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Search for missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 to resume after more than a decade
The search for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 will resume on Dec. 30, the country’s transport ministry announced Wednesday, more than a decade after the airplane’s mysterious disappearance over the Indian Ocean.
The Malaysian government said that Texas-based marine robotics company Ocean Infinity is set to begin a 55-day targeted deep-sea search for the missing aircraft in the southern Indian Ocean by the end of the month, according to the Associated Press.
On March 8, 2014, the Boeing 777 took off from Kuala Lumpur heading toward Beijing, when it disappeared around 90 seconds after leaving Malaysian airspace, vanishing along with all 239 passengers in what has become one of aviation’s greatest unsolved mysteries.
Satellite data revealed the plane deviated from its flight path and went south towards the far-southern Indian Ocean, where it is believed to have crashed.
AMY BRADLEY DISAPPEARANCE SEES 3 MAJOR NEW LEADS AS INVESTIGATORS RENEW DECADES-OLD SEARCH: REPORT
According to a statement from Malaysia’s Transport Ministry, as reported by AP, Ocean Infinity will hunt in targeted areas believed to have the highest likelihood of finding the missing aircraft.
"The latest development underscores the government of Malaysia’s commitment in providing closure to the families affected by this tragedy," the transport ministry stated.
The announcement comes after Malaysia’s government gave final approval in March for Ocean Infinity to start the search, after agreeing to a "no-find, no fee" contract that rewards the company $70 million only if wreckage is discovered within the 5,800-square-mile site.
GOVERNMENT RELEASES NEWLY DECLASSIFIED AMELIA EARHART DISAPPEARANCE RECORDS FROM NATIONAL ARCHIVES
Previously, debris was found washed ashore on the east African coast and Indian Ocean islands, but a multinational search failed to discover clues to MH370’s location.
Ocean Infinity also conducted a private search in 2018 that failed to unearth any, but CEO Oliver Plunkett reportedly said earlier this year that his company had since improved its technology.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Ocean Infinity for comment.
Fox News Digital’s Greg Norman and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
West Virginia restores exclusion of religious reasons for school vaccine exemptions after latest court ruling
The West Virginia Board of Education reinstated its school vaccination policy after the state Supreme Court paused a lower court's ruling that allowed parents to cite religious beliefs to opt out of vaccines needed for children to attend school.
The state Supreme Court issued a stay on Tuesday following last week's ruling by Raleigh County Circuit Judge Michael Froble in a class-action lawsuit. Froble said in his injunction that children whose parents refused the state’s vaccination requirement on religious grounds would be allowed to attend school and participate in extracurricular sports.
Froble's ruling was blocked pending resolution of appeals in the case.
The board said in a statement that it "is reinstating its directive to county boards of education not to accept religious exemptions to compulsory vaccination laws. This directive will be in effect until the Supreme Court issues further guidance."
Additionally, the board said its priority is to ensure compliance with the state vaccine law "and safeguard the health and well-being of all students across West Virginia."
The vaccine mandate was suspended by the board last week after Froble's ruling, which stated that the state policy prohibiting parents from seeking religious exemptions violated the Equal Protection for Religion Act signed into law in 2023 by then-Republican Gov. Jim Justice.
West Virginia was among a handful of states to offer only medical exemptions from school vaccinations when Gov. Patrick Morrisey, also a Republican, issued an executive order earlier this year allowing religious exemptions.
But the board voted in June to instruct public schools to ignore the governor's order and follow long-standing school vaccine requirements outlined in state law.
Two groups had sued to stop Morrisey's order, arguing that the legislature, not the governor, has the authority to make these decisions.
Legislation that would have allowed the religious exemptions was approved by the state Senate and rejected by the House of Delegates earlier this year.
Froble said in his ruling that the failure to pass the legislation did not determine the application of the 2023 law. He rejected the defendants' argument that religious exemptions can only be established by legislative moves.
"Legislative intent is not absolute nor controlling in interpreting a statute or determining its application; at most, it is a factor," Froble said.
A group of parents sued the state and local boards of education and the Raleigh County schools superintendent. One parent obtained a religious exemption to the vaccine mandate from the state health department and enrolled her child in elementary school for the current school year before receiving an email in June from the local school superintendent rescinding the certificate, according to the lawsuit.
