Independent voters react to Dems’ hostile rhetoric against President Trump
A focus group of voters showed Independents were disapproving of the Democratic Party’s antics of opposition to President Donald Trump.
Independent viewers in the focus group responded negatively to a protest earlier this month led by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., against Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
The focus group consisted of 75 Democrats, 49 independents and 32 Republicans, and was represented by blue, yellow and red lines, respectively.
In the video, Schumer led chants of “we will win” and “we won’t rest.”
INDEPENDENT VOTERS ARE TURNED OFF BY SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER’S ‘WE WILL WIN’ CHANT AT ANTI-TRUMP RALLY I
During Schumer’s chants, the dials showed unfavorable reactions from the independents and Republicans.
“Cringe,” Lee Carter, pollster and president of Maslansky + Partners, told Fox News Digital of the Schumer video. “Nothing says ‘we want to help’ like a gaggle of 70-year-olds waving canes and shouting inanities. You’d think public figures would have more self-awareness and a desire to behave in a professional manner.”
Another video, also viewed by the focus group, showed a Tuesday rally put on by the American Federation of Government Employees, also in protest of Trump and Musk.
“Which side are you on,” the group sang, their specific rendition of ‘Which Side Are You On?’ often sung during World War II. “Trump’s coming for our unions. He wants us all to fail, and he wants us to bow to him. But we want him in jail. Which side are you on.”
When the crowd sang the protest ballad, both the yellow line monitoring the independent reaction and the red line monitoring the Republican reaction dipped very low, while the blue line representing the Democrats remained steady.
One independent voter who viewed the footage said it “hovered back and forth between a tiny bit funny and very very cringe.”
ELON MUSK: IT’S NOT ‘OPTIONAL’ BUT ‘ESSENTIAL’ TO CUT FEDERAL SPENDING
“If anyone thought for half a second that would engage or persuade a single person to think/do something different then we’re in a really bad place,” the independent voter added. “I also really hate messaging that talks about ‘sides’ and think this has been—continues to be a major weakness in Democratic spokespeople messaging.”
A third video viewed by the focus group showed Rep. Maxine Dexter, D-Ore., at the American Federation of Government Employees protest, saying “I don’t swear in public very well, but we have to f— Trump.”
“Please don’t tell my children that I just did that,” she added.
During Dexter’s calls to “f— Trump,” the yellow line monitoring the independent reaction as well as the red line monitoring the Republican reaction also trended steadily downward, while the blue line monitoring the Democrat reaction remained flat.
Carter told Fox News Digital, “This is what Democrat opposition might fail to realize – this isn’t working. Even with people who agree with you.”
One respondent in the focus group said of Trump, “Sad, to say the least. We may not all agree with everything he does – I certainly don’t, but I respect the office of the Presidency and I respect the fact that he was elected with a majority. Get over yourself and be part of the solution.”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Democrats pressed on controversial USAID funding to terrorist-aligned groups
WASHINGTON — Democratic lawmakers said they do not support cutting funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) when confronted by Fox News Digital about controversial spending, such as money ending up in the hands of terrorist-linked groups.
The Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk, recently started cutting funding from USAID as they slash costs across the federal government. During their sweep, it was revealed that U.S. dollars were ending up in the hands of terror-linked groups, such as funds reportedly providing “full funding” for al Qaeda terrorist Anwar al-Awlaki to attend college in Colorado, unearthed documents apparently show.
Fox News Digital asked Democratic lawmakers their thoughts about the controversial USAID funding, specifically the funding going to some terrorist-linked groups.
“USAID funding is authorized spending. Republicans and Democrats have agreed to those levels. We should honor those deals,” Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., told Fox.
USAID INSPECTOR GENERAL FIRED DAYS AFTER PUBLISHING REPORT CRITICAL OF AID PAUSE
Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., said that while USAID funds “should never go to terrorist organizations,” he added that “Elon Musk has a real credibility gap” and that “almost all the claims as it relates to efficiency have been proven false.”
According to an analysis by the Middle East Forum, a U.S. conservative think tank, the USAID and State Department have funneled at least $122 million to groups aligned with designated terrorists and their supporters.
