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HHS bureaucrats accused of 'sabotaging' RFK Jr.'s efforts to expose Fauci records
FIRST ON FOX: A Senate Republican leading a dive into Dr. Anthony Fauci’s old government iPhone alleged that "career bureaucrats" within Fauci’s old agency are sabotaging the senator’s and others’ quest for information from the pandemic era.
Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., told Fox News Digital that he believed longtime employees of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) were putting up roadblocks to his own probe and other information trawling expeditions pushed by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
"Again, we don't know what we don’t know," Johnson said. "We don't know what HHS has. Bobby Kennedy doesn't know what HHS has."
FAUCI HELD IN CONTEMPT AS COVID CELLPHONE LANDS IN HANDS OF SENATE INVESTIGATORS
Johnson, along with Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., received a copy of Fauci’s personal work phone from HHS as part of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee’s broader investigation into the former head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).
On Monday, Johnson’s panel, the Senate Homeland Security Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, released the first tranche of private messages found on the device, which included over 34,000 text messages and 522 voicemails.
The first batch of texts, exchanged between Fauci and former Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky and Dr. Vivek Murthy, who would become surgeon general under the Biden administration, revealed that Fauci had concerns about the effects of the second dose of mRNA vaccines on pregnant women in the first trimester.
FAUCI'S HHS IPHONE TURNED OVER TO SENATE INVESTIGATORS AS CONTEMPT VOTE LOOMS
"I asked around a bit more and another issue came up that you need to be aware of," Fauci wrote. "Since many people have significant cytokines storm and fever after the 2nd dose, this theoretically could be associated with miscarriage in the 1st trimester."
The lawmaker believed that the revelation was just the "tip of the iceberg," but has remained cautious with his investigation and what information dumps come next, particularly to protect the personal information of others who may be included in the communications.
FAUCI IN THE HOT SEAT AS GOP SENATOR TEARS INTO 'TRULY SICK' VACCINE TEXTS: 'TIP OF THE ICEBERG'
He argued that releasing the first batch of texts was based on public health and safety concerns, said that Fauci’s concern "immediately impacts public safety, immediately impacts informed consent."
As he waded through the rest of the information on the phone, Johnson believed that there was more to find about the HHS’ handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, and charged that even though Kennedy was at the helm, not even he had full knowledge of the information that could be lurking within the agency.
"I mean, fortunately, now we have Bobby Kennedy, I think gaining a little bit more control over the agency," Johnson said. "Remember, most of the people serving in these agencies have been there a long time, and they were involved in the cover-up. They were supposed to be surveilling for vaccine injuries and they weren’t."
"So, you know, Bobby Kennedy has people in those agencies sabotaging his efforts at radical transparency," he continued. "So this is like pulling teeth. So, I mean, I did not know they had government-issued phones. They've been sitting there, locked away somewhere."
HHS did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Dangerous drug-resistant fungus spreads across US, reaching 27 states
Thousands of cases of a potentially deadly, drug-resistant fungus have been reported across 27 states so far this year, according to provisional CDC data.
As of the week ending July 25, a total of 3,437 clinical cases of Candida auris (C. auris) had been documented in the U.S. so far in 2026.
California accounts for 873 cases — roughly one-quarter of the country’s total. Other states with high numbers include Texas (433), Tennessee (283), Ohio (279), Georgia (193), Louisiana (179), Illinois (171), Arizona (171), Michigan (146), Virginia (132) and Pennsylvania (121), per the CDC.
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The remaining states have fewer than 100 cases each.
Candida auris is a type of yeast that can cause serious infections, primarily in hospitals, nursing homes and other healthcare settings.
The fungus, which can survive on surfaces for prolonged periods, is "highly transmissible between patients through contact with contaminated surfaces or objects," the CDC states. It can spread through contaminated items such as bedrails, doorknobs and shared medical equipment.
C. auris can also be spread by people who carry the fungus but do not show symptoms, known as "colonization."
Clinical cases do not necessarily represent infections. The CDC defines a clinical case as detection of C. auris in a specimen collected during the normal course of medical care.
Some clinical specimens can come from sites where the presence of C. auris may represent colonization rather than a true infection.
The health effects of the fungus can range from colonization without symptoms to potentially deadly invasive infections, including bloodstream infections.
