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Angel Reese takes on her old team and Queen Camilla puts the finishing touches on a library's Pooh collection
It’s Saturday, which means it’s time to get caught up on all of the news you may have missed this week with a little help from The Punch-Up!
And what a week it was…
We had Angel Reese taking on her former team, the president is doing whatever he can to save Spirit Airlines, and while the Royals were in town, Queen Camilla brought the final piece to complete a Pooh collection.
I know how that sounds.
There’s plenty more news where that came from, so let’s dig right on in…
Angel Reese and the Atlanta Dream took on her old team, the Chicago Sky, in a preseason game this week. Beforehand, Reese said there would be no bad blood, but there would be bad shooting.
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Queen Camilla brought a Winnie-the-Pooh stuffed toy with her to a New York City library to complete its collection. Normally, when a New York library has a "Pooh" collection, it’s because homeless guys are sleeping near the dictionaries.
Shannon Sharpe says he does not think Mike Vrabel did anything wrong professionally after news broke of his alleged affair with reporter Dianna Russini. That’s a big endorsement, because if there’s anyone whose judgment you can trust, it’s the guy who accidentally live-streamed himself having sex on Instagram.
ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!
ESPN named Caitlin Clark No. 10 on its list of the top 50 WNBA players. Even more shocking, someone was able to name 49 other WNBA players.
Monica Lewinsky said that a need for a feeling of specialness and validation led to bad decisions, like her relationship with President Bill Clinton. Of course, it’s hard to feel special when he’s interested in any woman not named "Hillary."
President Trump has given Spirit Airlines one final proposal as the struggling air carrier prepares to shut down. Spirit says they won’t go out of business without a fight, and that fight will likely happen at the gate or just before takeoff.
Got all of that?
Good. See you back here next week.
Dan Bongino reveals he fears ‘federal prison’ in chilling claim after year at the FBI
Former Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino issued a chilling warning, saying he lives in fear of "thugs" being sent to his home as retribution for his efforts to reform the FBI.
Speaking on an episode of the "Hang Out with Sean Hannity" podcast, Bongino said what he witnessed during his tenure inside the Bureau shocked him to the core and left him "terrified."
"I'm scared, man," Bongino told Hannity. "I know what I did. And I'm proud of my work. And I am proud of what me and Kash [Patel] accomplished in the past year." He added that he thinks every day "they’re going to come for me."
DAN BONGINO REVEALS HE FOUND 'MOTHER LODE' OF SECRET RUSSIAGATE FILES INSIDE FBI BURN BAGS
Bongino joined the FBI in March 2025 and left nearly a year later in January 2026. At the time of his appointment, he said his goal was to restore an agency that was "transparent, accountable, and committed to the rule of law." He now says his service has made him a target.
CIA WHISTLEBLOWER CLAIMS OBAMA-ERA ESPIONAGE CHARGES AGAINST HIM WERE A TEST RUN FOR TARGETING TRUMP
The former deputy director said he faced internal resistance, including what he described as "snakes" leaking sensitive information to the media. He said he uncovered what he described as a "mother lode" of "Russiagate" files, which he claims were found in FBI burn bags.
Bongino said his knowledge of the files makes him wary of the future. He told Hannity he fears political rivals will use lawfare to put him in "federal prison" as a means of silencing him. "It comes to my mind every day," he said. "I live like this the rest of my life because I know how they are."
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He said he brought in an outside attorney to ensure that everything he and Patel did was "by the book."
"It doesn’t matter, they'll rewrite the book just like they did for President Trump," Bongino said, referring to the charges brought against President Trump after he left the White House.
"After reading what I read about how many people did this to President Trump, this Russia hoax, collusion, ‘Crossfire Hurricane’ bulls---, and not a single person stopped them, I'm terrified."
He said he shared those fears with his wife, adding that he worries "they’re going to send some thugs to my house" if Republicans lose the next presidential election.
"I'm extremely concerned they are [going to] weaponize the justice system and start arresting people for jaywalking or mattress tag ripping," Bongino added. "It worries me every day. I'd be lying to you if I said otherwise."
Watch the full interview and subscribe to "Hang Out with Sean Hannity" on YouTube.