The think tank reported that among its top findings, USAID was found to have given more than $900,000 to a “Gaza-based terror charity” called Bayader Association for Environment and Development.
A White House report also identified millions of taxpayer dollars being spent on contraceptives and condoms that ended up in the hands of the Taliban, a terrorist group.
‘DESIGNATED TERRORISTS’: EXTREMIST GROUPS RAKED IN MILLIONS FROM USAID, MULTIYEAR STUDY REVEALS
“There’s no one in Congress who hates waste more than me,” Swalwell added. “And there’s nobody in Congress who wants to defeat the terrorists around the world more than me. So I will always be open-minded.”
“USAID funding right now is being raided by Elon Musk, and I think we have to do a much better job of ensuring that funding isn’t cut,” said Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif. “Cutting any funding is horrific, and, of course, nobody wants to fund terrorism.”
Progressive Rep. Greg Casar, D-Texas, a member of “the Squad” of progressive lawmakers, said it is “perfectly reasonable” to look at specific USAID funding but that he opposes gutting the entire department.
“When people ask about specific programs and parts of USAID or other federal programs, we should look into those. We can have oversight. We can look, we can go and edit the budget and say we don’t want to spend on this, because this didn’t work and we do want to spend on that.”
“The problem that we have right now happening in this country isn’t just about USAID. It’s not just about the Department of Education. It’s that you have Elon Musk, a billionaire who makes billions of dollars off of the federal government, going and shutting down programs without a vote, without any transparency,” Casar said.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Democratic Rep. Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey did not fully answer the question and walked away.
Blue state gov will reportedly veto bill blocking prisons from cooperating with ICE
California Gov. Gavin Newsom is vowing to veto a bill that would block his state’s prison system from cooperating with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a report says.
Assembly Bill 15 argues that “when California’s jails and prisons voluntarily and unnecessarily transfer immigrant and refugee community members eligible for release from state or local custody to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for immigration detention and deportation purposes, they subject these community members to double punishment and further trauma.”
“The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation shall not detain on the basis of a hold request, provide an immigration authority with release date information, or respond to a notification request, transfer to an immigration authority, or facilitate or assist with a transfer request any individual who is eligible for release,” reads some of the language of the bill.
However, Newsom’s office told KCRA 3 that the governor would veto the bill if it ever lands on his desk this year. Currently, the legislation has been referred to the Assembly’s Public Safety Committee, the station added.
CALIFORNIA CITY PASSES SWEEPING HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT BAN ON ALL PUBLIC PROPERTY
A spokesperson for Newsom did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital on Friday. The bill is sponsored by Mike Gipson, a Democratic lawmaker who represents Los Angeles.
Two years ago, Newsom vetoed Assembly Bill 1306, which called for similar actions.
“This bill prohibits the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation from providing any information or responding to a request for coordination from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a federal law enforcement agency, regarding the imminent release of an incarcerated non-citizen, if the person is being released under specific circumstances,” Newsom wrote at the time.
TRUMP-SUPPORTING CALIFORNIA SHERIFF TO LAUNCH REPUBLICAN BID FOR GOVERNOR IN RACE TO SUCCEED NEWSOM: SOURCES
“The bill would prevent information sharing and coordination upon a person’s release from CDCR custody for a significant number of people and, as a result, would impede CDCR’s interaction with a federal law enforcement agency charged with assessing public safety risks,” he continued.
“I believe current law strikes the right balance on limiting interaction to support community trust and cooperation between law enforcement and local communities. For this reason, I cannot sign this bill,” Newsom concluded.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
More than 10,500 California inmates have been transferred into ICE custody since Newsom took office in 2019, KCRA 3 reported, citing prison system data.
Red state governor endorses idea to abolish major tax and explains how it could be done
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis endorsed the idea of abolishing property taxes throughout the Sunshine State, but explained that it would require a constitutional amendment.
The governor, who is currently serving his second term after a decisive re-election victory in Florida’s 2022 gubernatorial contest, was responding to someone on X who advocated abolishing property taxes in the state and asked what would need to be done to make that happen.
“Property taxes are local, not state. So we’d need to do a constitutional amendment (requires 60% of voters to approve) to eliminate them (which I would support) or even to reform/lower them,” DeSantis noted.