Those most at risk of infection include patients with severe underlying medical conditions. In particular, those who use breathing tubes, feeding tubes, IVs or catheters are more vulnerable, as are those who are hospitalized frequently or for long periods of time.
People without those risk factors are unlikely to become colonized with C. auris or develop an infection.
Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News senior medical analyst and clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone, said he considers C. auris an "emerging problem of great concern."
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"It is resistant to multiple antifungal drugs, and it tends to spread in hospital settings, including on equipment being used on immunocompromised and semi-immunocompromised patients, such as ventilators and catheters," he previously told Fox News Digital.
"Unfortunately, symptoms such as fever, chills and aches may be ubiquitous, and it can be mistaken for other infections."
Invasive C. auris infections have been associated with mortality rates of 30% to 72%, although most affected patients are already seriously ill. This can make it difficult to determine how often the fungus is a direct cause of death.
Candida auris can be difficult to treat because it is often resistant to antifungal medications, leading the CDC to classify the fungus as an "urgent antimicrobial-resistance threat."
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More than 90% of U.S. samples are resistant to fluconazole, a common antifungal treatment. Echinocandins, another family of antifungals, are currently the main treatment option for C. auris, although some strains are resistant to all three main classes of antifungals.
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"Major research" is ongoing to develop new treatments, according to Siegel.
"This is part of a much larger problem of emerging antibiotic resistance in the U.S. and around the world," the physician previously cautioned. "At the same time, sterilization and disinfection measures in hospitals can be very helpful."
Fox News Digital's Angelica Stabile contributed reporting.
2 custodians dead in possible murder-suicide at Chicago elementary school
Two custodians were found shot to death Monday inside a Chicago elementary school after one of them allegedly killed his co-worker before turning the weapon on himself, according to reports.
A 48-year-old woman and a 63-year-old man were found unresponsive inside Mark Twain Elementary School just after 3:30 p.m., the Chicago Police Department said.
Both were shot once in the head, authorities said. They were taken to local hospitals, where they were pronounced dead.
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An unspecified weapon was found at the scene.
School principal Matthew Moline confirmed the deaths in a letter to parents, WTTW-TV reported. He said shots were fired inside the building at a time when no students were present.
"I am sorry to share that members of our school community were impacted," he wrote.
SEIU Local 73, the union that represents Chicago Public Schools custodial employees, confirmed both unidentified victims worked at the elementary school.
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"The only facts we know right now are that two families have lost a loved one and our prayers are with their families, and the staff, students, and families at Mark Twain Elementary School," SEIU Local 73 Executive Vice President Trumaine Reeves said in a statement.
The older custodian was upset that he was slated to be transferred from the school, the Chicago Sun-Times reported, citing a police report. He allegedly shot his co-worker before shooting himself, according to the newspaper.
"We know that this news will be deeply concerning to our families and staff," Moline wrote in his letter. "We will work to provide additional information to the school community as the investigation proceeds."
Fox News Digital has reached out to the police department, Chicago Public Schools, and Moline, the school principal.
Vikings quarterback battle meets expected end as Kyler Murray beats out JJ McCarthy for starting job
If two quarterbacks who have been inconsistent in their careers and inconsistent in practice despite moments of clarity need to settle the battle for the starting job, what does an NFL franchise do in picking one? The Minnesota Vikings answered that on Tuesday by picking Kyler Murray.
Minnesota coach Kevin O'Connell has named Kyler Murray his starting quarterback, according to ESPN.
No Vikings source would confirm the decision as final to Fox News Digital/OutKick, although all said picking Murray over third-year veteran J.J. McCarthy was the expectation.
Yes, this was predictable.
VIKINGS SIGNING KYLER MURRAY MAKES J.J. MCCARTHY ODD MAN OUT
The sources pointed to Murray's greater experience in his eighth NFL season as a major factor in separating him from the younger McCarthy.
This is not good news for McCarthy. The No. 10 pick of the 2024 draft, he is now sidelined at a time in his career when most first-rounders are expected to blossom as veterans.
McCarthy, who missed his rookie year with a knee injury, has only 10 NFL starts and that inability to hold the starting job and beat out Murray raises questions about his future.
The Vikings may decide McCarthy is a valuable trade commodity because they also have Carson Wentz and Max Brosmer on the roster.
