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Senate GOP rams through blueprint to bankroll ICE, Border Patrol through end of Trump era
Senate Republicans pushed their immigration funding plan forward early Thursday, adopting a budget blueprint after an all-night vote series that sets up billions for ICE and Border Patrol while sidelining Democrats.
Senate Republicans adopted their budget resolution, which tees up funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol, and effectively cuts congressional Democrats out of the process entirely.
It’s the first major step toward unlocking the budget reconciliation process, which Republicans are diving into once again after Democrats refused to fund ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) without stringent reforms.
Despite Republicans largely being on the same page on the approach, Sens. Rand Paul, R-Ky., and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, voted against the budget blueprint.
SENATE GOP LAUNCHES ALL-NIGHT VOTE-A-RAMA TO FUND ICE, BORDER PATROL THROUGH END OF TRUMP'S TERM
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., panned Republicans for moving to spend billions in taxpayer dollars rather than addressing rising costs.
"America is crying out for relief from high costs, and you're here adding $140 billion to an agency that nobody — two groups — Border Patrol and ICE, that nobody respects in this country," Schumer said.
Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, R-Wyo., countered that ICE and Border Patrol agents weren't the problem, "Democrats are."
"Today’s Democrats are a rogue and radical party," Barrasso said. "You deserve better than reckless Democrat hostage-taking. You deserve the tools and support from Congress necessary to carry out the mission Congress has given you. Our country depends on you."
SENATE REPUBLICANS UNVEIL IMMIGRATION FUNDING PLAN WITH $140 BILLION PRICE TAG AS DIVISIONS SIMMER
The Senate GOP’s plan would fund both agencies for the remainder of President Donald Trump's term. Republicans want to front-load the agencies with over $70 billion out of concern that Democrats would never agree to allocate taxpayer dollars to them again.
Lawmakers dashed through amendment vote after amendment vote, with Democrats teeing up several add-ons to the budget blueprint designed to attack Republicans.
Several of the Democratic amendments targeted affordability and economic issues in the country, and all failed along party lines.
But the night wasn’t without a dash of drama.
Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., who has pushed to broaden the scope of the forthcoming reconciliation package despite GOP leadership and the White House wanting to keep it narrowly tailored to immigration enforcement, threatened to derail the process.
REPUBLICANS EYE ENDING GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWNS FOREVER OVER FEARS DEMS WILL DO IT AGAIN
He wanted to include a swath of amendments that ultimately wouldn’t have been considered germane to the resolution and were destined to fail without support from Democrats. One of those add-ons was a version of the Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act.
"If you don't want to vote for it, don't," Kennedy said. "All I ask you is to think about it, to trust our Rules committee, to follow your heart, but take your brain with you. Because the American people, both Democrats and Republicans and independents, are questioning our elections."
His amendment ultimately failed.
Meanwhile, adoption of the budget resolution doesn’t immediately kick off reconciliation. The House will now have to adopt the same blueprint or modify it — the latter would kick the resolution back to the Senate and trigger another marathon vote session.
While Republicans are moving forward with the process in response to Democrats not budging on ICE and CBP funding, some are grappling with the ramifications it could have for funding the agencies and, more broadly, the rest of the federal government going forward.
Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., told Fox News Digital that she was "disappointed that we are where we are, but I understand the need to fund these portions of this agency."
"I'm really disheartened, because I think it fundamentally changes the way that we move forward with appropriations, and not for the better," Britt said. "And I'm not for that at all."
Resignation is the new escape hatch as lawmakers face expulsion
I don’t know how Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick thought she had a prayer of hanging onto her seat.
The Florida Democrat was indicted six months ago on charges of embezzling $5 million from FEMA. She says she’s innocent, but if convicted faces up to 53 years in prison.
In the past, the congresswoman would simply try to beat the prosecution in court.
But the House Ethics Committee took up the case, and granted her a delay when she lost her legal representation.
INDICTED DEMOCRAT SHEILA CHERFILUS-MCCORMICK TO RESIGN FROM CONGRESS AMID EXPULSION THREAT
But on Tuesday, 20 minutes before the ethics panel was going to recommend her expulsion, she resigned – accusing the committee of a "witch hunt."
This has suddenly become the default setting for legislators in trouble – you can’t fire me, I quit.
