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GREGG JARRETT: In a tortured defense of Ilhan Omar, the New York Times reaches for its darkest Trump analogy
Here we go again. Trump is behaving just like Hitler.
On Friday, the New York Times published an editorial with the provocative headline "Trump Is Turning to an Old Tool of Authoritarian Repression."
The editorial was a defense of Minn. Democrat Rep. Ilhan Omar, who is under investigation for potential immigration fraud and more.
GREGG JARRETT: ILHAN OMAR COULD FACE INDICTMENT, DENATURALIZATION AND DEPORTATION
The Hitler defense of Rep. Omar was conjured by the Editorial Board of The New York Times. Insofar as name-calling goes, it’s lame.
It is also an unmistakable deflection. It’s the kind of stuff kids do in the schoolyard when caught cheating in kickball. But some kids never grow up. Perhaps they just move on to a fancier playground called The New York Times.
The Trump-Hitler comparison is a tired cudgel that the Times loves to trot out periodically to remind its readers that the current occupant of the Oval Office is evil. But in the newspaper’s Friday editorial, it deployed the insult in a remarkably disconnected way.
The editors argue that since tyrants in history —Hitler included— used "revocation of a political opponent’s citizenship" as a "tool of authoritarian repression" that must be what President Donald Trump is doing to Omar.
REP ILHAN OMAR'S IMMIGRATION HISTORY FACES NEW SCRUTINY AS FEDERAL INVESTIGATORS SUBPOENA RELATIVES
Never mind those pesky things called the law and its enforcement thereof. In fact, the Times disregards the code of federal statutes entirely, tossing them out as utterly irrelevant or meaningless.
In their conceit, the editors openly confess that they are little acquainted with the known facts or evidence. "We do not pretend to know whether the allegations have merit," they write while adding, "They are not the main issue."
FEDERAL AGENTS RAID ILHAN OMAR’S DC HOME AMID IMMIGRATION FRAUD INVESTIGATION
Really? Are potential crimes like false statements, fraud, conspiracy, and obstruction of justice of no consequence? Immaterial? Try explaining that to the roughly 6-thousand federal prosecutors who spend their professional careers upholding those types of laws.
What the Times is really arguing —but doesn’t have the courage to admit— is that a Democratic member of Congress should be entitled to get away with suspected crimes because a particular person they despise is president.
Of course, this ignores that the original incarnation of the Omar investigation began under the presidency of Joe Biden. Again, just another pesky detail destined to be overlooked.
Instead, the Editorial Board traduces Trump for his "affront to free speech, the rule of law and American ideals." It doesn’t get more syrupy than that. And demonstrably wrong.
Let’s take free speech as an example. It is not —and never has been— a defense against false statements or fraud in immigration matters. Period.
Even more obvious is how the Times editors managed to mangle "the rule of law." It is a cherished principle that dates back to the Magna Carta in 1215. It means that all people are subject to the same rules and receive equal treatment in the legal system.
But apparently the Times believes that Omar is above the law while Trump is not. That’s quite the reversal.
You may recall that during the criminal investigations of Trump, the same newspaper published numerous opinion pieces and editorials that explicitly invoked the maxim that "no one is above the law." Indeed, those very words were heralded in the titles of editorials.
OBAMA BACKS ILHAN OMAR AMID PROBE, ACCUSES TRUMP ADMIN OF 'APPALLING' TARGETING IN LENGTHY STATEMENT
Predictably, the Times accuses Trump of trying to "silence a critic," conveniently omitting how Biden’s Department of Justice targeted his opponent with indictments.
But the real kicker is how the newspaper sobs that "no naturalized citizen will be safe." That is a clever artifice. Naturalized citizens have nothing to fear if they told the truth during the application process. But those who did not are subject to the rule of law.
Congress passed a statute 120 years ago revoking citizenship in cases of fraud or false statements. Elected lawmakers did that, not Trump. But how dare the president abide by his constitutional duty to enforce the law! Or so the New York Times would have you believe.
The government, regardless of who is in charge, has an obligation to investigate the possibility of criminal wrongdoing whenever evidence of it arises. In our national ideal, Lady Justice is blind. It should never matter whether there is a letter "R" or "D" after an individual’s name.
Someone should tell the New York Times.
FEDERAL AGENTS SEIZE PHONE OF REP ILHAN OMAR IN RAID TIED TO IMMIGRATION FRAUD PROBE
Omar flatly denies that she did anything wrong or violated any laws. But it cannot be missed that it was a Democrat judge in Washington, D.C. who authorized the search of her home based on sufficient evidence that probable cause existed.
The evidence seized and the accompanying warrant raise serious questions. Is Omar the person she purports to be? Was her citizenship obtained through false statements or fraud? Was there a cover-up? And did she engage in a sham marriage to her brother?
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Omar did herself no favors in a recent interview when she responded to the latter question by stating, "Not to my knowledge." That cautious and qualified reply only compounded suspicion. Was it feigned ignorance? Plausible deniability? Or was it a technical or legalistic phrase to avoid lying while hiding the truth?
Journalists at The New York Times have done extensive reporting on the Ilhan Omar case. But the Editorial Board seems more interested in blaming Trump than examining the facts.
So, what will those same editors do if it turns out that the congresswoman committed citizenship fraud? Will they offer a sincere mea culpa or apology for prejudging the investigation and denouncing Trump? Not likely.