FLORIDA’S PROGRESSIVE ABORTION AMENDMENT FAILS FOLLOWING DESANTIS PUSH AGAINST ‘BAIT AND SWITCH’ LEGISLATION
“We should put the boldest amendment on the ballot that has a chance of getting that 60%,” he continued.
“I agree that taxing land/property is the more oppressive and ineffective form of taxation,” the governor added.
FLORIDA SHERIFF ASKS TRUMP’S ICE TO REMOVE BIDEN-ERA ‘SHACKLES’
Eric Trump, one of President Donald Trump’s sons, shared DeSantis’ post, and hailed the idea, declaring, “Florida leading the way! This is amazing!”
The governor’s tweet has amassed more than 50,000 likes so far since he shared it on Thursday evening.
DESANTIS’ CHOSEN RUBIO REPLACEMENT MOODY WANTS TO TACKLE INFLATION, SPENDING, BORDER: ‘AUDIT THE FED!’
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
DeSantis mounted a presidential bid in 2023, but dropped out and endorsed Trump in early 2024 after finishing in a distant second place in the Iowa Republican presidential caucus.
Why Travis Kelce’s sister-in-law didn’t eat Taylor Swift’s home-cooked meal during date
Taylor Swift’s home-cooked meal was not enjoyed by Travis Kelce’s sister-in-law, but it was not due to Swift’s cooking.
During a recent episode of the “Call Her Daddy” podcast, host Alex Cooper asked Kylie Kelce if she and her husband, Jason Kelce, had ever gone out with Taylor and Travis.
Kylie went into detail about the pair’s double-date and explained that she could not get herself to eat Swift’s meal.
“Technically, yes, it was at home,” Kylie began. “This is gonna sound terrible, but I didn’t really eat the meal. I didn’t really eat the meal because I was eight weeks pregnant.”
TAYLOR SWIFT, TRAVIS KELCE KEPT RELATIONSHIP HIDDEN FROM FAMILY AT START OF ROMANCE
Kylie quickly noted that her statement would “sound terrible” to Swifites, but explained that “nothing sounded” appetizing when she was eight weeks pregnant with the couple’s fourth child.
“This is gonna sound terrible, but I didn’t really eat the meal. I didn’t really eat the meal because I was eight weeks pregnant.”
Also during the interview, Kylie revealed when she and her husband found out that Travis was dating Swift.
“I will say, we knew before everyone else knew. But we were, it was not like –” Kylie began before Cooper asked, “It didn’t hit the group chat?”
“It did not hit the group chat,” she explained.
“Jason and I found out together,” Kylie admitted. “But we knew before they like, hard launched [Taylor] going to a game.”
Swift and Travis infamously debuted their relationship at a Kansas City Chiefs game on Sept. 24, 2023. The pop star surprised fans by appearing at Arrowhead Stadium in a suite with Travis’ mom, Donna Kelce.
Before dating Swift, Travis attended the Kansas City stop of her “The Eras Tour” and even made a friendship bracelet with his number on it. However, he later revealed on his podcast, “New Heights,” that he did not get a chance to give “The Tortured Poets Department” singer the gift.
LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
“This all started when Travis very adorably put me on blast on his podcast, which I thought was metal as hell,” Swift told Time magazine. “We started hanging out right after that.”
“So we actually had a significant amount of time that no one knew, which I’m grateful for, because we got to get to know each other,” she explained. “By the time I went to that first game, we were a couple. I think some people think that they saw our first date at that game? We would never be psychotic enough to hard launch a first date.”
Kylie later met Swift at another Kansas City Chiefs game, where the NFL team took on the Buffalo Bills. Jason’s wife noted fans were “deeply disturbed” that the two didn’t meet before that moment.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER
“There was like, all of this stuff leading up to it about, ‘Well, why haven’t they met? They’re avoiding each other,'” Kylie recalled. “I’m not avoiding anyone. I am more than happy to meet someone, especially someone that Travis is dating.”
“But it was funny to me because I kept saying to people I didn’t meet Travis for probably close to a year when Jason and I were dating,” she added. “And she’s busy.”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“It’s just so silly to me that that’s like the storyline that’s written.”