Democrats who rallied at ‘No Kings’ protests applaud King Charles in Congress
Democrats who rallied with liberal activists at nationwide "No Kings" protests just weeks ago were widely mocked for pivoting to offer the United Kingdom’s King Charles III a royal welcome in Congress and elsewhere.
Charles’ speech highlighted a contradiction between anti-monarchy rhetoric and public protests involving Democrats and the raucous welcome extended to the British monarch during his address to Congress.
Rep. Mike Collins, R-Ga., criticized Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., whom he said hypocritically cheered Charles several months after speaking at a "No Kings" protest in Savannah.
"Hold on a minute, wasn't this the same Jon Ossoff who was just out there a few weeks ago hooting and hollering about ‘No Kings’ at his rally… He'll shout ‘No Kings’ all day, but once the king comes around, man, he’s got him a front-row seat," the Jackson lawmaker said.
TIM ALLEN TROLLS ‘NO KINGS’ LAWMAKERS FOR FAWNING OVER ACTUAL KING CHARLES
"I was on my way to hear an actual King speak," Rep. Greg Steube, R-Fla., said in a statement after Charles’ address. "Funny how the ‘No Kings’ crowd is nowhere to be found. Guess the outrage depends on who’s talking?"
At a March 29 "No Kings" protest in Minnesota, Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minneapolis spoke at an event headlined by Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, telling the crowd that the U.S. pledges allegiance to the "Constitution, not a King."
The day prior, Rep. Don Beyer, D-Va., spoke to the press at a "No Kings" protest in his area, saying that the crowd was exercising its freedom of speech against Trump while titling the clip on his social media page "No Kings, not now, not ever."
Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., authored the "No Kings Act" in 2024 in rebuke of the Supreme Court’s ruling that presidents have absolute immunity from criminal prosecution stemming from actions taken under their constitutional authority while in office.
"‘No Kings’ protest leaders welcome KING CHARLES with a standing ovation; you can’t make this up," quipped former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, as press cutaway shots of Charles’ address to Congress showed multiple ‘No Kings’ Democrats like Beyer smiling or clapping.
'NO KINGS' CALLS ITSELF LEADERLESS BUT ITS OWN INTERNAL DOCUMENTS TELL A VERY DIFFERENT STORY
"Look who was elated to see the king – Ms. No Kings," quipped liberal pro-Israel actor Michael Rapaport, who included photos of a grinning Omar taking photographs of Charles on her phone.
Sen. Ashley Moody, R-Fla., also called out alleged hypocrisy from the royals’ trip:
"Why did I just watch every Democrat in Congress stand and clap for an actual King?" she said, featuring screenshots from Fox News Channel’s House chamber feed.
"‘No Kings’ crowd greets King Charles with a standing ovation," added right-wing X commentator "EndWokeness."
"Biggest bull**** artists of the century," added commentator Robby Starbuck.
Former Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli shared another clip from b-roll of Charles’ speech, characterizing Democrats’ position as "No Kings +/- 1."
Trump himself weighed in on the "No Kings" aspect during an interview with CBS’ Norah O’Donnell after she asked him about Hilton assassination suspect Cole Allen attending such a protest in California.
TRUMP REACTS TO 'NO KINGS' PROTESTS BY SAYING 'I'M NOT A KING, I WORK MY ASS OFF'
"No Kings, yeah... If I was a king, I wouldn't be dealing with you," Trump retorted.
After Charles departed for London, the Democrat representing former President George Washington’s longtime home lambasted Trump for what he characterized as a concession to the king.
Trump announced Friday he agreed to an apparent request from Charles to remove trade restrictions on whiskey to help Scotland work with Kentucky’s liquor businesses, as the former utilizes the latter’s used barrels.
"Now we're taking orders from the King of England," said Virginia Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, D-Mount Vernon.
"George Washington just rolled over."
Fox News Digital reached out to Beyer, Ossoff and Omar for comment.
Melania's White House beehive and gifts of honey strike sweet note during King Charles' royal visit
The White House has been buzzing — and not just because of this week's high-profile state visit from Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
The royal couple wrapped up their four-day U.S. visit Thursday with a formal farewell from President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump, and an unexpected highlight of the week centered on a distinctly sweet tradition: the White House honey program.