They will still compare him to Hitler. Because that’s the playground on which they operate.
Trump supporters confront Iran, affordability concerns with a message for critics: 'Give him time'
Trump supporters in Georgia are standing behind the president amid rising affordability concerns and higher gas prices stemming from the Iran war, with one voter calling him the "best president" in her lifetime.
While Trump' s approval rating teetered at 36% and his disapproval rating stood at 64%, praise for Trump was high in Perry, Georgia, Saturday as he campaigned alongside Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Jackson, CEO of a healthcare staffing group; Rep. Mike Collins, R- Ga., who is vying to unseat Sen. Jon Ossoff, D- Ga.; and candidates in House races across the state.
The race for Ossoff's seat is highly contentious, as Republicans are seeking a pickup that would help them maintain control of the Senate. Ossoff won the seat in a January 2021 runoff election by 1.22% — less than 55,000 votes. Trump, meanwhile, won Georgia in 2024 by 2.2%. He told voters Saturday to act like "he's on the ballot" come Nov. 3.
Rallygoer Gloria Barkman said she supports Trump because he delivers on his promises.
"I know people are upset because things don't look good with the gas and everything like that, but give him time and they'll be seeing the difference," Barkman said.
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Barkman's comments come as gas prices in Georgia hover around $3.66 per gallon, compared with an average of $2.72 per gallon in February, before the start of the Iran war. Iranian attacks on commercial vessels and threats to restrict shipping through the Strait of Hormuz have destabilized global oil markets, sending prices higher worldwide. The Iran war has been a major point of contention during Trump's second term, with about 65% of Americans disapproving of Trump's actions in the conflict, according to Pew.
However, rallygoer Jim Taylor, an Air Force veteran, said temporarily higher prices at the pump are a price worth paying to ensure Iran doesn't have a nuclear weapon.
"I guess what I'm most proud of is what the president's done in Iran," Taylor told Fox News Digital.
"I know he's got a lot of criticism for it, but being a military veteran and a strong supporter of the military itself, I'm very, very proud that he was at least willing to step up and do what had to be done — to take care of the bigger picture because gas prices really wouldn't matter if a nuclear weapon went off in our country," Taylor continued.
Trump said during the rally that oil prices would come down soon and also touted an inflation rate of 1.7% over the last three months.
However, the latest official annual CPI inflation rate was 3.7% in September, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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Meanwhile, rallygoer TJ Barb applauded Trump for the creation of Trump Accounts, investment accounts established under Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
"The investment in children — that's significant," Barb told Fox News Digital. "Financial intelligence. He's going to start giving that to our kids."
Barkman said she is voting to protect the country.
"I don't want us to lose our country because we stand for the United States, and I'm going full force for Trump in supporting him and the Republicans," Barkmann said.
Taylor described the elections as an "uphill battle" and said that although he wasn't as familiar with Collins before the campaign cycle, Trump's backing carries significant weight.
"I would vote for anybody that Trump endorses," Taylor said. "I think Mike's a good candidate."
Barb, who described himself as not very political, said he was also not as familiar with Collins before this midterm cycle but trusts Trump's endorsement.
"He can't be bought," Barb told Fox News Digital.
"So when he's backing these guys, we know, all right, well, he's already shown what he's done, so this is what we're going to do," Barb told Fox News Digital. "And so it's just cut and paste and let's get another guy up in there."
But after seeing Collins on Saturday, Barb said he identified with the candidate beyond Trump's endorsement.
"Hearing his story, Blue collar stuff," Barb told Fox News Digital. "He's gone through it, I think that's what helps him relate to other folks. He's straight southern Georgia right there, I'll tell you. He's a good old, good old boy."
AFTER 47 YEARS OF CONFRONTING IRAN, DOES AMERICA HAVE A STRATEGY FOR ENDING THIS WAR?
John Salvesen, the Republican nominee in Georgia's 5th Congressional District, a Democratic stronghold in Atlanta previously represented by civil rights icon John Lewis, said he is a big fan of Collins.
"I think he's wonderful. I like him a lot because he's a lot like me, we're just working dudes," Salvesen told Fox News Digital. "He's a logger. I'm a handyman, and we just didn't like what we saw, so it prompted us to run."
"I think Jon Ossoff is terrible," Salvesen continued. "And I'm not saying that because I'm Republican, I'm saying it because I studied him, and Mike Collins is a superior candidate to him if he can get the message out to the right people."
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"I think once you know Mike Collins or Rick Jackson with or without Trump's support you can't help but go for these guys not because they're Republicans because they are awesome candidates," Salvesen continued.
Meanwhile, Barkman said she has followed Collins during his time in the House of Representatives and praised his voting record.
"I've always been impressed with him," Barkman told Fox News Digital. "He's very personable, friendly. He reaches out to the people, and we love him."
A spokesperson for Collins said he is "proud" to have Trump in his corner and is "out every day earning the trust of Georgians."
"Like President Trump, Georgians are backing Mike Collins because he delivered the Laken Riley Act to deport criminal illegals, cut taxes for hardworking families, and is the only candidate who can beat radical leftist Jon Ossoff. Ossoff hates President Trump more than he loves Georgia, and Mike Collins is the bipartisan workhorse who will work with anybody to make Georgia safer and more prosperous," Meyer Siegfried, a spokesperson for Collins, said in a statement to Fox News Digital.
