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Dem Lawmakers ‘Resist’ Trump Message Could Face Military Review Trump Says
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Dem Lawmakers ‘Resist’ Trump Message Could Face Military Review Trump Says

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President Donald Trump said Friday that a video released by a group of Democratic lawmakers with military and intelligence backgrounds — urging service members to refuse undefined “illegal” orders — amounted to “treasonous” behavior.

He also said War Secretary Pete Hegseth is examining the matter, which he suggested could involve reviews by military courts.

The video, published earlier in the week, featured Senators Mark Kelly of Arizona and Elissa Slotkin of Michigan along with several House Democrats. In the recording, the lawmakers told military personnel they “can refuse illegal orders… you must refuse illegal orders” and warned that “the threats to our Constitution aren’t just coming from abroad, but from right here at home.”

“We know you are under enormous stress and pressure right now, Americans trust their military, but that trust is at risk. This administration is pitting our uniformed military and intelligence community professionals against American citizens like us. You all swore an oath to protect and defend this constitution,” the lawmakers said.

“Right now, the threats to our Constitution aren’t just coming from abroad, but from right here at home. Our laws are clear. You can refuse illegal orders… you must refuse illegal orders. No one has to carry out orders that violate the law or our constitution.”

The message drew immediate pushback from senior White House officials, including Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller.

President Trump labeled the video “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH” in a Truth Social post.

Speaking on the “Brian Kilmeade Show” on Friday, the president said he believed the remarks crossed a serious line.

“Well, if you look at sedition, if you look at, uh, you know, that type of, it’s a form of a very strong form of being a traitor. It’s a terrible thing to say. I must tell you, I heard it and I thought it was some kind of a comedy situation. I thought that would, you know, it was some kind of a skit and cause I couldn’t believe that they’d say it,” Trump said.

He added that some Democrats appeared reluctant to defend the video.

“And I watched Democrat congressmen and one Democrat Senator yesterday in one of the shows Didn’t even want to discuss it. They said, whoa, don’t get me into that one. They didn’t want to get into it. That is a really serious charge. I’ll tell you what, what they said is, and it was, I mean, I don’t know about the modern day things because, you know, modern day is a lot softer. But in the old days, if you said anything like that, that was punishable by death.”

Trump said the lawmakers involved are in “serious trouble,” adding, “I’m not threatening death, but I think they’re in serious trouble. In the old days, it was death.”

He also said Hegseth is reviewing the situation.

“I know they’re looking into it militarily. I don’t know for a fact, but I think the military is looking into it, the military courts,” Trump said.

The Democrats featured in the video have defended their statements and accused the president of “threatening” them.

They have not explained what specific “illegal” orders they were referring to.

Their comments come as the War Department has carried out nearly two dozen strikes on drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche criticized the video during an interview with Fox News on Thursday, calling it “abhorrent” and comparing it to “a propaganda video by one of our enemies trying to recruit the military to become spies.”

“What is the reason that they all went on a video and encouraged young men and women to defy court orders without even giving a hint of what’s illegal, without even giving any suggestion of what law or what order they’re being asked to violate. You cannot do that in this country, especially if you’re a leader,” Blanche said.

He also indicated the Justice Department is examining the matter.

“And so what does the investigation look like? I think they should be held to account. I think that those congressmen should be required to answer questions about why they did what they did, and the American people deserve that, and so does President Trump.”

Marjorie Taylor Greene Quits Congress, Republican House Majority Shrinks
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Marjorie Taylor Greene Quits Congress, Republican House Majority Shrinks

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Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia’s 14th District announced Friday night that she will leave Congress, citing frustration with the national debt, the recent government shutdown, and what she described as a sidelined legislative branch.

In a letter released publicly Friday evening, Greene said, “I ran for Congress in 2020 and have fought every single day believing that Make America Great Again meant America First. I have one of the most conservative voting records in Congress defending the 1st amendment, 2nd amendment, unborn babies because I believe God creates life at conception, strong safe borders, I’ve fought against Covid tyrannical insanity and mandated mass vaccinations, and I’ve never voted to fund foreign wars.”

