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‘Sex spies’ from China, Russia hit US to seduce and steal secrets with honeypot tactics, fmr operative warns
A former CIA operative says that China and Russia are sending "sex spies" to the United States with goals of stealing the country's technology and state secrets as they engage in psychological warfare.
J. Michael Waller told Fox News Digital he has seen firsthand how America's biggest adversaries, like China and Russia, are using honeypot tactics to steal secrets or compromise politicians as a dirty way to stay ahead of the U.S. While Waller was doing work for the CIA in Poland, he said that a Chinese woman around 25 years old approached him and seemed interested in the work he was doing.
After talking with her more, Waller realized she was a spy and reported the woman to Polish authorities, as she was a government employee at the time. Waller said the Polish government "threw her out of the country within days."
In his personal experience, Waller said the Chinese spy "knew about my background already and even stuff that wasn't in my official bio for the event."
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"They take advantage of the fact that people are lonely or just want to have a good time or, you know, need company or whatever else," Waller said. "They do what's been done since biblical times. They use sex as a weapon."
Earlier this year, the U.S. government banned employees and personnel working in China from having romantic or sexual relationships with Chinese citizens. The policy was implemented by former U.S. Ambassador Nicholas Burns, who put the policy into place before leaving his post when President Donald Trump took office in January.
U.S. government personnel who violate the policy will be forced to leave China.
CHINA ACCUSES US OF YEARSLONG CYBERATTACK ON NATIONAL TIME SERVICE
Waller said the practice is a form of psychological warfare because "you're messing with people's heads," adding China will target professionals such as engineers, programmers, local officials, mayors or other politicians.
"They'll go for a very long term with these sexual recruitments and develop long-term emotional relations, at least get the other side, get the target emotionally attached, to the point of even marrying them and having families with them," he said. "That's what they're schooled to do."
Aliia Roza, a former Russian "sex spy," recently told the New York Post that foreign agents are targeting Silicon Valley in order to gain access to emerging technology and trade secrets.
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"It starts with love bombing — messages full of compliments, selfies, bikini photos," Roza said. "They pretend to be weak or alone: ‘My parents were killed, I’m a student, I’m broke.’ It triggers the hero instinct. Every man wants to feel like the rescuer."
The former CIA operative gave one piece of advice for Americans:
"If someone from China who’s super, super hot is really interested in you and you’re nowhere near in that league — she’s a spy," Waller said.
Oklahoma State conservative students press charges, demand accountability after harassment at table
Student leaders from Young America’s Foundation (YAF) at Oklahoma State University are speaking out following heated confrontations that left their table trashed during four interactions in one day by the same individual. Fox News Digital spoke with YAF chairman Thomas Hatfield and vice chairman Caleb Buxton about the incident, the university’s response and what they hope to see from school officials moving forward.
The students explained what happened and why they believe it is "dangerous" for those on the left to freely describe conservatives as "fascists" and why they think leftists have been "brainwashed."
The YAF chapter was holding a table in support of traditional marriage last week and hoping to conduct productive debate. They said they first saw an individual approach them from an anti-Israel table nearby and looked angry.
YOUNG AMERICA'S FOUNDATION TABLE GETS TRASHED AT OSU BY PERSON WHO TELLS CONSERVATIVES TO ‘F--- OFF’
"When they got to the sidewalk, they pushed through all the people who were there talking to us and started grabbing all of our stickers, pins, everything that was on the table. We started recording, and I followed the individual about 50 yards away to the nearest trash can, where they disposed of all of our stickers and stuff," Buxton said.
After this first incident, they didn't think the person would come back, but soon realized that wasn't the case.
"They came back for a second time, this time walking about three or four hundred yards away from the table. While I was following them, I was able to have a little bit of a discussion with him, but it always resorted back to, 'You're a fascist, and I'm not stealing because this isn't worth a lot of money. They're just stickers.' They threw our stickers across the sidewalk and, while I was having that discussion with him, five or six college students were kind enough to start picking up the stickers."
They came back two more times following the second incident.
"About 15 minutes after that, the individual came back again for a third time, again walking away, throwing the stickers, and this time it ended with about a 20-minute conversation with this individual, where they called me a fascist 16 times in that one sitting and justified everything they were doing because I was a fascist, saying that fascists don't have rights, they don't have any reason to be out there, their opinions aren't worth anything."
Buxton shared why he considers the use of the term fascist "dangerous."
"I think that shows how the left, always pushing fascist rhetoric, has really brainwashed a lot of their followers into thinking that anybody on the right is a fascist, and they don't have any rights, so I can do whatever I want to them because they're evil people and I think that's really dangerous."
Buxton said if supporting Trump made him a "fascist," then that would apply to over half of Americans, which he said he didn't believe is true.
"The person then walked back over to our table a fourth time, grabbed our stickers again, threw them again, which is where the viral clip came from, taken from one of the other people at the table… and this conversation went very shortly and the person walked away. That was kind of the end of the discussions with the individual," Buxton said. "Then the police came shortly after, and we talked to them for a while, and we are currently pressing charges against the individual."
The students are seeking charges and hope to see further disciplinary action from the school.
"We will continue to press on until due justice is given to us and to all people who have had free speech incidents on campus because we want to send the message that this is unacceptable and this will not stand," Hatfield said.
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"If this were to happen to a leftist club on campus, there would be all kinds of emails — do you need mental training or anything like that or therapy. So we haven't got any type of outreach like that," Buxton said.
Regardless, YAF at OSU plans to continue pushing forward.
"We're going to keep working hard to push on social issues that we have always worked on," Buxton said. "We're going to have to keep pushing on them and never back down no matter what happens. I think if you back down during times of trouble, that's not going to help anyone."
Hatfield is also encouraging the school to sign a contract put forth by the YAF Federation.