The first lady expanded the program just days before the monarchs' visit, unveiling a new beehive designed to look like the White House on the South Lawn.
AMERICA'S PRESIDENTS AND THEIR STEAKS: HOW PERSONAL TASTE SHAPED THE OVAL OFFICE
The hive and the base were designed by White House staff and crafted by a Virginia artisan, according to the White House.
It joins two existing hives that have been on the grounds since 2009 and can reportedly grow to roughly 70,000 bees in peak summer months, producing up to 225 pounds of honey annually.
The new hive is expected to increase production by about 30 pounds per year, allowing for more use of the honey in White House kitchens, official gifts and donations to local food kitchens, according to the White House.
That honey quickly became a sweet part of the royal visit.
King Charles and Queen Camilla — both longtime supporters of beekeeping — toured the newly expanded hive on Tuesday with the Trumps on the South Lawn.
The tour likely made the royal couple feel right at home, as King Charles keeps beehives at his private residence in England and Queen Camilla supports global bee conservation efforts, according to The Associated Press.
During the visit, White House assistant pastry chef Carlo Figarella said everybody in attendance would go home the next day "with one of these little jars of honey," according to The Independent.
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"We’ll put in extra for Their Majesties, yes?" the first lady joked.
She added, "Because they are lovers of honey."
The White House honey was not only given as gifts to guests, but was also highlighted in dishes served at Tuesday night's state dinner.
The multi-course meal, held in the East Room and attended by roughly 130 guests including business leaders, lawmakers and media figures, featured seasonal ingredients and garden-inspired dishes, as Fox News Digital previously reported.
The dessert put the honey front and center, according to the White House.
Guests enjoyed almond joconde and a French sponge cake, served with crème fraîche ice cream and White House honey.
Other courses included garden vegetable velouté, spring herb ravioli and Dover sole meunière, with some ingredients sourced directly from the White House Kitchen Garden, another feature supported by the beekeeping program through pollination.
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The bees play a key role in maintaining the garden, along with the Flower Cutting Garden and vegetation across the National Mall, which dates back to the Obama administration when the first hives were installed.
The honey itself, known for its light clover and basswood flavor with a hint of subtle citrus notes, has become a signature ingredient for executive residence chefs, according to the White House.
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It's used regularly in everything from teas to dressings and desserts.
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The Associated Press contributed reporting.
'Needs to resign': California vice mayor ripped after commenting '86 47' on state GOP's online post
The chair of the California Republican Party and other conservatives on social media are calling for the vice mayor of Los Altos, California, Larry Lang, to resign after he posted "86 47" on social media multiple times, including in response to one of the state Republican Party's Facebook posts.
The now-deleted posts, screenshots of which were shared by the California Republican Party and reviewed by Fox News Digital, show that at some point this week Lang updated his Facebook "cover photo" so it was the same image of a "86 47" seashell formation reading that resulted in former FBI Director James Comey getting indicted in federal court last month for threats against the president.
Meanwhile, Lang also commented "86 47" on a post shared by the California Republican Party earlier this week on Facebook. The clip included a news segment featuring California GOP Chairperson Corrin Rankin talking about a recent debate between California's current gubernatorial candidates. She argued during the segment that Democrats in the state "have no solutions," adding that Californians are ready for new leadership after 16 years of Democratic Party rule in the state.
"This death threat directed at Donald Trump is unacceptable. Either this elected 'leader' is completely unaware of recent events, or he is somehow fueling the violence that erodes our political system," Rankin said Friday in a post on X that included calls for Lang to resign. "Los Altos deserves leaders who unite the community and focus on solutions."
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The California GOP also echoed Rankin's remarks, pleading with Democrats to "stop advocating for the death of Donald Trump and Republicans."
When reached for comment about the "86 47" posts, Lang's email address returned an automatic response indicating he was "traveling" until May 4. His Facebook "cover photo" indicated it had been changed Friday.
Lang is the vice mayor of the Los Altos City Council and also sits on over half-a-dozen regional boards of directors. Fox News Digital also reached out to city council members in Los Altos for comment, but did not receive a response in time for publication.
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"He needs to resign as vice mayor!" conservative social media account Libs of TikTok said after uncovering the posts.