It’s like scrambling down the fire escape of a burning building to flee a blaze that you set yourself, all the while complaining about the smoke.
WHY ERIC SWALWELL WAS FORCED TO QUIT CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR’S RACE AFTER SEXUAL MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS
In just the last nine days, two other members of Congress pulled the same maneuver.
Eric Swalwell surrendered his seat on April 14 after mounting accusations of sexual misconduct, which he denies, despite the California Democrat’s repeated insistence, after dropping his gubernatorial campaign, that he would not resign.
That same day, Texas Republican Tony Gonzales, who text messages showed having an affair with staffer Regina Santos-Aviles, vowed to keep his seat, even after she tragically committed suicide.
Both men bailed in the face of virtually guaranteed expulsion.
When these lawmakers quit, the Ethics Committee automatically loses jurisdiction, like the wave of a magic wand.
It’s not that anyone is fooled. Every story says they acted to avoid the official disgrace of being kicked out of Congress. But in the history books it just goes down as a resignation.
This is a sea change, and I suppose you could argue the result is the same. Far too often in the past, the bipartisan ethics panel has dragged its feet, done nothing or suggested only a mild sanction.
CORY MILLS SAYS MACE EXPULSION PUSH COULD DRAG HOUSE INTO DANGEROUS NEW TERRITORY
Cherfulis-McCormick, a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, won a special election to represent parts of Florida’s Palm Beach and Broward counties.
The charges, which date to the pandemic in 2021, say Cherfilus-McCormick received federal disaster funds meant to fight COVID-19 at the healthcare company owned by her family. Within two months, the indictment says, more than $100,000 was spent to buy her a 3-carat diamond ring.
The lawmaker was also charged with hiding personal expenses and political spending by listing them as charitable contributions and business deductions. Her brother and two aides were also named in the indictment, which included money laundering, false tax returns and listing donations from straw donors.
Cherfilus-McCormick dismissed what she called "an unjust, baseless, sham indictment" – and vowed not to resign. Until she did.
And the exodus may not be over. The Ethics Committee voted on Tuesday to investigate Florida Republican Cory Mills.
The allegations, according to the panel: Violating campaign finance laws in his 2022 and 2024 campaigns. Filing false reports with Congress. Soliciting and receiving improper gifts. Misusing government resources. And accusations of "sexual misconduct and/or dating violence."
"I don’t plan to resign. We’re going to seek reelection," Mills told reporters, adding that he is cooperating.
There’s a hefty dose of partisan politics in the closely divided House. The departures of Swalwell, Gonzales and Cherfilus-McCormick means two Democrats and one Republican have been ousted. The Dems would love to even the score.
Speaker Mike Johnson, who pushed hard to expel Cherfilus-McCormick, has refused to criticize Mills.
NANCY MACE MOVES TO EXPEL FELLOW REPUBLICAN CORY MILLS, CITING MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS
A state judge issued a restraining order against Mills last fall after a beauty contest winner who says she lived with him when he was in Florida alleged that he threatened to blackmail her by releasing images of them having sex. Mills called the accusation false and blamed it on a political opponent.
Republican Rep. Nancy Mace has introduced an expulsion resolution against Mills. "Cory, your days are numbered. Start packing," said Mace, who is being scrutinized by the ethics panel for improper reimbursement practices.
In American history, only 21 members of Congress have been expelled – and 17 of those were for supporting the Confederacy during the Civil War.
The first Senate expulsion, in 1797, was of William Blount for conspiracy in helping Great Britain seize Spanish territory.
The first House expulsion was in 1980, when Michael "Ozzie" Myers was banished for bribery in the Abscam scandal.
James Trafficant was expelled in 2002 after being convicted of racketeering, bribery and tax evasion.
And George Santos – you remember him, the serial fabricator – was evicted in 2023 after an Ethics Committee report on campaign fraud.
That’s it. The Constitution requires a two-thirds majority in either house.
But in the case of Traficant, did the House really have to wait for a criminal conviction to decide that he was unfit to serve?
The House moved more quickly in the case of Ozzie Myers, who accepted a $50,000 bribe from undercover FBI agents and was caught on tape saying "money talks in this business and bulls--- walks."
In a rare tactic at the time, Anthony Weiner resigned during a sexting scandal in 2011 to avoid expulsion. One incentive: Turns out you can still get your federal benefits if you quit.