"We would also like to, officially, as Young Americans for Freedom at Oklahoma State University, demand that Oklahoma State sign on to the Contract for Safe Campus dialog as put forward by Young America's Foundation and the president of the Young America Foundation, Governor Scott Walker," he said.
"We demand that Oklahoma State University sign this contract and this charter to ensure that all students, no matter what side of the aisle they stand on politically or socially, may have a place to speak at Oklahoma State University and to ensure that an incident like this never happens again," Hatfield continued.
"And we ask Oklahoma State university not to sign this as lip service to our side, but we ask them to sign it as a commitment and to release us and many statements to enact policies, committing to fostering an environment where everyone's First Amendment rights are respected," he added.
OKLAHOMA STUDENT SAYS STAFF 'THREAT' AFTER CHARLIE KIRK TRIBUTE WON'T SILENCE HIM
OSU commented on the viral post, writing, "Oklahoma State University supports free speech. The OSU Police Department is actively investigating this incident."
In a comment made to Fox News Digital on Friday, OSU wrote, "Oklahoma State University supports the rights of student groups to express their opinions and speak freely. The OSU Police Department has investigated the incident, and charges are pending."
Fox News Digital also reached out to OSU following the interview with Hatfield and Buxton and was provided with the same response: "Oklahoma State University supports the rights of student groups to express their opinions and speak freely."
"The OSU Police Department immediately investigated the incident, and charges are pending. Additionally, while federal law prohibits the university from sharing information on specific students, we can share that our student conduct team is engaged in this matter and will address any violations of our student code of conduct," the statement added.
Fox News' Nikolas Lanum and Alba Cuebas-Fantauzzi contributed to this report.
Ex-Prince Andrew ‘vulnerable’ to criminal charges after losing royal protection status: experts
Ex-Prince Andrew is now more "vulnerable" than ever to possible legal punishment for his ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
The claim was made by multiple royal experts who spoke to Fox News Digital about Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, the former royal who was once hailed as Queen Elizabeth II’s favorite son.
On Oct. 30, King Charles III stripped his disgraced brother of his royal titles. He evicted him from the palatial Royal Lodge after weeks of pressure to act over Andrew’s relationship with the late sex offender.
PRINCE ANDREW VANISHES FROM ROYAL WEBSITE AFTER KING CHARLES STRIPS ALL TITLES AND HONORS
"Unsettled Andrew Mountbatten Windsor is vulnerable to charges being made against him," British broadcaster and photographer Helena Chard told Fox News Digital.
"Andrew, stripped of his titles and accolades, and no longer protected by his royal status, is now exposed to prosecutions to be brought against him. There is public resentment about the way Andrew operated. Andrew has taken the fall and, understandably, the royal family is keen to distance themselves from the scandals."
British royals expert Hilary Fordwich agreed.
WATCH: PRINCE ANDREW STRIPPED OF TITLES, EVICTED FROM ROYAL LODGE
"Andrew is currently more legally and publicly vulnerable than ever," she said.
"The likely route to an actual arrest or prosecution remains complex and will depend upon evidentiary developments. The public pressure for such, as well as scrutiny and intense media interest, will not abate. What has changed is that the removal of royal styles and titles was a formal barrier that gave him a degree of protection."
In 2019, Andrew gave a disastrous interview to the BBC’s "Newsnight," where he attempted to explain his friendship with Epstein, who died that year behind bars.
In that same interview, Andrew said he didn’t recall meeting Virginia Roberts Giuffre, an American woman who alleged she was trafficked by Epstein and had sex with Andrew when she was 17.
Shortly afterward, Andrew stepped down from public life over his association with Epstein, despite his denials of wrongdoing. In 2021, Giuffre sued Andrew, and the case was settled in 2022 for an undisclosed sum.
According to court documents, the prince acknowledged that Giuffre was "an established victim of abuse." Several reports suggested that the queen helped fund the settlement in hopes of resolving the matter quickly and quietly.
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Giuffre died in April of this year. She was 41. Her posthumous memoir, "Nobody’s Girl," was published on Oct. 21.
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police told Fox News Digital: "Our thoughts are with Ms. Giuffre’s family and friends following her death. In 2015, we were made aware of allegations around non-recent trafficking for sexual exploitation. This related to events outside the U.K. and an allegation of trafficking to central London in March 2001."
"Officers assessed the available evidence, interviewed the complainant, liaised with other law enforcement agencies who led investigations into these matters, and obtained early investigative advice from the Crown Prosecution Service," said the spokesperson. "Following the legal advice, it was clear that any investigation into human trafficking would be largely focused on activities and relationships outside the U.K.
"Officers, therefore, concluded that other jurisdictions and organizations were better placed to pursue the specific allegations, and, in November 2016, a decision was made that this matter would not proceed to a full criminal investigation. That decision was subsequently reviewed."
On Oct. 19, People magazine reported that authorities are "actively" looking into allegations that Andrew attempted to uncover information about Giuffre.
Leaked email correspondence suggested that the 65-year-old asked his police protection officer, a taxpayer-funded position, to uncover personal information about Giuffre over a decade ago.
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According to reports, there's no suggestion that the officer complied with Andrew’s request. Fox News Digital reached out to the Metropolitan Police for comment.
"Andrew is now a commoner and, in my opinion, not immune from prosecution now," royal expert Ian Pelham Turner told Fox News Digital. "The Metropolitan Police are believed to be investigating any potential misdemeanors and, under extradition rules between the U.K. and the United States, a potential warrant could be served demanding appearances in a court case.
"Many advocates are saying that Andrew should volunteer information on all he knows about the Epstein case," Turner added.
Royal media commentator Meredith Constant stressed that Andrew has not been charged with any crimes and continues to deny all allegations made against him.