Former volleyball coach’s home vandalized amid transgender player controversy
EXCLUSIVE: The home of former San Jose State University assistant volleyball coach Melissa Batie-Smoose was shot at on Monday night in Scotts Valley, California, Batie-Smoose and local police have told Fox News Digital.
Scotts Valley Police Department Captain Scott Garner told Fox News Digital that officers have determined that the weapon used was a pellet gun, and it is being investigated as an act of vandalism. The pellet has been recovered by police. Nobody was harmed and no suspect or motive has been determined. The investigation is ongoing.
“We’re following up with some neighbors just to see what we can find out,” Garner said. “At this point, there’s no surveillance, there’s no leads, there’s no nothing. We’re just going to do our due diligence to go and interview the neighbors.”
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Batie-Smoose’s contract with San Jose State expired and was not renewed on Jan. 31 after she was suspended from the program in November. Batie-Smoose previously filed a Title IX complaint against the program over a situation involving transgender volleyball player Blaire Fleming. Batie-Smoose is also a plaintiff in a lawsuit against SJSU and the Mountain West Conference, along with 11 conference players, over the situation involving Fleming.
No link between Monday night’s incident and Batie-Smoose’s Title IX complaint, departure from the program and ongoing lawsuit has been determined by police.
But Batie-Smoose believes she was “targeted.”
“I do,” Batie-Smoose told Fox News Digital when asked if she believes incident was linked to the situation involving SJSU and Fleming. “It can’t be a coincidence. I have never had this happen and in our neighborhood I talked to neighbors that have lived there over 10 years and not even a robber in the area, let alone someone shooting at someone in their house.”
Batie Smoose said the incident occurred when she was in a virtual meeting with members of the Independent Council on Women’s Sports (ICONS).
She was speaking with Mountain West Conference volleyball players involved in the lawsuit and the lead attorney Bill Bock. As they were discussing the legal battle and the NCAA’s new policy regarding gender eligibility, Batie-Smoose heard glass break in the background.
“I hear this big sound and it sounds like breaking glass and at first I was just like ‘what just happened? Where did that sound come from?’ And then, once it registered, I look over to the window and I see the bullet hole.”
Batie-Smoose said she crawled on the floor behind her couch and called her husband, telling him to call the police. The pellet was shot at the window facing her backyard.
“Police said the shot had to come from the street behind me,” Batie-Smoose said, adding that most of her neighbors were not home when the incident occurred.
When Batie-Smoose was informed that police determined the incident was an act of vandalism due what weapon is said to have been used, she called the decision “crazy.”
“So because it might potentially not be a gun that it’s just considered vandalism even though it can harm you?” Batie-Smoose said. “That’s kind of crazy to me. Regardless, if an object at that force comes to your head, you’re going to be harmed. It’s crazy to me.
“I don’t know how this gets downgraded to vandalism.”
Batie-Smoose said she previously received hostile emails about her stance on Fleming and trans inclusion in women’s sports. She also claimed to have had in-person altercations with individuals in Santa Cruz and Scotts Valley who disagreed with her stance.
SJSU TRANSGENDER VOLLEYBALL SCANDAL: TIMELINE OF ALLEGATIONS, POLITICAL IMPACT AND A RAGING CULTURE MOVEMENT
“People recognize me in the community and I’m in an area that’s speaking out and speaking to fight for women’s sports, I’m in an area with some crazies and I definitely believe it was a target on me for speaking out,” she said.
Batie-Smoose added that all the coaches and players involved with San Jose State’s volleyball program know her address. Batie-Smoose joined the program in 2023, but isn’t ruling out individuals outside of the program finding out her address via other means.
“I feel this day and age people could come find your address pretty easily,” Batie-Smoose said. “Have I put it out there? No. But I’m sure if you looked hard enough you could find my address.”
Batie-Smoose has since left her home and is staying elsewhere while the investigation continues.
San Jose State has provided a statement to Fox News Digital, addressing the incident with its former assistant coach.
“We are troubled to hear of this unsettling incident and we hope that police are able to identify the perpetrators. Our thoughts are with the Batie-Smoose family,” a university spokesperson said.