It wasn’t until 2017 that Weiner pled guilty to sexting a 15-year-old girl and drew a 21-month sentence. His laptop famously became an issue in Hillary Clinton’s campaign the previous year.
LABOR SECRETARY LORI CHAVEZ-DEREMER EXITS TRUMP ADMIN; KEITH SONDERLING NAMED ACTING HEAD
The marketing of departures also applies to the executive branch, and most corporations as well.
President Trump has fired three Cabinet members in recent weeks: Kristi Noem at Homeland Security, Pam Bondi at Justice, and Lori Chavez-DeRemer at Labor.
But these are always framed as resignations, though there’s nothing voluntary about it.
The president heaps praise on their performance. The exiles say they were thrilled to have the job. They know it’s a crock. We all know it’s a crock. But it provides a fig leaf of dignity.
Bondi and Noem may have committed political malpractice or, as at DOJ, not delivered the results Trump wanted in charging and convicting his political enemies.
But only Chavez-DeRemer is under investigation, by Labor’s inspector general. She has been accused of daytime drinking, ordering her staff to buy her wine at night, having an affair with one of her security guards, and using government resources for personal trips. Several top aides, including the security official, have resigned. Her husband has been barred from the building over complaints of unwanted sexual advances.
Chavez-DeRemer, who denies any wrongdoing, hasn’t been charged with anything, but was days away from being interviewed by investigators and became a growing distraction.
"It has been an honor and a privilege to serve this historic administration and work for the greatest president of my lifetime," she said in an X posting.
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Maybe we’re sliding into an era of greater accountability. The long-toothless Ethics Committee is finally showing some bite.
The voters always have the option of recalling House members in the next election, but that doesn’t mean much when nearly all districts are safe. But perhaps we’re reaching the point where it isn’t politically safe when Congress fails to police its own.
Karen Bass meets with Trump at White House to push for LA wildfire relief after months of clashes
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass met with President Donald Trump at the White House on Wednesday to push for wildfire relief funding, marking a rare moment of cooperation after months of clashes.
Bass shared a photo on X showing her and Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger meeting with Trump and senior administration officials in the Oval Office.
Bass and Barger said the meeting included a "positive discussion" about Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding and rebuilding efforts following last year’s Palisades and Eaton fires.
"This afternoon we met with President Trump and Administration officials to advocate for families who lost everything," they said in a joint statement. "We had a very positive discussion about FEMA and other rebuilding funds as well as the support of the President to continue joining us in pressuring the insurance companies to pay what they owe – and for the big banks to step up to ease the financial pressure on L.A. families."
"Our job is to fight for our communities," they added. "When it comes to this recovery, our federal partners are essential, and we are grateful for the support of the President."
The meeting comes after a yearlong standoff between California leaders and the Trump administration over wildfire recovery funding and the federal government’s role in rebuilding efforts.
The fires scorched more than 37,700 acres — which is larger than Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm and Universal Studios combined — and destroyed more than 16,200 structures. The fires caused tens of billions of dollars in damage, and rebuilding efforts are ongoing as residents navigate insurance claims and rising costs.
FEMA announced more than $3 billion in aid last June, while California Gov. Gavin Newsom later sought $33.9 billion in additional federal funding, according to the Los Angeles Times.
More recently, Newsom criticized Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem over delays in releasing more than $500 million in FEMA funding tied to wildfire recovery.
KAREN BASS' 2021 TWEET COMES BACK TO HAUNT HER AS LA RESIDENTS DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY
Bass, who has clashed with the Trump administration in recent months, including over immigration enforcement protests in Los Angeles, drew criticism from some online following the meeting.
Reality TV personality Spencer Pratt, who is running for mayor, mocked Bass on social media, posting "MAGA KAREN" in response to the Oval Office photo and accusing her of aligning with Trump ahead of the election.
He added, "Karen Bass sold her soul to Trump in a last-ditch desperation move ahead of the election LMAO."
Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House and Bass’ office for comment.
Fox News Digital's Michael Dorgan contributed to this report.
Man who pleaded guilty to raping 12-year-old relative is illegal immigrant from Honduras, DHS says
A Louisiana man who pleaded guilty to raping and impregnating his 12-year-old relative is an illegal immigrant from Honduras, federal officials confirmed to Fox News on Wednesday.
