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Jasmine Crockett uses Trump's 'Low IQ' insults to launch her Texas Senate campaign in debut ad
Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Texas launched her Senate campaign Monday with an ironic ad using President Donald Trump's past insults against her, prompting a flurry of reactions on social media.
Her campaign was announced in a video posted on X on Monday afternoon. In the ad, Crockett was shown standing as Trump's verbal jabs played in the background.
"How about this new one they have? Their new star, Crockett. How about her? She's the new star of the Democrat Party, Jasmine Crockett. They're in big trouble," Trump is heard saying in the video.
"Somebody said the other day, she's one of the leaders of the party. I said you gotta be kidding," the audio of Trump continued.
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"Oh man, oh man. She's a very low IQ person…now they're gonna rely on Crockett. Crockett's gonna bring them back."
The ad was well-received by liberal commentators on X, who described it as a strong debut.
"Jasmine Crockett’s launch ad is brilliant," Ed Krassenstein wrote.
Jasmine Crockett is running for the United States Senate and Republicans should be terrified," Democratic strategist Adam Parkhomenko said. "She’s smart, fearless, relentless, and she doesn’t back down from anybody. This is the matchup Texas deserves. Let’s go."
On the other side of the political aisle, conservatives and critics reacted to the ad with mockery.
"I never thought I’d say this but I agree with every word of this Jasmine Crockett ad," commentator Matt Walsh wrote.
"A few months ago it was reported that Jasmine Crockett’s phone lock screen is a photo of herself," Republican operative Matt Wolking claimed. "Today, her launch ad continues the theme."
Speaking at a campaign event in Texas on Monday, Crockett said that "gloves have been off" and that she was "jumping into the ring."
"I'm asking for your support to be the next United States Senator from the greatest state of Texas," she said.
"They tell us that Texas is red. They are lying, we're not. The reality is that most Texans don't get out to vote."
Crockett also said that she made the decision to run after learning that "the numbers were strongest for my candidacy for United States Senate."
"I could have played it safe and continued serving in the United States House of Representatives for as long as my constituents would have me, but I didn't choose to do that because Texas, this moment we're in now, is life or death, and it's all or nothing," she said. "It's now or never. We find ourselves at a crossroads."
Her campaign launch event had a lively atmosphere, including an impromptu performance by a musical artist named Cameron McCloud.
McCloud performed a rap song with the verses, "They only trying to scare her out running because they think she'll win / Listen, thought I told y'all we ain't never scared / Now look who name on the docket / Got two words for every racist bigot, Jasmine Crockett."
"Amen, Amen… make some noise for Jasmine Crockett one time," McCloud said to a cheering audience.
Fox News Digital's Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.
Eagles star turns the ball over twice in one chaotic play vs Chargers
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts was involved in a wacky play on Monday night after throwing an interception to Los Angeles Chargers defensive lineman Da’Shawn Hand.
Hand dropped back into coverage on the snap and Hurts threw it to wide receiver A.J. Brown, who was triple-covered. Hand was there to intercept the pass and began to run it up the field. However, he fumbled while trying to take the ball back.
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Hurts picked the ball up and thought he had saved the play for a minute. Instead, the ball was knocked out of his hands. Finally, Chargers linebacker Troy Dye recovered the ball. Hurts committed two turnovers in one play.
The Chargers kicked a field goal on their next drive to take a 10-3 lead.
The play certainly perplexed NFL fans.
Los Angeles had a 10-6 lead going into halftime, but turnovers were running rampant. Both teams committed three turnovers each before the end of the second quarter.
The lone touchdown was scored when Justin Herbert found rookie running back Omarion Hampton for a 4-yard touchdown in the first quarter. Since then, Herbert has had one of his passes picked off and lost a fumble.
The Eagles haven’t had much success on offense.
Hurts is 10-of-19 for 95 yards and has thrown two interceptions.
Both teams entered the game with an 8-4 record and were in need of a win to bolster their playoff hopes.
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Trump cabinet members do pull-ups at airport to launch $1B family travel program nationwide
Members of the Trump administration knocked out pull-ups at Reagan National Airport on Monday as they rolled out a $1 billion initiative aimed at making the holiday rush healthier and more kid-friendly.