Nick Poche, spokesperson with the Republican National Committee, added that Democrats "must immediately dial back their unhinged rhetoric" or risk encouraging "deranged" supporters who might wish to kill the president, such as the suspect from the recent White House Correspondents Dinner shooting that was stymied by the Secret Service.
"We suggest he resign to check into a mental hospital," Poche said of Lang.
Former Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director James Comey was indicted for a second time by the Justice Department last month, which stemmed from a May 2025 Instagram photo of an "86 47" shell formation on a beach — the same shell formation that appeared in Lang's Facebook "cover photo" until it was deleted.
In slang, often used in certain industries and in various cultures, "86" typically means to get rid of something. Meanwhile, Donald Trump is currently the 47th President of the United States.
Comey removed the post the same day it was uploaded, claiming he had misinterpreted the shells as a general political message.
The former FBI director is facing charges of making threats to harm the president and transmitting a threat in interstate commerce. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison, according to the Justice Department.
Americans continue voting with their feet as high-tax cities struggle to recover
Americans appear to be voting with their feet as the country’s most iconic cities continue to see declining populations or struggle to regain their pre-pandemic footing.
On the East Coast, New York City is facing a renewed exodus. According to a Citizens Budget Commission (CBC) study released earlier this month, the Big Apple lost more residents than it gained last year. The report found that New York City lost approximately 114,000 more domestic residents to other U.S. cities than it gained in 2025, reversing two years of marginal growth.
The decline has become so pronounced that even New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has sounded the alarm. Pleading in March for "high net worth" individuals to return, Hochul noted the erosion of the Empire State’s tax base is threatening "the generous social programs that we want to have in our state."
Hochul admitted that New York is "in competition with other states who have less of a tax burden," specifically citing "Wall Street businesses looking at Texas" as a primary concern.
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Further north, Boston is struggling to retain its next generation of workers. A 2026 Young Residents Survey from the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce Foundation, released in April, revealed that 26% of residents aged 20 to 30 plan to leave the area within the next five years.
Of those planning to move, nearly half are looking to exit Massachusetts entirely, with a majority eyeing the Southeast and Southwest. High housing costs remain the primary driver for those planning to leave.
The trend is part of a larger drain on the Commonwealth. An analysis by the Pioneer Institute shows Massachusetts has suffered a net loss of approximately 182,000 residents due to domestic out-migration over the last five years.
The West Coast is seeing similar patterns, particularly in Los Angeles County. The latest U.S. Census data released in March 2026 shows that between July 1, 2024, and July 1, 2025, 53,421 residents left the county—the largest numeric decline of any county in the nation. Since 2020, Los Angeles County’s population has shrunk from roughly 10 million to 9.7 million.
In San Francisco, the population has failed to recover from its pandemic-era low. Despite a localized boom in the artificial intelligence sector, newly released Census estimates show the city’s total population remains well below 2020 levels.
While the coastlines struggle, the Southeast is booming. The Census Bureau reported in March that many of the fastest-growing counties in the country are now concentrated in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina.
South Carolina has officially claimed the title of the fastest-growing state in the nation. Between July 2024 and July 2025, the Palmetto State’s population surged by 1.5%, fueled by a net influx of 66,622 domestic migrants.
In terms of "income migration," Florida remains the undisputed king. The Florida Chamber of Commerce reports that the Sunshine State leads the nation with a net income migration of nearly $36.1 billion annually.
A new study by the National Taxpayers Union Foundation (NTUF), released on April 7, 2026, confirmed that taxpayers are fleeing high-tax environments for more fiscally friendly states. While Texas and Florida remain the top targets, states like North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee are also seeing record gains. Notably, the NTUF "Migration in Minutes" metric found that Texas surpassed Florida in 2022 as the state gaining a new taxpayer most frequently—one every 4 minutes and 40 seconds.
TEXAS EMERGES AS THE TOP DESTINATION FOR COMPANIES LEAVING BLUE STATES
The U.S. Census Bureau’s March report highlighted that the nation’s most populous counties—including Los Angeles, Cook County (Chicago), Harris County (Houston), and the five boroughs of New York City—are feeling the sting of lower Net International Migration (NIM).
Historically, these hubs relied on international arrivals to offset domestic losses. However, the CBC reported a 70% drop in international migration to New York City in 2025 compared to the previous year.