Jose Lopez-Montoya, 41, described by local media as a "Lake Charles man," faces up to 99 years in prison after repeatedly abusing the minor.
The Department of Homeland Security told Fox News that Lopez-Montoya is a Honduran national who illegally entered the U.S. in 2011 under the Obama administration.
ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT ARRESTED FOR KIDNAPPING, ATTACKING TEEN NEAR TRUMP'S BACKYARD: POLICE
"Once again, the media is running cover for a criminal illegal alien. This sicko pled guilty to incest. He raped and impregnated his 12-year-old relative. ICE is working with our Louisiana partners to ensure this monster is never loose in American communities again," the agency added.
"This ‘Lake Charles Man’ is actually an illegal alien from Honduras who admitted to illegally entering the U.S. in 2011," DHS added.
The victim later gave birth in July 2024 and Lopez-Montoya admitted the child was his, according to KPLC.
Authorities said the abuse took place over a two-year period while Lopez-Montoya served as the girl’s guardian.
Lopez-Montoya was arrested on two counts of first-degree rape and is also subject to an immigration detainer.
He pleaded guilty this week to aggravated crimes against nature by incest and faces 25 to 99 years in prison, according to KPLC.
His sentencing is scheduled for April 28.
Curt Cignetti was so focused this offseason, he turned down all external requests: 'I'm 95% football'
The Indiana Hoosiers, out of nowhere, won the National Championship, finishing off an undefeated 2025-2026 season.
It’s not an understatement to say that it was one of the most surprising outcomes in modern college football history. A program that had little track record of success, more commonly viewed as one of the easy wins on a team’s schedule than a legitimate contender for major postseason accomplishments. It was a remarkable achievement.
In fact, just before the regular season started, Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian said he thought undefeated teams were a thing of the past. Then Indiana goes 16-0.
TEXAS HEAD COACH STEVE SARKISIAN THINKS DOMINANT CFB TEAMS ARE A THING OF THE PAST
You’d think after a season like that, the Hoosiers program, and especially head coach Curt Cignetti, would take some time to enjoy it. Bask in the glow, take some time off, do a sort of "victory lap" through the media, talking about what it meant.
Well, Indiana and Cignetti did the opposite. The exact opposite. Because he’s a football guy first, and football guys think about one thing: more football.
ESPN spoke to Cignetti on the Indiana campus, where he detailed how he approaches coaching and development.
"We've got a way of doing things," he said. "How you do something is how you do everything. Consistency, performance is the key to the drill. So right now we're teaching guys not only scheme, but standards, expectations, and how we want to play the game between the white lines, and I see us making progress."
But perhaps the clearest indicator of how committed Cignetti is to keeping the focus on football came when ESPN reported that he told Indiana athletic director Scott Dolson and university president Pamela Whitten to "turn down all external requests and speaking engagements." Why? So he could "continue to focus on football."
"I'm 95% football," Cignetti said. "We've said no to everything except for the Indy 500."
ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!
"I've got to be able to do my job," he said. "These things pull you out of the office, and they take up your time. I mean, I have a job to do. Believe it or not, I'm busy."
That’s a football guy if we’ve ever seen one.
Obviously, all coaches are focused on their jobs. It’s an extremely demanding profession that requires dedication and extraordinary amounts of time for recruiting, game planning, and personnel evaluation. But it’s clear that Cignetti’s focus, potentially as a result of his time coaching with Nick Saban, has completely changed the Indiana program. Along with nailing the transfer portal, of course.
Players can see that single-minded purpose and respond to it, and the Hoosiers played with the discipline and efficiency of a team that mirrors its coach. Even though Cignetti has to replace Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza and other key players, it’s hard to bet against Indiana being right back in contention. Because Cignetti is all football.
Alabama QB Ty Simpson says faith in Jesus Christ fuels confidence heading into 2026 NFL Draft
Confidence exudes from Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson when he’s on the field, and that carried over to the pre-NFL Draft process.
Simpson has steadfastly supported himself when asked if he can be a starting quarterback in this league, and he feels he has the first-round talent to do so.
Before he learns where he goes in the NFL Draft, whether it’s Thursday night in the first round or beyond, Simpson spoke with Fox News Digital about where his patented confidence comes from.