Video showed Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. doing 20 pull-ups with his shirt untucked as people counted each time he lifted his chin above the bar.
After Kennedy dropped back to the ground, Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stepped up to the bar and completed 10 pull-ups.
The display kicked off the administration’s "Make Travel Family Friendly Again" campaign, a program aimed at easing some of the most common frustrations families face when flying.
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Duffy said the initiative is intended to make every part of the travel day more seamless, from navigating security with young children to finding places to exercise or nurse.
The $1 billion announced Monday is designed to help airports build more play areas and exercise spaces for kids, add mothers’ rooms or nursing pods, create family screening lanes at security checkpoints, and install sensory rooms for children with special needs.
Airports can also pitch their own projects if they focus on improving the family travel experience.
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Duffy said bringing about a "Golden Age" of travel required focusing on families.
"Bringing about a Golden Age in travel has to involve making the family travel experience happier and healthier," he said. "Today’s announcement demonstrates the Trump Administration’s commitment to enacting a Family First agenda and improving the lives of the American people."
Kennedy emphasized the health side of the effort, saying everyone who passes through a U.S. airport should have "access to fresh, whole foods."
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He pointed to Farmer’s Fridge and similar grab-and-go vendors as examples of how airports could make healthier meals as convenient as fast food.
Alongside federal funding for terminal upgrades, the administration is encouraging airports and private partners to expand nutritional options in terminals nationwide.
The goal, Kennedy said, is to set a standard where healthy eating is part of daily life even when people are rushing to catch a flight.
"Everyone who passes through an airport in this country should have access to fresh, whole foods," Kennedy said. "Secretary Duffy and I are working to ensure our airports set the standard for a future where healthy eating is part of daily life – travel days included."
Jason Bateman admits he and sister Justine Bateman 'don't see each other a ton'
Jason Bateman shared a rare glimpse into his relationship with his sister Justine Bateman.
The 56-year-old appeared on the cover of Esquire’s Winter "Meaning of Life" issue and reflected on his bond with the 59-year-old actress in the accompanying interview.
"My sister and I don’t see each other a ton," he admitted.
However, Jason clarified that this wasn't due to any conflict and explained that the two have a mature relationship built on mutual respect.
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"There isn’t the typical ‘We see each other every Thanksgiving or every Christmas and our kids want to be together.’ There isn’t that. In a great way," he said.
Jason and his wife Amanda Anka are parents to daughters Francesca, 19, and Maple, 13, while Justine shares son Duke, 23, and daughter Gianetta, 21, with her husband Mark Fluent.
The "Arrested Development" alum described his conversations with Justine as the "rich conversations you would have with an adult friend, not the kind of petulant back-and-forth you might have with your adult sibling."
"We hang out, and we’re nice to each other because we respect one another as individuals regardless of the blood thing," Jason added.
Jason also noted that he had upcoming plans with Justine, telling the outlet, "I’m seeing her for lunch next week."
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The siblings both rose to fame in Hollywood as child actors in the 1980s. Jason began acting at age 10, appearing in commercials before starring in hit shows such as "Little House on the Prairie," "Silver Spoons" and "The Hogan Family."
Justine was 16 years old when she was cast in her breakthrough role as Mallory Keaton on the TV sitcom "Family Ties" in 1982. The show became a huge hit almost immediately, turning Justine into a teen idol.
Jason has previously spoken about how the two faced pressure after becoming their family's breadwinners. During his interview with Esquire, he noted that their careers had an impact on their dynamic with their parents, Kent and Victoria Bateman.
"My sister and I had a peer relationship with our parents; they were our managers," he said.
The siblings' career paths eventually diverged after they entered adulthood. Jason continued building his career as an actor, director and producer, while Justine shifted away from acting and established herself as a filmmaker and author.
In September, Justine slammed speculation that she and Jason were at odds due to political differences. Following President Donald Trump's re-election in November 2024, Justine told Fox News Digital that she felt "great" about his victory and that a "suffocating cloud" had been lifted.
While Justine said she doesn't support any political party, she said she found the team surrounding Trump "very interesting," and their "strong position" on free speech won her over.