Greene wrote that the House majority has not operated as she expected.

“However with almost one year into our majority, the legislature has been mostly sidelined,” she said.

“We endured an 8 week shut down wrongly resulting in the House not working for the entire time, and we are entering campaign season which means all courage leaves and only safe campaign re-election mode is turned on.”

In recent weeks, Greene has focused heavily on the shutdown and Affordable Care Act subsidies.

She has criticized Republican leadership for how the shutdown unfolded and for keeping the House out of session for two months.

Her public disputes have also extended to President Donald Trump.

Trump referred to her as “Marjorie ‘Traitor’ Greene,” and reports indicate her disagreements with her party intensified after Republican officials urged her not to pursue a statewide race for senator or governor.

According to multiple accounts, GOP leaders worry about her polling numbers as Republicans look ahead to contests in Georgia, including the 2026 race for Sen. Jon Ossoff’s seat.

According to insiders, the president shared polling with Greene indicating she could not win a statewide campaign.

The exchanges contributed to rising tension between Greene and Republican leaders, including Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana’s 4th District.

In her letter, Greene accused “Establishment Republicans” of working against her and said Trump was involved in organizing a primary challenge.

“I have too much self-respect and dignity, love my family way too much, and do not want my sweet district to have to endure a hurtful and hateful primary against me by the President we all fought for, only to fight and win my election while Republicans will likely lose the midterms,” Greene wrote.

“And in turn, be expected to defend the President against impeachment after he hatefully dumped tens of millions of dollars against me and tried to destroy me. It’s all so absurd and completely unserious. I refuse to be a ‘battered wife’ hoping it all goes away and gets better.”

Greene also wrote that her situation reflects broader concerns among voters.

“If I am cast aside by MAGA Inc. and replaced by Neocons, Big Pharma, Big Tech, Military Industrial War Complex, foreign leaders, and the elite donor class that can’t even relate to real Americans, then many common Americans have been cast aside and replaced as well,” she said.

“There is no ‘plan to save the world’ or insane 4D chess game being played.”

Greene stated that her last day in Congress will be January 5, 2026.

With her departure, the House Republican majority will move to 218 seats.

Trump First Term Appointees’ Russiagate Involvement Exposed in New Report
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Trump First Term Appointees’ Russiagate Involvement Exposed in New Report

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Recently declassified documents and interviews with former Trump officials provide new detail on how members of President Donald Trump’s first-term cabinet and senior appointees did not disclose evidence that challenged the Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA) produced at the end of the Obama administration.

The ICA asserted that Russian President Vladimir Putin directed efforts to help Trump win the 2016 election.

According to the newly released material, the assessment relied on minimal and unverified intelligence and incorporated political opposition research funded by Hillary Clinton’s campaign.

Former Special Counsel John Durham, former National Security Adviser John Bolton, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and former CIA Director Gina Haspel either withheld or delayed evidence that raised questions about the ICA.

Durham, appointed by then-Attorney General William Barr, halted the release of exculpatory intelligence on the eve of the 2020 election.

The evidence included a 2018 review that found the ICA’s core claims were supported by “one scant, unclear and unverifiable fragment of a sentence” from a low-quality intelligence report and by portions of the Steele dossier.

Former Trump national security adviser J.D. Gordon said the handling of the ICA allowed the narrative to persist publicly during Trump’s presidency. “The Russiagate betrayal continued in plain sight,” he said.

In mid-2018, Bolton’s chief of staff, Fred Fleitz, reviewed a draft House Intelligence Committee report in a secure Capitol facility.

The report stated that the ICA misrepresented the Steele dossier’s value and relied on intelligence later proven false or unsubstantiated.

Fleitz relayed the findings to Bolton, but Bolton did not brief Trump.

“He didn’t do anything with it. He never told Trump,” Fleitz said.

Pompeo, then Trump’s CIA director, was briefed on the House committee’s findings.

Derek Harvey, a former senior adviser to the committee, said Pompeo doubted the conclusions and the committee did not receive cooperation from the agency.

Haspel, Pompeo’s deputy and later CIA director, oversaw restrictions on the House committee’s review of classified ICA source documents from 2017 to 2020.

