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NYC Board of Elections worker says 'not my job to report anyone' when asked about registering non-citizens
A New York City Board of Elections worker said it is not his job to report anyone when asked about processing registrations for non-citizens, hidden video footage shows.
According to undercover video captured by Muckraker, in which its reporter attempted to pose as a non-citizen, a worker said he would process applications for non-citizens.
"Once in a while … we have people come in here … and they register, they weren't a citizen," the worker told the reporter.
When the reporter claimed to the worker that he was a green card holder from Canada, he was told he needed to be a citizen.
"I wouldn't fill it out," the worker said. "You gotta be a citizen to fill it out."
"We can't stop you from submitting the application," he added, warning that people have had "legal situations" in which non-citizens attempted to register.
When the reporter responded that he really wanted to register, the worker again said it was up to him if he wanted to fill out an application.
ELECTION INTEGRITY GROUPS PRESS SUPREME COURT TO REQUIRE BALLOTS BY ELECTION DAY
"I can't tell you what to do. If you want to fill it out, fill it out. But everything is clearly stated, especially at the bottom. It says American citizen. So I'm letting you know, if you fill that out, and you're not [a citizen]. If it comes back to you, it comes back to you. If it doesn't, it doesn't," the worker said, appearing to warn the reporter again of legal consequences.
"But we accept anything that comes over the counter," he continued.
Asked if he would report him if he submitted an application, the worker said he would not report anyone.
"That's not my job to report anyone," he said. "My job is just to collect the application and submit it to the department."
In New York, it is illegal for non-citizens to register to vote. A previous measure that aimed to allow non-citizens to vote in local municipal elections in New York City was ruled last year to be unconstitutional.
Jimmy Kimmel to host Los Angeles fundraiser for House Democrats: report
Late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel will reportedly headline an upcoming fundraiser to benefit House Democrats.
According to New York Times reporter Teddy Schleifer, Kimmel will be the special guest for a Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee benefit dinner next month.
Schleifer shared an invitation for the event on Tuesday, revealing that it will take place in Los Angeles on Mar. 10 and also feature House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Ticket prices range from $25,000 to over $300,000.
JIMMY KIMMEL TELLS AUDIENCE THAT 'I MIGHT NEED YOUR HELP AGAIN' AMID NEW FCC ANNOUNCEMENT
According to Politico, two people "familiar with the fundraiser who were granted anonymity to discuss the details" confirmed the event.
Fox News Digital reached out to the DCCC and Kimmel's representative for comment.
Kimmel has been a longtime supporter of the Democratic Party and has taken part in fundraiser events to support Democratic candidates.
JIMMY KIMMEL'S LATE-NIGHT EVOLUTION FROM APOLITICAL FUNNYMAN TO DEM ACTIVIST
In June 2024, Kimmel led a similar Los Angeles event to raise money for then-President Joe Biden's re-election campaign. Celebrity guests included George Clooney, Julia Roberts and former President Barack Obama, and the event reportedly raised over $30 million.
The event later went viral after a clip showed what appeared to be Obama guiding Biden off a stage. Biden dropped out of the 2024 presidential race one month later.
Kimmel continued to raise funds for Democrats, lending his name and endorsement to former Vice President Kamala Harris' presidential campaign.
FCC CHAIR HAS NO REGRETS OVER THE DRAMATIC JIMMY KIMMEL SAGA LAST YEAR
"Sorry to break your cold little heart, Donald, but I endorse Kamala Harris for president. I've had the privilege of interviewing our Vice President several times. She is a kind, brilliant and delightful person who cares very much about our country," a fundraising email obtained by Fox News Digital read.
Kimmel also campaigned for Nevada Sen. Jacky Rosen during a Las Vegas event in 2024.
Gun store owner says FBI asked him to check firearm sales against list of names, pics in Guthrie case
TUCSON, Ariz. - An Arizona gun store owner says an FBI agent asked him to review recent firearm purchases tied to a list of nearly two dozen people, as the search for Nancy Guthrie continues into a third week.
Phillip Martin, co-owner of Armor Bearer Arms in Tucson, told Fox News’ Amalia Roy that an FBI agent visited his store with three pages of approximately 18 to 24 individuals with corresponding photos and names.