FLORIDA SURGEON GENERAL DEFENDS UNPRECEDENTED PLAN TO DISMANTLE SCHOOL VACCINE MANDATES
Last month, Froble certified the case as a class action involving 570 families who had received religious exemptions in other parts of the state. He said the class action also applies to parents who seek religious exemptions in the future.
Froble said the total number of exemptions so far involved a small portion of the statewide student population and "would not meaningfully reduce vaccination rates or increase health risks."
State law requires children to receive vaccines for chickenpox, hepatitis B, measles, meningitis, mumps, diphtheria, polio, rubella, tetanus and whooping cough before attending school.
At least 30 states have religious freedom laws. The laws are modeled after the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which was signed into law in 1993 by then-President Bill Clinton, allowing federal regulations that interfere with religious beliefs to be challenged.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Marco Rubio says Trump will not be 'suckered' by Maduro like Biden
Secretary of State Marco Rubio sharply criticized the regime of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in an interview with "Hannity" Tuesday as President Donald Trump intensifies pressure on the leader to abdicate power.
"The Maduro regime is not a legitimate government," Rubio told Fox News host Sean Hannity. "What it is is a transshipment organization. It allows cocaine and other drugs that are produced in Colombia to be trafficked through Venezuelan territory and – with the cooperation of elements of the regime – are allowed to… leave Venezuela on airplanes and ships headed towards the United States."
The Trump administration has continued strikes on alleged drug boats near Venezuela and expanded its military presence in the region.
VENEZUELA WILL FACE ‘SEVERE, AND ESCALATING SANCTIONS’ IF IT DOESN’T ACCEPT ITS CITIZENS, RUBIO SAYS
"The president has authorized a counter-drug mission in the region," Rubio said. "The fact that Maduro is upset about it tells you that drugs are coming out of Venezuela.
The administration is moving forward with plans to end temporary protected status for an estimated 600,000 Venezuelans living in the United States.
Rubio accused the Maduro regime of "openly" cooperating with drug dealers and said his leadership is fueling instability in South America.
"The Venezuelan regime is a source of instability in the entire region," he claimed. "Over eight million Venezuelans have flooded into neighboring countries as a result of the regime's activities within their own country, including into the United States."
US ESCALATION WITH MADURO HALTS DEPORTATION FLIGHTS TO VENEZUELA
The former Florida senator claimed the "problem" with Maduro is his habit of failing to honor agreements.
"If you wanted to make a deal with him [Maduro], I don't know how you do. He's broken every deal he's ever made… Maduro has made five deals with different parties over the last 10 years and has broken every single one of them," Rubio told Fox News.
The Secretary of State discussed a failed deal between former President Joe Biden and the Venezuelan leader that "no one talks about."
"Maduro asked [Biden] that his nephews, convicted drug traffickers, be released from U.S. prisons," Rubio explained. "He asked that his chief money launderer… be released from U.S. custody before he stood trial. In exchange, he promised to hold free and fair elections. He got the nephews back, the drug dealers, he got the bag man back, and he never did the free and fair elections."
"They suckered Joe Biden. They're not going to sucker Donald Trump," he added.
President Trump recently revealed he had a phone call with Maduro. The Venezuelan leader has been warned by the president to step down from power or potentially face U.S. military action.
During a cabinet meeting Tuesday, Rubio praised President Trump’s foreign policy efforts, crediting him for one of the most "transformational" years in foreign policy since World War II.
Despite the difficulty of dealing with Maduro, Rubio said Trump will continue attempting to work it out.
"The president is a unique figure in modern American history. He's prepared to sit down and meet and talk to anybody," he said. "But at the end of the day, there has to be somebody that you can actually make a deal with. We've made a deal with the Chinese, but Maduro's never kept a deal. That doesn't mean the president won't try."
Texas Tech restricts teaching of race and gender, faculty could be disciplined for violating rule
Texas Tech University System Chancellor Brandon Creighton enacted new restrictions on topics of race, sex, gender identity and sexual orientation in classrooms, and instructors who fail to comply could face discipline.