Investigators were required to work inside a CIA read room, leave all materials in the building each night, and use CIA-issued computers that committee staff later reported malfunctioned and lost text. The committee also said CIA technical changes made the machines “unstable and unreliable.” Access to the ICA’s five principal authors was delayed for nearly five months.

Haspel secured all drafts of the House report and investigators’ notes in a vault until she left office in January 2021. Before leaving, she urged Barr and Durham not to release the findings before the 2020 election. Fleitz described this as “insubordination to a U.S. president.”

Haspel had previously served in London during 2016, when FBI investigators, including Peter Strzok, pursued leads that later informed the FBI’s Crossfire Hurricane investigation. Attempts to reach her for comment were unsuccessful.

As Trump’s first term ended, Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe sought to declassify a 44-page report refuting the ICA.

Durham objected, saying he needed the material for his investigation, and Ratcliffe agreed to delay release.

The document remained withheld until Trump’s current National Intelligence Director, Tulsi Gabbard, declassified it in July.

A former senior intelligence official familiar with the process said the committee provided thousands of pages of supporting documents to Durham.

“After we gave Durham the report… he went ghost,” the official said.

Durham’s final 316-page report, released in 2023, made only a brief footnote reference to the ICA.

The ICA is now part of criminal inquiries involving former Obama-era officials, including Brennan and Clapper. Federal prosecutors in Florida have issued subpoenas for records related to the drafting of the 2016-2017 assessment.

Former officials who cooperated with the House review said the ICA became the foundation for numerous investigations of Trump and his advisers.

Harvey said, “The CIA engaged in a conspiracy to fabricate intelligence against Trump.”

He also said analysts were pressured to alter pre-election assessments to align with the ICA’s conclusions.

A whistleblower who worked under then-Director of National Intelligence James Clapper told investigators he believed raw intelligence was manipulated.

He contacted Durham but was never interviewed.

Fleitz said the declassified material shows that intelligence was “rigged and politicized.”

He said Trump-appointed officials allowed the ICA to stand unchallenged during the administration, despite evidence calling its claims into question.

Supreme Court Blocks Judge’s Order Tossing Texas Redistricting Maps
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Supreme Court Blocks Judge’s Order Tossing Texas Redistricting Maps

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The Supreme Court of the United States has temporarily halted a lower court order that struck down Texas’s newly approved redistricting maps, issuing an administrative stay as the dispute moves forward.

Earlier this week, a three-judge panel in the Western District of Texas ruled 2-1 that the maps must be thrown out.

Texas appealed the decision on Friday.

Associate Justice Samuel Alito issued the Supreme Court’s response the same day, stating that the order would be paused while the Court reviews the case.

“IT IS ORDERED that the November 18, 2025, order of the United States District Court is hereby administratively stayed pending further order of the undersigned or the of the Court. It is further ordered that a response to the application be filed on or before Monday, November 24, 2025, by 5 p.m. (EST).”

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has urged the Supreme Court to block the lower court’s ruling.

Paxton said in a public statement, “Radical left-wing activists are abusing the judicial system to derail the Republican agenda and steal the U.S. House for Democrats. I am fighting to stop this blatant attempt to upend our political system. Texas engaged in partisan redistricting solely to secure more Republican seats in Congress and thereby better represent our state and Texans. For years, Democrats have aggressively gerrymandered their states and only cry foul and hurl baseless ‘racism’ accusations because they are losing.”

If the lower court’s ruling is ultimately upheld, Texas would be required to revert to using its 2021 maps for upcoming elections.

The panel’s decision drew a lengthy dissent from Circuit Judge Jerry E. Smith, who wrote a 104-page opinion challenging the ruling.

Smith criticized U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Vincent Brown, calling the decision “pernicious judicial misbehavior” and arguing that the outcome reflected “judicial activism.”

The dispute in Texas comes as redistricting battles continue in other states.

In November, California voters approved Proposal 50, a measure that would adjust the state’s congressional boundaries.

The Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn the proposal, arguing that the maps rely on race as a proxy to advance political objectives.