'Dark money’ group accused of 'scheme' to tip election in favor of Democrats, manipulate GOP voters
FIRST ON FOX: A mysterious new group purporting to be part of an "anti-globalist," pro-American movement is targeting Republicans in battleground House races across the country in what some are calling a coordinated scheme to suppress GOP votes.
The American Forge Coalition has sent out a flurry of mailers to voters this month accusing vulnerable Republicans of not being conservative enough. Some believe it's a coordinated effort by the left to depress GOP voter turnout in the midterm election just a week away.
"This is a shady Democrat dark money scheme using a front group that isn't even registered with the [Federal Election Commission], mailing Republicans at the start of early voting to suppress them from turning out," Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., campaign spokesman Ciro Riccardi told Fox News Digital.
In fact, an investigation by Fox News Digital found that the group's targets include Lawler's race in New York's 17th Congressional District, Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., in Pennsylvania's 1st Congressional District, Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Wis., in Wisconsin's 3rd Congressional District, Rep. Marianette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa, in Iowa's 1st Congressional District, Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-Va., in Virginia's 2nd Congressional District, and Laurie Buckhout, who is running to unseat Rep. Don Davis, D-N.C., in North Carolina's 1st Congressional District.
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In Lawler, Kiggans, and Fitzpatrick's cases, the group sent mailers accusing them of supporting "mass amnesty" and "letting criminals escape justice after illegally entering our nation."
Mailers sent in Van Orden and Buckhout's races accused them of being too lenient on abortion. Mailers sent in North Carolina claimed Buckhout supports "abortions up until birth," while Wisconsin voters got flyers that said Van Orden "would allow the murder of the unborn into the second trimester."
Both attack lines take liberties with the truth.
Lawler, Fitzpatrick and Kiggans all support the Dignity Act, which establishes a pathway to temporary legal status for undocumented migrants provided they pay certain fees and pass a background check, while also increasing pay for Border Patrol. But none support amnesty for illegal immigrants with criminal histories.
In the case of Van Orden and Buckhout, both have positioned themselves as pro-life and have been attacked by Democrats as "anti-abortion."
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"They are obviously a left-wing dark money group. This is unfortunately not a new tactic by them. And they are really hurting our country," Fitzpatrick's campaign told Fox News Digital. "They are telling Republicans that we are too independent, and then telling Democrats that we're not independent enough."
It is not clear where the American Forge Coalition's money or support is coming from, and it almost appears deliberately structured to obscure that information.
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The group is registered as a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization or advocacy group rather than a political action committee (PAC), meaning it does not need to disclose its financial information with the FEC. Groups registered as 501(c)(4) are permitted to advocate for certain issues but barred by law from directly campaigning for a specific candidate in an election.
"There are liberal and conservative groups that have been taking advantage of the Supreme Court Citizens United ruling to spend secret money in our elections," Money in Politics Reform Director Michael Beckel told Fox News Digital. "When you've got a group like the American Forge Coalition popping up, there is a very slim paper trail that somebody can follow to try to make heads or tails of how they are trying to exert influence in election, what special interests or wealthy mega-donors might truly be calling the shots for a group like this."
Fitzpatrick's campaign said the goal of such groups "is to have a Congress where no more pragmatic, reasonable lawmakers are left."
Caitlin Sutherland, executive director at Americans for Public Trust, told Fox News Digital, "The funders behind this group are assuredly leaning left. So at the same time that they're highlighting threats to democracy, they're actively trying to suppress voters. That does seem to be incredibly hypocritical."
Records show the group was created in May 2026 and registered in Delaware, a popular tax haven state.
The Wilmington address it's registered at was highlighted in a 2012 New York Times story because it also happens to be the address of some 285,000 different businesses, from small companies to corporate giants like American Airlines, Google, and JPMorgan Chase.
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"A lot of organizations on both the left and the right incorporate in Delaware, where the incorporation laws are generally viewed as pretty friendly. So from the business records alone, we know very little about the American Forge Coalition," Beckel said.
He said it's very possible the group is being bankrolled by left-wing actors: "This could well be a group masquerading as a conservative entity that is bankrolled by liberal or Democratic-aligned donors, and the public really doesn't have enough to go on to be able to truly assess who the donors are behind these types of really outrageous attack ads."
And there is precedent for such moves on both sides.
In 2024, a California-based group linked to former Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., called "True Patriots PA" was accused of trying to sway voters away from Fitzpatrick in Pennsylvania toward his more right-wing primary challenger, in what appeared to be a bid to give Democrats an easier time in the general election.
But Sutherland said American Forge Coalition's campaign stood out against past tactics in that it was not aimed at bolstering other candidates — just kneecapping Republicans.
"We've seen it before where these liberal dark money groups pop up late in the cycle, and they try to act as a spoiler," she said. "I will say what seems unique about this situation is that they're not trying to promote a third-party candidate, but it really seems the intention is to get Republicans to stay at home. That to me does seem to be a departure this cycle."
Fox News Power Rankings project Democrats winning the House majority by 219 seats, compared to 198 seats likely for Republicans, with 18 remaining as toss-ups. Three of the races — Lawler's, Kiggans', and Miller-Meeks' — are projected to be Democratic pickups, while the remainder are toss-ups, meaning the mailers could potentially help edge the majority away from the GOP if successful.