Creighton said instructors may not promote the idea that "one race or sex is inherently superior to another; an individual, by virtue or race or sex, is inherently racist, sexist or oppressive, consciously or unconsciously; any person should be discriminated against or receive adverse treatment because of race or sex; moral character or worth is determined by race or sex; individuals bear responsibility or guilt for actions of others of the same race or sex; or meritocracy or a strong work ethic are racist, sexist or constructs of oppression," according to a memo on Monday to university presidents.
"Promotion" was defined in the memo as "presenting these beliefs as correct or required and pressuring students to affirm them, rather than analyzing or critiquing them as one viewpoint among others."
The memo includes a flowchart outlining a new approval process for any course content that includes the restricted topics. Faculty must submit the content to department chairs, university administrators and the Board of Regents for their review and approval.
TEXAS A&M SETS RULES FOR DISCUSSING RACE AND GENDER IN THE CLASSROOM
Instructors are told to first determine whether the material is relevant and necessary. Then, they will be asked if the material is required for professional licensure or certification or patient or client care, in which case the material may remain in the course, but the Board of Regents will be notified. If the material is not required for those purposes, instructors must seek approval to keep it by submitting it to their department chair, dean and provost, who will forward their recommendation and justification to the Board of Regents.
Creighton said in a news release that the new rules aim to offer "clarity, consistency and guardrails that protect academic excellence."
A system representative said the memo sought to serve as a guide for faculty as they prepare for the spring semester and that the system hopes the new approval process will move quickly.
The memo states that "the integrity of this process depends on the earnest participation of every faculty member," adding that noncompliance "may result in disciplinary action consistent with university policies and state law."
Kelli Cargile Cook, a professor emeritus who founded Texas Tech’s Department of Professional Communication, said the memo led her to remove a class she planned to teach this spring, instead deciding to write a resignation letter.
"I’ve been teaching since 1981 and this was going to be my last class. I was so looking forward to working with the seniors in our major, but I can’t stomach what’s going on at Texas Tech," she told The Associated Press. "I think the memo is cunning in that the beliefs that it lists are at face value, something you could agree with. But when you think about how this would be put into practice, where a Board of Regents approves a curriculum — people who are politically appointed, not educated, not researchers — that move is a slippery slope."
TEXAS TECH TELLS FACULTY TO REVISE INSTRUCTION, RECOGNIZE ONLY 2 SEXES IN CLASSROOMS
She said she was shocked by the memo’s characterization of certain race and sex concepts as "one viewpoint among many," saying it treats settled facts "as if George Wallace being a racist is a viewpoint," referring to the former Alabama governor who defended segregation.
Creighton’s memo said the new requirements are the "first step" in the Board of Regents’ implementation of Senate Bill 37, which he authored before he resigned from the Texas Senate to head the Texas Tech System. The law requires regents to conduct a comprehensive review of the classes all undergraduates must take to graduate to ensure they prepare students for civic and professional life and reflect Texas’ workforce needs, with the first review due in 2027.
System leaders imposed limitations on how faculty can discuss gender identity in classrooms in September after a viral video of a Texas A&M professor teaching about gender identity led to public criticism from conservatives, the professor’s firing and the university president’s resignation.
Angelo State University, one of Texas Tech University System’s five institutions, was the first to adopt changes, quietly directing faculty in September to halt discussions of transgender identities in class.
Texas Tech’s then-Chancellor Tedd L. Mitchell later issued a systemwide directive that faculty must comply with an executive order from President Donald Trump, a letter from Gov. Greg Abbott and House Bill 229, which only recognizes the sexes of male and female.
Professors told The Texas Tribune at the time that Mitchell’s guidance forced them to delay lessons, scrap terms like "transgender" and self-censor.
Creighton took over as chancellor last month after Mitchell's retirement.
The new policies at the Texas Tech University System come after the Texas A&M University System approved a new policy last month following the controversial video that requires each campus president to sign off on any course that could be considered as advocating for "race and gender ideology or topics related to sexual orientation or gender identity," although Texas Tech’s new rules appear to go further since it requires a formal approval process that ends with the Board of Regents.
TEXAS A&M COMMITTEE FINDS PROFESSOR’S FIRING OVER TRANSGENDER-RELATED LESSON UNJUSTIFIED
Other universities that announced course reviews after the Texas A&M viral video controversy or in response to SB 37 have also sent new instructions to faculty.
