‘Squad’ member puts an end to rumors about her political future
High-profile “Squad” member Rep. Ilhan Omar effectively closed the door on rumors she would seek Minnesota’s open Senate seat in 2026, with an announcement launching a House re-election bid.
“At a time when our rights are under attack, it is more important than ever to fight back against the chaos, corruption, and callousness of the Trump Administration,” the Minneapolis Democrat told Minnesota Public Radio.
“In Minnesota, we know that organized people will always beat organized money. Our campaign is ready to build on our successful grassroots organizing efforts to have a record turnout for the midterms and help win back the majority,” she said.
She won her last race for the 5th Congressional District seat handily, defeating Iraq-born Republican journalist Dalia al-Aqidi by about 50 points.
OMAR SLAMS TRUMP, MUSK FOR CHANGES AT USAID, ACCUSES PRESIDENT OF RUNNING A DICTATORSHIP
Omar had been one of several names bandied about as potential successors to Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn., who announced last month she would not seek re-election.
Almost immediately, fellow Democrat Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan threw her hat in the ring, while Omar and other top potential candidates remained silent.
One of Omar’s fellow “Squad” members, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., has been rumored as a potential 2028 primary opponent to Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer.
In February, Smith – who was originally appointed by then-Gov. Mark Dayton to succeed Sen. Al Franken after his resignation over sexual misconduct allegations – said in February that she was ready to spend more time with her family.
“This decision is not political, it is entirely personal, but it’s not lost on me that our country is in need of strong progressive leadership right now, maybe more than ever,” Smith said.
REP ILHAN OMAR CRITICIZES NETANYAHU’S GAZA ACTION
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz also declined to seek Smith’s seat, leaving his deputy – Flanagan – as the highest-profile Democrat in the race to date.
“At this point in time, I don’t want to have my thumb on the scale in any way,” Walz said in February.
“I just know we’ve got a deep bench. We’ve got good folks,” said Walz, who may instead consider a third term in St. Paul.
If elected, Flanagan – who is Ojibwe – would be only the fifth U.S. senator of Native American heritage and the second currently in office, alongside Oklahoma Republican Markwayne Mullin.
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On the Republican side, retired Marine and Navy SEAL Adam Schwarze announced a bid and called it his “most important mission of them all.”
Additionally, former Sacramento Kings player Royce White announced his own bid. White previously lost the 2024 GOP Senate primary.
The race to succeed Smith will be the Land of 10,000 Lakes’ first open Senate race since 2006 – when Dayton declined to run for re-election and Sen. Amy Klobuchar defeated then-Rep. Mark Kennedy, R-Minn., by about 19 points.
Franken has endorsed Flanagan.
Fox News Digital reached out to Omar’s campaign for further comment but did not immediately hear back.
Suspect admits why he torched governor’s mansion with family inside — and how he did it
The man who police say confessed to setting fire to the mansion of Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, D-Penn., and his family was “not a fan of Trump” and a “whack job,” President Donald Trump said Monday.
Cody Balmer, 38, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, is “currently receiving treatment” at a hospital for a “medical event not connected to this incident or his arrest,” Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) said. Balmer served in the Army reserves from 2004 to 2012, Heather Hagan, an Army spokesperson, told Fox News.
He was a construction equipment repairer and had no deployments, Hagan said. He was a sergeant when he left the Army.
Balmer has been charged with domestic terrorism, aggravated arson, aggravated assault, criminal homicide and other counts, according to a criminal complaint unveiled Monday.
PENNSYLVANIA POLICE ARREST SUSPECT AFTER GOVERNOR’S MANSION SET ON FIRE WHILE GOV JOSH SHAPIRO, FAMILY SLEPT
While being interviewed by troopers, “Balmer admitted to harboring hatred towards Governor Shapiro.” Balmer told investigators “he removed gasoline from a lawn mower and poured it into Heineken bottles he found at his residence,” according to the complaint.
Trump was asked during his meeting with El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele if he had learned of a possible motive for Balmer.
“No, I haven’t, but, the attacker was not a fan of Trump, I understand,” Trump said. “Just from what I read and from what I’ve been told, the attacker basically wasn’t a fan of anybody’s. Probably just a whack job. And certainly a thing like that cannot be allowed to happen.”