The group's website does not list any donors or leadership, nor many details at all. The website appears to be an appeal to the populist right, led with the phrase: "WE THE PEOPLE built this country. NOT politicians. NOT foreigners. We're hammering it back into shape — one job, one neighborhood, one law at a time." Its platform advocates for tariffs on "cheap imports," against outsourcing jobs, for building a border wall and deporting "criminals," and stopping "Washington and the globalists from dictating to working families."
American Forge Coalition did not respond to a list of questions sent by Fox News Digital.
Trump won this reliably red state by double digits. Now a deadlocked race is bringing him back
LUBBOCK, Texas — President Donald Trump is heading back to Texas in the final stretch of the midterm campaign in an attempt to rally Republican voters in a too-close-for-comfort Senate race.
Trump will campaign in Corpus Christi on Tuesday morning before heading to Lubbock, deep in West Texas, alongside Republican Senate nominee Ken Paxton.
The two-stop visit comes exactly one week before Election Day and with early voting already underway. And Republicans are confronting an unusually competitive Senate contest in a longtime red-stronghold state that Trump carried by nearly 14 percentage points just two years ago.
A new Fox News poll shows the closely-watched race against Democrat State Rep. James Talarico in a deadlock.
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Tuesday’s stops mark Trump’s fourth visit to the Lone Star State since Labor Day. The president spent two days in Dallas in early September for the GOP’s first-ever midterm convention. He was back in Texas on Oct. 1 for an event at the Peterbilt truck manufacturing plant in Denton, then returned six days later for a campaign rally in San Antonio with Paxton.
A Fox News poll released Wednesday found Paxton, the state attorney general and a MAGA firebrand, and Talarico tied at 49% among likely voters in the race to replace retiring Sen. John Cornyn.
Last month, Talarico held a two-point edge over Paxton, 51%-49%.
The showdown between Paxton, who downed Cornyn earlier this year in a contentious GOP primary battle that went into overtime, and Talarico, a former public school teacher and state lawmaker, is looking to end Democrats’ more than 30-year statewide losing streak in Texas. And the face-off is one of roughly a dozen Senate contests that will determine if the GOP holds on to its slim Senate majority.
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Trump's visit will put both sides of the Senate fight in Lubbock on the same day. Talarico is scheduled to campaign at Texas Tech on Tuesday evening, as Trump rallies with Paxton at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center.
The dueling appearances come as Paxton and Talarico make sharply different closing pitches to voters.
Paxton has sought to tie Talarico to the national Democratic Party and portray him as too liberal for Texas, as his campaign points to past controversial comments by the candidate. Meanwhile, Talarico has capitalized on voter dissatisfaction with Trump's handling of the economy.
HIGH PRICES PUT TRUMP’S ECONOMY IN THE SPOTLIGHT AS THE GOP FIGHTS TO HOLD CONGRESS
The latest Fox News poll found Democrats hold an enthusiasm advantage, with 69% saying they are extremely interested in the election compared with 61% of Republicans. Paxton also faces some resistance within his own party, with 90% of Republicans backing him compared with 98% of Democrats supporting Talarico.
Paxton has faced a slew of scandals and legal problems that have battered him over the past decade, including a 2023 vote by the Texas House of Representatives to impeach him. Paxton was eventually acquitted of all charges by the state Senate. Paxton is also currently dealing with a contentious divorce, with his wife citing "biblical grounds" based on "recent discoveries" as she filed last year to end their marriage.
Beyond the Senate contest, Texas is also central to the battle for control of the House after Republicans redrew the state's congressional map last year to create additional GOP opportunities.
The election will also test whether Trump's 2024 gains among Hispanic voters carry into the midterms. Hispanic likely voters favor Talarico 64%-34%, according to the Fox News poll, a shift from 2024, when Hispanic voters in Texas favored Trump by one point, according to the Fox News Voter Analysis.
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Pocketbook concerns are also weighing on voters.
More than twice as many say they are financially worse off than two years ago as say they are better off, 43%-20%. Those who say they are worse off break heavily for Talarico, while voters who say they are better off or about the same favor Paxton.
With voting underway and the Senate race deadlocked, Trump’s Texas swing will test whether the Republican coalition that delivered him the state two years ago will show up again — this time without him on the ballot.
Carville advises Dems cater to one key demographic for 2028 nominee, but warns 'they're not that liberal'
Veteran Democratic strategist James Carville advised Democrats on Sunday that they need to pay attention to what Black southerners want when picking a nominee for 2028, warning they are not a very socially liberal demographic.
Political strategist Mark McKinnon spoke to Carville on the most recent episode of the "Politics War Room" podcast, noting the 2028 Democratic presidential primary will begin in South Carolina. When he asked Carville what impact that might have, the Democratic strategist offered one key piece of advice for the party.
"The key, single most important voting demographic in selecting a Democratic nominee is, was, and should continue to be southern Blacks," Carville said. "There's no more loyal constituency in the party. And by the way, just so people understand this, they're not that liberal, OK?"
"And what they want and what we're going to find out, and there's an expression, is, ‘I don't want someone that's talk the talk. I want somebody that's walk the walk.’ And when you go to South Carolina and make a pitch — advice from James Carville — talk about things you've done," Carville continued.
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He then parodied recent Democratic Party rhetoric, saying, "Don't say, ‘I am a great friend of people of color.’ That's the stupidest f---ing expression I ever heard."
He advised that if a politician can actually show they have provided opportunities for Black Americans, then they will have actual credibility. Meanwhile, ideologically far-left intellectuals, he warned, would steer the party in an unwise direction, warning, "But don't ever take power of nomination away from southern Blacks. 'Cause if you give it to overly educated people, overly educated people f--- everything up."