Murray, who has been splitting first-team practice repetitions with McCarthy throughout the offseason and at the start of training camp, can now move forward as not only the team's clear starter but leader.
He apparently could use as much work with the starters on offense as he can get in the month that remains before the regular-season opener because Murray has by multiple accounts, struggled at times in recent weeks.
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The Vikings begin the season on Sept. 13 against the Green Bay Packers.
In winning the starting job, Murray will be trying to replicate the success Sam Darnold enjoyed with the club in 2024. Darnold jumped from team to team and came to the Vikings needing a career reset.
He got that by beating out McCarthy once news of the rookie's injury came to light. And he went on to have a great season and eventually signed with the Seattle Seahawks before leading them to the Super Bowl title last season.
Murray, the No. 1 pick of the 2019 draft, signed a one-year deal with Minnesota in the offseason with the thought of earning the starting role, but also finding a place in which he could eventually settle over the latter part of his career.
Murray is scheduled to be a free agent after this season so winning this starting job is a significant step toward accomplishing that goal.
The next step would be, you know, playing well – certainly playing better than he's practiced at times lately.
Shared VPN vs dedicated IP: Which one is right for you?
If you've started shopping for a VPN, you've probably come across the terms shared IP and dedicated IP. While they may sound technical, the difference is actually pretty straightforward, and choosing the right one can make your online experience smoother.
Both options encrypt your internet traffic and protect your connection, but they serve different purposes. One prioritizes maximum privacy by blending your activity with thousands of other users. The other gives you your own personal IP address, making it easier to access certain online services without additional verification.
Here's what each option does, and how to decide which one is right for you.
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A shared IP is exactly what it sounds like: multiple VPN users connect through the same public IP address. When dozens, or even hundreds, of people are using the same IP at different times, it becomes much harder for websites or other observers to associate online activity with any one individual. That's one reason shared IPs are the default choice for most VPN services.
The trade-off is that shared IPs can sometimes trigger CAPTCHAs, blocked logins or extra verification if a website sees too much activity coming from the same address. That is one reason some people look for ways to fix a VPN that keeps getting blocked.
A dedicated IP is reserved exclusively for you. No one else using the VPN service shares that IP address. Because your IP remains consistent every time you connect, websites and online services recognize it as the same connection. That can make certain activities more convenient, especially if you regularly access accounts that use IP-based security checks.
For example, some businesses only allow employees to log in from approved IP addresses. Using a dedicated IP allows your company to "whitelist" this IP so that you can log in smoothly every time.
A dedicated IP can also reduce the number of verification requests you receive when signing in to banking websites, business software, or other accounts that flag unfamiliar locations. If you've ever been annoyed by a CAPTCHA (e.g., "which one of these photos is of a motorcycle?") when trying to log in from a new location, you'll appreciate the consistency of a dedicated IP address.
Some people might argue that letting your VPN provider assign you a dedicated IP inherently makes you less private. This is where your choice of VPN provider is important. A reputable VPN provider distributes IP addresses with a zero-knowledge allocation system, meaning not even the provider can trace it back to you.
With this kind of dedicated IP, you still receive the privacy and encryption benefits of a VPN; the difference is simply that your VPN IP belongs only to you.
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The answer depends on how you use the internet. A shared IP is usually the better option if your main goals are privacy, anonymous browsing, and protecting your data while traveling or using public Wi-Fi. Since many people are using the same address, your online activity is more difficult to distinguish from everyone else's.
A dedicated IP makes sense if convenience is your priority. If you frequently work remotely, access company resources with IP restrictions, manage servers remotely, or want fewer login challenges from websites that recognize your connection, having your own VPN IP can save time. Neither option is inherently more secure than the other. Both encrypt your internet traffic and hide your original IP address from the websites you visit. The main difference is whether you want to share your VPN identity with other users or have one reserved just for yourself.
When deciding between the two, keep these guidelines in mind:
IS YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER ON THE DARK WEB?
For this kind of VPN setup, look for strong privacy protections, fast speeds and the option to add a dedicated IP if your needs change.
A strong VPN should use modern encryption, follow a verified no-logs policy and include a kill switch that blocks internet traffic if the VPN connection drops. It should also work across iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac and compatible routers.
