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WATCH: Dem witness accuses Trump of ‘population purge,’ Kennedy fires back: ‘You trigger my gag reflex’
David Bier, a Democrat-called witness at a Senate Budget Committee hearing Tuesday, drew a sharp rebuke from GOP Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana after accusing the Trump administration of attempting a "population purge" in the U.S.
Earlier in the hearing, Bier, an immigration policy expert at the CATO Institute, argued that both legal and illegal aliens "are a benefit to this country" because they help to reduce the national deficit.
Kennedy ripped into Bier, asking, "What planet did you parachute in from? You trigger my gag reflex."
Bier had just claimed that federal judges opposing President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement operations "are much braver" than U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers.
"They are much braver. They put their names on their rulings, and they stand behind their constitutional rulings," said Bier.
He accused the administration of attempting to carry out a "population purge," saying, "They're trying to deport U.S.-born citizens, people born here, they are trying to deport them as well. So, it's not a mass deportation agenda, it is also an agenda intended to reduce the population of the United States, including U.S.-born people."
Earlier in the hearing, Bier had called for "more" immigrants to help address the soaring national deficit.
While being questioned by Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., Bier said that there are "clear reasons for believing that they are reducing the deficits and debt, they are a benefit to this country, and we need more people who are going to contribute in the future as our population ages."
Bier said "it's easy to understand why" immigrants reduce the deficit "because they work at 12 percentage points higher than the national average, they use less benefits because they're subject to constraints, unique barriers to applying for those benefits, in particular Social Security and Medicare. Those are by far our largest programs, and they're not eligible for those at all if they're here in the country illegally or if they came legally and they don't have a sufficient work history to qualify."
After the hearing, Bier later told Fox News Digital that "this exchange had nothing to do with illegal immigration" and that "the question was about immigration generally."
ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT CHARGED FOR ALLEGEDLY VOTING IN EVERY PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION SINCE 2008
Despite testifying in a hearing titled "Sanctuary Cities: The Cost of Undermining Law and Order," during which members criticized the mass migration under the Biden administration, Bier posited that more immigration is a positive step for the country.
"According to the Social Security Administration, we need about 35 million more workers in order to keep revenues equal to expenses by the middle of the 2030s," he said. "So, we are at a position right now where immigration is not going to solve it. Obviously, it's not going to solve it, but it is moving us in the right direction."
He praised immigrants, saying, "These are people who are showing up, they're ready to work, they're often prime age individuals who are ready to enter the labor force."
"So, it's a huge benefit fiscally to the United States to have these people who want to contribute to our country," he added.
Bier was not the only one arguing in the hearing that illegal immigrants can improve communities. Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., one of the Trump administration’s most outspoken critics, took a similar line, arguing that sanctuary policies actually lower crime, poverty and unemployment.
"Data shows that sanctuary policies actually make communities safer, healthier and more prosperous. That's right, the evidence shows, the research shows sanctuary jurisdictions have lower crime rates, higher median household income, less poverty, less reliance on public assistance, higher labor force participation, and lower unemployment," said Padilla.
"That's right. It seems like sanctuary cities are helping to make America great, I said it," he added.
Likewise, Kennedy was not the only Republican who took issue with Bier. After arguing over whether it was a mistake for Congress to ban people from entering the country illegally, Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, slammed Bier as a "smug guy."
"You haven’t answered my question, but that's okay. You're a smug guy, and that's part of your shtick," said Moreno.
After another Democrat-called witness declined to answer the same question, Moreno criticized both, saying, "This is the best that Democrats can come up with."
"This is the best witnesses you've got? A guy who can't distinguish whether it's okay to have people enter our country illegally. Of all the millions of people that you could have chosen to testify … the best you have is a guy who has no idea what our immigration law is, and isn't sure if somebody should enter the country illegally [and] another guy is a smug guy who obviously has an agenda," said Moreno.
Ukrainian Paralympian Maksym Murashkovskyi wins silver medal after training with ChatGPT for 6 months
After training with ChatGPT over the last six months, Ukrainian biathlete Maksym Murashkovskyi won a silver medal at the 2026 Milan Cortina Paralympic Games.
Murashkovskyi, 25, said he used the AI chatbot in a variety of ways throughout his training.
"For the past six months, I have been training with ChatGPT," Murashkovskyi said, according to The Athletic.
"It was not only tactics. It was half of my training plan, motivation, etc. So it was a huge volume of all of my training.
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"I used it as a psychologist, coach and, sometimes, as a doctor."