"As long as that's there," he said of Black southerners being the core guidance of the Democrats’ 2028 nominee pick, "we're going to have a pretty good nomination."
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Democrat Dan Turrentine, co-host of "The Huddle," concurred in a statement to Fox News Digital about Carville’s comments.
"James is right. The average Black voter, like most Americans, is not crazy liberal," he said. "They are most interested in what you will do to solve today’s problems versus wasting time fantasizing about tomorrow’s revolution. That said, it’s likely the winning candidate will not view this as an ‘either/or’ choice, but find a way to appeal to ‘both’ constituencies."
Dems silent after violent attack in wealthy area of New York City as suspect remains at large
Top Democrats have been silent after the latest in a string of violent attacks in Central Park in New York City, where a suspect is at large after police say he sexually assaulted a woman at knifepoint.
A 39-year-old woman was raped in the park around 8:30 p.m. Saturday by a stranger who threatened her with a knife near the intersection of East 67th Street and East Drive, the NYPD said. It was the fifth reported rape in the NYPD’s Central Park Precinct this year, data show.
"This most recent rape was in an area that's right near $10 million apartments and an area where you would hope that people in this city would feel safe," said Paul Mauro, a retired NYPD inspector and Fox News Contributor.
Two of the state’s top Democratic leaders, Gov. Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James, have so far remained silent on the attack—a stark contrast to their highly visible intervention earlier this month in a separate rape case involving seven Cornell fraternity members, where Hochul swiftly appointed James as a special prosecutor.
CORNELL SEXUAL ASSAULT CASE REVIVES SCRUTINY OF A LITTLE-KNOWN NEW YORK LAW ON INTOXICATED VICTIMS
"Let something hit the news like the Cornell case and all of a sudden they’re all over the media and they’re on a soapbox and they’re holding press conferences," Mauro said.
"We are less than 10 days away from an election, and that has to have a lot to do with it," he added.
ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT RIDESHARE DRIVER CHARGED WITH RAPE IN MARYLAND HAD PRIOR NYC SEX ABUSE ARREST: DHS
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The victim in Saturday’s attack was taken to a hospital and is in "stable condition," police said.
Julie Menin, speaker for the New York City Council, said in a post on X, in part, "I am outraged by this horrific act of violence. My thoughts are with the survivor, and I hope she makes a full recovery. Every New Yorker deserves to feel safe in our city."
WATCH: Central Park rape suspect wanted in New York City
The NYPD asked that anyone with information about the suspect or the attack to call the NYPD's Sex Crimes Hotline at 1-212-267-7273 or 646-610-7272, the Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or, for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/, or on X @NYPDTips.
"Five rapes, five in the confines of Central Park already this year is a very bad number," Mauro said.
For comparison, around this time last year, the precinct reported three rape cases.
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Mauro said the uptick doesn't bode well for NYC public safety. He said police commanders watch Central Park felonies and subway crime as two "bellwether metrics."
"Both of those are very much going in the wrong direction," he said.
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The NYPD said the investigation into Saturday’s attack is active and ongoing.
NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani addressed it during a news conference Monday morning.
He said in part, "Our administration is working to ensure that the survivor has the support that she needs to navigate the next steps. We are going to continue to work with survivors at large, as well as providers and city partners, to strengthen prevention and address gaps in support and to also hold perpetrators of sexual assault accountable and to ensure that this is a city that puts survivors' needs first."
WATCH: 'What happened is horrific’: NYC Mayor Mamdani addresses Central Park knifepoint rape
Obama cozies up to Dem Party's socialist wing as former president makes surprising midterm moves
Former President Barack Obama is increasingly throwing his political weight behind socialist and socialist-aligned Democrats as the party's left wing gains ground ahead of the midterm elections.
Democratic Socialists of America-backed candidates have scored several notable primary victories this year, adding to signs of the left wing's growing influence in Democratic politics ahead of November's midterms. While Obama is not backing every socialist candidate, his recent endorsements and campaign appearances show he is willing to bring some of the party’s most progressive figures into the Democratic coalition.
"President Obama remains the most popular figure in Democratic politics and a kingmaker whose support candidates actively seek," Democratic strategist Kevin Walling told Fox News Digital of the president who left office nearly a decade ago. "He understands that a Democrat who can win in New York City and a Democrat who can win in Michigan and Ohio have different politics, and the ability to bring those people into the same coalition is exactly what makes him so valuable."
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Obama's embrace of the party's progressive wing was on display Saturday in Michigan, where he campaigned alongside Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed, while also lending his support to Florida Senate nominee Angie Nixon in a campaign video.
While El-Sayed does not identify as a democratic socialist or a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, he has embraced progressive policies, including Medicare for All, that have become central to the party's left wing.
During the Michigan rally, Obama invoked healthcare to defend Democrats against accusations that the party has moved too far to the left.
"What is so radical about wanting everybody to have health care?" Obama asked, as he promoted El-Sayed’s pledge to expand access to affordable coverage.
Obama’s comments prompted critics to revisit his own Obamacare-era promises and question the affordability of health care under his signature law. One X commenter sarcastically asked, "I thought someone fixed health care. What happened?" Another responded, "Who’s going to tell him?"