Meanwhile, Jason took part in a virtual rally for Trump's opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, called "Comics for Kamala" that also included Jon Hamm, Tom Arnold and Kathy Griffin. During a June appearance on the podcast "The Best People with Nicolle Wallace," Jason criticized Trump supporters, whom he said are "by choice keeping themselves insulated from the facts and common sense."
However, Justine set the record straight regarding any rumored issues with her brother in a post shared to X, formerly Twitter.
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"Anyone bringing up my brother to me for any other reason than to say you like his new upcoming show, or any of his past work, will be muted at best, and blocked at worst," she wrote. "I'm not interested in your fantasy about some imagined conflict between the two of us over your political ideologies."
"Really, it's sick," Justine added. "So, keep it up. It makes it easy for me if identify yourselves, so I can make an X setting adjustment to never have to hear from you, ever again."
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During a 2015 appearance on the "WTF with Marc Maron" podcast, Jason reflected on his bond with Justine.
The "Black Rabbit" star said that he and Justine "have that really kind of healthy relationship" in which they don't have to spend "every day, every week, every month, every holiday" together just because they are siblings.
"It's like, well, let's earn the relationship that adults should or could have," he said. "You're not handcuffed because of the blood."
Jason noted with a laugh that Justine "lived about a mile from my house" at the time and admitted, "Yeah, I could be a better uncle, brother, son."
Trump threatens 5% tariff on Mexico over water treaty violations affecting Texas farmers
President Donald Trump warned Monday that Mexico’s failure to deliver water owed under a decades-old treaty is harming Texas farmers and could trigger a new tariff if the country does not immediately release a critical share of its required supply.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said Mexico must release 200,000 acre-feet of water through the 1944 Water Treaty before Dec. 31 or face a 5% tariff.
"Mexico continues to violate our comprehensive Water Treaty, and this violation is seriously hurting our BEAUTIFUL TEXAS CROPS AND LIVESTOCK," the president wrote. "Mexico still owes the U.S over 800,000 acre-feet of water for failing to comply with our Treaty over the past five years."
"The U.S [sic] needs Mexico to release 200,000 acre-feet of water before December 31st, and the rest must come soon after," Trump continued. "As of now, Mexico is not responding, and it is very unfair to our U.S. Farmers who deserve this much needed water. That is why I have authorized documentation to impose a 5% Tariff on Mexico if this water isn’t released, IMMEDIATELY."
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"The longer Mexico takes to release the water, the more our Farmers are hurt. Mexico has an obligation to FIX THIS NOW," he added.
Texas farm groups warned last year of a disastrous season for citrus and sugar as Mexican and U.S. officials worked to resolve a dispute over the 1944 treaty that supplies U.S. farmers with critical irrigation. The two countries have clashed over the treaty before, but drought-driven shortages were the most severe in nearly 30 years.
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In April, the Trump administration and Mexican officials reached a deal to ensure Texas farmers get much-needed water from the Rio Grande, less than a month after Trump accused Mexico of withholding water promised under the treaty.
Under that agreement, Mexico committed to send water from international reservoirs and increase U.S. flow from six of Mexico’s Rio Grande tributaries through the end of the current five-year water cycle.
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U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins called the measure a significant step forward and said the Trump administration welcomes Mexico’s continued cooperation in support of American agriculture.
Under the 1944 Water Treaty, Mexico agreed to deliver 1.75 million acre-feet of water over five years from the Rio Grande.
In exchange, the U.S. agreed to deliver 1.5 million acre-feet to Mexico from the Colorado River.
But Mexico has fallen short at times, leading to severe water shortages in the Rio Grande Valley for farmers and ranchers. Those shortages have killed crops and jobs and threatened the region’s economy.
Hundreds of mutilated bodies found in suspected Nigerian organ-harvesting ring
An extensive organ-harvesting ring has been uncovered in Nigeria after weeks of covert surveillance, local officials have said.
In a statement shared on X, the Imo State Police Command said their investigation was launched after reports of a worrying spate of kidnappings near a hotel and mortuary in Ngor Okpala.
According to police, intelligence-led investigations went on to identify a man called High Chief Stanley Oparaugo, also known as "Morocco," as the suspected leader of the criminal network and who is now on the run and wanted, per reports.