Andrew Martin, the president of the Texas Tech chapter of the American Association of University Professors, criticized Monday’s memo as a "profound disappointment."
"We had hoped that our new chancellor’s time visiting the campuses of the system and getting to know students, faculty and staff would encourage finding common ground and a recognition that academic freedom is a freedom we all share, one that is foundational to a free society," he said.
Martin argued that the new rules and process violate the First Amendment and harm transgender students and colleagues while continuing to misstate law.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Homan vows to enforce immigration laws in Twin Cities 'without apology' amid mayor opposition
Trump "border czar" Tom Homan fired back at Minneapolis’ mayor Tuesday on Fox News for suggesting I.C.E. raids are "not American" and are "terrorizing certain groups."
"We're going to enforce the laws of this country without apology, including in the Twin Cities," Homan vowed on "The Ingraham Angle."
His promise comes as Minnesota finds its visa program under scrutiny.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy sounded the alarm Monday on an audit that found one-third of the state’s trucking licenses — also known as non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses — are illegal, asserting the finding is an example of "foreigners taking advantage of Minnesota services" in a statement.
HOMAN DARES DEMOCRATS TO 'COME GET SOME' WHILE BRUSHING OFF PROSECUTION CONCERNS
Minnesota has 30 days to revoke those licenses or risk losing up to $30.4 million in federal highway funding, according to the Department of Transportation.
On Tuesday, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem added to the scrutiny, claiming 50% of Minnesota’s visas are "fraudulent" during the administration’s ninth Cabinet meeting of 2025.
"[Gov. Tim Walz] brought people in there illegally that never should have been in this country," she said.
KRISTI NOEM SAYS BIDEN USED DHS 'TO INVADE THE COUNTRY WITH TERRORISTS'
Fox News host Laura Ingraham reported on Minnesotan taxpayers "being ripped off," with money being "sent to Al-Shabaab, a terrorist organization in Somalia" and other fraud schemes.
She asked Homan when he expects I.C.E. to "make its presence really known" in the Twin Cities.
While Homan could not disclose a specific date, the Trump administration has a greater focus on the Twin Cities, he warned.
"Secretary Noem's all over it," Homan said. "I know I.C.E. and CBP and other federal agencies — the FBI, DEA, ATF — President Trump's been a genius on this."
"He brings the all-of-government to these operations," he continued. "So if we arrest an alien with drugs, you got the DEA right there, who can prosecute the case before we deport them. If you get them with a gun, you got ATF right there to prosecute the case before we deport them."
Homan scorned Minneapolis’ police chief for advising residents to call 911 on "folks that are masked" and "you don't know if someone is law enforcement," suggesting they could be "kidnapping people."
"Shame on you," Homan replied. "I mean, your number-one responsibility is the safety and security of your communities, and I.C.E. is targeting criminals — criminals. So for you not to partner with I.C.E. to make your community safer is shameful. He ought to put his badge in the desk drawer and walk away because he stopped being a cop, became a politician."
DOJ sues six states for refusing to turn over voter registration rolls, warns ‘open defiance’ of federal law
The Justice Department filed lawsuits Tuesday against six blue states: Delaware, Maryland, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington, accusing them of violating federal law by refusing to provide statewide voter registration rolls upon request.
The complaints, filed by the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, argue the states failed to meet their legal obligations under the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA), the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), and the Civil Rights Act of 1960, three federal statutes that require states to maintain accurate voter rolls and make those records available for inspection.
Attorney General Pam Bondi said state refusals to disclose the lists undermine the transparency and accountability those laws were designed to guarantee.
"Accurate voter rolls are the cornerstone of fair and free elections, and too many states have fallen into a pattern of noncompliance with basic voter roll maintenance," Bondi said in a statement announcing the lawsuits. "The Department of Justice will continue filing proactive election integrity litigation until states comply with basic election safeguards."
According to the DOJ, the agency formally requested each state’s current, statewide voter registration roll and did not receive the required records. In each lawsuit, the department argues that Congress gave the attorney general clear authority to demand the production, inspection, and analysis of voter registration data to ensure compliance with federal law.
Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon, who leads the Civil Rights Division, said the department is escalating enforcement efforts ahead of the 2026 election cycle.