The agent, Martin said, asked to check whether any of those people had purchased a firearm from his store within the past year.
"He actually had given me a list of paper, list of people that had pictures and names on it, and he wanted to know if I could help him pull up in my system if any of these people have purchased a gun in the last year," Martin said.
ADVANCED VIDEO EQUIPMENT SEEN AT NANCY GUTHRIE HOME AS EXPERTS BREAK DOWN ITS POSSIBLE ROLE
Martin said he initially questioned the request but ultimately agreed to help out of concern for Guthrie’s family.
"I felt bad for the family. Anything that could help them find the person I was willing to help," he said.
Martin said he entered each last name into his store’s electronic records system, which would display identifying information if the individual had made a purchase. He said none of the names returned a match for firearm purchases within the past year.
According to Martin, the agent told him investigators planned to visit additional gun stores to determine whether anyone on the list had recently bought a weapon.
A $10 WALMART GUN HOLSTER COULD HELP IDENTIFY SUSPECT IN NANCY GUTHRIE CASE
On Tuesday, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos disputed reports that authorities have narrowed the suspect pool to a few dozen individuals. During an interview with Fox News’ Jonathan Hunt, Nanos denied that investigators had focused on a specific group.
"That’s not true," Nanos said when asked whether authorities had identified around 40 people as potential suspects.
"We haven’t narrowed it down to anything other than we have pieces of evidence that we’re looking at to try to find this individual," Nanos said.
FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON X
Jan. 31, 2026
• Between 9:30–9:45 p.m. – Family drops Nancy off at home
SIGN UP TO GET TRUE CRIME NEWSLETTER
• 9:50 p.m. – Garage door closes (per authorities)
Feb. 1, 2026
• 1:47 a.m. – Doorbell camera disconnects
• 2:12 a.m. – Security camera detects motion
LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? FIND MORE ON THE TRUE CRIME HUB
• 2:28 a.m. – Pacemaker disconnects from phone application
• 11:56 a.m. – Family checks on Nancy after she misses weekly church livestream gathering
• 12:03 p.m. — 911 called
• 12:15 p.m. — Sheriff’s deputies arrive at home
Fox News Digital's Greg Wehner contributed to this report.
Ethan Hawke warns against looking to 'jet-lagged, drunk' actors for political wisdom
Actor Ethan Hawke took multiple political questions from an audience at a film festival on Tuesday, but warned that people should not put too much stock in the advice of "jet-lagged, drunk artists."
During the press conference for his new historical drama "The Weight," the Oscar-nominated actor received a question from German news outlet "Jung and Naiv." A journalist from the local outlet asked him for his opinion on the role of artists to use their voices amid the rise of "fascism" in Europe and America.
"Alright…" Hawke began, sounding somewhat put off by the question.
"The last place you probably want to look for advice in your spiritual council is a bunch of jet-lagged, drunk artists talking about their film," the actor said, sparking laughter from the audience. "That said, I love the movies and I believe in the power of cinema to affect - they're kind of like, you know, how every night we all dream and these those dreams kind of heal us and get us ready for the next day. In a lot of ways, I feel like, collectively, the whole festival, all of you, all of us here are responsible for creating an international dream life."
JON STEWART DISMISSES CALL TO RUN FOR OFFICE, WARNS NOT TO TRUST TV STARS AS POLITICAL LEADERS
Hawke then pivoted to praise the film he worked on as one where a group of people who don’t have anything in common set their differences aside to combat "institutional greed and malevolence."
He then concluded that, ultimately, "Anything that fights fascism, I’m all for.
Hawke took another question from the audience, who noted the recent open letter from many celebrities asking the festival to take a stance on the war in Gaza and wondered "how you feel about Palestinian voices, artists being criticized or silenced as there is an ongoing genocide."
"I have no context for that question," Hawke said, noting he doesn’t know about the names who signed the open letter.