Murashkovskyi won a few medals at the Para Biathlon World Cup in January and gave credit to ChatGPT for his success.
"I also won a few medals there, and even a gold. So, I can give great credit to ChatGPT," he said. "I believe in it, it is a revolutionary technology."
Murashkovskyi was asked if AI could replace coaches, psychologists and doctors, and he agreed to an extent.
"Not completely for five to 10 years. But part of it, definitely," he said.
Murashkovskyi competed under the NS3 classification, which applies to athletes with the lowest level of visual impairment. He ran the race alongside his guide skier, Vitaliy Trush. For the NS2 and NS3 competitors, guide skiers are optional, but they are mandatory for NS1 athletes.
Murashkovskyi finished with a time of 33:41.1 in the men’s individual vision-impaired event Sunday. He was just over two minutes behind Chinese gold medalist Dang Hesong and beat his compatriot Dmytro Suiarko for second place.
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Candace Cameron Bure accidentally found herself at a 'dark and demonic' underground 'S&M sex' party
Candace Cameron Bure once found herself at an "S&M sex" party, which quickly became "dark and demonic."
During the Tuesday episode of her eponymous podcast, the "Full House" star, 49, opened up about the "underground" Hollywood party she accidentally attended with her husband, Val Bure.
"I have some really weird embarrassing moments," said Bure. "Although I shouldn’t say embarrassing for me, they were more shameful of going to places where I thought, like, ‘Oh, this person’s a friend, and I’m going to be cool and do this.’"
Because of that, Bure found herself at an "S&M sex thing that ended up being so dark and demonic."
CANDACE CAMERON BURE SAYS ‘MEN ARE SCARED TO TALK TO WOMEN’ IN TODAY’S MODERN DATING WORLD
"We walked in, and my eyeballs were popping out of my head because I saw stuff I’ve never seen before in my life," she recalled. "I’m looking at Val, going like, ‘How are we here? What is happening?’"
"We made a hard U-turn and walked right out of there. It just was so slimy and weird," she added. "We just had no idea what we were walking into, and it was so disgusting and gross."
In November, Bure opened up about why she rejected several Hollywood scripts in her teens and 20s due to her beliefs surrounding sexuality.
MORGAN FAIRCHILD REFUSED TO ‘SELL MY SOUL’ FOR HOLLYWOOD FAME
"I was just honestly never the kid that wanted to do the risky thing, that wanted to use my body or my sexuality to get ahead. … My morality meant more to me, and my character has always meant more to me than the success of things. … That’s a part of inherently me — not because I’m trying to be the righteous person, but I just genuinely was not that kid that wanted to do that," she said on the "Stay True" podcast.
"So, it made for some of those decisions when I would get presented a script that went against my own moral boundaries. … It was an easy decision to say, ‘No, I don’t want to do that,’ because I genuinely didn’t want to do those things."
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"There were definitely moments where I would get scripts … the sex part of it comes into it, and I was like, ‘I’m just not doing that.’ Maybe it was out of embarrassment, maybe whatever the reason, but I’m like, ‘Nope, not going on that.’ Easy to say no."
Those decisions eventually helped her lean into her true self.
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"I think that’s where we see a lot of younger stars, when they do transition into that, ‘Oh, I’m 18, I’m 21,’ and they want to prove they’re older now and not seen as a child. That’s where those big, important decisions come in. What do you do with the opportunity?" Bure said.
WATCH: Candace Cameron Bure had ‘very embarrassing’ first kiss in front of hundreds of people
"The world is always going to criticize, and you can't please everyone. Sometimes you just let it roll off," she remarked. ""And, so, I think you just have to take it with a grain of salt. I know who I am because I know who God tells me that I am, and I have such a loving and wonderful family at home."
"It’s very easy to stay rooted and planted around the people that I love. … When there are unwanted opinions, you just go, ‘OK, you can have them, you’re welcome to them. I don’t need to look at them or think about them.’"
Far-left lawmaker endorses candidate who boasted about voting with Republicans 80% of time
Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., a top progressive in Congress, is backing former businessman and Kansas state representative Raj Goyle in his bid to become New York’s next comptroller.
"I am proud to endorse [Goyle] for New York State Comptroller. Raj has been a lifelong progressive: fighting for immigrant communities, defending reproductive freedom and holding corporations accountable," Jayapal said in a post to X on Monday.
The language of her endorsement seems to clash with Goyle’s characterization of himself as a moderate with a track record of agreeing with Republicans on a majority of issues.