Obama praised Nixon for championing a $15 minimum wage and opposing Republican-backed congressional redistricting maps, calling her a leader "willing to stand up again and again for what’s right" who would make "an outstanding U.S. Senator."
Nixon, a DSA member, is campaigning on Medicare for All, universal child care, rent protections and higher taxes on billionaires.
The former president has also campaigned with Texas Senate candidate James Talarico, whom Republicans have branded a democratic socialist. Talarico has emphasized economic populism, universal health care, stronger unions and campaign-finance restrictions, but does not identify as a socialist.
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Obama’s outreach comes amid a series of primary victories by democratic socialists and other left-wing challengers this year. In Colorado, Melat Kiros defeated longtime Democratic Rep. Diana DeGette, while Donavan McKinney ousted Rep. Shri Thanedar in Michigan. Socialist-backed candidates also won congressional primaries in New York, building on Zohran Mamdani’s 2025 mayoral victory.
Obama's support for the party's socialist left is not new. The former president endorsed Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in her 2018 congressional race and former Rep. Jamaal Bowman in 2020, both of whom received backing from the Democratic Socialists of America.
Obama’s public praise of figures tied to communist movements also extends beyond his current campaign allies.
He has repeatedly celebrated Nelson Mandela, who had documented ties to South Africa’s Communist Party, and wrote warmly in "Dreams from My Father" about Frank Marshall Davis, a former Communist Party USA figure who served as a mentor during Obama’s youth.
Obama also reached out to Mamdani during his 2025 campaign for New York City mayor, praising the democratic socialist's campaign and offering to serve as a sounding board without formally endorsing his candidacy.
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Democratic strategist Mally Smith defended Obama’s campaign activity, arguing that his support reflects an effort to build a broad coalition rather than a wholesale endorsement of every progressive policy.
"President Obama is, by far, the most popular politician in America. He is traveling around the country supporting Democrats from across the party," Smith told Fox News Digital. "He understands we need a big-tent coalition, and that is why he is helping Democrats as diverse as Josh Turek in Iowa to El-Sayed in Michigan."
"The Republicans have no equivalent when it comes to Obama’s broad appeal across the electorate," Smith said. "They are stuck with Trump, who is on a red-state desperation tour because he can’t step foot in any swing state since at-risk Republicans don’t want to be anywhere near him."
At a campaign rally in Kansas, President Trump called Obama "a rotten president," while dismissing his planned appearance with El-Sayed.
"I love Michigan. I don’t believe that Michigan values are gonna allow this guy to get in. He’s an arrogant guy. But Barack Hussein Obama is going up there to help him campaign," said Trump.
Walling said Obama’s strength comes from his ability to support candidates with different political profiles while keeping them under the same Democratic umbrella.
"The former president doesn’t ask which wing of the party a nominee comes from. He asks whether they can win, and he’s helping Democrats build a party broad enough to compete to do just that," Walling said.
Obama’s return to the campaign trail comes as Democrats debate whether the party can turn the energy of its socialist and progressive movements into a national coalition — and whether candidates backed by the party’s left can win beyond deep-blue cities and districts.
Fox News Digital reached out to Obama's office for comment but did not immediately receive a reply.
Trump-backed senator admits GOP faces nightmare scenario in state Republicans haven't lost in 90 years
WICHITA, Kan. — Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., knows that he’s running for his political life, even in deep-red Kansas, where a Democrat hasn’t won since the Great Depression.
It’s a Senate race that, until just a few months ago, was not on national Republicans’ radar. But Adam Hamilton, a well-known megachurch pastor styling himself as a moderate, has made the race uncomfortably close for Marshall and the GOP and pushed what was once a safe bet into toss-up territory.
In an interview with Fox News Digital in Wichita, Kan., hours before President Donald Trump was set to rally behind the embattled incumbent, Marshall acknowledged that if he falls, Democrats may very well gain control of the Senate.
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"I think that, you know, I'm not a political expert, I'm a physician, but if we lose Kansas, I don't see how we keep control of the Senate," Marshall said. "And that's why a vote for Adam Hamilton is a vote for Chuck Schumer and Democrat control of the Senate. It’s that simple."
Republicans are trying to maintain, and even grow, their slim, 53-seat majority in the upper chamber. Kansas, which hasn’t elected a Democrat to the Senate in nearly a century, wasn’t supposed to be a problem.
But political experts on the ground contend that Hamilton’s uniqueness as a candidate — he’s been a prominent figure in Kansas for roughly three decades leading the massive Church of the Resurrection — and the political headwinds associated with Trump have created an ideal environment for Marshall to lose.
"I can't imagine how factors could be any better for Democrats than they are this election cycle," Don Haider-Markel, a professor of political science at the University of Kansas, told Fox News Digital. "The last time it seemed to be close at all was 2020, and that race ended up not being as close."
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That was Marshall’s first race for the Senate, where he won by nearly 12 points with Trump at the top of the ticket.
But as Haider-Markel and others have pointed out, midterm elections are typically a check on the party in power, and Trump is not on the ballot this year, though that’s a reality he implored Kansans to ignore during his rally in Park City, Kansas.
"In this election, I'm asking you to pretend please that I'm on the ballot," Trump said. "Just pretend."
Still, voters in Kansas are dealing with affordability issues and high fuel prices, a point that Marshall admitted was why his race was much closer than outside observers initially predicted.
"Look, it's the price of gas, and I do feel people's pain," Marshall said. "Every year I go to all 105 counties, finish up the 105 counties in June, and as that price of gas went up, I felt more and more frustration."