President Donald Trump has encouraged Republican-led states to pursue new redistricting plans aimed at increasing the number of GOP-held seats in the U.S. House.

The Supreme Court is expected to take further action after receiving the state’s filing and the required response by November 24.

Trump Makes Major Move Against Minnesota Somalis in Wake of Massive Fraud Scandal
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Trump Makes Major Move Against Minnesota Somalis in Wake of Massive Fraud Scandal

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President Donald Trump announced Friday evening that he is ending deportation protections for Somalis living in Minnesota, stating the move is “effective immediately.”

In a post on Truth Social, the president said, “Minnesota, under Governor [Tim] Walz, is a hub of fraudulent money laundering activity,” before declaring, “I am, as President of the United States, hereby terminating, effective immediately, the Temporary Protected Status (TPS Program) for Somalis in Minnesota.”

The TPS program has allowed Somali nationals to live and work legally in the United States due to ongoing dangerous conditions in Somalia.

Minnesota has one of the largest Somali populations in the country, and the program has long been a central factor in the community’s presence in the state.

In his announcement, Trump alleged that “Somali gangs are terrorizing the people of that great State, and BILLIONS of Dollars are missing. Send them back to where they came from. It’s OVER! President DJT.”

His statement referenced several recent fraud cases in Minnesota, including the high-profile Feeding Our Future scheme, which involved hundreds of millions of dollars in embezzled COVID-19 funds.

The Feeding Our Future case has been the subject of ongoing state and federal scrutiny.

Multiple defendants have already been convicted or pleaded guilty in what authorities described as one of the largest pandemic-related fraud cases in the country.

Prosecutors said the scheme involved false claims for federal meal program reimbursements, with large amounts of money diverted from intended food assistance purposes.

The president’s announcement also followed the release of a new investigative report from the Manhattan Institute, a conservative policy organization.

The report was authored by Ryan Thorpe and Christopher F. Rufo, who said they uncovered a network of fraud tied to Minnesota’s Medicaid Housing Stabilization Services program, Feeding Our Future, and additional entities.

According to their findings, the alleged fraud involved millions of dollars in improperly obtained funds.

Thorpe and Rufo said federal counterterrorism sources confirmed that some of the stolen money was transferred to Somalia.

They reported that investigators believed the funds ultimately reached Al-Shabaab, a Somalia-based terrorist group.

The authors said their findings connected stolen U.S. taxpayer money to the foreign organization through transfers routed from Minnesota.

The fraud allegations described in the report come after several years of increased scrutiny surrounding nonprofits and organizations operating within Minnesota’s Somali community.

Prosecutors in the Feeding Our Future case said the scheme involved falsified documentation, fabricated meal counts, and coordinated efforts to divert federal money intended for pandemic assistance.

Those investigations remain ongoing, with additional cases expected to move forward.

Trump’s decision to end TPS protections marks a significant policy shift affecting thousands of Somali nationals in Minnesota.

As of Friday evening, federal agencies had not released additional information about the timeline for implementing the termination or how the decision will affect current TPS holders.

The Department of Homeland Security has previously overseen TPS renewals and expirations under various administrations, but Friday’s announcement reflected a direct directive from the president.

Somalis in Tim Walz’ Minnesota Used Taxpayer Money to Fund Al-Qaeda Affiliate: Report
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Somalis in Tim Walz’ Minnesota Used Taxpayer Money to Fund Al-Qaeda Affiliate: Report

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Minnesota officials are facing scrutiny after a report indicated that welfare fraud involving members of the state’s Somali community funneled taxpayer money to the terrorist organization Al-Shabaab.

City Journal reported the findings, citing law enforcement sources who said “untold millions” of dollars from Minnesota programs were transferred overseas.

According to the report, state funds, including money from the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS), were allegedly routed through individuals in Minnesota and moved abroad.

The outlet reported that the funds passed through “hawalas,” clan-based money transfer networks, before being laundered to Al-Shabaab.

The group, affiliated with Al Qaeda, has carried out attacks that have killed Americans, according to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

City Journal quoted an unnamed source with past counterterrorism contracting experience who stated, “This is a third-rail conversation, but the largest funder of Al-Shabaab is the Minnesota taxpayer.”