Balmer was first identified to police by an ex-lover after he allegedly confessed to her and “wanted her to call police to turn him in,” according to the criminal complaint obtained by Fox News. It was only a short time later that Balmer turned himself in outside Pennsylvania State Police headquarters, police said.
Balmer “remains under PSP supervision and will be transported to the Dauphin County Prison for arraignment upon his release,” PSP said in a statement.
Balmer allegedly told police he walked an hour to the governor’s mansion “with the intention of throwing his homemade Molotov cocktails into the residence.”
Troopers say Balmer admitted to scaling a perimeter fence, breaking two windows with a hammer and throwing Molotov cocktails inside. The arson suspect allegedly admitted he was aware it was a possibility that Shapiro and others were home at the time and “it was a possibility that people could be injured by his actions.”
Had Balmer come face-to-face with Shapiro, he allegedly said, “he would have beaten him with his hammer.” Following the interview, Balmer was taken into custody.
Police say the arson suspect was caught on security cameras both in and outside the mansion “wearing a black ‘Snap-On’ jacket, black boots and carrying a bag.” Troopers say they found the jacket, bag “and a small sledge hammer” at Balmer’s home.
The fire broke out around 2 a.m. Sunday after Shapiro, considered a potential presidential contender for the Democratic Party in 2028, and his family celebrated the first night of the Jewish holiday of Passover.
GROUNDHOG DAY: PUNXSUTAWNEY PHIL MAKES ANNUAL WINTER WEATHER PREDICTION
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“This kind of violence is becoming far too common in our society,” the politician said. “And I don’t give a damn if it’s coming from one particular side or the other, directed at one particular party or another, or one particular person or another. It is not okay and it has to stop. We have to be better than this.”
Trump turns up the heat on CNN during tense Oval Office exchange
President Donald Trump repeatedly needled CNN and its primetime anchor Kaitlan Collins on Monday during an extended exchange in the Oval Office about deported El Salvadoran national Kilmar Abrego Garcia.
Trump welcomed El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele to the White House on Monday, and as Collins tried to get in a remark, Trump said he wanted to hear a question from the “very low-rated anchor.” Collins ignored the slam and asked Trump if he would ask Bukele to assist in bringing back the man who was mistakenly deported.
Trump directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to answer Collins, who said Abrego Garcia was illegally in the country and had previously been ruled by immigration courts to be a member of transnational terrorist group MS-13. It was “up to El Salvador” if it wanted to return him, she said.
Trump interjected that CNN asked “with a slant, because they are totally slanted.”
‘UP TO EL SALVADOR’: TRUMP ADMIN PUNTS ON RETURN OF WRONGFULLY DEPORTED MARYLAND RESIDENT
“They don’t know what’s happening, that’s why nobody is watching them,” Trump said.
White House advisor Stephen Miller was also tapped in by Trump to respond to Collins, saying it was “very arrogant even for American media to suggest that we would even tell El Salvador how to handle their own citizens.” He added that because Trump had declared MS-13 a foreign terrorist outfit, Abrego Garcia was ineligible for immigration relief in the U.S.
While a court ordered the U.S. government to pursue “steps to facilitate the return” of the man who was removed last month, the Justice Department asserted that federal courts do not have the authority to dictate to the executive branch how to handle foreign relations and that the order only requires removal of “domestic obstacles” that would hinder the man’s ability to return to the U.S.
The Supreme Court upheld the decision by U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis saying Abrego Garcia had to be returned, saying it “properly requires the government to ‘facilitate’ Abrego Garcia’s release from custody in El Salvador and to ensure that his case is handled as it would have been had he not been improperly sent to El Salvador.” However, the Trump administration has framed the decision as a victory that affirmed the president’s authority over foreign policy.
STEPHEN MILLER DOUBLES DOWN ON DEPORTATION OF ALLEGED GANG MEMBER: ‘NOT MISTAKENLY SENT’
“We won a case 9-0,” Miller said. “And people like CNN are portraying it as a loss, as usual, because they want foreign terrorists in the country who kidnap women and children.”
