S. control of Greenland.

“With all the money we spend to help them with Russia … we don’t have to spend any money. We could remove all of our soldiers out of Europe,” Trump said. He also complained that despite America’s investment in European security, “you would think they’d be very willing to do something to help us, and they really weren’t.”

A lawful permanent resident from Australia was arrested after she allegedly illegally voted in federal elections in Louisiana, according to officials.

Denise Nataly Migliore, 51, was charged in a four-count indictment last month with making false statements to register to vote and illegal voting in an election, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana said.

In October 2022 and October 2024, she knowingly made false claims about her U.S. citizenship to register to vote in a federal election, prosecutors said.

DHS DIRECTS ICE TO DEPORT ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WHO VOTE IN AMERICAN ELECTIONS UNDER NEW DIRECTIVE

In November of each of those years, she allegedly cast ballots after falsely certifying that she was a U.S. citizen and eligible to vote.

Migliore was ineligible to vote because she was not a U.S. citizen.

On July 1, Homeland Security Investigations arrested Migliore at the federal courthouse in New Orleans after an investigation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

“This alien from Australia now faces federal charges for falsely claiming to be a U.S. citizen and illegally casting ballots in two elections,” acting Assistant DHS Secretary of Public Affairs Lauren Bis said in a statement. “Her arrest and charges are the result of the hard work of the men and women of ICE law enforcement and our federal partners.

“Our message to aliens who vote in American elections is clear: We will find you, arrest you and you will face the consequences, including criminal charges and deportation. Only Americans should be electing American leaders.”

NONCITIZEN EX-KANSAS MAYOR PLEADS GUILTY TO ILLEGALLY VOTING MULTIPLE TIMES

If convicted, Migliore faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. She also faces a fine of up to $250,000 and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.