"Our federal elections laws ensure every American citizen may vote freely and fairly," Dhillon said. "States that continue to defy federal voting laws interfere with our mission of ensuring that Americans have accurate voter lists as they go to the polls, that every vote counts equally, and that all voters have confidence in election results. At this Department of Justice, we will not stand for this open defiance of federal civil rights laws."
FIRST TIME VOTING? HERE IS THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO BALLOT BOXES, CRITICAL ISSUES ON ELECTION DAY
The DOJ says the lawsuits are part of a broader effort to enforce voter-registration transparency requirements that Congress put in place to ensure public confidence in election administration. NVRA requires states to maintain accurate voter lists and produce them upon request; HAVA mandates states modernize and safeguard voter registration systems; and the Civil Rights Act of 1960 authorizes the government to inspect and copy certain election records, including voter rolls.
Fox News Digital has reached out to elections officials in all six states for comment.
Federal officials have increasingly pressed states on voter roll compliance issues in recent years, arguing that transparency around registration lists is essential to maintaining accurate records, preventing administrative errors and ensuring voters have confidence in election outcomes. The DOJ says the six states named in these new suits have repeatedly failed to meet the department’s requests.
The cases will now move forward in federal court, where judges could order the states to turn over the voter lists, impose compliance deadlines, or issue injunctions requiring adherence to federal law.
Election law disputes over voter roll access and maintenance have escalated nationwide as states prepare for the 2026 midterms and the DOJ’s latest actions show an aggressive legal posture toward states that fail to meet federal disclosure rules.
The department says it will "continue filing proactive election integrity litigation until states comply," and has left open the possibility of additional lawsuits.
Former ESPN star blasts Ole Miss after Pete Golding revealed as Lane Kiffin’s chosen successor
The closely watched drama in the college football world finally reached its conclusion. Lane Kiffin, the head coach at Ole Miss for the past six years, boarded a flight for Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Sunday.
Kiffin was formally introduced as LSU's next head coach Monday. Ole Miss quickly responded to Kiffin's exit by elevating Pete Golding from defensive coordinator to head coach.
While Kiffin’s exit sparked considerable backlash, former ESPN host and current sports commentator and podcaster Bomani Jones turned his focus to the coach’s handpicked successor.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Jones lambasted Golding's performance during his stint as Ole Miss' defensive coordinator. He also floated a theory about Golding's appearance.
COACH WHO LEFT OLE MISS TO JOIN LANE KIFFIN AT LSU WILL FINISH SEASON WITH REBELS
"I had known him by name. I saw a picture of him and was like ‘There’s no way that man is a head coach,'" Jones said.
Golding has coached for nearly two decades, but this will be his first opportunity to lead a football program that competes in a Power Four conference.
Kiffin coached the Rebels to victory over Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl rivalry game Friday to secure an 11-1 record for Ole Miss. While Ole Miss did not qualify for this week's SEC Championship Game in Atlanta, the seventh-ranked Rebels are in position to advance to the College Football Playoff.
Whatever game Ole Miss ends up playing later this month will be Golding's first opportunity as the Rebels' head coach. After reportedly meeting with Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter and school chancellor Glenn Boyce, Kiffin learned his time coaching the Rebels had come to an end.
"I was hoping to complete a historic six-season run with this year's team by leading Ole Miss through the playoffs, capitalizing on the team's incredible success and their commitment to finish strong and investing everything into a playoff run with guardrails in place to protect the program in any areas of concern," Kiffin said in a statement.
LSU parted ways with Brian Kelly in late October, shortly after the Tigers dropped a home game to Texas A&M.
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Ex-MSNBC host condemns Latino ICE agents, saying they betray 'own community' by deporting criminal migrants
Liberal podcast host and former MSNBC host Krystal Ball condemned Latino Americans serving in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during an interview on Tuesday.
Ball appeared on the "I’ve Had It" podcast, hosted by Jennifer Welch and Angie "Pumps" Sullivan, where they discussed the Trump administration's immigration policies.
"I feel like one of the core sort of conservative traits is not giving a s--- about anything until it directly affects you," Ball, who hosts the political podcast "Breaking Points," said. "How many times have you heard like, ‘Oh, now that I had this health issue or my child had this health issue, I see the problem with the healthcare system’ or ‘now that my community is affected, I see the racism and I see that this is a major problem’?"