Collins followed up that Trump had said he would abide by the Supreme Court decision. Trump shot back, “Why don’t you just say, ‘Isn’t it wonderful that we’re keeping criminals out of our country?’ Why can’t you just say that? Why do you go over and over — and that’s why nobody watches you anymore. You have no credibility.”
Collins hosts “The Source” on weeknights in addition to being a White House correspondent for CNN.
Earlier in the conversation with Bukele, Trump said of CNN, “I think they hate our country” and accused it of stifling reporting about decreased illegal border crossings under his administration.
Asked for comment, a CNN spokesperson didn’t respond on the record to Fox News Digital.
‘WOEFULLY INSUFFICIENT’: US JUDGE REAMS TRUMP ADMIN FOR DAYS-LATE DEPORTATION INFO
In a court filing submitted Sunday evening, Justice Department lawyers argued they are not required to comply with a judge’s order to “facilitate” the return of Abrego Garcia, who was sent to an El Salvadoran prison in what administration officials have since acknowledged was an “administrative error.”
They argued that the order itself likely exceeds the power of the courts, arguing they “have no authority to direct the Executive Branch to conduct foreign relations in a particular way, or engage with a foreign sovereign in a given manner.”
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Tori Spelling shares how daughter’s question pushed her to divorce husband
Tori Spelling‘s split from Dean McDermott may have been a long time coming, but it wasn’t until the couple’s youngest daughter asked a heartbreaking question that the “Beverly Hills, 90210” star ultimately made the decision to walk away from her 18-year marriage.
During a recent episode of her podcast “misSPELLING,” the 51-year-old opened up about how Hattie, 13, once asked a heartbreaking question that forced her to reevaluate her life.
Spelling recalled her daughter once asking her, “Have you ever considered what it would be like to be with someone else and not Dad and get treated right?”
TORI SPELLING FILES FOR DIVORCE FROM DEAN MCDERMOTT AFTER 18-YEAR MARRIAGE
While Spelling said Hattie “loves her dad,” the children were aware the marriage had become toxic.
“It got to the point where it was worse for the kids to see us together,” Spelling said. “We could no longer hide what was happening, the fights.”
“He was an addict going through a lot, and a lot of it was taken out on me. And she saw that,” Spelling continued. “I didn’t like the person I was, trying to raise strong humans and just taking it and taking it.”
“On my part, at least, the want of kids, just always wanting their parents together, I think kept me from making what was outwardly a better decision for them than what they saw between two partners,” she added. “That kept me in the relationship far too long, and it ultimately, I feel, did a disservice to my kids.”
The former couple share five children together – Beau, 8, Finn, 12, Hattie, 13, Stella, 16, and Liam, 18.
Spelling first filed for divorce on March 29, 2024. She cited June 17, 2023, as the couple’s date of separation. The actress requested spousal support from McDermott and asked to terminate the court’s ability to award spousal support to her estranged husband.
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Spelling also requested full custody of the children along with joint legal custody.
McDermott first announced the couple’s separation on Instagram in June 2023, but quickly deleted the post.
“It’s with great sadness and a very very heavy heart that after 18 years together and 5 amazing children, that @torispelling and I have decided to go our separate ways, and start a new journey of our own,” he wrote at the time.
DEAN MCDERMOTT BLAMES TORI SPELLING SPLIT ON HIS DRUNKEN RAGES, HER CHOICE TO HAVE BARN ANIMALS IN THE BEDROOM
That same year, McDermott spoke about how his struggle with addiction eventually led to the couple’s downfall.
“All Tori’s ever done to this day is want me to be happy and healthy, and I inflicted a lot of damage and pain on that woman. I’m taking accountability for that today,” McDermott, who checked himself into a rehab facility, told the Daily Mail at the time. “And it’s the biggest amend that I’m ever going to have to make.”
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“Alcohol made me feel good enough,” he continued. “I started feeling good enough until it got to a point where it didn’t – it ended up in isolation. It ended up with me drinking a fifth of tequila every night, seven days a week, and a handful of narcos [prescription meds] by myself with a beautiful family in the other room.”
“That’s what it led to and that’s what led to the brokenness and to what happened between me and Tori. I couldn’t do it anymore,” he added. “I couldn’t live that life anymore. I was tired of the anger and the yelling.”