"The nation’s largest counties... are often international migration hubs," said Census Bureau demographer George M. Hayward. "With fewer gains from international migration, these types of counties saw their population growth diminish or even turn into loss."
Pro-China tech tycoon's network helped organize NYC May Day protests where Mayor Zohran Mamdani spoke
NEW YORK CITY — A group financed by a pro-Chinese Communist Party tech tycoon was one of the first on the scene for Friday's May Day demonstrations and socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s remarks.
The People’s Forum and the Party for Socialism and Liberation, which both receive direct or indirect funding from Shanghai-based Neville Roy Singham, were key players in the organization of protestors in Union Square ahead of the May Day events.
A self-identified speaker from PSL announced a People’s Forum spokesperson who was the second to speak into a microphone. The speaker rallied the crowd of demonstrators, asking them to repeat chants and later bashed capitalism. Shortly before remarks, PSL arrived with dozens of pre-made anti-Trump signs and equipment, unloading them from a van parked next to Union Sq. Park.
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A Fox News Digital investigation found that the nonprofit received $22.4 million from Singham.
Communism was a recurring theme at May Day in New York, with the Revolutionary Communists of America, the Revolutionary Communist Party and signs for the Communist Workers of America held by several demonstrators.
Pro-communism advocates were canvassing the crowd, hawking communist newspapers and encouraging participation in upcoming organization events.
‘ABSOLUTELY A COMMUNIST’: MAMDANI DODGES LABEL, BUT HIS RECORD AND EXPERT SAY OTHERWISE
"The existing capitalist-imperialist system and institutions of government in this country must be abolished and dismantled – and replaced by a new, socialist system based on the constitution for the new socialist republic of America," one paper read.
Fox News Digital interviewed one of the members of the Revolutionary Communists of America, who went only by Tom, who said that capitalism "is in crisis in the U.S."
"The small farmer has been killed off by capitalism," Tom told Fox. "The small businessman has been killed off capitalism. Big corporations dominate the society. So America is very proletarianized. And therefore, the working classes has more of a, let's say, the class balance of forces. It's more on the side of the working class now than it ever has been."
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Teamsters and unions gathered downtown at Washington Square Park while TPF and PSL marched from Union Square several blocks up. The union workers’ rally ended shortly after the Singham-connected groups arrived.
May Day is historically focused on advocacy for pro-workers, but once New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani began speaking, a significant number of teamsters and union employees had already left as calls for their cheers were dull, and the presence of other organizations dominated the crowd.
Mamdani stood in front of billboards labeled "NO ICE, NO WAR" and "NO BILLIONAIRES," and pushed his commitment to taxing the rich, and noted "faster buses" instead of his usual commitment to making bus transportation in the city free.
The crowd cheered loudly for Mamdani, whose appearance was not publicized and seemingly not expected from many of the demonstrators.
"That is why we continue to fight for those who power this city as we look to deliver universal child care," Mamdani told the crowd. "Faster buses, cheaper groceries, protecting our neighbors from the cruelty of ice. And yes, working to tax the wealthiest and the most profitable corporations in New York City."
Crowds dispersed following Mamdani’s brief address, but some roads remained closed as demonstrators continued the march, and one ambulance with flashing lights was forced to turn around earlier in the day on the march from Union Square to Washington Square.
Universities face funding threat as lawmakers target schools with ties to adversarial nations
EXCLUSIVE: A bipartisan group of lawmakers is moving to crack down on foreign influence in American education by targeting universities’ financial ties to adversarial nations.
The package would ban federal funding to colleges that operate "branch" campuses in adversarial countries or accept research funding for sensitive fields like artificial intelligence, biotech and quantum computing. China, for example, has been a major source of foreign influence in American education through its Confucius Classrooms, which states like Oklahoma have cracked down on.
On a federal level, Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., has taken the mantle of defending education against issues from foreign influence to antisemitism on campus; famously headlining a hearing after which UPenn’s then-president resigned amid pressure over her responses on the latter.
Stefanik again is out in front of an education protection endeavor, telling Fox News Digital she is part of a bicameral, bipartisan group focused on keeping foreign influence away from America’s young and growing minds.