"Before any potential legal action, there would need to be investigations," Constant told Fox News Digital. "What people forget is that it’s not just his involvement with Epstein and claims made against him by Virginia Giuffre; there are also growing calls to investigate his tenure as U.K. Trade Envoy and accusations that Andrew misused his role for his own personal gain."
"Starting the process of removing Andrew’s titles doesn’t necessarily make him ripe for investigation; it was a reactionary measure by the British monarchy to stop the bleeding, so to speak," said Constant. "Investigating Andrew could reveal more about the monarchy, especially around finances, or how the government has prevented journalists from investigating his time as U.K. Trade Envoy."
"Right now, the monarchy’s messaging is that this is ‘one bad apple,’ and casting him off to a private estate outside of London solves all the problems," she continued. "In reality, more digging into Andrew could expose and take down other individuals and even institutions.
"I respectfully disagree with Ian Pelham Turner. I think making Andrew a ‘commoner’ hurts the monarchy because it calls into question the entire system, which is based on a belief that this is a special bloodline. If the monarch can just take away titles received at birth, what makes them different from any other citizen in the U.K.?"
Still, there’s no denying that there’s mounting pressure from the public to ensure Andrew is held accountable.
The Telegraph reported that Republic, the anti-monarchy campaign group, has instructed its legal team to look into a series of allegations made against the father of two, including claims he used his role as trade ambassador for private gains and Giuffre’s claims of sexual abuse.
"If not us, then who?" Graham Smith, Republic’s chief executive, told the outlet. "It’s a devastating indictment on the U.K.’s criminal justice system, police and politicians — not to mention the king and heir — that we must resort to a private prosecution. ... It should be a cause for concern that so many people believe — rightly, in my view — that the royals are not treated equally in law. Equality in law is a basic tenet of democracy."
"I firmly believe there is strong enough evidence to justify a serious investigation," said Smith. "The authorities and politicians appear to want to look the other way, while minimizing the accusations made against Andrew. The truth must prevail, and justice must be seen to be done."
KING CHARLES 'CAN BARELY TOLERATE' FORMER PRINCE ANDREW AFTER HIS SCANDALOUS BEHAVIOR: EXPERT
Chard believes that Andrew, who’s been keeping a low profile, will be taking note of his plummeting popularity in his home country.
"Andrew is being pushed into exile here in the U.K.," she said. "However, it will not be surprising if he relocates to a country that doesn’t have an extradition treaty in place. I doubt he would enjoy an all-bells-and-whistles lifestyle at sleepy Wood Farm in Sandringham for long, if at all. He could seek refuge, escape the public eye and enjoy a luxurious new life in the sunny Middle East."
Fordwich also noted that public outcry cannot be ignored for long.
"I don’t see members of the family further shielding Andrew’s disreputable behavior," she said. "Public support for the monarchy itself depends on enforcing such accountability."
Still, Constant doesn’t believe Andrew is losing any sleep at night. He is expected to move to a property on the king’s Sandringham estate and receive private financial support from his brother.
"He has no reason to doubt that at the end of the day, he will be protected," she said. "History proves it."
Senate Democrats eye exit from record-breaking shutdown as pressure intensifies
Senate Democrats are trying to figure out their exit strategy from the ongoing government shutdown as lawmakers on both sides remain cautiously optimistic that the end is near.
At hand are offers Senate Republicans have made since nearly the beginning of the shutdown, which crept into record-breaking territory Tuesday night.
Among the options Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and his caucus mulled were a vote on expiring Obamacare subsidies, attaching a host of spending bills to the government funding extension and likely extending the House-passed continuing resolution (CR) until December or January.
Following a nearly three-hour, closed-door lunch, Schumer gave little indication as to what Democrats’ move would be. He noted that the longer-than-usual caucus lunch went well, and that Senate Democrats were "exploring all the options."
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If enough Senate Democrats join Republicans to reopen the government and take up the GOP’s offer, they’d effectively be caving after spending 36 days entrenched in their position that they needed an ironclad deal on the expiring Obamacare premium subsidies.
Like Schumer, many Democratic lawmakers were tight-lipped about their discussions.
"It’s still a work in progress," Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., said.
One part of the equation is tacking on a trio of spending bills, known as a minibus, that would fund military construction and the Department of Veterans Affairs, the legislative branch, and agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration.
Senate appropriators, who have been the main protagonists of increased bipartisan talks, believe that jump-starting the government funding process could be the key to ending the shutdown.
"The reason we're in this position is that we have not passed appropriations bills," Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., said. "So beginning to break the logjam through doing that, we think would be incredibly effective."
GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN BECOMING LONGEST IN US HISTORY AS DEMOCRATS DIG IN ON OBAMACARE
The other part of the equation is a guarantee from Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., that Senate Democrats would get a vote on a bill that dealt with the expiring Obamacare subsidies.
But that attempt is almost certain to fail, given that Senate Republicans want to see major reforms made to the program.
"It's a universe that I think is pretty well-defined and established," Thune said. "I've said this before, but the question is whether or not we'll take ‘yes’ for an answer."
That’s where the deep-seated lack of trust that Senate Democrats have for their counterparts across the aisle and of President Donald Trump comes in that has underscored much of the shutdown. One of their demands is to have the healthcare bill voted on by a simple, 50-vote majority, which Thune and Republicans scoffed at.
Still, Senate Democrats are eyeing more of a solution to the healthcare issue rather than the promise of a process, which Thune has given.
"I'm interested in negotiation, but a negotiation that ends up — that ends in a piece of legislation being passed," Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., said. "An agreement to take a vote that Republicans are guaranteeing will fail doesn't sound like an outcome that helps regular Americans."
SENATE REPUBLICANS PLOT LONGER-TERM FUNDING BILL AS GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN CONTINUES
Others, particularly progressives in the Senate Democratic caucus, don’t want to see Schumer or their colleagues back down, even as federal workers and air traffic controllers go unpaid, and as the administration has wavered on funding federal food benefits despite a court order to do so.