JASMINE CROCKETT LIKENS ICE TO 'SLAVE PATROLS,' DOWNPLAYS MIGRANT CRIME
She continued, "It has to impact them directly. I mean, talk about empathy. I mean, it's just like complete devoid of an ability to project down. ‘Okay, what could this ideology mean for me’ or ‘what is it doing to these other people’ and ‘what does that mean for their lives?’ It's just, it has to like, impact them directly before they really get what the issue is."
Co-host Jennifer Welch brought up how Ball has expressed anger at ICE as well, prompting the former MSNBC host to say that Latino ICE agents go a step further, being willing to target their own group.
"I mean that connects to this, right?" she said. "Not only do you have no moral compass - and how many times have you seen these guys, they've got their masks on so you can't see their whole face, but what you can see, it's like a brown skin tone and a dude who looks like his last name is probably like ‘Lopez’ or ‘Hernandez’ or something," she said. "It's like, what is wrong with you? Not only do you not have morality, apparently you don't have self-preservation."
TEXAS DEMOCRAT BLASTED FOR ‘BLOODY TRUMP’ COSTUME, VIOLENT RHETORIC AFTER DEADLY ICE SHOOTING
Ball then claimed that self-professed "Heritage Americans" who claim descent from America's founding settlers, do not see Latino ICE officers as legitimate Americans.
"These people hate you. They hate you. They hate your family. They hate your kids. They hate your future grandkids. They don't think you belong here," she said. "You're not a quote unquote ‘heritage American.’ You're never going to belong. And you're the one implementing the violent force against your own community. I just can't wrap my head around that."
ICE didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
Trump-backed Republican keeps crucial congressional seat in GOP hands with special election victory
Republicans will hold onto a GOP-controlled vacant congressional seat in ruby-red Tennessee after winning a hotly contested special election that grabbed plenty of national attention.
Republican nominee Matt Van Epps on Tuesday defeated Democratic rival Aftyn Behn, according to the Associated Press, in the high-stakes race to succeed former GOP Rep. Mark Green, who resigned from office in June to take a private sector job.
"This race was bigger than just one campaign,"Van Epps said in a statement after declaring victory. "It represented a defining moment for Tennessee and for the direction of the country."
With the GOP clinging to a razor-thin majority in the House, the special election was seen as a must-win for Republicans.
DECISION DAY: TRUMP, SPEAKER JOHNSON, AOC BLITZ CAMPAIGN TRAIL ON EVE OF KEY SHOWDOWN
President Donald Trump carried the 7th Congressional District — which is located in central and western Tennessee, stretches from Kentucky to Alabama, and includes parts of Nashville — by 22 points in last year's presidential election. And Green won the district by over 20 points in his 2022 and 2024 re-elections.
But Democrats were energized following their decisive victories in last month's 2025 elections, and public opinion surveys suggested a close contest between Van Epps and Behn in a showdown that was seen as a key barometer ahead of next year's midterm elections, when the GOP will be defending its majority.
With some votes still being counted, Van Epps was headed towards a nine-point victory.
WATCH: WHAT AFTYN BEHN TOLD FOX NEWS DIGITAL ON ELECTION EVE
Asked by Fox News Digital on Tuesday morning if he needed to win the election by a certain margin, Van Epps said, "a win is a win."
But the military combat veteran and former commissioner of the Tennessee Department of General Services added that "we're going to press as hard as we can to win by the biggest margin we can, and then we're going to hold the majority in '26."
Behn, a state representative and former healthcare community organizer, who's been dubbed the "AOC of Tennessee" in a comparison to progressive champion Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, said in her concession speech, "Although tonight is not the final result of what we wanted…it is the beginning of something so powerful in Tennessee and across the South."
She delivered a similar message to supporters at a local Democratic Party office in Nashville on Tuesday morning.
"Whatever happens, win or lose, you’ve inspired a country. You’ve shown people the South has something to say," Behn said.
"For me, we've already won over the hearts and minds of so many Tennesseans and across the country," Behn told Fox News Digital minutes later when asked if she's a winner even without an election victory. "What starts here changes this country."
And she added, "I think the electorate is shifting to accept a candidate like me that has a progressive track record."
Behn was laser focused during her campaign on two key issues, affordability and health care.