The report did not specify dates, the length of time the transfers occurred, or the individual DHS programs where the money originated.

Democratic Gov. Tim Walz’s administration has come under additional scrutiny following separate federal investigations into fraud within a DHS program intended to help Minnesotans obtain taxpayer-funded housing.

That program, Housing Stabilization Services, was shut down on October 31 “due to widespread fraud,” City Journal reported.

A spokesperson for the Department of Justice told the outlet that six of the eight people federally charged in connection with fraud in the Housing Stabilization Services program are of Somali descent.

The charges were part of a federal probe examining misuse of funds within the program.

In November 2024, an Al-Shabaab operative was found guilty of plotting a 9/11-style airline attack in the United States.

The group has conducted numerous attacks internationally and is designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. government.

The article did not indicate which Minnesota programs were the primary source of the funds or the total amount of money believed to have been transferred overseas.

City Journal’s reporting noted that the use of hawalas played a central role in the movement of money overseas.

The money transfer method is often used within communities that rely on clan-based financial systems.

According to the report, the transfers were part of the alleged laundering activity connected to the fraud.

Federal investigations into the Housing Stabilization Services program remain ongoing.

The state ended the program after investigators identified extensive fraudulent activity involving individuals who received state reimbursement funds.

Al-Shabaab has been cited by U.S. intelligence agencies as one of the most active Al Qaeda affiliates.

The City Journal report connected the alleged Minnesota-based fraud to the broader financing networks that support the group’s activities.

No further public statements have been issued by Minnesota DHS regarding the report’s claims, and federal authorities have not released any additional information related to the allegations reported by City Journal.

Early-Morning Shooting Leaves Suspect Dead at St. Louis International Airport
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Early-Morning Shooting Leaves Suspect Dead at St. Louis International Airport

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A suspect was shot and killed early Friday morning inside St. Louis Lambert International Airport after an encounter with an airport police officer, according to initial information released by local outlets, as reported by The New York Post.

The incident took place at around 1 a.m. inside Terminal 1, where an officer opened fire on an individual near the American Airlines ticketing counter.

The shooting prompted airport authorities to establish a crime scene in the area as investigators began gathering evidence and documenting the sequence of events.

KSDK reported that the officer discharged a weapon inside the terminal during the early-morning hours, though officials have not released additional information about what led to the confrontation.

At the time of the shooting, only a limited number of travelers and staff were present in the terminal due to the hour, and police quickly secured the area.

Authorities said it was not immediately clear what sparked the incident, and the circumstances that preceded the shooting have not been detailed publicly.

The suspect, who has not been identified, was transported from the scene after being shot. Officials later confirmed that the individual died following the encounter with law enforcement.

No other injuries were reported, and there were no indications that any travelers or airport employees were harmed during the incident. Investigators restricted access to the immediate area around the American Airlines ticketing counter as they continued documenting evidence.

Airport police and other responding agencies have not released details regarding the actions of the suspect prior to the shooting, the nature of the threat perceived by the officer, or whether any commands or attempts at de-escalation were made before shots were fired.

Oxnard police were investigating gunfire around Southwinds Park that reportedly left several teens injured Tuesday night, March 4, 2025.

The officer involved has not been publicly identified, and authorities have not stated whether the officer has been placed on leave pending further review, which is standard protocol in officer-involved shootings.

St. Louis Lambert International Airport continued normal operations outside the secured crime-scene area.

Travelers arriving later in the morning encountered an increased police presence inside Terminal 1 as investigators worked through the early stages of the inquiry.

Airport officials have not provided updates on how long the area near the ticketing counter will remain restricted while the investigation proceeds.

Authorities have stated that further information will be released as the investigation develops. As of Friday morning, the identity of the deceased suspect, details surrounding the encounter, and the officer’s account of the incident remain unavailable.

The St. Louis Airport Police Department and other agencies continue examining the circumstances that led to the shooting inside the terminal.