"So maybe we're up 12 points before the Iran War, and as the price went up our poll numbers went down, so I think it's the price of gas," he continued.
Along the asphalt and concrete arteries that connect Hamilton’s home base of Overland Park, Kansas to what would be, for a brief moment, the center of the MAGA universe in Wichita, neon signs sprouting from gas stations almost all showed fuel prices that hovered just below $4 for gas and well over $6 for diesel.
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Nathaniel Birkhead, a professor of political science at Kansas State University, argued that high gas and diesel prices were certainly a contributing factor to Marshall’s struggles, but not the only one.
Birkhead told Fox News Digital that it was Marshall’s tight connection to Trump at a time when the "Trump Brand is not particularly popular" has left an opening for a Democrat like Hamilton to enter the fray.
"So we have this kind of contrast of Hamilton benefiting from kind of a down year for Republicans. But then also, again, the fact that Marshall is really kind of tying himself to Trump rather than trying to kind of separate himself," Birkhead said. "I think if this had been Jerry Moran running instead of Roger Marshall, I think it'd be far less competitive."
Therein lies the conundrum for Marshall and Republicans — they know that they need Trump’s support and his loyal base of voters, but they have to walk a fine line to capture other Republican voters and independents that might sit this election out, or vote the other way.
And that’s the crux of Marshall’s argument: without MAGA voters, he can’t win.
"Look, I'm the doctor always weighing the benefits and risks of everything. And I'm telling you, we don't win this election without Trump voters getting out and voting," Marshall said. "The majority of the undecideds are Trump supporters. And they need to hear from him, 'Here's the plan, and this is how we're going to bring those prices back down, that if we leave Democrats in control, the price of the gas will never go down.'"
LIZ PEEK: Five reasons Republicans could defy the polls and shock Democrats on Election Day
Election Day is one week away. Most pundits are ready to declare the midterms over and Democrats the victors. But hold on: There are several reasons Republicans may outperform the gloomy polls and forecasts making headlines.
First, Democrats are unpopular. A recent CNN poll showed Democratic favorability at 35%, considerably below the 38% awarded President Trump in the most recent RealClearPolling average.
Second, Republicans are flush with campaign cash that is now flowing into tough races across the country. Money doesn’t win elections (see: Kamala Harris), but it can help snag undecided voters. That is true especially in contests like the Michigan Senate race, where little-known Democrat Abdul El-Sayed is facing off against Mike Rogers, a veteran and moderate GOP former congressman.
Voters are just now discovering allegations about El-Sayed’s possible family ties to the designated terrorist group, the Muslim Brotherhood, causing the polls to tighten. Fox News recently reported, "El-Sayed has also faced scrutiny over social media posts from his half-sister describing their mother's alleged involvement in Muslim Brotherhood activism in the 1970s. He has denied personal or family ties to the organization and said he was raised by his father and stepmother."
Third, President Trump is campaigning vigorously, reminding voters why they elected him. Given the incessant attacks on the commander in chief by the liberal media, his rallies are essential. Yes, his approval numbers have been weighed down by the Iran war, but his appearances will help drive turnout.
Fourth, the far left overwhelmed primaries earlier this year, causing Democrats to put up some controversial candidates, like Senate hopefuls James Talarico in Texas and Troy Jackson in Maine.
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Fifth, to quote a recent piece in The Economist: "The polls could be wrong." While the publication concludes that polling errors at the national level have, in different elections, overcounted both Republicans and Democrats, when it comes to specific states and districts, the goofs follow "a remarkably consistent pattern."
In the current races, The Economist writes, "applying the historical trend to this year’s polls reverses Democratic leads in the pivotal states of Alaska and Texas. In Ohio, the Democratic advantage would be cut to less than one percentage point, while Iowa and Kansas would move from being tied to leaning Republican."
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CNN reported the same thing a few nights ago, with analyst Harry Enten describing Democrats’ lead in numerous toss-up states as "nominal" and pointing out that polling in states won by Trump in the past has undercounted Republicans by more than 4 points. If that same level of error persists, the GOP will win in Texas, Maine, Iowa and Kansas, and keep the Senate.
In this year’s election cycle, polling has come under even more scrutiny than usual, especially as totally made-up surveys have entered the mix and been included in supposedly sophisticated aggregates like those published by The New York Times and FiftyPlusOne, which helped reveal the frauds.
An outfit called Wedgewood Polls admitted that it had fabricated polls as an "experiment." Some have alleged the fake surveys were meant to boost far-left candidates like Wisconsin gubernatorial hopeful Francesca Hong, while others have insinuated that the originators of the Wedgewood polls were using betting sites to benefit from the fallout.
Wedgewood isn’t alone; several other survey organizations, including Median Strategies and Public Sentiment Institute, have also been revealed as dishonest or out-and-out frauds. Whatever confidence people had in the polling industry has deflated like a Hillary Clinton election-night balloon.
Remember that most media outlets are rooting for Democrats to take over Congress and punish President Trump. Publishing stories and polls that present the election as essentially over is calculated. If it suppresses GOP turnout and campaign donations in close races, so much the better.
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No one should be driven by polls or gloomy headlines. Instead, consider which candidate is offering policies that history shows lead to better outcomes: lower taxes, lighter regulations that reduce costs, robust law enforcement that produces safer communities, strict oversight of welfare spending that reduces fraud and enables assistance for those who need it, and rigorous education.