"If the Democrats cave on this, I think it will be a betrayal to millions and millions of working families who want them to stand up and protect their healthcare benefits," Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., said.
Despite promises of a vote, Republicans argue they can’t predetermine the future outcome nor guarantee that a Democratic proposal would pass.
"[Thune] has said from Day 1 that he would provide them with a vote," Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., said. "What he can't do is provide them with an outcome."
Rounds is one of a handful of Senate Republicans who has engaged in bipartisan talks throughout the shutdown and was hopeful that over a dozen Democrats would cross the aisle to reopen the government.
"I think they're tired of this," Rounds said.
FLASHBACK: Wildest moments Mamdani overcame on the campaign trail to become NYC's next mayor
New York City socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani cruised to victory on Tuesday night, defying the laundry list of critics who railed against him over several high-profile controversial stances and statements.
Mamdani dismissed the "communist" label throughout the campaign, maintaining that he is a democratic socialist.
His past comments promoting the abolition of private property, seizing the means of production, claiming billionaires shouldn't exist, and calling for free government programs earned him the communist label from some, including President Donald Trump.
Mike Gonzalez, the Angeles T. Arredondo E Pluribus Unum Senior Fellow at The Heritage Foundation, told Fox News Digital earlier this year that Mamdani is "absolutely a communist" who "repeats lines out of the ‘Communist Manifesto’ and other writings by Karl Marx."
"When Marxists today say they are socialists, they usually want to convey the impression that they believe in elections and not just in shooting your way into power," Gonzalez added. "Of course, that election often ends up being the last free and fair one. Witness Venezuela."
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Days before the election, an antisemitism research institute released a comprehensive report that summarized its concerns about Mamdani's stances on Israel and concluded he shouldn't become the next mayor of New York City.
Mamdani faced heated criticism on the campaign trail, including hundreds of rabbis signing a letter opposing him for positions dating back to his time in college co-founding his school's Students for Justice in Palestine chapter all the way up to this year when he was hesitant to definitively condemn the term "globalize the intifada."
Mamdani sparked a political firestorm last month, drawing outrage from the law enforcement community after posting a smiling photo with Imam Siraj Wahhaj, a Brooklyn cleric who served as a character witness for the mastermind of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing and has been a longtime defender of convicted terrorists, raising funds for their legal defenses.
Mamdani, a 34-year-old New York state assembly member, has been an outspoken critic of Israel and has even vowed to have Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrested if he visits New York City.
"I call Zohran Mamdani a jihadist because he is. Zohran Mamdani is a raging anti-Semite," New York GOP Rep. Elise Stefanik said in August.
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"Mamdani is the definition of a jihadist as he supports Hamas terrorists which he did as recently as yesterday, when he refused to call for Hamas terrorists to put down their arms — the same Hamas terrorist group that slaughtered civilians including New Yorkers on October 7, 2023."
In July, a Jewish advocacy group blasted Mamdani for sharing a video mocking Hanukkah Jewish traditions on social media.
Mamdani also faced criticism over the anti-Israel positions of his Columbia University professor father, Mahmood, who previously compared Abraham Lincoln to Adolf Hitler and appeared sympathetic to suicide bombers in a book he authored.
"I think critiques of the state of Israel are critiques of a government, as opposed to critiques of a people and of a faith," Mamdani told MSNBC this week. "And my job is to represent every single New Yorker, and I will do so no matter their thoughts and opinions on Israel and Palestine, of which millions of New Yorkers have very strong views — and I’m one of them."
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Public safety was one of the most talked about issues on the campaign trail, resulting in a constant debate about Mamdani's calls in 2020 to "defund the police."
Before his mayoral campaign, Mamdani called the New York Police Department "racist" and said in 2023, "We have to make clear that when the boot of the NYPD is on your neck, it’s been laced by the IDF."
"I think what scares a lot of New Yorkers about the policy positions taken by Zohran Mamdani over the years is that he has exhibited not just a lack of appreciation for the men and women that stand on that [police] line, but a visceral disdain for them, which has led him to push for things like defunding and dismantling the police," Rafael A. Mangual, senior fellow and head of research for policing and public safety at the Manhattan Institute, told Fox News Digital in August, shortly after a gunman killed four people in midtown Manhattan, including a NYPD police officer.
"It's not so much as just that he said, well, I wanna allocate some of this money to other places. He has gone so far as to say that we should dismantle the entire department."
Mamdani attempted to distance himself from his previous positions on the campaign trail and apologized to them in a Fox News interview in October.
"Will you do that right now?" Fox News anchor Martha MacCallum asked.
"Absolutely," Mamdani said, turning to face the camera directly. "I'll apologize to police officers right here because this is the apology that I've been sharing with many rank-and-file officers. And I apologize because of the fact that I'm looking to work with these officers, and I know that these officers, these men and women who serve in the NYPD, they put their lives on the line every single day. And I will be a mayor."
In July, Mamdani sparked a social media firestorm after a post resurfaced of him giving the middle finger to a statue of Christopher Columbus.
"Take it down," Mamdani posted in June 2020, along with a photo showing what is presumably his gloved hand raising the middle finger toward a statue of the famed Italian explorer in Astoria, New York.
In a post around the same time, Mamdani asked his followers in a poll who should be honored instead of Columbus with options that included, "Tony Bennett (Astoria native, music icon) Walter Audisio (Communist partisan, killed Mussolini) Sacco & Vanzetti (Executed due to anti-Italian sentiment)."
The winners of the poll were Sacco and Vanzetti, two anarcho-communists executed in 1927.
Some in the Italian community took offense to the post, according to a New York Post report, including Columbus Heritage Coalition President Angelo Vivolo.
"We will defend Columbus Day and Columbus statues," Vivolo said.