When he was in this state, McDermott said he would go into rages that left Spelling and their five children “petrified.” He would also pass out to the point where Spelling felt the need to make sure he was still alive.
McDermott celebrated one year of sobriety in July 2024.
Trump goes nuclear on CBS, demands ‘60 Minutes’ pay ‘big price’ for ‘illegal behavior’
President Donald Trump lashed out at CBS News and “60 Minutes” on Sunday, and said the network should pay a “big price” after calling out two segments on the show.
“I am so honored to be suing 60 Minutes, CBS Fake News, and Paramount, over their fraudulent, beyond recognition, reporting. They did everything possible to illegally elect Kamala, including completely and corruptly changing major answers to Interview questions, but it just didn’t work for them. They are not a ‘News Show,’ but a dishonest Political Operative simply disguised as ‘News,’ and must be responsible for what they have done, and are doing,” Trump wrote on social media after criticizing a “60 Minutes” segment.
“60 Minutes” did a segment with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday, as well as one on Trump wanting to acquire Greenland.
“They should lose their license! Hopefully, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), as headed by its Highly Respected Chairman, Brendan Carr, will impose the maximum fines and punishment, which is substantial, for their unlawful and illegal behavior. CBS is out of control, at levels never seen before, and they should pay a big price for this,” Trump continued in his post.
‘60 MINUTES’ HOST RIPPED FOR ASKING EX-HOSTAGE IF HAMAS STARVED HIM BECAUSE THEY DIDN’T HAVE ENOUGH FOOD
The president called out CBS and “60 Minutes” in another post on Sunday for their editing of an interview the program did with former Vice President Kamala Harris ahead of the 2024 election. Trump is seeking $20 billion in a lawsuit against CBS, alleging election interference over its handling of the interview.
“Now tonight, with two separate but highly inaccurate stories about ‘TRUMP,’ they’re at it again. The people at CBS Fake News just don’t get it!” the president said in a separate Truth Social post.
The president has accused CBS of aiding his 2024 Democratic opponent through deceptive editing one month before he and Harris faced off in the presidential election. The saga began when Harris was widely mocked for a “word salad” answer she gave to “60 Minutes” correspondent Bill Whitaker during a preview of the interview on “Face the Nation,” and CBS then aired a different answer to the same question during a primetime special.
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CBS News did not immediately return a request for comment.
During the “60 Minutes” interview with Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian president said Russia’s narrative around its war with Ukraine was “prevailing” in the U.S. and the Trump administration.
Zelenskyy told correspondent Scott Pelley his thoughts after reflecting on the explosive Oval Office meeting between him, Trump and Vice President JD Vance in February. Pelley noted Zelenskyy struggled to make his points to Trump prior to that meeting, particularly after Trump accused Zelenskyy of being a “dictator.”
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“I believe, sadly, Russian narratives are prevailing in the U.S.,” Zelenskyy said. “How is it possible to witness our losses and our suffering, to understand what the Russians are doing, and to still believe that they are not the aggressors, that they did not start this war? This speaks to the enormous influence of Russia’s information policy on America, on U.S. politics and U.S. politicians.”
San Diego area rocked by unexpected quake, sending shockwaves through homes
A 5.2 magnitude earthquake shook the San Diego area on Monday.
The earthquake’s epicenter was reported near Julian, California, a town about 30 miles northeast of downtown San Diego, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
San Diego Fire told Fox News that there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries. Some schools in the area were also being evacuated as a precaution.
The temblor was initially reported as 6.0 magnitude before being downgraded to 5.2 magnitude, according to the USGS.
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office said that Newsom was briefed on the earthquake and that the state is coordinating with local authorities to assess any damage and if emergency response is needed.
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China could be ‘virtually screwed’ in tariff negotiations, Kevin O’Leary warns
“Shark Tank” investor Kevin O’Leary is taking another big bite at China over its tariff negotiation reluctance, warning they could be “virtually screwed” in a stalemate.
“The big behemoth story we’ve been talking about so much is China. We’ve got to figure out where they sit in trying to come into the narrative,” O’Leary said on “Varney & Co.” Monday.