"I introduced the No Branch Campuses in Hostile Countries Act with Senator Rick Scott, and this is part of the broader higher education reform effort that I have been leading on in the Congress," Stefanik said in an exclusive interview.
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"One of the challenges that I've seen is the influence of foreign adversaries sowing discord on our higher education campuses. And part of this has been coming from the foreign dollars flowing in, but also the existence of branches in these foreign adversarial countries."
She noted her home state of New York has major universities operating branch campuses in China, but said the problem extends beyond the Empire State to other top schools in Chicago, Washington and elsewhere.
Stefanik added that Confucius Institutes and classrooms were recently banned through the national defense bill, and that just as that effort was bipartisan, so is her second education security bill this week.
The Defending American Research Act prevents any institution of higher education from receiving federal research funding for five years if it receives funds from certain foreign countries including Qatar, Venezuela, Turkey and North Korea.
In Stefanik’s own book, "Poisoned Ivies," she noted she dove into the topic of dangerous aspects of today’s campus life from foreign influence to antisemitism.
"[Ours] was the most viewed hearing in the history of Congress. It led to multiple university presidents' resignations, but importantly, it set off an earthquake in higher education reform. There have been seismic shifts in higher-ed, both in the marketplace, as you're seeing parents and students voting with their wallets and feet, as it's shifted," Stefanik said, adding that many American youth are seeking collegiate education at southern schools where the liberal northeast and west coast influence is more muted.
STEFANIK TO RELEASE NEW BOOK ON COLLEGE ANTISEMITISM AS SHE EYES BID FOR NY GOVERNOR
Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., and Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., are joining Stefanik in the effort, and Scott told Fox News Digital that America "has enemies" and should "start acting like it" when it comes to their influence on higher education.
"Countries like Communist China and terror-supporting Qatar should not be able to use America’s colleges and universities as outposts to spy on us, steal sensitive research, and spread anti-American propaganda, but we’ve been letting them do it for years," Scott said.
MORE THAN 160 HOUSE DEMS VOTE AGAINST CRACKDOWN ON FOREIGN INFLUENCE IN US SCHOOLS
"This legislation is critical to America’s national security and the future of our higher education system — neither of which should be for sale."
While the list includes more obvious entries like North Korea, Cuba and China, Qatar is also included, even as it remains a somewhat neutral or cooperative partner on national security concerns such as evacuations from Afghanistan and the Iran conflict.
However, Stefanik said when it comes to its influence on U.S. education, her research led her to "billions of dollars" from Doha appearing to prop up antisemitic interests and "pro-terror professors" at some universities including in her home state.
"I think that's one of the major ways we need to push back on this foreign influence that's really shifting away from the founding missions of these higher education institutions," she said.
Other nations on both bills’ lists include the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Islamic Republic of Iran and the Russian Federation.
The bill sponsors’ collective hope is that their measures will provide the leverage needed to force U.S. universities to cut ties with adversarial governments or risk their bottom line.
Iran’s killer drones increase slaughter in Sudan amid world’s forgotten war
Iran is once again being accused of playing a deadly role in yet another conflict, this time by supplying attack drones to one of the sides in the predominantly Muslim nation of Sudan’s deadly civil war — drones that are indiscriminately killing women and children.
The war, now in its fourth year, has, according to some accounts, seen as many as 400,000 deaths since the conflict began on April 15, 2023. More than 11 million have been displaced, giving rise to the worst displacement crisis in the world.
Mariam Wahba, research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) told Fox News Digital that, "Iran has supplied the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) with drones, specifically the Mohajer-6, manufactured by Qods Aviation Industries, a U.S.-sanctioned entity, since 2013."
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The State Department has hit out against the use of drones against civilians in the ongoing war in Sudan, with the SAF alleged to use Iranian drones widely against the population. An Iranian woman is also in federal custody in California after being arrested earlier this month for an alleged plot to supply Sudan with more Iranian drones.
Documented cases show both the SAF and the rebel militia they are fighting, the Rapid Support Forces, (RSF), are increasingly using drones against civilians.
Wahba said that "between Dec. 2023 and July 2024, at least seven cargo flights traveled between Iran and Sudan, likely transporting drones and component parts. On April 19, an Iranian-born U.S. resident was arrested at LAX (Los Angeles International airport) for allegedly brokering a $70 million deal to supply Mohajer-6 systems and other hardware to Sudan’s Ministry of Defense, indicating the transfers are likely ongoing."