"He is being disrespectful to the Italian American community." Vivolo added. "If you offend one community, you offend all communities."
Despite the criticisms and opposition from high-profile lawmakers across the country, Mamdani's campaign focused on affordability, pushing back against Trump, and taxing the rich guided him to a commanding victory on Tuesday night.
Mamdani's victory is expected to be a rallying cry for Republicans as they look to paint him and his socialist agenda as the face of the Democratic Party heading into next year's midterms.
"The Democrat Party has surrendered to radical socialist Zohran Mamdani and the far-left mob who are now running the show," National Republican Committee Spokesman Mike Marinella told Fox News Digital on Tuesday night.
"They’ve proudly embraced defunding the police, abolishing ICE, taxing hard-working Americans to death, and replacing common sense with chaos. Every House Democrat is foolishly complicit in their party’s collapse, and voters will make them pay in 2026."
Fox News Digital's Deirdre Heavey contributed to this report.
Fox News Poll: New Jersey governorship remains Democratic with Sherrill win
Democrat Mikie Sherrill defeated Republican Jack Ciattarelli in the New Jersey gubernatorial race, powered by strong support from Black voters, women, and younger voters. Her victory secures Democrats a third straight term in the governor’s office — the first time that’s happened since 1961 — reflecting the state’s enduring blue tilt despite recent Republican gains.
Preliminary data from the Fox News Voter Poll, a survey of more than 4,400 registered New Jersey voters, showed Sherrill performed well with Black voters, voters under age 30, women, and college degree holders.
There was also a 20-point gender gap: about 6 in 10 women backed Sherrill while about 5 in 10 men favored Ciattarelli. Sherrill’s domination among women continued across all age groups, with her highest level of support coming from women under 30.
While Republicans have made gains among young men in recent elections, younger men in New Jersey sided with the Democrat this time.
The gender divide also extended to parents: moms broke for Sherrill nearly 2 to 1 while dads preferred Ciattarelli by a little over 10 points.
Sherrill’s multiracial coalition proved crucial to her win: she received support from over 9 in 10 Black voters and almost 7 in 10 Hispanic voters.
Hispanic voters – who have been a focus of Republican courtship in recent years – did not support Republicans as much as they hoped. Ultimately, they sided with the Democrats by over 30 points. White voters overall broke for Ciattarelli, largely fueled by a 20-point gap in his support among White men. White women closely divided their vote between Sherrill and Ciattarelli, with marginally more favoring the Democrat.
The majority of voters with a college degree backed Sherrill, while voters without a degree slightly favored Ciattarelli. Ciattarelli carried the Republican stronghold of White men without a college degree by over 40 points.
Both candidates benefitted from the support of over 9 in 10 voters among their respective parties. Among the crucial swing group of independents, Sherrill was favored by just over half. Additional support from 6 in 10 self-described moderates provided her with the boost needed to win statewide.
About half of New Jersey Republicans identified as MAGA, and they nearly all threw their support behind Ciattarelli.
For 1 in 10 voters, this was the first time they voted in a gubernatorial election, and they backed Sherrill by 2 to 1.
Despite Sherrill’s Navy background, over half of military households voted for Ciattarelli. Among union households, Sherrill narrowly held on to Democratic support, taking just over half.
DEMOCRAT MIKIE SHERRILL WINS NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR RACE, KEEPS STATE BLUE AGAINST REPUBLICAN CHALLENGE
By a 2 to 1 margin, more voters have a negative view of how things are going in the country today than a positive view. These voters strongly broke for Ciattarelli.
Even with Trump off the ballot, his presence still played a defining role in the election. About 7 in 10 Sherrill supporters said their vote was to send a message of opposition to President Trump, while about a quarter of Ciattarelli voters said their vote was in support of the president.
Trump’s approval rating among Garden State voters is underwater, with over half saying they disapprove.
Among the national parties, views of the Democratic Party are split down the middle, while views of the Republican Party lean unfavorable.
Issues of affordability clearly dominated voter concerns, with taxes coming in at the top, closely followed by the economy. Voters prioritizing taxes broke for Ciattarelli by over 20 percentage points, while voters who prioritized the economy favored Sherrill by a slightly wider margin. For voters who saw healthcare as a top issue, Sherrill received the bulk of support.
Nearly all voters said property taxes were at least a minor problem where they live, and 7 in 10 called it a major problem.
Rising electricity costs also loomed large in the race, with nearly 9 in 10 voters indicating it was a problem. Voters who said both property taxes and electricity costs were a major problem were more apt to support Ciattarelli, while those who only classified it as a minor problem supported Sherrill.
Fighting against these rising costs, voters understandably had a more pessimistic outlook on the state’s economy than optimistic. About 6 in 10 who have a negative view voted for Ciattarelli, and 3 out of 4 with a positive outlook backed Sherrill.
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Against this economic backdrop, 1 in 4 New Jersey voters said they are falling behind financially. The largest number, 6 in 10, said they are holding steady, and only a small fraction report they’re getting ahead. For the quarter of voters falling behind, Sherrill received majority support, while voters who are holding steady split their support about evenly between the candidates.
Voters are split on whether the next governor should cooperate with the Trump administration on immigration enforcement. But in response to the administration’s current actions, over half of voters think it’s gone too far, while about 3 in 10 say it’s about right.
Voters in the Garden State said bringing needed change, sharing their values, and working for people like them were some of the most important candidate qualities in deciding their vote. Change-motivated voters went for Ciattarelli, while those who prioritized value sharing and working for people like them favored Sherrill 2 to 1.
The accusations about Sherrill’s Naval Academy graduation failed to dissuade voters from supporting her, as voters who prioritized honesty favored Sherrill by more than 40 points. More voters thought she ran a mostly fair campaign than thought Ciattarelli’s campaign was mostly fair. Sherrill also benefitted from a net-positive favorability rating, with over half of Garden State voters rating her favorably. The impact of a negative campaign cycle could have hurt Ciattarelli — about half of voters felt he ran a mostly unfair campaign and have an unfavorable view of the Republican.