BILL MAHER SAYS DEMS NEED TO TELL CELEBRITIES TO 'SHUT THE F--- UP,' HOLLYWOOD IS HOLDING PARTY BACK
"The last time I spoke publicly about any of this, I was really shocked at how much animosity it was met with and of people saying things like, ‘Actors shouldn't talk about politics’ or things like that. And I really feel like the answer is the absolute inverse is that everybody should be. We're all citizens of the world, and all of us matter, and all of us have a voice, and everybody's welcome to disagree."
He continued, "That's part of the benefits of living in a free society. And yeah, we get microphones thrown in front of our face. But that's not because we're telling anybody what to do. We're just citizens sharing our opinion. And you're willing to make of it what you will. We're not — some of the greatest minds in the world have tried to make the planet live in peace, and it seems to be very difficult for humanity.’
He later concluded, "I feel like there's a slight agenda to your question that is different than my agenda, but I respect you and I respect the question."
Former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom calls Eileen Gu 'a traitor' for representing China at Olympics
Former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom condemned the American-born Team China Olympic skier Eileen Gu during an interview on Fox News' "Ingraham Angle" on Tuesday.
"I'm just going to say it, she's a traitor," Freedom said. "She was born in America. She was raised in America, lives in America, and chooses to compete against her own country for, literally, the worst human rights abuser on the planet, China. She built her fame in a free country, and then chooses to represent an authoritarian regime."
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Gu has never spoken out publicly against China's alleged human rights abuses, including the nation's alleged systematic campaign of repression against Uyghurs and other predominantly Muslim ethnic minorities in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, or the jailing of politician Jimmy Lai.
"She chose to play for a country that is literally responsible for the deaths of tens of millions of its own people, and literally running a concentration camp while we're talking," Freedom said, comparing Gu's silence on the issue to LeBron James' declining a question about China's alleged human rights abuses in 2019.
"It's like a play," he said. "Whenever the human rights issues are raised about China, they all stop talking about it."
Gu is the highest-paid Winter Olympic athlete in the world, making an estimated $23 million in 2025 alone amid partnerships with Chinese companies, including the Bank of China, and western companies. Gu has said she represents China for her mother, who was born there.
CONTROVERSIAL SKIER EILEEN GU SETTLES FOR SILVER AFTER DEFENDING GOLD MEDAL BID FALLS SHORT IN MILAN
The Wall Street Journal reported last week that Gu and Zhu Yi, a fellow American-born figure skater who now competes for China, were paid a combined $6.6 million by the Beijing Municipal Sports Bureau in 2025 for "striving for excellent results in qualifying for the 2026 Milan Winter Olympics." In all, the two were reportedly paid nearly $14 million over the past three years.
Gu has been the subject of global criticism since her decision to represent China dating back to the original decision in 2019, and her first Winter Olympics in Beijing in 2022. This year, that criticism has ramped up, as she has won two silver medals and even responded to a question about President Donald Trump criticizing U.S. Olympian Hunter Hess for being critical of the current state of America.
"I’m sorry that the headline that is eclipsing the Olympics has to be something so unrelated to the spirit of the Games. It really runs contrary to everything the Olympics should be," Gu told reporters Monday.
"The whole point of sport is to bring people together. … One of the very few common languages, that of the human body, that of the human spirit, the competitive spirit, the capacity to break not only records, but especially in our sport, literally the human limit. How wonderful is that?"
Gu also claimed she had been "caught in the crossfire" herself.
"As someone who has got caught in the crossfire before, I feel sorry for the athletes," Gu said. "I hope that they can ski to their very best."
Vice President JD Vance weighed in on the controversy surrounding Gu in a Tuesday interview on Fox News' "The Story With Martha MacCallum."
"I have no idea what her status should be, I think that's ultimately up to the Olympics Committee, I won't pretend to wade into that," Vance said.
"I certainly think that someone who grew up in the United States of America who benefited from our education system, from the freedoms and liberties that makes this country a great place, I would hope they want to compete with the United States of America. So, I'm going to root for American athletes, I think part of that is people who identify themselves as Americans. That's who I'm rooting for in this Olympics."
Gu has won two silver medals in freestyle skiing in Milan Cortina, in the slopestyle and big air events. She has one final event, the halfpipe, remaining on Saturday, where she has the opportunity to add to her total.