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Oparaugo is alleged to own Jessy Best Hotel in Ihitte Okwe and the nearby mortuary known as Ugwudi.
Police said victims were said to have been lured into the hotel before being robbed and abducted, with families also forced to pay ransom.
Authorities said some people who paid never saw their loved ones again.
The Command said abducted victims were then taken from the hotel to the mortuary, where they were allegedly killed and their organs harvested for sale.
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When officers raided the Jessy Best Hotel, it was abandoned, but at the mortuary they found decomposed and mutilated corpses.
Police spokesperson Henry Okoye said more than 100 bodies had been found.
"A hotel and a private mortuary owned by the suspect, allegedly used by kidnappers and violent criminals, were inspected," he said in a statement.
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"At the mortuary, decomposed and mutilated corpses were discovered in unhygienic conditions, raising suspicions of illegal organ-harvesting activities."
He added that the suspect’s residence was also searched and "crucial exhibits" were recovered, with forensic teams documenting evidence for the ongoing investigation.
"Maximum security has been deployed along the Owerri–Aba Expressway. The Command assures travelers during the holidays of its commitment to their safety," he added.
Nigeria has seen a rising amount of crime with kidnappings and abductions.
As reported by Fox News Digital, the government of Nigeria also secured the release of the 100 schoolchildren who were abducted, according to local media.
Those children were taken from St. Mary's School in Papiri, Niger state, on Nov. 21.
The news came as Christians face ongoing persecution in Nigeria, leading President Donald Trump to declare the West African nation a "country of particular concern."
Kristen Stewart calls entertainment industry a 'capitalist hell' that creates barriers for artists
Actress Kristen Stewart said the entertainment industry is a "capitalist hell" during an interview on Saturday, and said it hated women and "marginalized voices."
"We’re in a pivotal nexus, because I think we’re ready for a full system break. Do you know what I mean? I mean that across the board and also specific to the world that I live in, which is very exclusively the entertainment industry," Stewart said.
Stewart spoke to The New York Times' "The Interview," and said the entertainment industry was racist.
"We need to start sort of stealing our movies. I’m so appreciative of every union. Trust me, we would not survive without them. But some of the terms and some of the rules and some of the structures we’ve set up have created unbelievable barriers for artists to express themselves," Stewart said.
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She argued the industry needed a workaround.
"I think having it be so impossible for people to tell stories, and having it be such an exclusive and rarified novel position to be in to find yourself doing so, is capitalist hell, and it hates women, and it hates marginalized voices, and it’s racist. I think we need to figure out a way to make it easier to speak to each other in cinematic terms. It’s too hard to make movies right now that aren’t blockbustery, whatever, proven equations," she said.
She said she wasn't sure what it meant, but said she hoped that the next movie she makes would be a smash hit, and she didn't want to make a dollar on it.
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"It's just so difficult to make movies, it just doesn't need to be. I'm just trying to think of some sort of weird, like Marxist, Communist-like, situation that other people can definitely think, of course this psycho is saying that, but I think it's possible, especially in these kind of narrow and exclusive environments. I'm not talking about the world at large, but for us, the system has barred people and made it too difficult to be honest," Stewart argued.
During an interview in May, Stewart called out industry power players, highlighting the still limited opportunities for a handful of female filmmakers.
"[There’s a] thinking that we can check these little boxes, and then do away with the patriarchy, and how we’re all made of it," the actress told the outlet. "It’s easy for them to be like, ‘Look what we’re doing. We’re making Maggie Gyllenhaal’s movie! We’re making Margot Robbie’s movie!’ And you’re like, ‘OK, cool. You’ve chosen four.’"
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Fox News' Elizabeth Stanton contributed to this report.
David Spade slams mall tree-lighting ceremony for avoiding word Christmas
David Spade slammed a mall's tree-lighting ceremony for omitting the word "Christmas."
In the Sunday episode of Spade and Dana Carvey's "Fly on the Wall" podcast, the 61-year-old "Grown Ups" actor called out the organizers of a Christmas tree-lighting ceremony for "consciously" avoiding any mention of the Christian holiday during the event.