JD Vance Urges Patience as Trump Administration Pushes to Lower Prices
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JD Vance Urges Patience as Trump Administration Pushes to Lower Prices

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Vice President J.D. Vance told voters Thursday that the administration recognizes the ongoing strain of high costs and is continuing efforts to bring prices down, offering one of the Trump administration’s most direct acknowledgments of economic frustration to date, as reported by the Independent Journal Review.

Speaking at a Breitbart News event, Vance said the White House has made progress but added that Americans should expect more work ahead.

According to The Associated Press, Vance said the administration has “a lot more work to do” and urged voters to give Republicans “a little bit of patience” as they advance their economic agenda.

“We hear you,” he said. “As much progress as we’ve made, it’s going to take a little bit of time for every American to feel that economic boom, which we really do believe is coming.”

His comments come as Republicans continue working to sharpen their message on affordability — an issue that played a major role in recent gubernatorial races in Virginia and New Jersey. Voters in both states listed the cost of living as a leading concern, underscoring challenges facing the party heading into next year’s midterm elections.

Vance argued that President Donald Trump has “made incredible progress” reversing former President Joe Biden’s policies and setting the stage for stronger economic growth. He also acknowledged that many Americans still face higher costs in everyday purchases.

Trump has regularly cited lower gas and egg prices as evidence of improvement and has dismissed Democrats’ affordability messaging as “a con job.” More recently, he has also said there remains “room” for further price declines.

During the discussion, Vance was asked about recent internal tensions within the Make America Great Again coalition, including Trump’s public break with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and questions surrounding Trump’s decision not to distance himself from Nick Fuentes, who recently appeared in a friendly interview with commentator Tucker Carlson.

Vice President JD Vance departs a meeting with House Republicans at the United States Capitol as Republicans seek to pass interim spending bill that would keep federal agencies funded through Sept. 30 on Tuesday, March 11, 2025.

Vance did not specifically address those disputes but said internal disagreements are expected within a large political movement. “It’s totally reasonable for the people who make up this coalition to argue,” he said.

He added that differing views can be productive as long as the movement remains focused on what he described as “a radical leftist movement” that he believes threatens shared priorities.

“Have our debates — but focus on the enemy, so that we can win victories that matter for the American people,” Vance said.

Looking ahead to the midterm elections, Vance emphasized that Republican unity and a strong message will be essential. He warned that working-class voters who strongly support Trump do not always vote in midterm cycles.

“I think that’s one of the lessons that we learned in Virginia and New Jersey,” he said.

“When Donald Trump is not on the ballot, you’ve got to give people something to actually believe in, something to be inspired by. They’re not going to vote just because you have an ‘R’ next to your name.”

DOJ Sues Gavin Newsom for Granting Tuition Benefits to Illegal Immigrants
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DOJ Sues Gavin Newsom for Granting Tuition Benefits to Illegal Immigrants

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The Department of Justice filed a lawsuit Thursday against California Gov. Gavin Newsom over a state policy that allows illegal immigrants to receive in-state college tuition benefits, marking the third federal action taken against the governor in the span of a week, as reported by Fox News.

The complaint, filed in the Eastern District of California, challenges provisions of the state’s education code that the DOJ says unlawfully grant benefits to individuals living in the country illegally while placing out-of-state U.S. citizens at a financial disadvantage.

Justice Department attorneys argued in the filing that California’s policy results in “unequal treatment” and is “squarely” at odds with federal law.

Pam Bondi, a former Attorney General of Florida, appearing at the Conservative Political Action Conference, CPAC 2024, at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center on Feb 23, 2024.

Federal statute prohibits states from providing residency-based tuition benefits to individuals living in the United States unlawfully unless the same benefits are made available to U.S. citizens, regardless of where they live.

The department’s lawsuit asserts that California is violating that requirement by making in-state tuition available to undocumented students while out-of-state citizens are required to pay higher rates.

The federal action against California is part of a broader effort by the Justice Department, which has brought similar lawsuits in other states.

Minnesota is currently fighting one such lawsuit, though that case was delayed for weeks during the recent government shutdown.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, a Democrat, has moved to dismiss the DOJ complaint, arguing the department’s interpretation of federal law is incorrect and that U.S. citizens do have equal access to the benefits offered to undocumented students.