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Mike Lee calls Schumer's 'Jim Crow 2.0' attack on voter ID bill 'paranoid fantasy'
Senate Democrats have panned the GOP’s push for voter ID legislation as akin to segregationist laws from the Deep South, but the architect of the bill in the Senate says their arguments are detached from reality.
"It's paranoid fantasy," Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, told Fox News Digital. "These are absurd arguments. They should be ashamed to make them."
Lee was responding to comments from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., who has doubled down on his claim that the Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act is "Jim Crow 2.0."
The bill, which passed the House last week and has been introduced and championed by Lee in the Senate, would require photo ID to vote in federal elections, proof of citizenship to register and would mandate that states keep voter rolls clear of ineligible voters.
Schumer and his caucus plan to block the bill, arguing that it is a tool of voter suppression that would disproportionately harm poorer Americans and minority groups.
But Lee argued that providing identification or proof of citizenship is routine in everyday life — whether undergoing a background check to buy a firearm or filling out tax forms when starting a new job.
COLLINS BOOSTS REPUBLICAN VOTER ID EFFORT, BUT WON’T SCRAP FILIBUSTER
"By their logic, it's Jim Crow to require somebody to establish citizenship before taking a job with a new employer, and that's insane," Lee said.
"And so then they argue here, well, voting is so fundamental, and we have constitutional protections protecting our right to vote," he continued. "Well, we've got constitutional protections protecting our right to bear arms, and yet that doesn't cause us to dispense with proving who you are and your eligibility to buy a gun. This has just been insane."
Without Democratic support, however, the pathway to sending the legislation to President Donald Trump’s desk is complicated.
GOP REACHES KEY 50-VOTE THRESHOLD FOR TRUMP-BACKED VOTER ID BILL AS SENATE FIGHT LOOMS
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., has vowed to bring the SAVE America Act to the floor, and Republicans have the votes to move it through its first key procedural hurdle. From there, Democrats can block it with the 60-vote filibuster, which Lee often refers to as the "zombie" filibuster.
Eliminating the filibuster is out of the question for several of Lee’s colleagues, but Republicans are warming to reinstating a talking, or standing, filibuster, which would require Senate Democrats to make their case against the bill on the floor over hours of debate.
Trump has already suggested he would issue an executive order if the legislation fails, which Lee declined to speculate on without first knowing what exactly would be done.
But he noted that it was all the more reason to pass the SAVE America Act, given the ever-swinging political pendulum in Washington, D.C.
"It's still really critically important that we pass this law, because let's assume that he issued such an order, and that it does most or all of what we needed to do here, that gives us protection for the moment, to whatever degree he's able to do that through an executive action," Lee said. "But we need something that can last longer than he's in office."
Major Trump critic has 'not dismissed' another presidential run ahead of 2028 election
Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., revealed he has not dismissed a potential run for president in 2028.
Booker, who is seeking re-election this year, was asked by Jaime Harrison on his podcast Tuesday about whether he would launch another presidential campaign, considering 2028 was "right around the corner."
"I know the folks in Jersey would love to have a president who's from New Jersey," Harrison said.
JOSH SHAPIRO SAYS TRUMP WARNED HIM 'DON'T RUN' FOR PRESIDENT AFTER ARSON ATTACK
"They'd love to have Bruce Springsteen play at the inauguration," Booker joked.
He added, "I am telling you right now, I don't... I'm not even coy about these things. I'm running for reelection. I have not dismissed the idea of running for president again in '28."
Fox News Digital reached out to Booker's office for comment.
DEMOCRATIC HEAVYWEIGHTS HARRIS, NEWSOM TURN HEADS, FUEL 2028 SPECULATION
Booker previously ran for president during the 2020 election but suspended his campaign in Jan. 2020 before the Iowa caucuses.
Booker has garnered national attention through his vocal opposition to President Donald Trump.
In 2025, Booker broke the record for the longest speech on the Senate floor after speaking for 25 hours against the Trump administration and the Republican Party.