"I will say that Christmas is taking a little bit of a beating lately. It is December and I saw the other day there was a tree-lighting ceremony for the Christmas tree in some dopey mall but it said tree-lighting ceremony, and they were careful not to say the word Christmas during the whole ceremony," Spade said, without naming the mall.
"No," Carvey, 67, said.
"Why?" Spade asked. "So it's just a tree?" And you go, I would understand if you said, 'They're doing the tree lighting at [a certain mall] or whatever. You go, ‘OK.’"
"But to consciously avoid that, then what is the tree for?" he continued. "A December to Remember? Is it a Lexus dealership? Why do we have — for the whole month? Isn't it for Christmas?"
Carvey pointed out that he and Spade knew many people who follow religions other than Christianity and added, "I've never met someone from another religious faith that was upset about a Christmas tree."
"I'd say stop that bulls---," Spade said.
"Yeah, 'cause everyone loves Santa and the tree and all the trappings," Carvey said.
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"They like all things about it," Spade said. "Don't say that word."
Carvey went on to share his view that while Christmas remained a religious holiday for Christians, it has become more secular over time, especially in countries like the United States.
"If you're of faith, it's about Christianity," Carvey said. "But I think at this point in America, it's just Christmas. It's a fun holiday."
However, Carvey noted that he was opposed to the restriction of speech.
"I don't like the thought police," "The Dana Carvey Show" alum said. "I don't like to have words I can't use."
"I don't like the anti-Christian feel because Christmas to me wasn't really about that because I am Christian," Spade said.
While Carvey described Spade as a "secular" and "lapsed" Christian, the "Joe Dirt" star said he was "just more spiritual."
Spade expressed his opinion that the Christian faith is treated differently than other religions.
"Like is this where we get the hammer? You can't say that about anyone else," he said.
"We're taking a beating down in Africa," he continued. "It's like this is not the year to be Christian. I will tell you that."
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"That's for sure," Carvey said. "There's a lot of that going on."
"A lot of that, it's tough," Spade agreed.
Humanitarian groups have increasingly raised concerns about the persecution of Christians in parts of Africa.
A June 2025 report by International Christian Concern (ICC) documented a "disturbing rise" in violence against Christians across several African countries, particularly Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and Kenya, including killings, abductions, massacres, and forced displacements.
President Donald Trump announced in late October that he was designating Nigeria as a "country of particular concern," citing the widespread killings of Christians in the West African nation. Pope Leo XIV, the U.S. State Department and celebrities including Nicki Minaj have also condemned recent massacres in Nigeria.
After highlighting Christian persecution in Africa, Spade redirected the conversation back to the Christmas snub at the recent tree lighting.
"We can call it a Christmas tree," Spade said. "I'm still going to go to these malls. I still don't want to offend people by saying it. But there's so many things with different religions. You're not allowed to slam someone else's religion."
Spade's remarks come after the city of Portland came under fire for again hosting its annual tree-lighting ceremony and nixing any use of the word "Christmas."
The event, held on Nov. 28, was decked out in Christmas lights, a traditionally decorated tree and a visit from Santa Claus, but did not promote any mention of Christmas.
Instead, organizers advertised the festive occasion as "Portland's 41st Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony," according to social media accounts for Pioneer Courthouse Square, where the tree is displayed.
"Portland’s Tree is lit!" one caption on an Instagram video shared by the Portland, Oregon, Instagram account stated.
"Portland’s 41st Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony presented by SmartPark is tonight!" another message shared on social media by both the Portland, Oregon, government and Pioneer Courthouse Square stated.
"Celebrate the highlight of the Downtown Holiday Season as Santa Claus flips the switch, illuminating more than 9,500 colorful LED lights to shine bright on our City’s 75’ Douglas-fir, generously donated by Stimson Lumber for all to enjoy. SEE YOU TONIGHT, PORTLAND!" it added.
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Social media commenters sounded off online that the city refused to mention the word "Christmas."
"The City of Portland and local media outlets are calling this ‘The Tree’ because they despise Christians like me and many of you so much they can’t bring themselves to say the word ‘Christmas,’" independent journalist David Medina posted to X.
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"They can’t even say Christmas tree in Portland. They call it 'the tree,'" another conservative account posted to X in response to a video Medina posted.