Those are the policies that have made Florida more successful than New York and Texas more appealing than California. Policies matter.
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Voters should also ignore Democratic race-baiting. When President Obama, campaigning in Michigan with Sen. Elissa Slotkin for Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, said, "Imagine the power duo of Abdul and Elissa. You got a Muslim man, a Jewish woman, fighting for you in the U.S. Senate. That’s something, Michigan, you can be proud of." That’s vintage Obama, slicing and dicing our politics along race and gender lines, which should have nothing to do with how you vote.
What does matter—in Michigan as elsewhere—is that progressives like El-Sayed are pushing Medicare for All and want to eliminate the kind of gold-plated private insurance packages that unions like the UAW have worked so hard to win. El-Sayed claims that if you like your existing insurance, you can keep it, reminding us of President Obama’s false promise that "If you like your health care plan, you can keep it." That canard was PolitiFact’s Lie of the Year in 2013 after Obamacare caused millions of plans to be canceled.
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What matters in New York and many other Democratic-led states is that taxes will have to go up to cover the promises made by far-left politicians. You cannot provide free health care, free child care and free services to people in the U.S. illegally without boosting taxes. New York is already the most-taxed state in the country. The budget for the state is twice that of Florida despite having fewer residents; this is unsustainable.
What matters across the country is maintaining U.S. energy self-sufficiency and boosting employment. When New York progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez calls to shut down fossil fuel production and Gov. Kathy Hochul slaps a moratorium on new hyperscale data centers, they are embracing policies that will cost their state jobs and incomes. That matters.
President Trump was elected on a common-sense, pro-growth agenda. The Iran war complicates that message, but voters should remember that Democrats largely oppose the U.S.-led technological innovations that are driving progress worldwide, will block exploitation of America’s abundant fossil fuels, and will again embrace Joe Biden’s open border.
Those disastrous policies are not the way forward.
Trump Accounts are just the beginning. Young Americans need a path to homeownership
In March of last year, my daughter Margot was born, and like any new father, I found myself thinking about the opportunities that would shape her future. I recently enrolled her in a Trump Account, President Donald Trump's initiative to help American children begin building wealth from an early age. With a $1,000 federal contribution for eligible children born between 2025 and 2028, the program gives the next generation an opportunity to benefit from decades of investment growth.
As President Trump's former Federal Housing Administration Commissioner, I also believe Trump Accounts should be just the beginning for how we can help young Americans build lasting wealth. In particular, I think we are at a pivotal point in American history to enact new policies to help generations of families achieve financial independence through owning their first home.
At 20 years old, I purchased my first house for $200,000 using an FHA-insured mortgage that required just 3.5% down, or $7,000. I also benefited from an $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit. Today, that property has more than doubled in value. Yet I worry that the path to homeownership is becoming increasingly difficult for Margot’s generation. According to the National Association of Realtors, first-time buyers now account for just 21% of home purchases, the lowest share on record since tracking began in 1981.
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The natural next step after the President’s creation of Trump Accounts for young children is to help this same generation achieve the dream of homeownership. I believe this new policy should be called a Trump Mortgage program, which can be a national initiative designed to help qualified first-time homebuyers secure mortgage rates one to one-and-a-half percentage points below prevailing market rates.
Here’s how we can develop the policy for the Trump Mortgage: First, the Treasury, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac can immediately purchase the mortgage bonds backed by qualifying first-time homebuyer mortgages. The objective would be to facilitate the financing of these mortgages at lower rates using the secondary bond market, similar to a strategy already being deployed by Secretary Bessent and FHFA Director Pulte.
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The government should then hold onto these bonds while interest rates remain elevated and sell them when rates decline. It is important to note that this program won’t provide free money as Treasury, Fannie and Freddie are already in the business of buying mortgage backed securities. Any program would have clear limits on its size, funding costs, prepayment risk, and taxpayer exposure.
Next, Congress should expand the use of existing tax-exempt mortgage financing. This isn’t some untested financial innovation. State housing finance agencies have been issuing tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds for decades. Since investors generally accept lower yields when interest is exempt from federal income tax, eligible borrowers can benefit from lower mortgage rates.
Congress already has bipartisan legislation proposed to expand the capacity of these programs. We should build on that existing model and explore whether a broader first-time homebuyer initiative like the Trump Mortgage program makes sense.
Consider a young couple purchasing a $350,000 home with a $330,000 30 year mortgage. At a 6.5% interest rate, their monthly principal and interest payment would be approximately $2,086, but reducing that rate to 5% would lower the payment to roughly $1,772. For a family balancing childcare, groceries and the everyday expenses of raising children, saving more than $300 every month and $100,000 over the life of the loan that could be the difference between continuing to rent and finally purchasing a home
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Of course, lower mortgage rates alone will not solve America's housing shortage, and expanding access to financing must go hand in hand with policies that make it easier to build more homes. During my tenure leading the FHA, I saw firsthand how thoughtful reforms could reduce costs, improve efficiency and expand access to homeownership without abandoning responsible lending standards.
When I purchased my first home, I never imagined where that opportunity would lead. Today, as I think about Margot's future, I hope she will inherit a country where buying a first home is a realistic milestone rather than a distant aspiration. President Trump has given her generation a head start on building wealth with Trump Accounts, and now we have an opportunity to help turn those early investments into achieving the American Dream with the Trump Mortgage.