A State Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital, "We are greatly concerned about the proliferation of drone warfare by the parties (in Sudan), and the impact this has on civilians and civilian infrastructure. Recently we have seen RSF and SAF drones destroy hospitals and schools, killing civilians."
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News of the Iran drone plot in the U.S. was first announced by Bill Essayli, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, in a post on X, April 19, "Shamim Mafi, 44, of Woodland Hills, was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport for trafficking arms on behalf of the government of Iran. She is charged with a violation of 50 U.S.C. § 1705 for brokering the sale of drones, bombs, bomb fuses, and millions of rounds of ammunition manufactured by Iran and sold to Sudan."
The post was accompanied by photos of Iranian drones, and an image of what looked like a suitcase stuffed with dollar bills.
Ciaran McEvoy from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California told Fox News Digital that Mafi "remains in federal custody and her arraignment is scheduled for Friday, May 8 in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles."
ANOTHER CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY AT RISK IN AFRICA AS EXTREMISTS AND WAR TAKE THEIR TOLL
Wahba told Fox News Digital that the Mohajer-6 drone Iran is supplying to Sudan is "Iran’s workhorse drone", adding it’s the system used in attacks on Israel and the Red Sea by Hezbollah and the Houthis.
"The Mohajer-6 is a reusable platform used for surveillance and precision strikes," Wahba added. It can loiter, collect intelligence and return."
The State Department told Fox News Digital of wider concerns: "Islamist groups aligned with the SAF have formed relationships with the Iranian regime and have received assistance from Iran. We’ve sanctioned a number of these groups, including the Sudanese Muslim Brotherhood, who used unrestrained violence against civilians and undermined efforts to resolve the conflict in Sudan. Many of the group’s fighters have received training and other support from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and have committed atrocities against civilians."
United Nations spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, condemned the recent drone attacks in Sudan. He told reporters: "An aid truck from the U.N. refugee agency (UNHCR) that was carrying emergency shelter kits came under attack by a drone on Friday (April 24) while transiting through the town of Umm Drisaya in North Darfur state. All supplies were destroyed in the fire."
Dujarric added: "The second incident occurred on Saturday (April 25) when a drone reportedly caused casualties in residential neighborhoods of El Obeid city, North Kordofan state. Seven people were killed and over 20 injured, according to a local medical group."
"These are ordinary families in their homes, caught in violence that continues to reach civilian neighborhoods," said Dujarric. "We condemn all of these attacks."
Ricardo Pires, communication manager for the children’s agency UNICEF, told Fox News Digital: "For children in Sudan, the sound of a drone is yet another dreadful signal to hide and hope they are not harmed next. Across Darfur and Kordofan, drones and other explosive weapons are turning streets, hospitals and schools into places of danger and death. This is not just a protection threat for children. It is childhood being attacked by new forms of warfare."
The State Department spokesperson added, "In order to safeguard U.S. interests, to include the protection of religious freedom in Sudan, U.S. efforts seek to limit malign Islamist influence in Sudan’s government and curtail Iran’s regional activities, which have contributed to regional destabilization, conflict and civilian suffering."
Secret Service 'model worked' during WHCA Dinner shooting but 'luck' played a role, experts say
When an armed gunman rushed past a security checkpoint at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner last weekend, questions immediately began to swirl throughout the country regarding how yet another alleged would-be-assailant was able to get within a stone’s throw of the president of the United States.
Cole Allen, 31, is facing federal charges of attempting to assassinate the president of the United States, transporting a firearm across state lines and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence after he allegedly ran through a Secret Service checkpoint and opened fire just one floor from where President Donald Trump and several high-level Cabinet officials were attending the gala.
Authorities have pointed to an alleged manifesto penned by Allen indicating that he intended to target Trump and members of his administration over political grievances.
As news of the alleged attempted assassination broke, questions quickly began to swirl regarding the United States Secret Service’s security measures amid a time of heightened violence against political leaders.
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"I think the Secret Service’s model worked," Bill Gage, a former Secret Service special agent and executive protection director for the SafeHaven Security Group, told Fox News Digital.