"In Portland they’re trying to take the Christmas out of Christmas tree. It’s a Christmas tree, it’s always been a Christmas tree, and it will always be a Christmas tree. These people will slowly take everything until there’s nothing left if given the opportunity," one social media account posted.
Democratic Portland Mayor Keith Wilson's office also explicitly called the event a "Christmas Tree Lighting" in response to Fox News Digital while brushing off the criticisms of the event.
"Mayor Wilson was delighted to join Portland’s annual Christmas Tree Lighting alongside Christmas carolers and holiday festivities," Wilson's office said when asked about the criticisms. "That said, framing it otherwise feels like quite the reach."
Fox News Digital's Emma Colton contributed to this report.
Top GOP senator says Crockett announcement exposes how 'radical' Dems are nationwide
EXCLUSIVE: The chair of the Senate Republican campaign arm says that Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett's entry into the high-profile Senate race in Texas is a key sign of the Democrats' shift to the left.
"I think it says something about who the Democrats are nationally, not just in Texas. What it says is that they've been overrun by this radical left agenda that focuses on rhetoric, not reality," National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) chair Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., claimed in an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital on Monday.
Scott spoke soon after Crockett, the progressive firebrand and vocal critic of President Donald Trump and Republicans, filed paperwork and formally announced her 2026 campaign for the Senate.
Crockett's campaign announcement, which was expected, will likely further rock a high-profile and heavily contested Senate race in Texas, which, on the Republican side, includes incumbent Sen. John Cornyn and GOP primary rivals state Attorney General Ken Paxton and Rep. Wesley Hunt.
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The race is one of a handful across the country that may determine if the GOP holds its Senate majority in next year's midterm elections.
Scott — pointing to comments by Crockett comparing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in Democratic-led cities to "slave patrols" in southern states prior to the Civil War — said they were "disgusting, repugnant, but consistent with the philosophy of this new Democrat Party that's filled with socialism."
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The senator from South Carolina also highlighted Crockett's comments last month to CNN praising New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani and saying that the democratic socialist politician "could do a Masterclass for all Democrats on communication."
"I can't think of a more clear depiction of what she believes is a path forward for Democrats," Scott insisted.
Republicans have repeatedly aimed to make Mamdani the new face of the Democratic Party as they attempt to portray Democrats as far-left radicals.
The announcement by Crockett, a rising-star Democrat who has a large social media footprint thanks to her viral jabs at Republicans and her verbal sparing on social media with Trump, came hours after one of the two Democrats already running for the Senate in 2026 abandoned his bid.
Former Rep. Colin Allred, who was making his second straight bid for the Senate in right-leaning Texas, on Monday morning ended his campaign and instead launched a congressional campaign as he seeks to return to the House.
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But Democratic state Rep. James Talarico, a former middle school teacher and Presbyterian seminarian who is also seen as a rising Democratic Party star, remains in the Senate primary, setting up a face-off between two surging contenders with formidable fundraising.
Crockett's entry into the Senate race, and her showdown with Talarico, may shift the spotlight off of the GOP primary, where Cornyn, the longtime incumbent who hails from the party's establishment wing, has cut into the one-time large lead by Paxton, a MAGA firebrand, with Hunt in third, according to public opinion polling.
The concern among Republicans is that Paxton, who has been battered over the past decade by a slew of scandals and legal problems and who is now dealing with a messy divorce, would put the seat in play if he won the GOP nomination. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, Scott, and the NRSC are backing Cornyn.
But Crockett's Senate candidacy may change the political equation. While her aggressive push-back against Trump and the GOP should play well with the left, it could deflate her chances of winning next November among Texas' general election electorate.
Asked if Crockett's entry into the race improves the GOP's odds of holding the seat next year, Scott said: "The truth of the matter is a simple formula. John Cornyn, our nominee, Texas remains red. Period. Full stop. End of discussion."
Scott said the NRSC is "focused on one thing and one thing only, and that's keeping Texas red, and that means John Cornyn must be our nominee, and he wins, period. So it's not who the Democrat is, it’s who we are. And John Cornyn is the best representative for Texas this cycle that we’ll ever see."