Look for a provider with servers in many countries, support for streaming and secure browsing, multiple simultaneous device connections and responsive customer support. A money-back guarantee can also give you time to test its speed, reliability and ease of use before committing.
For the best VPN software, see my expert review of the best VPNs for browsing the web privately on your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at CyberGuy.com.
Both shared and dedicated VPN IP addresses offer the core benefits people expect from a VPN: encrypted internet traffic, improved online privacy, and protection on public networks. The right choice comes down to how you use the internet. For most people, a shared IP provides the best balance of privacy and simplicity. If you need a consistent online identity for work, secure logins, or specialized services, a dedicated IP may be worth considering. Whichever option you choose, using a trusted VPN helps keep your internet activity more private and your connections more secure across your computers, smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, and other devices.
Would you rather use a shared VPN IP for more privacy or a dedicated IP for smoother logins? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.
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NBA appears to prioritize European audience with announcement of unique 2026-27 season opener
The NBA is a global league.
That is a statement that basketball fans have heard countless times, especially since Adam Silver took over as the league's commissioner in 2014, but we have perhaps never seen an announcement by the NBA that better represents that statement than the one the league made on Tuesday.
The league shared the news that the 2026-27 NBA regular season will get underway on Tuesday, Oct. 20, with the Detroit Pistons playing host to the Boston Celtics. Two historic Eastern Conference foes tipping off a new season, with the presumption of a marquee matchup to follow the same evening, would be a standard move for the league.
That is the case here with the Philadelphia 76ers and New York Knicks and the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs following the opener on Tuesday, but there is one very important detail to note: the Celtics-Pistons game will tip off at 3 p.m. ET.
Celebrating the start of a new NBA season on a Tuesday afternoon when the majority of the league's North American fanbase will be working seems like a bizarre decision. One, and perhaps the only explanation here, is that the league's season-opening decision doesn't actually have fans in North America at the top of mind.
The NBA appeasing its fans across Europe would make sense following the viewership explosion from fans across the pond a season ago.
The 2025-26 NBA season marked the first of the league's 11-year media deal with Disney, NBCUniversal, and Amazon Prime, with Prime confirming that its coverage of the league outside of the U.S. was up 28% year-over-year.
According to SVG Europe, viewership of NBA games on Prime across Europe was up 129% year-over-year versus the previous season. The NBA Finals saw an uptick of 130% compared to the previous season across Europe.
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While the Celtics-Pistons season opener will be broadcast on NBC/Peacock, and the viewership uptick previously mentioned reflects Prime, it's safe to assume European fans will manage to find the broadcast on NBC and put up large viewership numbers.
The Celtics-Pistons contest will tip off at 9 PM local time in London.
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As part of the 11-year partnership, NBCU distributes games in several European markets through Sky Sports, which is widely available across cable in many European countries.
The NBA is also set to host regular season games in Paris, France, along with Manchester, England, in January 2027.
Sherrill drops head-turning voter ID declaration in wake of registration fiasco: ‘Significant shift’
New Jersey Democratic Gov. Mikie Sherrill says she would support a voter ID law in the Garden State — even as she slams President Donald Trump’s federal SAVE Act push as "voter suppression."
"Governor Sherrill supports the current rules requiring ID for voter registration and she is open to considering proposals to strengthen those to make sure we have the strongest, fairest elections in the nation," a spokesperson in the governor's office told Fox News Digital on Tuesday.
Sherrill’s comments hand New Jersey Republicans a new opening to press Democrats on voter ID, even as she rejects Trump’s broader federal election push under the SAVE America Act.
Sherrill's office responded to Fox News Digital on Tuesday after the Garden State Democrat told local media in July she would support a voter ID law if one were passed in New Jersey, saying she "doesn't have a problem with voter ID."
SCHUMER SAID ‘DEMOCRATS SUPPORT VOTER ID’ — THEN EVERY SENATE DEMOCRAT VOTED AGAINST GOP BILL
"I’m very opposed to the SAVE Act," Sherrill added at the time. "I do believe that is just a tool of voter suppression and an attempt to get all of the personal identifying information of New Jerseyans into the federal government systems, which I’m opposed to."
Sherrill served in the House for seven years and voted against the SAVE Act in 2025, with her office describing the measure as an "extreme voter suppression bill."