AOC, OTHER 2028 DEMOCRATIC HOPEFULS CALLED OUT FOR 'SLIMING' AMERICA DURING MUNICH CONFERENCE
"In just 71 days, the President of the United States has inflicted so much harm on Americans' safety, financial stability, the core foundations of our democracy, and even our aspirations as a people for, from our highest offices, a sense of common decency," Booker opened his speech.
Booker's comments on Harrison's podcast came after Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., told the BBC Monday night that he was also "seriously" considering a presidential run in 2028.
"I have people talk to me about it all the time, but we have an election in 2026 that I'm really worried about. We've got to get through that first. I will make a decision," Kelly said.
Palestinian activist accused of expressing desire to 'kill Jews' wins deportation case
A Palestinian activist accused of making antisemitic statements and leading anti-Israel protests at Columbia University will not be deported from the U.S., an immigration judge has ruled, according to reports.
Judge Nina Froes determined on Feb. 13 that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) did not provide sufficient admissible evidence to establish that Mohsen Mahdawi was removable, Reuters reported.
Froes said DHS relied in part on a memorandum purportedly signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio but failed to authenticate the document.
As a result, the government was unable to "meet its burden of proving removability," according to Reuters.
FEDERAL JUDGE LAUNCHES SCATHING BROADSIDE OF TRUMP'S EFFORTS TO DEPORT PRO-PALESTINIAN PROTESTERS
Mahdawi’s attorneys shared the decision Tuesday in a filing with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in New York, which has been reviewing a prior ruling that led to his release from immigration custody in April 2025.
Mahdawi, 34, had been detained at that point during a citizenship appointment in Vermont and spent more than two weeks in custody. He was later released on bail after filing a habeas petition.
A federal judge ordered that he not be deported or removed from the state and was released under an order issued by U.S. District Judge Geoffrey Crawford in Burlington.
According to the 2025 court filing, Mahdawi co-founded the Palestinian Student Union at Columbia after the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attack. He founded the group with Mahmoud Khalil.
Mahdawi's deportation case also stems in part from allegations dating back to 2015, when he was interviewed by the FBI after reportedly making antisemitic remarks at a Vermont gun store and a firearms museum.
FEDERAL JUDGE AGAIN BLOCKS DEPORTATION OF ANTI-ISRAEL COLUMBIA PROTESTER
According to court documents previously cited by Fox News Digital, the store owner said Mahdawi expressed interest in purchasing firearms, including a sniper rifle and an automatic weapon.
The owner claimed he had experience building modified 9mm submachine guns "to kill Jews while he was in Palestine."
The owner also alleged that Mahdawi stated at a museum in Windsor, "I like to kill Jews." Mahdawi has denied making antisemitic comments or expressing violent intent.
At the time, Department of Homeland Security spokesperson, Trish McLaughlin said in a statement, "As the media works overtime to glorify a ringleader of the Columbia pro-terrorist riots, court documents show Mahdawi allegedly told a gun shop owner that he had considerable firearms experience and he ‘used to kill Jews'."
Mahdawi's defense team has said federal agents conducted a thorough investigation and found "no evidence" supporting the allegations.
In a statement Tuesday, Mahdawi said he was grateful for the court’s ruling.
"I am grateful to the court for honoring the rule of law and holding the line against the government’s attempts to trample on due process," he said.
"This decision is an important step towards upholding what fear tried to destroy: the right to speak for peace and justice. Nearly a year ago, I was detained at my citizenship interview not for breaking the law but for speaking against the genocide of Palestinians," Mahdawi added.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Department of Homeland Security for comment.
Air Force One scraps iconic Kennedy-era paint scheme for Trump-approved red, white, blue design
The U.S. Air Force is repainting Air Force One and other aircraft in the presidential and executive fleet in President Donald Trump’s preferred red, white and dark blue color palette — replacing the iconic light blue and white design that has defined the aircraft for more than six decades, an Air Force spokesperson confirmed to Fox News.
The updated design will also feature a gold stripe, adding a fourth color to the new look. The scheme will appear on aircraft across the executive airlift fleet, including a donated Qatari 747-8i and the two Boeing VC-25B jets currently being converted to serve as the next generation of Air Force One.