By dropping out of the race, Allred will likely allow Democrats to avoid a costly and messy primary runoff in the spring, giving the party more time to consolidate around their nominee and raise much-needed campaign cash.
Meanwhile, with Cornyn, Paxton, and Hunt all taking aim at each other in a combustible primary, the GOP nomination appears headed towards a runoff, which would be triggered if no candidate tops 50% in the early March primary.
Asked if he's concerned about the GOP nomination battle extending to a primary runoff, Scott predicted that "Cornyn will win the primary and Cornyn will win the general election."
Family sues Royal Caribbean after man allegedly served 33 drinks dies aboard cruise ship
The family of a 35-year-old man who died aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise after allegedly being served 33 alcoholic drinks has filed a lawsuit seven months after an autopsy ruled his death a homicide.
Michael Virgil, 35, and his family boarded Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas in Los Angeles on Dec. 13, 2024, for a four-day cruise to Ensenada, Mexico, a trip they intended to be a fun vacation.
What began as a routine departure quickly unraveled, the lawsuit says, after an onboard incident involving security that would later become the center of a legal battle.
The family – which includes Virgil’s longtime fiancée and their young son who has autism – has filed a wrongful death complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
The lawsuit alleges the cruise line is responsible for his death, claiming he was overserved and then subjected to what it calls the excessive use of force and fatal actions taken by crew members.
According to the complaint, the family was directed to a bar with live music because their cabin was not ready. As they waited, Virgil’s then 7-year-old son grew restless and left with his mother to check the room, leaving Virgil alone.
The suit claims that within hours of the ship’s departure, crew members negligently served him at least 33 alcoholic drinks, after which he became intoxicated and increasingly agitated while trying to locate his cabin.
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Security and crew members allegedly tackled and restrained Virgil, compressing his body until he stopped moving. The complaint says that at the direction of the staff captain, the crew injected him with the sedative Haloperidol and used three cans of pepper spray.
The suit says the combination of restraint, sedative use and pepper spray caused significant hypoxia, impaired ventilation, respiratory failure, cardiovascular instability and ultimately cardiopulmonary arrest. The medical examiner later ruled the death a homicide.
The medical examiner wrote that the cause of death was "combined effects of mechanical asphyxia, obesity, cardiomegaly and ethanol intoxication." The report also said the injury occurred from "body compression during restraint by multiple ship security personnel" and "ingestion of ethanol."
CRUISE TRAGEDY: ‘I AM NOT OKAY,’ SAYS MOTHER OF 18-YEAR-OLD FOUND DEAD ABOARD CARNIVAL SHIP
Virgil’s body remained refrigerated on board until the ship returned to Los Angeles on Dec. 16, 2024.
"Michael’s family has suffered unimaginable heartache and torment caused by Royal Caribbean, a mega cruise line that prioritizes profit over passenger safety," Kevin Haynes, a partner at Kherkher Garcia, said. "Crew members, including security and medical personnel, are required to undergo rigorous competency training; it is very clear that Royal Caribbean is completely negligent in the hiring, training and supervision of its vast fleet of maritime employees.
"What was supposed to be a beautiful family vacation came to an unimaginably tragic end due to the reprehensible way the situation – that should have never occurred – was handled," Haynes added.
The complaint also notes that Virgil purchased the "Deluxe Beverage Package," which gives passengers access to nearly all of the ship’s drink offerings, including alcohol. It explains alcohol sales are among Royal Caribbean’s top revenue streams and that the ships are designed with numerous outlets serving alcohol throughout the vessels.
"We are seeing an incredibly alarming number of serious injuries and fatalities on cruise ships of late," Haynes said. "Our goal is to force systemic change in the way this industry operates to ensure that no person or family experiences tragedy like this again."
Through the lawsuit, the estate of Michael Virgil is seeking judgment for damages under the Death on the High Seas Act, including loss of support, inheritance, past and future earnings and net accumulations. The family is also seeking funeral and medical expenses, loss of companionship and protection and mental pain and suffering, among other claims.
Royal Caribbean refrained from commenting on the specifics of the case due to the pending legal matter.
"We were saddened by the passing of one of our guests, worked with authorities on their investigation, and will refrain from commenting any further on pending litigation," the spokesperson told Fox News Digital.