"In the state house, I voted with Republicans 80% of the time. I was one of the top five Democrats in agreeing with Republicans. And 89% of the legislation I sponsored, I sponsored with Republicans," Goyle said in a campaign ad he filmed while pursuing Congressional office in Kansas.
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Goyle has also attracted the support of other progressives besides Jayapal.
Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., another high-ranking progressive in the House, endorsed Goyle late last year. When asked about his support, Khanna’s office said the pair’s relationship spanned years.
"Rep. Khanna has known Raj Goyle for decades and appreciated his commitment to public service and working-class Americans," Khanna’s office said in a statement.
Goyle, who has an Indian heritage, also shares similar backgrounds with Jayapal and Khanna as a fellow South Asian Democrat.
Notably, he has not received an endorsement from New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani — another key progressive Democrat.
SOCIALIST MAYOR MAMDANI BACKS HOCHUL IN MOVE THAT COULD RESHAPE NEW YORK GOVERNOR RACE
Goyle previously represented Kansas’ 87th state district in the state’s House of Representatives as a Democrat from 2007-2011. In 2010, he would wage a bid for Kansas’ 4th Congressional District, raising $1.8 million for his bid, according to FEC records. Ultimately, he would lose out to Republican candidate Mike Pompeo.
Pompeo beat out Goyle in a 58.8% - 36.5% victory.
After his loss, Boyle would go on to found Bodhala, a business and legal analysis firm headquartered in New York City, before eventually selling the company in 2021.
Now, as he pursues the New York Comptroller Office, in which capacity he would become the state’s chief fiscal officer, Goyle has pitched himself as a progressive who bucked the trend in a red-leaning state.
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"During his four years in the Kansas legislature, Raj voted down the line as a pro-labor, pro-choice and anti-NRA progressive," Goyle wrote on his website.
"His votes and advocacy supported working families, reduced healthcare costs, improved public schools and fought for immigration justice and clean energy — all in a deep-red state."
Goyle and Jayapal did not respond to Fox News Digital's requests for comment.
Former Ravens tight end Hayden Hurst, 32, announces retirement after seven NFL seasons
Former Baltimore Ravens tight end Hayden Hurst, who pivoted to football after a brief career in Major League Baseball, announced his retirement on Monday after seven years in the NFL.
The 32-year-old pro, who last played in the league for the Los Angeles Chargers during the 2024 season, announced his decision with a lengthy post on social media.
"About a year overdue but life sped up on me these last 12 months.... I want to thank everyone that has been a part of my journey and helped me navigate this crazy life over the last 15 years of my sports journey," he wrote in an Instagram caption. "From my high school days at Bolles, to getting drafted by the Pirates, walking on at South Carolina and then making the jump to the NFL. It is a blessing how far sports took me in this life."
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Hurst was a two-sport athlete in Florida before getting drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 17th round of the 2012 MLB Draft. He made one minor league appearance as a pitcher, walking five batters and recording one out.
He opted to go to college and pursue a football career, eventually getting drafted by the Ravens as the 25th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft after three years at South Carolina.
"When I was stuck in a dorm room at 18 years old in Pirate City, thinking my sports career was over, I never thought I’d turn it into a 7 year NFL career but l put my head down and worked. I was determined to make football work after baseball failed me, and I never let anyone tell me I couldn’t do anything," he added in his retirement post.
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"I wouldn’t change a thing about my career, the ups and downs made me dig deep, talk to God more and find out who I was inside. The answer: a fighter. I fought daily to be the best version of myself that I could and I hope it showed on the field with the passion I played with every snap and every game."
Hurst was traded to the Atlanta Falcons after two seasons with the Ravens, where he recorded a career-high of 571 yards and six touchdowns. He also played for the Cincinnati Bengals, Carolina Panthers and the Chargers.
"From Columbia to Baltimore, Atlanta, Cincinnati, Charlotte and Los Angeles I got to see the world! I’m truly at peace announcing my retirement today because I checked every box athletically I wanted to," he said Tuesday. "Now it’s time to sit back and be the best husband and father I can be!"
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Czech electrician, known in Japan as pitcher who struck out Shohei Ohtani, gets ovation in final WBC game
As Czechia’s Ondrej Satoria walked off the mound at the Tokyo Dome, he stopped walking back to his dugout and did a full 360-degree turn, looking up at the sold-out stadium standing for him.