An Air Force spokesperson told Fox News the redesign is now an official requirement across the presidential and executive fleet.
"The Air Force is implementing a new paint scheme requirement (red, white and dark blue) for VC-25B as well as the additional executive airlift fleet, which will include the new 747-8i and four C-32 aircraft," the spokesperson said in a statement to Fox News.
AIR FORCE ONE TURNS AROUND SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF FOR TRUMP'S TRIP TO SWITZERLAND
"The C-32s will be painted during regularly scheduled maintenance. The first C-32 has been painted and is expected to be delivered to the Air Force in the next few months."
"We're painting it red, white and blue like the American flag, which is incredible," President Trump told Fox News' Sean Hannity during an exclusive interview last summer.
CBS News first reported that aircraft in the presidential and VIP fleet were being repainted in dark navy blue, deep red and gold as they undergo scheduled repairs and maintenance. Sources told CBS the change applies not only to Air Force One jets but also to other aircraft used for executive transport.
AIR FORCE ONE GLITCH REVIVES REPLACEMENT PUSH AS WHITE HOUSE SAYS IT 'PROVES TRUMP WAS RIGHT AGAIN'
For more than six decades, the familiar robin’s egg blue and white exterior has served as a global symbol of the American presidency. The color scheme dates back to the early 1960s, when it was introduced during President John F. Kennedy’s administration and became one of the most recognizable aviation designs in the world.
During his first term, Trump unveiled a model aircraft reflecting his preferred red, white and blue palette. That version of the design was later canceled for the VC-25B program during the Biden administration.
Trump’s own Boeing 757, commonly known as "Trump Force One," carries a dark navy body with a prominent red stripe, a distinct look that closely resembles the palette now being implemented across the executive fleet.
The updated paint requirement applies to multiple aircraft types across the executive fleet, including the two Boeing VC-25B aircraft under development, the newly donated 747-8i from Qatar, and four C-32 aircraft used for executive transport.
INSIDE THE LAST BOEING 707 TO SERVE AS AIR FORCE ONE: SEE REAGAN’S JET THAT MARKED THE END OF AN ERA
The C-32 aircraft carry high-priority personnel such as the first lady and cabinet officials and serve as Air Force Two when the vice president is aboard. Contractor L3Harris has been upgrading those aircraft at its facility in Greenville, Texas, according to CBS.
The change represents the first major redesign of presidential aircraft since the Kennedy era. The shift to darker navy tones, bold red accents and a gold stripe marks a sharp departure from the long-standing design of planes that serve as airborne symbols of the presidency.
The first C-32 aircraft has already been repainted and is expected to be delivered to the Air Force in the coming months, the spokesperson said.
Meanwhile, the 747-8i donated by Qatar which is currently undergoing refurbishment, is expected to be ready for presidential use no later than this summer, CBS reported.
Boeing signed its contract to build the next generation of Air Force One aircraft in 2018 and continues work on the program.
The repainting effort implements the Trump administration’s preferred presidential aircraft design as the new fleet moves closer to operational readiness.
The White House referred Fox News Digital to the U.S. Air Force upon request for further comment.
Inside world's top science society's convention bashing Trump, pushing DEI, pronouns: 'Felt like a funeral'
FIRST ON FOX: One of the world’s largest and most influential scientific societies held its annual conference last weekend, which a Fox News Digital review found was littered with examples of progressive messaging, criticisms of the Trump administration, and "woke" workshops.
Attendees who showed up at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) event, held at the Phoenix Convention Center from Feb. 12-14, were immediately greeted at registration with identifier stickers that used gender pronouns such as "they/them," "xi/xer," "xe/xem," and other descriptors that critics have alleged have little to do with science and biology.
During the meeting’s opening night, shortly after a 10-minute hoop dance routine from traditional Native American dancers, AAAS CEO Dr. Sudip Parikh told the audience that it’s been a "hard" and "tough year for science and scientists in this country."
Parikh went on to blame DOGE for the "devastation" of "some of our science agencies" and the "president’s budget request" that "cut science by half" and, in his opinion, amounted to "forfeiting the future."