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"I think it goes with my faith," he said, while discussing his partnership with Toyota ahead of the draft. "My faith is very important to me. I fully believe that my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ died on the cross for my sins, and knowing that football is just a minor stepping stone in why I’m on this earth. I feel like I’m on this earth for a bigger reason, to get people together to spread the word. The fact that I can do that on a huge stage, the Lord has blessed me in so many ways, that just gives me confidence.
"I get to play a kid’s game for fun, but I also know that everybody’s watching every move that I make. Understanding that I can impact so many people’s lives by spreading the good news."
Simpson, who spent all four of his college seasons at Alabama, embodies the "Faith, Family, Football" motto, as he also talked about his hometown of Martin, Tennessee.
PROJECTED TOP PICK FERNANDO MENDOZA REVEALS WHY HE’S SKIPPING NFL DRAFT
No matter where his NFL journey may take him, he will always be repping the place that made him who he is.
"I think that being able to impact my community is something I really look forward to because I know how much my community means to me," he said when asked about charitable work off the field in the city he ends up in. "Martin, Tennessee is a special place. It’s where I grew up. The 713-area code, we take pride in it. We always say in our household, ‘Martin made.’ So, it’s something where I look forward to, wherever I end up, to be able to give back to my community."
Simpson showcased his desire to give back Wednesday night in Pittsburgh, joining fellow NFL Draft prospect wide receiver Jordyn Tyson, Steelers receiver Michael Pittman Jr., and members of the U.S. Women’s National Flag Football team at Toyota’s NFL Draft Flag Football Training Camp for Pittsburgh-area high school girls. He was wearing the coach’s hat, helping coordinate drills and share some of his quarterback wisdom before preparing for the draft on Thursday night.
"My sister was a basketball player and softball player growing up, so it’s really exciting and awesome to see Toyota put a spotlight on girls in sports," Simpson added.
Toyota also covered NFL FLAG fall registration kit fees for current players in the Pittsburgh Flag Football League coed youth and high school girls leagues as part of this activation before the live draft in the city.
Simpson waited until his fourth season to finally take the reins of the Alabama offense, and he made the best of the situation. He threw for 3,567 yards with 28 touchdowns and only five interceptions across 15 games for the Crimson Tide. But the 6-foot-2, 211-pound quarterback, who has gotten comparisons to Mac Jones, a fellow Alabama alum, is all over the place in terms of mock drafts.
In short, not even Simpson has an idea where he might end up when the draft begins. But no matter where he goes, Simpson knows he can make an impact.
And it starts with his faith.
"The first round is great, [but] any time you get drafted is great. There’s so many different players that are great at my position that are from each different round of the NFL. So, I’m in the mindset of wherever I go, whenever that will be, I’m gonna put my best foot forward. Trust the process and be the best player I can be."
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Hasan Piker tells New York Times he's 'pro-stealing' and 'pro-piracy' from corporations
Far-left commentator Hasan Piker explained to The New York Times on Wednesday how he was "pro-stealing" and "pro-piracy" when it came to corporations.
"I’m pro-stealing from big corporations, because they steal quite a bit more from their own workers," Piker said on "The Opinions" podcast. "However, one thing that might even help your ethical dilemma is the fact that the automated process that they design, these companies know will increase shrink, right?"
He continued, "So it’s actually factored in. The lemons that you stole are factored into the bottom line of these mega-corporations regardless. And they still end up having increased profit margins, because they no longer have to pay the cashiers that they used to hire, as opposed to this automated system, knowing full well that people are still going to be able to steal a lot more efficiently, as a matter of fact, through the automated process."
'DAILY SHOW' CO-HOST JORDAN KLEPPER CALLS OUT STUDIO AUDIENCE FOR CHEERING TESLA ARSONISTS
Piker was part of a discussion with The Opinions culture editor Nadja Spiegelman and The New Yorker writer Jia Tolentino on the subject Spiegelman dubbed "microlooting," or people robbing stores out of protest of major corporations.
Though Piker stopped short of endorsing all forms of theft, he was largely dismissive of concerns over stealing if a person was in need or if the act was simple.
"Yeah, I’m pro-piracy all the way, like, across the board. Would you pirate a car? Yes. You know, if you could," Piker said.
He explained, "It was just a classic thing back in the day. The government-funded antipiracy initiatives would be like: Would you steal a car? I’m like, yeah, sure. If I could get away with it, if it was as easy as pirating intellectual property, I would do it."