While some Czechia fans were in the stands watching their team’s final 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) game, the majority of Japanese fans in attendance were on their feet cheering for Satoria, a full-time electrician who has become quite famous in Japan, even if he is on the opposing team.
Satoria threw 4.2 scoreless innings for Czechia against the stacked Japanese roster that features Shohei Ohtani, Masataka Oshida, and many other stars from the 2023 WBC champions. He allowed six hits and struck out three over 67 pitches – most of which barely broke 80 mph.
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But Satoria quickly became a fan favorite in 2023, when he struck out Ohtani, the global two-way baseball superstar, and earned the respect of Japan for his performance. Ohtani even referred to Satoria as "The Worker," ignoring the fact that some could view his helmet flying off as he struck out as embarrassing.
And, as Satoria took in all the cheers and ovation in Tokyo, it was also his final international game – he’s truly focusing on his regular, full-time work back home.
"I was really looking forward to it because to end my national career in a game against the best national team in the world is always special, and especially here in the Tokyo Dome," he said when asked about his emotions heading into his final international start.
He also told MLB.com: "It’s like a reward for my whole life playing baseball because nobody knows me in Czechia. I’m just a regular dude from Ostrava, but here they respect me and have me sign balls. It’s really nice to be back here."
Satoria’s stardom in the country has led to autograph sessions, shaking hands, taking pictures and having a simple stroll take much longer than normal because he’s recognized.
After Satoria came out of the game, Japan’s lineup returned to its usual production, as they ended up beating Czechia, 9-0, to go a perfect 4-0 in pool play.
But as both teams acknowledged each other, Satoria got yet another ovation as he waved to the crowd – one final goodbye on a baseball diamond that had given him more than he ever dreamed.
He was understandably emotional, looking around, bowing in Japanese custom, and tipping his cap to his teammates, as well as Team Japan, who all stood and honored someone who will go down in WBC history – even if he didn’t win it all.
Satoria will return home to Ostrava, where he serves as an electrical controller for ČEZ Group. But he and the rest of his Czech teammates have made a statement now in the last two tournaments – a country not known for baseball is working hard to prove they can be a formidable force one day.
"I think it’s right, because I got famous here three years ago, and it totally makes sense to me to end it here on probably — for us — the biggest international stage where we can play," Satoria said, via MLB.com. "I will definitely enjoy every moment that I can wear our jersey.
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ISIS-inspired NYC bomb suspects could face death penalty, ex-FBI agent says
A pair of ISIS-inspired suspects accused of plotting a bomb attack in New York City could face the death penalty now that federal prosecutors have taken over the case. Retired FBI supervisory agent James Gagliano outlined how prosecutors could try to turn the suspects against one another.
On Saturday, 18-year-old Emir Balat of Langhorne and 19-year-old Ibrahim Kayumi traveled from Pennsylvania to Manhattan, according to the New York Police Department. Police said they hurled explosive devices into a crowded protest outside Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s home, Gracie Mansion.
"For the feds to take this case, it could potentially be a death penalty case," Gagliano said Tuesday on "America Reports."
"No one was hurt in this instance, and that's blessed because the type of explosives they used are inherently unstable, and the fact that these bombs did not detonate is a good thing."
While an attorney for the suspects claimed the two men were "strangers" from different parts of Pennsylvania, Gagliano dismissed the "serendipity" defense as a legal tactic that could backfire.
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"I do believe this is an attorney just trying to make the best case for his client," he said.
"They'll try to separate at trial and obviously, from a law enforcement perspective, we want that because we want to get them both to turn on one another," Gagliano added.
STORAGE FACILITY RAIDED AS FEDS INVESTIGATE ALLEGED ISIS-INSPIRED NYC BOMB THROWERS
He argued the alleged plot underscores the need for increased border security, saying sleeper cells remain "dormant" until directed to carry out sabotage, espionage and terror attacks.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed the incident is being investigated as "ISIS-inspired terrorism" after one of the suspects allegedly wrote and signed a pledge of allegiance to the Islamic State, according to federal prosecutors.
According to prosecutors, Balat told investigators he wanted to carry out an attack bigger than the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, which resulted in the deaths of three people.
Trump urges Congress to pass SAVE America Act, fully fund DHS as TSA workers go without pay
President Donald Trump is urging Congress to pass the SAVE America Act (SAA) as well as restore funding to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), as more than 100,000 federal employees go without pay during a prolonged funding lapse, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Tuesday.
Leavitt outlined the president’s dual push for sweeping election legislation and immediate action to reopen DHS, where employees have missed paychecks and travelers are facing long airport lines.