Newsom faced two other federal lawsuits this week. One challenge was filed over a newly passed California ballot measure that allows the state legislature to adopt a congressional map shifting five districts toward Democratic control.

Earlier this week, the DOJ sued over legislation California enacted in September that prohibits immigration officials from wearing masks that hide their identities.

A spokesperson for Newsom criticized the series of lawsuits, characterizing them as politically driven.

Sacramento, California / USA – May 31, 2020: California State Governor Gavin Newsom holds his head in though before a meeting.

“The DOJ has now filed three meritless, politically motivated lawsuits against California in a single week. Good luck, Trump. We’ll see you in court,” the spokesperson said in a statement.

A DOJ official defended the actions taken against the nation’s most populous state, telling Fox News Digital that the department is acting within its authority.

“From racial gerrymandering, to undermining law enforcement, to discriminating against American students, Newsom has flagrantly disregarded federal law in his quest to ruin California,” the official said.

“We will see him in court as many times as necessary.”

The federal government has not yet indicated when hearings will begin on the tuition-benefit lawsuit, and California has not formally filed its response in court.

Kathy Hochul Backtracks, Confirms Discussions on Mamdani’s Free Bus Plan
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Kathy Hochul Backtracks, Confirms Discussions on Mamdani’s Free Bus Plan

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Gov. Kathy Hochul acknowledged this week that she is in discussions with New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s team about his proposal to make city buses free, marking a reversal from her earlier public stance rejecting the idea.

Mamdani, who takes office in January, campaigned on a $700 million plan to eliminate bus fares across the five boroughs, a policy he framed as a major step in reducing transportation costs for working families, as reported by The New York Post.

In an interview with Politico, Hochul confirmed that conversations are underway between her administration and Mamdani’s staff.

New York State Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani speaks in a Malikah’s Iftar Ramadan event at the Museum of the Moving Image on March 07, 2025 in the Queens Borough of New York City.

“We’re having conversations with his team, I will say that,” she said when asked directly about the proposal.

Hochul added that while formal details are not yet available, her administration and Mamdani “have a lot of alignment on the overall, overarching objective.”

She said similar discussions have taken place on several policy fronts, including child care. “When it comes to individual proposals, whether it’s child care — we’ve had conversations about what a rollout of that could look like,” Hochul said.

“Same thing with buses. What’s the overall objective here? Is it to make it more affordable for people that are struggling? That’s something I understand.”

Her latest remarks contrast sharply with comments made earlier this month at the SOMOS political retreat in Puerto Rico, where she expressed concern about diverting money from the transit system, noting the state had already poured significant funds into the financially strained Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul speaks during the first day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center.

“We’re spending a lot of money, so I cannot set forth a plan right now that takes money out of a system that relies on the fares of the buses and the subways,” she said on Nov. 8.

She did, however, emphasize at the time that she supported improving affordability, saying, “But can we find a path to make it more affordable for people who need help? Of course we can.”

Hochul also made clear to Politico that implementing a statewide free-bus program is not feasible. Asked whether the plan would require raising taxes, she said, “Well, certainly statewide, to have all free buses, that’d be impossible.”

She added, “Let’s just figure out how we can take bites at the problem and start solving that.”

The governor noted that policy changes cannot be made solely for New York City. “I can’t do anything just for the city,” she said.

“So a city wants to do something, they want to do pilots, they want to do certain things, we can have the conversations with them, but policies overall happen statewide.”

The renewed discussions come as Hochul faces a more than $4 billion state budget shortfall next year and ongoing pressure to avoid tax hikes on high earners.

Though she previously vowed not to raise income taxes, she is reportedly having preliminary conversations about increasing the corporate tax rate to help close the deficit and cover potential costs of Mamdani’s free-bus proposal.

Zohran Kwame Mamdani is a New York State Assemblymember and democratic socialist running for Mayor. New York, US – 04 July 2025

Hochul is up for re-election in 2026, and her handling of the state’s fiscal issues, as well as her approach to Mamdani’s transportation plan, is expected to play a central role in the political landscape leading into the next campaign cycle.


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