Batie-Smoose was suspended from the program on Nov. 2 after she filed the Title IX complaint. The complaint included allegations that Fleming had conspired with an opponent to have former SJSU co-captain Brooke Slusser hit in the face during a match in October.
Regular police protection was assigned to the team and continued throughout the season amid security concerns, including an incident in which Slusser was informed of a physical threat to her safety on Oct. 2, Fox News Digital previously reported.
Both Slusser’s lawsuit and Batie-Smoose’s Title IX complaint allege that Fleming conspired with Colorado State volleyball player Malaya Jones ahead of the match between the two programs on Oct. 3. The complaint alleged Fleming provided a scouting report to Jones to ensure a Colorado State competitive advantage, and allegedly established a plan to set up Jones with a clear lane to spike Slusser in the face during the contest.
A Mountain West investigation into Batie-Smoose’s allegations did not find sufficient evidence to assign discipline to any player who was named in the allegations, which was stated in a letter obtained by Fox News Digital that was addressed to San Jose State athletic director Jeff Konya and Colorado State athletic director John Weber from Mountain West Deputy Commissioner Bret Gilliland.
Gilliland claimed that any evidence to back the claims in the complaint was insufficient, but did not explicitly state that the allegations were false, according to the letter.
Slusser’s attorney, Bill Bock, later provided a statement to Fox News Digital insisting that the investigation had been “infected with bias.”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“Because the MWC’s investigation was inadequate, and anything but thorough, and because the MWC’s close-out letter is riddled with errors, the undersigned is issuing this rebuttal and demands that the MWC immediately and publicly release: (1) the investigative report prepared by its investigator(s), and (2) all documents connected to the MWC’s claimed ‘thorough investigation’ and upon which the MWC’s decision not to proceed further was based,” read the statement from Bock.
San Jose State is also now under investigation by President Donald Trump’s Department of Education to determine whether Title IX violations occurred during Fleming’s tenure on the volleyball team.
San José State University President Cynthia Teniente-Matson has told Fox News Digital the university is prepared to cooperate in the investigation.
Fans of Super Bowl champs get stern warning from city as celebration begins
The Philadelphia Eagles will travel throughout downtown Philly on Friday to celebrate their Super Bowl win with their fans, and over a million people are expected to attend.
However, there appears to be cause for concern from city officials amid the chaos that has occurred in the city throughout the team’s recent victories.
Numerous arrests have been made after both the Super Bowl and NFC championship victories in the Broad Street area.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
It Is the second parade for the Birds in the last seven years, and the city issued a message to the Eagles fans earlier this week.
“The parade route has been thoughtfully planned for the safety and security of all attendees. With large crowds expected, we ask everyone to celebrate responsibly and respectfully, making this a moment Philadelphia can be proud of,” a press release read.
Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker added, “While City offices and buildings will be closed to allow everyone to join the festivities, our focus will remain on keeping all Philadelphians safe.”
A shooting left one dead at last year’s Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl rally.
A.J. BROWN SAYS WINNING SUPER BOWL ‘WASN’T WHAT I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE;’ LOVE FOR GAME ‘COMES WHEN I DOMINATE’
Scenes of chaos erupted in Philadelphia on Sunday night following the Eagles’ Super Bowl win, with fans in team colors seen setting fires, smashing light poles and chanting, “F— the Chiefs!”
Footage captured by FreedomNewsTV purportedly showed a crowd looting a laundry truck and tossing towels into the air. Police then were seen responding to a fire as a pile of the laundry was set ablaze.
In another clip, two individuals were seen toppling a light pole. Once it hit the ground, a crowd rushed around it and started smashing it with their feet. Then members of the crowd picked the pole up and started carrying it through the city’s downtown area.
Videos also showed fans climbing on top of light poles, street signs, bus stops, trucks and trees. In one scene, fans re-enacted the Eagles’ signature “tush push” play.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The Philadelphia Police Department told Fox News Digital that it arrested 47 people during the demonstrations, including on charges of vandalism and assaulting a police officer.
After the NFC title game, an 18-year-old fan died days after falling from a lamp post.