Sherrill is facing criticism after announcing last month that a Motor Vehicle Commission system error improperly registered roughly 6,600 people who had indicated they were not U.S. citizens. The state said fewer than 400 people newly registered because of the error voted, and later announced that more than 4,500 registrations were being removed while the remaining cases undergo additional review because some of those individuals may be citizens.
New Jersey Assembly Minority Leader John DiMaio told Fox News Digital Sherrill's recent comments mark a "significant shift" after years of Republicans in the Garden State advocating for voter ID.
"But agreeing with us publicly is the easy part," DiMaio said, adding that Democratic legislative leaders control what gets a hearing and a vote, and that Republicans have so far heard nothing from them on voter ID.
"We’ve been pushing voter ID and other election integrity reforms for years. The bills are already introduced. We’ve repeatedly called for hearings and votes. The roadblock has been Democratic legislative leadership," the Republican state leader said.
DiMaio said the Motor Vehicle System failure exposed serious weaknesses in New Jersey’s election safeguards and they still have not heard an answer of what went wrong.
Voter-ID requirements have repeatedly become major partisan fights at the state level, with Democrats and voting-rights groups arguing that some requirements can make it harder for eligible voters to cast ballots.
One of the most prominent battles erupted in Georgia in 2021. The state already required photo ID for in-person voting, but a sweeping Republican-backed election law added identification requirements for absentee voting along with other changes. The backlash went national, with MLB moving its 2021 All-Star Game out of Atlanta and some Hollywood figures threatening boycotts.
HARRIS BECOMES ACCIDENTAL SAVE ACT ‘SALESWOMAN’ AS TRUMP ATTACK SPECTACULARLY BACKFIRES
"Governor Sherrill served our country in the military and as a public servant because she believes in every citizen's right to participate in our democracy by voting. That's why she has stood firm against MAGA Republicans' voter suppression attempts and Trump’s demands for New Jersey voters’ personal identifiable information," said a spokesperson in the office of the governor.
"She has already made voting more accessible by signing the John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act and expanded early voting in municipal elections," the spokesperson added, referencing the law that bans voter intimidation and discrimination, expanding language assistance, and requiring extra review of election changes in places with a history of discrimination.
Trump has continued to prioritize and highlight the issue of noncitizens on voter rolls as he renewed his push for the SAVE America Act, which would require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to register for federal elections and photo identification to cast a federal ballot.
"I think they should pass Voter I.D. I think they should pass proof of citizenship—basically SAVE America Act... I think that should be something that we should absolutely get," Trump said in the Oval Office Monday.
Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment.
Stephen A. Smith blames ‘the right’ for WNBA firestorm, says league ‘left the door open’
ESPN host Stephen A. Smith tried to pin some of the political turmoil surrounding the WNBA on "the right," but his argument ultimately circled back to the league's own failures.
Even as Smith accused conservatives of politicizing controversy, he argued that the WNBA created the opening by failing to establish clear rules and leadership, namely around the transgender issue increasingly confronting the league.
On his eponymous YouTube show Monday, Smith put the responsibility on the league office, arguing that its lack of clear guidelines has allowed disputes over biological males competing in women's sports to consume the conversation.
THE WNBA HAS LIMITED OPTIONS AFTER TWO MEN DECLARED FOR THE DRAFT, AND THOSE OPTIONS AREN'T GREAT
"You’ve got to have rules and regulations," Smith said. "You’ve got to have law. You’ve got to have order. You can’t have this."
Smith then turned his attention to the right, accusing conservatives of maneuvering through the controversy for political advantage.
That includes former NBA players Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White, who have declared themselves eligible for the 2027 WNBA Draft in an effort to challenge the league's gender-eligibility rules.
Smith's larger point: The WNBA left the door open for its political opponents to walk right through it.
FORMER NBA STAR ENES KANTER FREEDOM WRITES LETTER TO WNBA OFFICIALLY DECLARING FOR 2027 DRAFT
"Sure, the right is maneuvering its way through the terrain and politicizing this issue," Smith said. "It doesn’t negate the fact that the WNBA left the door open for it to happen. They have dropped the ball. I’m talking about the league office. I’m not talking about players."