“Even though I want 400% [tariffs], but that’s just bombastic, 100-plus percent wipes out all trade,” he continued. “Xi [Jinping], at some point, has to take the olive branch that’s been offered twice over the weekend by Trump.”
‘NECESSARY’ OR ‘BULLYING OUR FRIENDS?’ AMERICANS DIFFER STARKLY ON TRUMP TARIFFS
Customs and Border Protection issued new guidance on reciprocal tariff negotiations late Friday, noting the exemption of those goods from President Donald Trump’s April 2 executive order that declared a national emergency due to non-reciprocal trade practices and structural imbalances in the global trading system.
Subsequent executive orders ramped up tariffs on China to 125%, but the administration has since exempted imported smartphones, laptops and other electronics from reciprocal tariffs.
O’Leary has previously been outspoken about his belief that China should get hit hardest by Trump’s tariff war, and has explained that selling their U.S. Treasury securities won’t help them in the conflict.
China indeed holds a significant amount of Treasury securities, with $760 billion worth of holdings, Reuters reported.
“[Xi Jinping] doesn’t have the option to sell T-bills. People keep saying, ‘Oh, he’s going to be disruptive by selling T- bills.’ That will enhance the price of his currency and make his products even less competitive worldwide. That will devastate his economy, which is already on the brink,” the millionaire entrepreneur explained.
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“He doesn’t have that leverage. That’s just pure economics,” O’Leary added. “If you start stumping T-bills, dollar goes down. His currency goes up and he’s virtually screwed. So we’re in a real stalemate right here. We really are, we got some problems.”
America allegedly holds the heavy-duty cards against China, he concluded: “All that stuff that’s made in the factories, almost 39% of it’s consumed by Americans. If [Jinping] can’t sell the stuff, those people don’t have jobs. And that’s gonna be a bad outcome for him, really bad outcome, and he knows it. That is the one massive leverage that we have at the table.”
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Country star Carrie Underwood praised for modest swimsuit while paddleboarding
Carrie Underwood is the internet’s favorite all-American girl.
The 42-year-old singer posted photos of herself in a blue and white patterned one-piece bathing suit while promoting the upcoming “American Idol” episodes filmed at Aulani Disney Resort in Hawaii, captioning the post, “Paddle board yoga?! I’m down. #CUonIDOL tonight at #DisneyAulani!”
Fans of the singer, who joined the singing reality competition show as a judge this season alongside Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan, loved her look, flooding the comments section with compliments.
“This swimsuit though!! So cute & modest!” one fan wrote, while another added “Considering this my permission slip to buy a skirted swimsuit. Love it.”
CARRIE UNDERWOOD’S JOURNEY TO TRUMP INAUGURATION FROM ‘AMERICAN IDOL’ CHAMP
A third follower added, “Oh can we get details on that cute swimsuit.”
Others were more impressed by the “Before He Cheats” singer’s fit body, with some commenting, “Can I just have your leg workout routine pleeeease,” and “Who’s skipping leg day? Not Carrie!”
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In one of the photos, Underwood can be seen sitting up on her knees on the paddleboard with her hands pressed together, and in the other she can be seen smiling as she stands up in the warrior yoga pose.
“Paddle board yoga?! I’m down. #CUonIDOL tonight at #DisneyAulani!”
Prior to appearing on “American Idol” as a judge, Underwood joined the show as a contestant in 2005, and went on to become the winner of the show’s fourth season. During an appearance on SiriusXM’s Music Row Happy Hour in August 2024, Underwood shared she hopes to be “honest and constructive, but still kind” when judging.
“I think that’s the whole point ’cause people are coming in, and you know… it’s dreams,” she said. “You’re a part of somebody’s story from that moment on. I think it’s important to be honest, but I think it’s also very important to be kind. Hopefully, I can marry all of those together.”
During a recent episode of the show, Underwood shed some light on how the industry makes it challenging to stay connected to her faith.
She shared her experiences after contestants Rylee and Breanna went head-to-head during a performance of Brandon Lake’s “Gratitude,” which is centered on worshiping God.
“I know how difficult it is to come into the entertainment industry and bring your faith with you,” Underwood said while getting emotional. “It is a brave thing to do because there are a lot of outside forces that are going to tell you not to do that.”