He added that he would personally not take part in "microlooting" and would not support stealing from places that would be taxpayer-funded, like libraries or a government-run grocery store. He also agreed that the idea of private schools should be "illegal."
Fox News Digital reached out to Piker and The New York Times for comment.
Piker's comments come on the heels of several controversial statements he's made over the years against American capitalism and in favor of communism as he becomes more influential within the Democratic Party.
Last month, he traveled with several left-wing activists to Cuba in support of the communist regime while ignoring or downplaying rolling blackouts in the nation.
Last year, Piker referred to communism as the "honorable end goal" of socialism.
"Communism is supposed to be the end stage," Piker said. "It's like the final goal. It's like the final evolution, a stateless, moneyless, classless society. A borderless society. We've never really had communism. I know people will just jokingly sometimes say, ‘Real communism has never been tried.’ But that literally has never existed."
Carville and co-host lament that Trump sparked a redistricting war, making both parties look cynical
Veteran Democratic strategist James Carville and his podcast co-host Al Hunt analyzed the results of the Virginia redistricting vote, agreeing that President Donald Trump started a redistricting war.
Democrats scored a major victory Tuesday when Virginia voters narrowly passed a congressional redistricting referendum that could give the party a significant boost in the battle for the U.S. House of Representatives majority in the 2026 midterm elections, the Associated Press reported.
The ballot measure gives the Democrat-controlled Virginia legislature — rather than the state's current nonpartisan commission — temporary redistricting power through the 2030 election. It could result in a 10–1 advantage for Democrats in Virginia's congressional delegation, up from their current 6–5 edge.
Hunt lamented on "Politics War Room" that the redistricting vote was a terrible thing, even if he personally would have supported it as a politically pragmatic necessity.
TRUMP HAILS TEXAS REDISTRICTING APPROVAL THAT COULD ADD FIVE GOP CONGRESSIONAL SEATS NATIONWIDE
"That is an awful outcome. Virginia is a blue state, but it's not a 90% blue state," he said. "Democrats, however, had no choice. This was all due to Donald Trump, who, desperate to avoid losing the House last year, demanded Republicans gerrymander in Texas and elsewhere and they were going to try to fix the elections. What he didn't figure was that Democrats would respond just as ruthlessly, California and Virginia in particular."
"I think the outcome in Virginia is terrible," Hunt stressed. "I would have voted for it, even though I think it's terrible. They did it by referendum. The voters decided rather than backroom deals like they did in Texas and in Missouri and elsewhere."
He went on to argue that while this may be something to understandable for Republicans to take issue with, he advised, "Tell them to look next door at North Carolina, a purple, slightly red state [that] gerrymandered their congressional districts for what's expected to be a 11-3 advantage."
SPANBERGER FACES ‘BAIT-AND-SWITCH’ BACKLASH IN FINAL HOURS BEFORE REDISTRICTING REFERENDUM
"I’ll tell ya, 11–3 in North Carolina is every bit as bad as 10–1 in Virginia," he said. "Trump, who only cares about himself, started this whole damn fiasco, and in the end, I think it may help Democrats more than it helps him."
"Well, you got to blame the Supreme Court, too," Carville said. "I mean, I hate to bring the bearer of bad news, but the great American institution called the Supreme Court said, ‘Well OK, there's no equal protection. There's no anything. The legislature can do what they want.’"
"The court has become so disreputable, so unpopular, and look at the polls. I'm not the only person that believes that it has to be saved from itself. That's how bad it's become," Carville said. "But that they're the people that let this stuff go with all this cockamamie 11-to-3 that, you know, I mean, as if the voters aren't required to have equal protection during redistricting."
DARK MONEY FLOODS VIRGINIA AHEAD OF REDISTRICTING VOTE THAT COULD HAND DEMOCRATS HOUSE EDGE
"I have no idea how you come up with that theory that that legal theory could work, but they say it does," Carville said. "They're corrupt. No code of ethics, no rules of conduct, no nothing."
Hunt went on to suggest that politics now feels like a standoff where both sides are afraid to "unilaterally disarm" and instead opt for cynical power plays like gerrymandering.