But National Republican Congressional Committee chair Rep. Richard Hudson, in congratulating Van Epps, emphasized that "Tennesseans know they can trust Van Epps to fight for their safety, security, and prosperity. No one is better positioned to take up the mantle and deliver results for Tennessee families, workers, and small business owners."
Trump, whose endorsement of Van Epps helped the candidate win a crowded and competitive primary last month, took to social media to congratulate "Van Epps on his BIG Congressional WIN."
"Another great night for the Republican Party!!!" the president said in his social media post.
And Van Epps, in his victory speech, said "Our victory was powered by a movement of Tennesseans that are ready for change. We are grateful to the President for his unwavering support that charted this movement and catapulted us to victory. President Trump was all-in with us. That made the difference. In Congress, I’ll be all-in with him."
But Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin said in a statement, "What happened tonight in Tennessee makes it clear: Democrats are on offense and Republicans are on the ropes."
"Aftyn Behn’s overperformance in this Trump +22 district is historic and a flashing warning sign for Republicans heading into the midterms," Martin argued. "The fact that Republicans spent millions to protect this Trump +22 district and still lost so much ground should have the GOP shaking in their boots. Democrats are all gas and no brakes as we head into next year, organizing everywhere and competing in elections across the country. "
And House Majority PAC, the top super PAC supporting congressional Democrats, claimed, "Tonight's results make it clear: No House Republican's re-election should be considered safe next November."
Asked about the Democrats' comments, Van Epps told Fox News Digital after his Election Night speech that "we have the resounding victory. This is a victory for Republicans. It’s a victory for our district. It’s a victory for President Trump."
"We are going to take this momentum forward, and we’re going to win in 2026," he predicted.
DEMOCRATS, REPUBLICANS, GO ALL IN ON FINAL 2025 CONGRESSIONAL BALLOT BOX SHOWDOWN
With so much on the line, outside groups aligned with both parties shelled out millions of dollars to run ads in the race. And the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and the rival Republican National Committee (RNC) each poured resources into the showdown, which included dispatching staffers onto the campaign trail.
House Speaker Mike Johnson spent the entire day on Election Eve with Van Epps, joining the GOP nominee at a slew of rallies and stops across the district. He was joined by RNC chair Joe Gruters.
"We're going to win this seat, but we cannot take anything for granted," Johnson said in an interview with Fox News Digital.
"Special elections are strange because a lot of people take for granted in a deep red district like this that the Republican is just going to win automatically. Nothing's automatic. So we're here to help turn out the vote and make sure we get this great candidate right over that line," Johnson said.
Aiming to motivate low-propensity Trump supporters, who often don't vote when the president's not on the ballot, Johnson emphasized that "we need everybody to turn out."
Before introducing Van Epps at Monday's first rally, Johnson called Trump on his cell phone, and the president spoke to the crowd for over four minutes.
"Let's make it a sweeping victory," Trump said. "The whole world is watching Tennessee right now. And they're watching your district. The whole world. It’s a big vote. It’s going to show something. It's got to show that the Republican Party is stronger than it's ever been."
Trump joined Van Epps later in the day for an evening tele rally.
In another sign of the importance of holding the seat, Republican Gov. Bill Lee, GOP Sens. Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty, as well as Republican members of Congress from Tennessee, state GOP lawmakers and rival candidates who lost to Van Epps in last month's primary, campaigned with him on Monday.
Behn also enjoyed last-minute support from high-profile surrogates.
Ocasio-Cortez; Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington state, who chaired the Congressional Progressive Caucus the past four years; Black Voters Matter Fund co-founder LaTosha Brown and former Vice President Al Gore, a Tennessee native, all spoke at an Election Eve virtual rally.
"The reason this race is competitive is because I have been at community gatherings, potlucks, funerals, weddings, with the voters in the seventh district, and they remember that," Behn told Fox News Digital.
Behn faced repeated attacks that she's out of step with voters in the district.
"She does not represent the values of Tennessee or of America. She is as far left as you can get. She's a radical," Van Epps claimed in his Fox News Digital interview. "We have to reject that ideology. And we're going to do that tomorrow."
Johnson argued on Monday that Behn was a "radical" and "a dangerous far leftist. And she will be a rubber stamp for Hakeem Jeffries and AOC and all the radicals in Congress."