Smith blamed the right for exploiting the controversy while simultaneously arguing that the WNBA made itself vulnerable to that exploitation.
"And now it’s gotten to the point where everything about them is going to be politicized."
Smith brought up Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham, who has drawn attention for speaking out on women's sports and has taken plenty of heat for views that don't exactly mesh with the WNBA establishment.
Smith pointed to Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier and questioned whether the Republican official would show the same interest if an athlete expressed liberal views. Smith also made clear that he agrees with Cunningham's position on protecting female athletics.
"You’ve got the Florida attorney general. Clearly, it’s politicized. I wonder if he would have said that if it was somebody other than Sophie Cunningham, who obviously has made a name for herself speaking up about the issues that she has spoken about as it pertains to protecting girls in competitive sports, which, by the way, I support her position on," Smith said.
"If that had been a liberal, or somebody with a liberal-thinking mind in terms of that particular issue, who spouted stuff opposite of what Sophie Cunningham would have said, would the Florida attorney general, James Uthmeier, have taken that position then? I don’t think so, but I don’t know."
But Smith's attempt to blame the right for politicizing the controversy also served his broader criticism of the WNBA.
"But the time has come for folks to stop whining about how stuff is being politicized and do something about it so it can’t be politicized," Smith said. "Do something or suck it up! Do something or suck it up. You don’t have a choice other than those two."
Smith closed with a warning: As long as the WNBA keeps serving up perceived double standards, critics will keep feasting on them.
"You’ve got to take a stand at some point, because folks are coming," Smith said. "Because it’s an opportunity to point out flagrant hypocrisies, and they’re not going to pass it up, no matter what folks say."
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Michigan Democrat Haley Stevens backs El-Sayed after narrow primary defeat, calls socialism ‘dangerous’
Michigan Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens rallied behind former opponent Abdul El-Sayed following her narrow Senate primary defeat last week, casting the decision as a matter of accepting the will of Democratic voters despite their political differences.
"That's called democracy," Stevens said while defending her endorsement on Tuesday.
"You don't sign up for a Democratic Party to be salty grapes and... just continue to hold a grudge," she added.
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Stevens, who was viewed as the more moderate of the Democrats vying to succeed retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters, spent the primary drawing contrasts with El-Sayed on issues ranging from Israel to the direction of the Democratic Party.
Those differences haven't disappeared with the primary.
During an appearance on "America's Newsroom," Stevens reaffirmed her identity as a "Zionist Democrat" while acknowledging that candidates who share her politics haven't been faring as well in Democratic primaries.
"I believe in democracy. He won the majority of the votes, and I'm going to continue to stand by my positions," she told co-anchor Bill Hemmer.
LEFT-WING ACTIVISTS HECKLE PRO-ISRAEL DEMOCRAT HALEY STEVENS AT MICHIGAN CONVENTION
"I'm a Zionist Democrat. I am a Democrat who gets endorsed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the AFL-CIO. I have been recognized over and over again as one of our most effective lawmakers. I identify problems and I solve them... I'm a patriot. I love our freedoms. I love this country and, yes, I am still in the Democratic Party, even though folks like me maybe aren't winning our primaries."
El-Sayed, meanwhile, has emerged as a prominent figure on the party's progressive flank.
While he rejects the "socialist" label, El-Sayed backs several progressive policies, including abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), ending U.S. military aid to Israel and establishing Medicare for all.
Stevens also drew a clear distinction between her former opponent and socialism, noting that her former rival had rejected the label before offering her own assessment of the ideology.
"My Democratic opponent, now the Democratic nominee for Senate in Michigan, has disavowed socialism. I think we all should. It's dangerous," she said.
She went on to identify herself as a "proud... Democratic labor capitalist" who had made that aspect of her identity a tenet of her campaign.
Trump cheers Alito staying for another Supreme Court term: 'One of the greatest of all time'
In a late-night social media post, President Donald Trump celebrated Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito's decision to remain on the bench for another term.
Trump’s celebration of the 76-year-old conservative stalwart’s decision to put off retirement comes as the midterms raise the stakes over how long Republicans will retain the Senate majority needed to confirm any eventual successor.
"Great news for our Country! Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito has announced that he is staying for another Term," Trump wrote Monday night on Truth Social. "He is one of the Greatest of All Time. We are all lucky!"