The SAA would move through Congress as election legislation, while DHS funding requires a separate vote to reopen the department and resume full operations.
Leavitt described the SAA as "one of the most critical pieces of legislation in our nation’s history."
"The Save America Act is overwhelmingly popular with all Americans because each provision is rooted in common sense," she said.
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According to Leavitt, the legislation includes five core provisions: requiring voters to show identification to cast a ballot, requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote, ending universal mail-in ballots while maintaining exceptions for illness, disability, military service and travel, permanently banning biological males from competing in women’s sports, and banning transgender surgery for minors.
On voter ID requirements, Leavitt said the proposal reflects broad public support.
"Voters have to show ID to cast a ballot in an American election. Very simple," she said. "Ninety percent of Americans, including more than 80% of Democrat voters, agree with this."
SCHUMER, DEMS HOLD FIRM ON DHS FUNDING DESPITE NOEM'S BOMBSHELL OUSTING
The legislation would also require proof of citizenship when registering to vote.
"The Save America Act will require all voters to show proof of citizenship in order to register to vote in American elections," Leavitt said. "Again, this is popular and rooted in common sense. Only American citizens have the right to vote in American elections."
Leavitt said Trump is urging Congress to "get the job done and send this historic piece of legislation to his desk immediately for signature."
TRUMP VOWS BLOCK ON SIGNING NEW LAWS UNTIL SAVE AMERICA ACT PASSES SENATE
She also pushed back on claims that the legislation could prevent married women who changed their last names from voting.
"There is zero validity to these claims," Leavitt said. "The Save America Act does not prohibit anyone from voting, with the exception of illegal aliens.
"As far as married women who have changed their name, if they’re already registered to vote, they’re entirely unaffected by the Save Act," she added.
Leavitt also turned to the ongoing funding lapse at the DHS, saying the president wants Congress to move quickly to restore pay for affected workers and fully reopen the department.
"President Trump wants the Department of Homeland Security — he wants TSA, he wants FEMA. He wants the brave men and women of our United States Coast Guard to receive their paychecks," she said.
More than 100,000 employees across the country have been impacted, she noted, acknowledging the strain on families.
"To any American out there who is struggling without a paycheck, we know there’s more than 100,000 of you across the country," Leavitt said.
She added that the lapse is also affecting travelers nationwide.
"To any American out there who is showing up to an airport and facing incredibly long wait times in lines," she said, Trump is calling on Congress to restore funding and reopen the department.
The president wants DHS "fully funded and fully reopened," Leavitt said.
DHS oversees agencies including the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Coast Guard, all of which have personnel affected by the funding lapse.
Trump is pressing lawmakers to act on both fronts, with Leavitt saying the president is calling on Congress to move swiftly to deliver both measures.
Minnesota Dem suggests studying ‘benefit of shoplifting’ in committee clash, then says it was sarcasm
A Minnesota Democrat whose retort to a Republican about potential "benefit[s] of shoplifting" during a hearing on worker misclassification defended the exchange as sarcasm gone awry.
During a Minnesota House Workforce and Labor Committee hearing this week, lawmakers reviewed information on how laws governing employee and independent contractor classifications affect insurance payments and other benefits, according to local reports.
State Rep. Dave Pinto, D-St. Paul, responded after a Republican lawmaker voiced concern that worker misclassification ultimately falls on the taxpayer.
"It is an intriguing line of questions," Pinto said, appearing to suggest a study on the "benefit of shoplifting and retail theft."
WATCH: WALZ, ELLISON, OMAR REFUSE TO ANSWER WHEN PRESSED ON FRAUD AFTER CONTENTIOUS FRAUD HEARING
Pinto spoke of a recent presentation before another committee he sits on that sought to address solutions to organized retail theft.
"And it actually had not occurred to me to ask — it probably would have been good — to make sure that they would study sort of the benefit of shoplifting, of retail theft since because perhaps people are relying on that and sort of using that maybe it's you know assisting them in some way," he said.
Pinto went on to describe whether people involved in such activities are considered to be violating the law, and that there may be a policy question at the root of such a discussion.
In comments to Fox News Digital, Pinto defended the remarks, saying he was reacting sarcastically to Rep. Isaac Schultz, R-Mille Lacs, who had posed the original question.
"My comments, intended to be sarcastic, followed a line of questioning from Republican Rep. Isaac Schultz suggesting a study is needed on whether the illegal practice of worker misclassification harms consumers," Pinto said.