And Trump, repeating comments he made over the weekend on social media, charged that Behn "hates Christianity" and "hates country music."
Trump was referring to past comments Behn made from a 2020 podcast.
"I hate the city, I hate the bachelorettes, I hate the pedal taverns, I hate country music, I hate all of the things that make Nashville apparently an 'it' city to the rest of the country. But I hate it," she said in the podcast.
The district is solidly red, but includes parts of the Democratic stronghold of Nashville, Tennessee's capital and its most populous city, and a major national center for the country music industry. The district encompasses parts of north and west Nashville, including the downtown area which has long been a very popular tourist destination.
Behn, in a CNN interview on Sunday, noted that she was a "private citizen" when she made the comments. "Nashville is my home. Do I roll my eyes at the bachelorette parties and the pedal taverns that are blocking my access to my house? Yeah. Every Nashvillian does. But this race has always been about something bigger. It's about families across middle Tennessee that are getting crushed by rising prices."
Republicans also took aim at Behn over an op-ed titled, "Tennessee is a racist state, and so is its legislature," that appeared in a 2019 edition of The Tennessean newspaper.
The RNC, pointing in a recent social media post to the six-year-old opinion piece, asked, "If Behn hates Tennessee so much, why is she trying to represent it?"
Also resurfacing in recent weeks are anti-police comments Behn made on a now-deleted social media account.
"Clearly, I'm living rent-free in President Trump's mind," Behn told supporters on Monday.
And asked by Fox News Digital about the incoming verbal fire from Republicans, Behn joked, "I always love to hear from my fans."
She touted that "I have a track record of showing up in the hard fights and small fights in between, not only as an organizer and as an activist, but as a legislator."
And sticking to her key issue of tackling the high cost of living, Behn said she's "running on a very simple message of addressing the affordability crisis that Tennesseans are facing, and they [Republicans] don't have a remedy for it.
Fox News' Asher Redd contributed to this story
NYC alleged dine-and-dash influencer Pei Chung evicted from luxury apartment as she sits in jail
Brooklyn’s alleged dine-and-dash influencer queen Pei Chung was evicted Tuesday from her luxury Williamsburg apartment by her landlord, former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer.
Chung — a self-styled, Prada-clad influencer who is currently in jail for allegedly skipping out on hefty restaurant bills — was chronically late with her rent and even remained in the unit even after her lease expired at 416 Kent Ave., according to court records.
Documents say Chung owed roughly $8,000 by the time her lease ended in August 2024. She stayed in the $3,350-a-month apartment after her lease lapsed, potentially racking up more than $50,000 in unpaid rent, the court papers show.
The office of City Marshal Robert Renzulli confirmed to Fox News Digital that an eviction warrant was executed Tuesday without incident. The New York Post reported that Renzulli spent about an hour changing the locks on Chung’s apartment.
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"The apartment was vacant," Renzulli said. "The young lady was not there. The eviction is completed."
He added that her belongings — including furniture, clothing and bedding — were still inside the unit, NYPost reported. According to city rules, the landlord must hold the items for 30 days before disposing of them.
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"The general rule is that the landlord can dispose of the belongings, but in this case, I’m sure they’ll be speaking to their attorneys before they do anything like that," he added.
The influencer was reportedly a troublesome tenant, according to the NYPost, which cited neighbors claiming there were "repeated outbursts, visible signs of conflict, and disorder in the hallway." Building manager Bob Jenny reportedly added that Chung would leave garbage in the hallway and make excessive noise.
"We are very aware of the situation and have a very active legal case against this Resident," Jenny previously said, according to court documents, NYPost reported. "NYPD has been here multiple times . . . with little long term improvement."
Chung — known for flaunting skimpy lingerie and high-end fashion from Cartier, Louis Vuitton and Burberry on social media — rose to notoriety after being arrested at least 10 times for allegedly skipping out on lavish gourmet meals at upscale restaurants, NYPost reported.
According to the outlet, frustrated restaurant staff said Chung, always draped in designer labels, pretended to be a food influencer as she ran up pricey tabs she had no intention of paying, then posted the meals on Instagram as though they were sponsored.
Fox News Digital reached out to Eliot Spitzer for more information.