DOCTORS ON KEY US HEALTH TASK FORCE ACCUSED OF PRIORITIZING DEI OVER EVIDENCE-BASED MEDICINE
"What happened over the course of the last year is a rupture. We’re not going back, it’s not possible, too much damage has been done, too much has changed. There’s an entire generation of scientists that have a scar, a scar that is not going to go away," Parikh explained, adding that scars can "make us tougher" and "become almost shields" that "build resilience."
Parikh told the crowd that he warned last year that Robert F. Kennedy Jr was the "wrong person" for Health and Human Services secretary and said, "I still feel that way," which prompted laughter and applause from the crowd.
"It’s going to take protests, it’s going to take politics, it’s going to take the ability to not speak gibberish, all of that has got to come together if we’re going to fight for the inheritance of the enlightenment to continue to make this world a better place," Parikh said.
Workshops at the event, which provided gender-neutral washrooms, included a session titled "Mao-Mei Liu: Nurturing Diversity in Science is Resistance," and another called "Investigating the Role of Race in Clinical Decision-Making."
"Who Gets to Belong? Disability, Power, and Participation in Higher Education," another workshop was called.
Dr. Theresa A. Maldonado, a world-renowned expert in electrical engineering, delivered the president’s address at the conference and also lamented what a difficult year 2025 was for science and suggested climate change was responsible for the devastating southern California wildfires last year.
AAAS, the publisher of the highly respected Science magazine, posted several more videos over the course of the next few days, many including speakers who criticized the Trump administration and injected politics into discussions.
"Colonial Legacies, Climate Crises, and the Erosion of Mobility Choice" was another workshop that scientists at the conference were offered and in an interview with "climate justice scholar" Jola Ajibade, she explained how climate change has benefited a "few wealthy people" while "low-income communities are displaced."
"At the center of my work is giving a voice but also bringing to the attention of everyone the impact of a slew of climate solutions, the impact of those solutions on low-income communities, on Black communities, on indigenous, on Latino communities as well," Ajibade explained, adding that she is focused on finding a "decolonial" approach.
Listed sponsors of the event included the Science Philanthropy Alliance, a group tied to the progressive consulting behemoth Arabella Advisors through the New Venture Fund, a nonprofit that pushes a variety of progressive causes.
"The whole thing that is sad for me is that when I attended these conferences in the first Trump administration there was plenty of liberal nonsense, but it still was a celebration of science and the achievements of the year, and you left excited," an event attendee told Fox News Digital.
"This year felt like a funeral, with nothing but griping and moaning. Why would people want to keep coming back year after year with something like that? I suspect that is why their attendance greatly suffered this year compared to the pre-COVID years. Their constant pleas to keep politics out of science are completely undercut by their perpetual whining and endorsing utter craziness. They’re happy for science to be political, as long as it’s leftist."
Additionally, as lawmakers in the United States continue to warn about the growing threat posed by China and what they believe is the CCP’s infiltration of top institutions in the United States — particularly in the medical and science fields — the AAAS conference opted to allow the Beijing-based research institute Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) to operate a booth at the event.
The state-run Chinese academy, which has faced controversy over its ties to China’s government and military, has collaborated with a Chinese medical technology firm linked to a 2013 U.S. bribery case involving NIH-funded research. The company has also installed equipment in leading American research labs.
"The AAAS says that their organization wants to ‘inspire’ future scientists and engineers, but session topics and material from their meeting actually discourage participants from relying on their effort and merit and turns the focus to race and ethnicity," Johnathan Butcher, acting director of the Center for Education Policy at the Heritage Foundation, told Fox News Digital.
"These are the very same kind of racist ideas inspired by DEI that have been prohibited in universities, state governments, and the federal government, because the ideas violate state and federal civil rights laws," Butcher added. "Policymakers should be aware of what this organization is doing and make sure the association is not promoting racial preferences in hiring, promotion or research awards in academia or anywhere else."
In a statement to Fox News Digital, an AAAS spokesperson said, "A broad spectrum of the scientific enterprise attends the meeting. The topics covered were wide-ranging across scientific disciplines and are proposed by scientists. AAAS respects their First Amendment right to free speech."