"As a prosecutor, of course I take retail theft and shoplifting seriously. Any insinuation to the contrary is absurd — just like Rep. Schultz’s remarks were."
Nonetheless, Pinto’s original comment was viewed thousands of times on social media and elicited responses from other lawmakers, amid ongoing scrutiny over social services fraud and other scandals in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.
State Rep. Krista Knudsen, R-Lake Shore, was rendered speechless in a video response to the matter, as she put her hands to her face.
"There are no benefits to shoplifting for the people that are being shoplifted from. I have no idea what else to say," Knudsen said. "I'm shocked, actually. I don't even know what to say. Who — I don't know what to say — Who benefits from shoplifting? The criminals."
State Rep. Kristin Robbins, a Republican from the Minneapolis area, appeared to cite her region’s nationally recognized scandals, saying she cannot believe the comment was made by Pinto.
"[W]e are trying to prevent fraud and prevent crime in Minnesota and this has been an issue that we've dealt with as a legislature for many years. We finally got the organized retail theft crime in statute last session," she said.
"It's been a long haul and that's a tool that we need to crack down on this real problem throughout our communities around the state."
Worker misclassification has been a focus of Democrat-Farmer-Labor lawmakers in the state legislature for some time, as an effort began in 2024 to ban employers from misclassifying employees.
That policy was reportedly spurred by a construction worker who testified before lawmakers that he racked up major medical bills after a work-related injury, but his employer later only offered him a small amount for expenses and "told him to forget about insurance and to change his name and address, saying the bills would eventually disappear if nobody paid them," according to a post on the House of Representatives website.
The man later allegedly found out his employer was misclassifying employees in order to save on labor costs, according to the lawmakers’ page.
State Rep. Emma Greenman, D-Minneapolis, authored HF4444 to ensure businesses don’t act in such a way in the future and/or misclassify employees as contractors or the like.
"Our job is to ensure that Minnesota workers have the protections that we in law provide," she said at the time.
John Rich chooses 'a bloody nose' over staying silent in the face of cancel culture
John Rich is not afraid to speak his mind.
During an appearance on "The Rubin Report," the 52-year-old country artist opened up about speaking his mind amid the era of cancel culture.
"I could give you the tough guy answer and say, I didn't care what they thought. That's not true," Rich said of speaking up throughout the years.
"At one point, I had to kind of look at the back and forth of that whole scenario and say, 'Well, is the music industry's approval of me more important to me than my right to free speech?'" Rich, who has received numerous accolades through his 30-plus years in country music, asked.
"Is it more important to me than setting an example for my two sons? Do I want to be the guy that yells at the TV on the evening news and goes, ‘Look at what these people are doing to our country' and then turn right around, put on my boots and my hat and walk the red carpet and play patty cake with the exact same industry people that are doing the things I've been yelling at?'"
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"Well, that's hypocritical," he continued. "And I decided one day, 'No, I'm just not going to do it. I don't know what the fallout's going to be. But I'd rather say what I want to say, be an actual American. And if there's a bloody nose to take, then I guess I'll take it. And I did take a lot of bloody noses and still do."
"But what I've learned is that the reciprocation from the other side, people that are glad you said what you said, they're glad you had enough intestinal fortitude to stick your face out there and take the pop, they all come rushing to your back, Dave. They all show up by tens of millions."
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As country music evolves, Rich said the political landscape has pushed more artists to vocalize their beliefs.
WATCH: JOHN RICH SAYS HIS GAMBLING PROBLEM FELT ‘DISRESPECTFUL’ TO HIS GOD-GIVEN SUCCESS
"I think when Trump won that second time, and we had been through four years of Biden and what that did to the music industry, what that did to people's livelihoods – I think, coming out the other side of that, you finally saw artists going, 'You know what, enough is enough, I'm putting them up, I'm going to say what I think.'"
"Country music wasn't founded and is not popular because it was founded on the backs of wishy-washy people," he continued. "I mean, it was Johnny Cash and Loretta Lynn and [Merle] Haggard and Willie [Nelson] and Waylon [Jennings] and I mean artists that did not care what you thought about what they had to say."
"They're like, 'This is what I think. I'm going to put it into a song. You decide if you like it or not.' They became the pillars of country music," he continued. "So yes, I do see artists starting to turn back in that direction. And I think the music industry doesn't have a choice but to go along with it, because the audience is so hardcore against a lot of the bad things that have happened to them. If you go the other direction, the phrase I use is they will ‘Dixie Chicks’ you."