Amid this heated race for governor, political corruption was on the mind of many New Jersey voters, with 9 in 10 identifying it as at least a minor problem. Those who saw it as a major problem were more likely to side with Ciattarelli, while those who saw it as only a minor problem favored Sherrill.
By a 2 to 1 margin, more Sherrill voters said their vote was in support of their candidate than against their opponent. Ciattarelli voters were even more enthusiastic, with 8 in 10 voting in support of the Republican.
Among the late-deciding voters, Sherrill was favored by almost 7 in 10.
Term-limited Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy’s job rating is underwater as he prepares to leave office. After over a decade of Democratic leadership, roughly 1 in 5 Democrats disapprove of the job he’s done as governor. Independents have mixed feelings, with about equal numbers approving as disapproving, and nearly all Republicans disapprove.
METHODOLOGY
The Fox News Voter Poll is based on a survey conducted by SSRS with New Jersey registered voters. This survey was conducted October 22 to November 4, 2025, concluding at the end of voting on Election Day. The poll combines data collected from registered voters online and by telephone with data collected in-person from Election Day voters at 30 precincts per state. In the final step, all the pre-election survey respondents and Election Day exit poll respondents are combined by adjusting the share of voting mode (absentee, early-in-person, and Election Day) based on the estimated composition of the state final electorate. Once votes are counted, the survey results are also weighted to match the overall results in each state. Results among all more than 4,400 New Jersey voters interviewed have an estimated margin of sampling error of plus or minus 2.1 percentage points, including the design effects. The error margin is larger among subgroups.
How Trump projected US power across Indo-Pacific before Xi meeting
The most consequential moments of the Trump–Xi summit last week did not occur at South Korea’s Gimhae International Airport. Statements about "stabilizing relations" and "reducing tensions" were predictable, almost perfunctory.
The real story unfolded in the weeks leading up to the summit – in the choreography, the pageantry and the unmistakable assertion of American power across the Indo-Pacific. By the time Xi Jinping sat across from Donald Trump, he was meeting a U.S. president who had already recommitted to America’s military preeminence in the region, reaffirmed its alliances, and reminded Beijing that the United States remains the indispensable Pacific power.
In the days before the summit, Trump delivered a series of moves that together amounted to a strategic message. When reporters aboard Air Force One asked about Taiwan, he replied simply, "There’s not that much to ask about it. Taiwan is Taiwan."
The remark – off-the-cuff but unmistakable in meaning – pushed back against speculation that his administration might soften on the issue in pursuit of a grand bargain with Beijing. Trump’s statement told Xi that the United States would not barter away the foundation of East Asian stability for a better trade deal. Since 1979, American policy toward Taiwan has relied on strategic ambiguity – but Trump’s phrasing underscored deterrence, not doubt.
TRUMP LEARNS HOW TO FEND OFF THE CHINESE THREAT LIKE HE IS READING SUN TZU
Then came a tangible demonstration of alliance power. The Trump administration announced a new partnership with a leading South Korean shipbuilder to co-produce nuclear-powered submarines and expand U.S. shipyard capacity – a deal expected to bring billions of dollars in investment and jobs to American facilities, including in Philadelphia and along the Gulf Coast.
For all the rhetoric about "America First," this was alliance diplomacy in practice: fusing allied industrial bases to strengthen deterrence. At a time when China is out-building the U.S. Navy at a breathtaking pace, the U.S.–ROK shipbuilding initiative signals that Washington is no longer content to outsource maritime capacity to its competitors.
Equally deliberate was Trump’s decision to post on Truth Social about nuclear-weapons testing – announcing that the United States would resume limited tests to ensure readiness. The statement came in direct response to China’s accelerated nuclear expansion.
The Pentagon’s 2024 China Military Power Report estimated that Beijing had surpassed 600 operational nuclear warheads and was rapidly expanding its missile forces and fissile-material production capacity. In recent years, satellite imagery and open-source reporting have also suggested that China may be preparing renewed activity at its Lop Nur nuclear test site, reinforcing concerns that Beijing is edging toward a more aggressive testing posture.
TRUMP SCORES FOUR BIG WINS WITH XI, BUT HAS ONE BIG MISS
In that context, Trump’s post was less provocation than deterrent signaling – a reminder that the U.S. will not allow the balance of nuclear credibility to tilt unchallenged. The move ignited controversy but achieved its purpose: it reassured allies and warned adversaries that American nuclear deterrence is not theoretical.
Perhaps the clearest articulation of this posture came aboard the USS George Washington two days before the summit. Standing on the carrier’s deck alongside Japan’s prime minister, President Trump declared that "the U.S. military will win – every time." The audience was not voters in the United States. The message was directed at Xi Jinping, the People’s Liberation Army, and America’s allies watching across the Indo-Pacific.
With the Japanese prime minister by his side – who described the carrier as a "symbol of protecting freedom and peace in this region" – the moment projected allied unity and deterrent resolve. It was as much a visual message as a verbal one: the United States and its partners were back in the business of winning, and Beijing would have to recalibrate its assumptions accordingly.
Taken together – the Taiwan statement, the South Korea shipbuilding accord, the nuclear-testing post, and the carrier speech – the president’s actions framed the summit before it even began.
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These were not the actions of a president declaring detente with Beijing. They told Xi that the United States would not arrive as a supplicant seeking stability at any price, nor should America First to be interpreted as "America Alone," retreating to the Western Hemisphere.
Instead, President Trump positioned himself at the helm of an American-led order in the Indo-Pacific in which its two most important allies–Japan and South Korea– play leading roles. His message was not isolation but orchestration: America’s strength is amplified through partnership.