Alito confirmed last week that he plans to remain on the nation's highest court for its coming term, batting down months of speculation that he could retire while Trump is in the White House and Republicans still control the Senate.
ALITO NOT EXPECTED TO RETIRE THIS TERM, COOLING SUPREME COURT VACANCY SPECULATION: SOURCES
"Obviously, I'm here for another term," Alito said in an interview published by The Wall Street Journal.
The Supreme Court’s next term begins in October and typically concludes with its final opinions in late June or early July. The justices are currently on their summer recess.
Alito and fellow conservative Justice Clarence Thomas, 78, have faced some calls from conservatives to step down, which would give Trump one potential last chance to appoint a fourth Supreme Court justice to the lifetime post.
Trump appointed three others during his first term in office – Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett – giving the court a 6-3 conservative majority that has issued a series of major rulings since 2020.
"It's not pleasant, in the sense that it's a reminder of mortality," Alito told the Journal about the calls to retire. "It's like, what are those vultures doing up there? They are flying around. But it goes with life tenure."
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The window to replace one of the court's oldest conservative justices with a younger jurist who could potentially remain on the bench for decades might narrow considerably after November.
Republicans currently hold a 53-47 Senate advantage, counting the two independents who caucus with Democrats on the Democratic side. Because Supreme Court nominees require Senate confirmation, a Democratic takeover in the 2026 midterms could effectively prevent Trump from replacing Alito — or any other justice — with a nominee opposed by a unified Democratic majority.
Democrats would need a net gain of four seats to reach 51 and take outright control, with Republican Vice President JD Vance otherwise positioned to break a 50-50 tie.
That reality places unusual weight on Alito's decision to remain.
Alito was born April 1, 1950, making him 76, and has served on the Supreme Court since January 2006 after being nominated by President George W. Bush. He is one of the court's most consistently conservative members.
The court has disclosed relatively little about Alito's health over the years, signaling he remains in good health. Alito did have a minor incident while attending a Federalist Society event in Philadelphia on March 20, being treated for dehydration after his security detail urged him to see a doctor rather than make the roughly three-hour drive home.
He was released that night, was subsequently examined by his physician and returned to work the following Monday.
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Questions about Alito’s longevity on the bench and decision to stay introduces another potential inflection point: the 2028 presidential election.
If the White House changes parties in 2028, Alito remaining beyond Trump’s term carries the risk for conservatives that a future Democratic president could nominate his successor the following January.
That outcome is far from predetermined, and subject to whatever party controls the Senate, but the modern political era has repeatedly seen the White House swing between parties.
In six of the seven elections since 1988 that produced a new president, control of the presidency also changed parties — the lone exception being Republican George H.W. Bush's victory after Ronald Reagan in 1988. That run includes the succession from Bush to Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Trump, Joe Biden and back to Trump.
For Trump, the stakes surrounding an aging Supreme Court justice are hardly theoretical.
He confronted perhaps the most consequential Supreme Court vacancy of his first presidency on Sept. 18, 2020, when reporters informed him on an airport tarmac after a campaign rally in Bemidji, Minnesota, that liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg had died.
TRUMP PRAISES LINDSEY GRAHAM AS SENATOR WHOSE KAVANAUGH FIGHT CHANGED SUPREME COURT HISTORY
"She just died? Wow. I didn't know that," Trump said before praising Ginsburg as an "amazing woman" who had led an "amazing life."
The timing immediately transformed the final weeks of the 2020 presidential campaign.
Trump moved quickly to select then-Judge Amy Coney Barrett to replace Ginsburg – just eight days after her death – and the Republican-controlled Senate confirmed Barrett on Oct. 26, 2020, by a 52-48 vote, just 27 days after her nomination, eight days before Election Day.
Landing three new justices during a single four-year presidential term was a historically rare achievement. Not since Richard Nixon's first term had a president placed at least three new members on the Supreme Court in one term. Nixon ultimately placed four — Warren Burger, Harry Blackmun, Lewis Powell and William Rehnquist — on the court before beginning his second term.
Trump's three appointments have continued to shape some of the most consequential rulings of his second administration, making the future of Alito's seat particularly significant for both parties.
For now, Alito has made his choice to stay active, with Trump is cheering him on.
Reuters contributed to this report.