"The problem with this is when you let politicians choose their voters rather than voters choose their politicians, you create politicians who have very little incentive to govern or compromise," he said. "So it's a terrible system, but this year it was all brought on by Donald Trump."
"Yeah," Carville agreed. "I think the Supreme Court did its part, but yeah, it wouldn't have happened without Trump."
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Fox News Digital reached out to the White House and was referred to the following statement by RNC national press secretary Kiersten Pels:
"46% of Virginians voted Republican in the last federal election, yet Democrats are rigging the system to cling to power and silence voters they can’t win over. This map is an unconstitutional partisan power grab designed to disenfranchise millions of voters and tilt the playing field. Abigail Spanberger broke her promise to Virginians by advancing a gerrymandered map that serves her party’s interests after pledging she would not. The RNC will continue this fight in court to protect Virginia voters and ensure fair representation across the Commonwealth."
Fox News Digital's Paul Steinhauser, Jasmine Baehr, and Charles Creitz contributed to this report.
Manhattan DA's office employee charged with sexual abuse after alleged incident on Queens subway
An analyst with the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office was arrested Tuesday on allegations that he sexually abused a woman while off duty, police told Fox News Digital Wednesday.
Tauhid Dewan, 28, is accused of inappropriately touching a 40-year-old woman’s private area during a late-afternoon rush-hour subway ride in Queens, according to local outlet PIX11.
The victim was reportedly a random woman, the outlet added, citing sources who said she and the suspect were strangers.
A spokeswoman for the office told Fox News Digital that the staffer has since been suspended.
MAN ARRESTED IN NYC STRANGULATION DEATH OF WOMAN FOUND OUTSIDE TIMES SQUARE HOTEL
According to the New York Police Department, Dewan was arrested around 5 p.m., possibly after returning from work.
PIX11 added that the arrest occurred minutes after the incident, which allegedly took place on a No. 7 train near the Junction Boulevard station.
He was subsequently arrested by the NYPD Transit Bureau and is facing multiple charges, including forcible touching on a bus or train, third-degree sexual abuse, and second-degree harassment involving physical contact.
He was also charged with acting in a manner injurious to a child under the age of 17, suggesting a minor may have been nearby and either witnessed the alleged conduct or was placed at risk by it.
Law enforcement sources said Dewan has no prior arrests, local outlets reported.
According to city records, Dewan has worked at the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office as a senior investigative analyst for nearly four years, since July 10, 2022.
His arraignment in Queens Criminal Court was scheduled for Wednesday, according to state records.
Florida prisoner laughs as judge sentences him to life for killing cellmate with pen: 'You are amusing'
A Florida man convicted of killing his cellmate with a pen smiled and laughed as a judge sentenced him to life in prison Tuesday.
Marcus Terry, 43, was found guilty of second-degree murder in December 2025 for killing his cellmate inside the Dade Correctional Institution in Homestead in 2021 by stabbing him in the head with a pen, according to NBC Miami.
During a court appearance on Tuesday, Terry's lawyer, Steven Yermish, asked Judge Ellen Sue Venzer to grant his client a new trial, arguing that inadmissible evidence was presented at trial at the end of last year, the outlet reported.
GUARDS AT 'ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ' BEAT, PEPPER-SPRAYED DETAINEES, LAWYER SAYS
Venzer rejected Yermish's motion for a new trial and sentenced his client to life behind bars without the possibility of parole, as she described how Terry fatally pushed a pen into the brain of his cellmate, 64-year-old Ray Matos.
"He shoved a pillowcase into his mouth. When the guards came in to find out what was going on, he was standing on top of this man, and his hand was bloodied," Venzer said.
As the judge was detailing the murder, Terry began smiling and laughing.
"I'm not sure why you're laughing," Venzer said to him.
"You are amusing," Terry responded.
The judge replied that she "found nothing amusing about your behavior or the death of this gentleman."
"God have mercy on your soul," Venzer said while handing down his sentence.
Terry may now appeal his sentence, according to NBC Miami.
FLORIDA DOCTOR CHARGED AFTER ALLEGEDLY REMOVING WRONG ORGAN DURING SURGERY
Terry was already serving a life sentence for armed burglary and armed robbery when he killed Matos, who was his cellmate for less than a week, court records showed.
Matos was found on the ground in the cell, lying in a pool of blood as Terry sat on the lower bunk, according to an arrest warrant.