This approach marks an evolution from President Trump’s first term, when "burden-sharing" often meant brow-beating allies. Now his focus is on empowerment — accelerating allied shipbuilding, missile defense and joint exercises.
The summit’s scripted pleasantries – calls for dialogue and vows to "manage competition responsibly" – mattered less than the backdrop: a U.S. president reinforcing alliances, expanding shipbuilding and projecting confidence from "100,000 tons of diplomacy"--the deck of an aircraft carrier.
President Trump will return to Beijing in April for a follow-up summit with Xi – a test of whether his current posture endures. As any student of "The Art of the Deal" knows, Trump’s instinct is to maximize leverage before negotiation.
The handshake between Trump and Xi captured that dynamic: a confident Trump leaning into Xi knowing weeks of U.S. maneuvers had strengthened America’s hand in its competition with China. Whether that grip represents a lasting commitment to Indo-Pacific leadership or merely a pause before the next deal remains to be seen.
Erika Kirk reflects on life, loss and faith in first TV interview since Charlie Kirk’s death
PROGRAMMING ALERT: Watch the full interview TONIGHT at 8 p.m. ET on "Jesse Watters Primetime."
Turning Point USA CEO Erika Kirk opened up to Fox News’ Jesse Watters in her first TV interview since her husband's assassination, sharing what life has been like in the wake of tragedy and why she refuses to live in fear.
"It's a fearlessness that's rooted in the understanding that I will have my day and my time, whenever that is, when the Lord knows that I have completed my mission, and I'm not afraid," she said when asked about fears for her safety.
"Charlie wasn't afraid, either. We never lived in fear. If we did, we wouldn't get anything done."
Kirk, who was thrust into the spotlight after her husband's assassination on Sept. 10, spoke about life at home with her young daughter and the conversations they’ve shared since the traumatic day.
Such moments, she said, continue to bring difficult questions.
"My daughter continues to ask [where Charlie is]… and I said, ‘If ever you want to talk to Daddy, you just look up to the sky and start talking. He can hear you.'" Kirk said.
"And I told her, I said, ‘Daddy is in heaven.’ She goes, ‘Do you think I could go sometime?’ I said ‘Baby, we will all go one day. We will all go one day.’"
Kirk also addressed other matters that have weighed on her, including public scrutiny, the trial ahead for her husband’s accused killer, and her response to Jimmy Kimmel’s insinuation that the alleged assassin was part of the "MAGA gang" while mocking former President Trump’s reaction to the murder.
"[Sinclair Broadcasting] asked, ‘Do you want Jimmy to give you an apology? Do you want to be on a show? How can we make it right?’" she told Watters.
"Through our team, I responded, ‘Tell them thank you, we received their note. This is not our issue, not our mess…. If you want to say I'm sorry to someone who's grieving, go right ahead. But if that's not in your heart, don't do it. I don't want it. I don't need it.'"
Kirk is also urging a judge to keep news cameras in the courtroom for the trial of her husband’s accused killer, Tyler Robinson.
In an excerpt from her discussion with Watters, Kirk said that cameras were present during her husband’s murder and have followed her and her family ever since.
For that reason, she argued, the public should also be allowed to see what happens inside the courtroom.
"We deserve to have cameras in there. Why not be transparent?" she asked.
"There's nothing to hide. I know there's not because I've seen what the case is built on. Let everyone see what true evil is. This is something that could impact a generation and generations to come."
Kirk is slated to receive the first-ever Charlie Kirk Legacy Award at the seventh annual Fox Nation Patriot Awards at The Tilles Center for the Performing Arts in Brookville, New York on Thursday.
Fox News viewers can catch Kirk's full emotional tell-all interview with Watters on Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET on "Jesse Watters Primetime."
Fox News' Michael Ruiz contributed to this report.
Colorado college student vows to fight back after student board blocks TPUSA chapter
A Colorado college student said he’s fighting back after his school’s student government blocked his effort to start a Turning Point USA (TPUSA) chapter — a move he calls an attack on free expression.
"I mean, we have a lot of people that are in the background that are saying they would love to sponsor us to do a lawsuit, but I'm trying to do it sort of the Christian way and go little by little, like go up the chain," said Flynn, a senior at Fort Lewis College.
Flynn stood before the Associated Students of Fort Lewis College board as it voted against establishing a TPUSA chapter in front of a crowded room last week. The board held a meeting to discuss Flynn’s proposal to launch a chapter. According to the Durango Herald, the four-hour meeting was "filled wall-to-wall with students and community members."
"[M]ore than 30 students spoke in opposition to the measure. Around 15 additional attendees hoping to speak against the measure were unable to address the room due to time constraints," the Herald reported.
NEWLY LAUNCHED TPUSA CHAPTER CAUSES UPROAR AT MICHIGAN HIGH SCHOOL BEFORE FIRST MEETING
After a public comment session and Flynn pleading his case to launch the chapter, arguing the importance of debate and "keeping the conversation going," his efforts were unsuccessful.
The seven elected senators on the board blocked the chapter.
"Many of our morals and interests must be pushed to the side," said Asa Worthington, the student body president of the Associated Students of Fort Lewis College. "The safety of our student body and the FLC community has always been and always will be ASFLC’s top priority."
Critics alleged that Flynn’s plan mirrored TPUSA’s national "professor watchlist," which has faced backlash. The Herald reported that only three people supported Flynn’s proposal to start a chapter.
Flynn told Fox News Digital that he will not give up and plans to file an appeal with the Student Court.
The benefits of registering the TPUSA chapter on FLC’s campus is that organizers have access to the school’s facilities for events. Flynn hopes to host a larger event than the one he held before through TPUSA. The event, "Debate a Conservative," was touted as a success.