"But there was definitely a lot of luck involved that Cole Allen wasn’t better trained, wasn’t better prepared," Gage added.
Within minutes of Trump, Vice President JD Vance and First Lady Melania Trump taking their seats to enjoy the annual festivities, authorities say Allen charged the Washington Hilton hotel checkpoint and fired his weapon, striking a Secret Service agent in their ballistic vest.
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He was subsequently tackled to the ground and taken into custody.
Miraculously, no one was seriously injured in the chaos, and Trump was rushed off stage as thousands of attendees ducked for cover under their ballroom tables.
While federal officials — including Trump himself — applauded the Secret Service for agents’ quick-thinking, questions mounted about how an armed individual was able to get so close to the room holding a high volume of Cabinet members and celebrities.
"Obviously, the first family was not harmed," Bill Stanton, a retired NYPD officer and security expert, told Fox News Digital. "No one was harmed, right? But that was not due to total professionalism. That was due to luck, the ineptness of the assailant and the redundancy – he should never have gotten that close."
However, Gage suggests the agency’s protocol worked as intended.
"The [Secret Service’s] concept is like rings of security where you have an outer perimeter, an inner perimeter and a middle perimeter," Gage said. "Each one of those is sort of like a concentric circle that overlaps. So if one ring fails, the other one can sort of pick up the slack."
According to Gage, Saturday’s outer perimeter began with the agency’s magnetometers – where Allen rushed past authorities armed with a shotgun and other weapons.
"So the attacker, just through sheer surprise and speed, races through the magnetometers," Gage told Fox News Digital. "He gets through that perimeter, he's still not sort of scot-free. He's going to interact with other agents as he's trying to make his way into the ballroom."
"There would have been agents assigned to the entry door," Gage continued. "There would've been agents inside the event, just inside the door. So, I would say the Secret Service model was a success, because it proved that the sort of overlap worked."
As details surrounding the alleged assassination attempt began to trickle out, new questions were raised regarding how Allen was allegedly able to check into the hotel the night before and remain undetected, despite having multiple firearms.
"The urban legend out there is that the Secret Service sort of swoops in days before an event, shuts the hotel down, kicks everybody out and name checks every single person there – and that's just not the reality," Gage said.
According to Gage, agents must strike a balance between maintaining a strong security posture and allowing public venues – like the Washington Hilton – to continue operating a business.
"There's deliveries, there's other workers that come and go – the kitchen staff, other employees, the maid staff," Gage said. "There's other people at the hotel that have nothing to do with the event. So the advance agent for the hotel or for the event is getting all these pressures."
Additionally, the common misconception that the Secret Service is permitted to close off public areas is simply not true, Gage said.
"Is it theoretically possible that the Secret Service comes in and shuts down a thousand-person hotel or a thousand-room hotel the day before? Yeah, theoretically it's possible," Gage told Fox News Digital. "But logistically, it's not possible. Financially, it's not possible."
In light of a third assassination attempt against Trump, Gage emphasizes the duty of the president to be reachable by the people he represents, as some are calling for Trump to cease all public outings.
"I think the office of the presidency, our elected leaders in our free democracy, have to get out there and meet with constituents," Gage told Fox News Digital. "They have to shake hands, pose for photographs and give speeches. They have to be seen all over the country."
Instead, Gage believes the Secret Service will simply increase their security posture.
"You're going to see much more intrusive actions by the Secret Service on these public venues," Gage said. "I can see the Secret Service, after Saturday, really inconveniencing the hotel and really inconveniencing the guests, and being very intrusive into the day-to-day operations of the hotels to have a sort of bigger security footprint there."
Allen remains in custody as he faces three federal charges stemming from the alleged assassination attempt, with authorities indicating he will likely be slapped with additional counts.
As the investigation into how an armed gunman was able to make it so close to Trump continues to unfold, Gage is applauding the Secret Service for ensuring there were no casualties Saturday night.
"The Secret Service is made up of incredibly dedicated men and women who join the agency to protect the office of the presidency," he said. "The agency is made up of incredibly talented humans that are dedicated and spend long hours on their feet, away from their families – and it's even more incredibly stressful now."
Fox News Digital reached out to the Secret Service.