TURNING POINT USA CHAPTER DENIED OFFICIAL STATUS BY LOYOLA UNIVERSITY NEW ORLEANS STUDENT GOVERNMENT
Kirk’s debating style inspired Flynn to start a Turning Point USA chapter. His campus is located in La Plata County, which went heavily for Kamala Harris in 2024.
Kirk was assassinated on Sept. 10 while speaking at Utah Valley University, which has sparked a huge interest across the country to start new TPUSA chapters in high schools and colleges.
"I was really upset by what happened to Charlie. I was just sort of mourning and emotional and upset about it. Then I decided that what we need to do is not sort of back down," Flynn said.
He expected backlash when starting a chapter, but not to the extent of what occurred.
On Oct. 17, a petition which was launched by the Fort Lewis College community garnered over 400 signatures, arguing that TPUSA "has engaged in actions that directly harm our community."
"At a college where many students identify as Indigenous, students of color, LGBTQ+, or from other underrepresented backgrounds, this harm cannot be ignored," the petition reads. "We are calling on Fort Lewis College to take action that prioritizes student safety and well-being by refusing to recognize the TPUSA chapter as an RSO."
Shortly after the chapter was denied, a counter-petition launched backing TPUSA, garnering over 1,000 signatures so far.
"We, therefore, call upon the administration of Fort Lewis College to reverse the decision reached by the ASFLC and approve TPUSA's application for RSO status," the petition reads.
Flynn was disappointed at the outcome of the chapter being denied.
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"I was quite ashamed of them, actually," Flynn told Fox News Digital.
He still feels hopeful that the chapter will be approved at the college. He argued further that the denial of the TPUSA chapter was a clear violation of the U.S. Constitution and the school’s student body constitution as well.
"I think it's very likely to happen. I think even though there were a lot of people that didn't want the club to go through, I think in the wake of it, people realized no matter how much you hate the club, that was actually a violation of people's rights," Flynn added.
Fort Lewis College officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
SCOOP: House Republicans link Mayor-elect Mamdani to vulnerable congressional Democrats
FIRST ON FOX: The House GOP's campaign arm is wasting no time in linking New York City's democratic socialist mayor-elect to congressional Democrats facing challenging re-elections in next year's midterm elections.
Hours after Zohran Mamdani's election victory in New York City's mayoral election, the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) on Wednesday launched a digital ad spotlighting him, which is running in nearly 50 competitive House districts.
"A radical left earthquake just hit America. The epicenter: New York," says the narrator in the NRCC spot, which was shared first with Fox News Digital.
The narrator argues that "the new socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani built his movement on defunding the police and abolishing ICE. Now the socialists are celebrating. They call it progress. We call it chaos. Bureaucrats instead of doctors. Social workers instead of cops."
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"This is the future House Democrats want, and your city could be next. Stop socialism. Stop Democrats," concludes the narrator, under pictures of Mamdani and House Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York.
Jeffries, the top Democrat in the chamber, endorsed Mamdani last week, nearly four months after Mamdani sent political shockwaves across the nation with his convincing win over former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and nine other candidates to capture the Democratic Party's mayoral nomination.
THE LATEST FOX NEWS REPORTING ON THE NEW YORK CITY MAYORAL ELECTION IS RIGHT HERE
Since Mamdani's primary victory, Republicans have repeatedly aimed to make the now-34-year-old Ugandan-born state lawmaker from New York City the new face of the Democratic Party, as they work to characterize Democrats as far-left socialists.
Mamdani defeated Cuomo and two-time Republican mayoral nominee Curtis Sliwa in Tuesday's election, making history as the first Muslim and first millennial mayor of the nation's most populous city.
He was heavily criticized by Republicans and some Democrats for his far-left proposals to eliminate fares to ride New York City's vast bus system, make CUNY (City University of New York) "tuition-free," freeze rents on municipal housing, offer "free childcare" for children up to age 5 and set up government-run grocery stores.
Mamdani also took incoming political fire over his verbal attacks on Israel, his past critical comments about the New York City Police Department (NYPD), and his proposal to shift certain responsibilities away from the NYPD and focus on social services and community-based programs.
The digital spot, which is backed by a modest ad buy, will run in 29 Democrat-controlled House districts being targeted by the NRCC.
The lawmakers in the districts are Josh Harder (CA-09), Adam Gray (CA-13), George Whitesides (CA-27), Derek Tran (CA-45), Dave Min (CA-47), Darren Soto (FL-09), Jared Moskowitz (FL-23), Frank Mrvan (IN-01), Jared Golden (ME-02), Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-08), Don Davis (NC-01), OPEN (NH-01), Nellie Pou (NJ-09), Gabe Vasquez (NM-02), Dina Titus (NV-01), Susie Lee (NV-03), Steven Horsford (NV-04), Tom Suozzi (NY-03), Laura Gillen (NY-04), Josh Riley (NY-19), Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Emilia Sykes (OH-13), OPEN (TX-09), Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Julie Johnson (TX-32), Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34), OPEN (TX-35), Eugene Vindman (VA-07), and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03).
The ads will also run digitally in 20 Republican-controlled House districts the NRCC expects to be in play in the midterms.
The lawmakers in those districts are Reps. Nick Begich (AK-AL), OPEN (AZ-01), Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06), David Valadao (CA-22), Young Kim (CA-40), Ken Calvert (CA-41), Gabe Evans (CO-08), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01), Zach Nunn (IA-03), Tom Barrett (MI-07), OPEN (MI-10), OPEN (NE-02), Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07), Mike Lawler (NY-07), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Ryan Mackenzie (PA-07), Rob Bresnahan (PA-08), Scott Perry (PA-10), Scott Perry, (PA-10), Jen Kiggans (VA-02), and Derrick Van Orden (WI-03).
At full strength, the Republicans hold a 220-215 majority in the House. Democrats need to pick up just three seats to win back the majority.