US doubles reward to $50 million for information leading to Maduro’s arrest
Attorney General Pam Bondi on Thursday announced a $50 million reward for information leading to the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
The Justice Department and State Department announced the reward, up from $25 million. The United States has accused Maduro of aiding drug cartels and street gangs, as well as operating a corrupt and repressive regime.
“Maduro uses foreign terrorist organizations like TdA (Tren de Aragua), Sinaloa and Cartel of the Suns (Cartel de Soles) to bring deadly violence to our country,” Bondi said in a video message. “He is one of the largest narco-traffickers in the world and a threat to our national security.”
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Cartel of the Suns is a Venezuelan drug-trafficking organization comprised of high-ranking Venezuelan officials. In March 2020, Maduro was charged in a federal indictment with narco-terrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices.
To date, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has seized 30 tons of cocaine linked to Maduro and his associates, Bondi said. The drugs are a primary source of income for Mexican and Venezuelan-based cartels, she said.
Bondi noted that cocaine is often laced with fentanyl, resulting in thousands of American lives lost. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has frequently criticized Maduro, whom he said is not the South American nation’s legitimate leader following a disputed 2024 election victory.
“One year since dictator Nicolás Maduro defied the will of the Venezuelan people by baselessly declaring himself the winner, the United States remains firm in its unwavering support to Venezuela’s restoration of democratic order and justice,” Rubio said last month. “Maduro is not the President of Venezuela and his regime is not the legitimate government.”
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“Maduro is the leader of the designated narco-terrorist organization Cartel de Los Soles, and he is responsible for trafficking drugs into the United States and Europe,” Rubio continued. “Maduro, currently indicted by our nation, has corrupted Venezuela’s institutions to assist the cartel’s criminal narco-trafficking scheme into the United States.”
In January, the State Department announced a $25 million reward for Muduro’s arrest.
The agency said Muduro has participated in a violent narco-terrorism conspiracy with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), a designated foreign terrorist organization. In addition, Maduro negotiated multi-ton shipments of FARC-produced cocaine; directed the Cartel of the Suns to provide military-grade weapons to the FARC; coordinated with drug traffickers in Honduras and other countries to facilitate large-scale drug trafficking; and solicited assistance from FARC leadership in training an unsanctioned militia group that functioned, in essence, as an armed forces unit for the Cartel of the Suns.
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In addition to the charges against him, the Justice Department has seized more than $700 million of assets linked to Maduro, including two private jets and nine vehicles, Bondi said.
Dem challenger calls GOP congresswoman ‘ESL puppet’ in heated immigration post
EXCLUSIVE: Rep. Young Kim, R-Calif., responded to comments from a Democratic challenger referring to her as an “ESL puppet” in a post criticizing the Trump administration’s immigration policies.
“My story is not unique. It’s the story of so many Korean Americans and immigrants across the country who are proud Americans and are making our communities better every day. I’m proud of my accent and will keep using my voice to protect the American dream for future generations,” Kim told Fox News Digital in an exclusive statement.
“It’s a new low for a child of Korean immigrants to move to a district two hours away to parrot race-baiting, anti-immigrant slurs targeting a fellow Korean American. Young is the most effective federal lawmaker from California and continues to prove she’s an independent fighter for her community,” Callie Strock, campaign spokesperson for Kim added.
Democrat Esther Kim Varet’s post Wednesday night included screenshots from a National Republican Campaign Committee X post that says Kim Varet is “radical,” “anti-ICE,” and “pushing fringe conspiracy theories.”
It also included screenshots of various news articles about Asian immigrants facing deportation and other woes as ICE doubles down on deportation efforts.
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“Remember when your own racist MAGA party couldn’t tell your much older a– apart from me [Rep. Kim]?” Kim Varet wrote. “You’re a power-hungry Korean-born immigrant that has sold your conscience to the devil – at the price of all hard-working immigrants. You don’t work hard, you and your husband are the biggest GRIFTERS representing the swamp – putrid and pussing from the rot that is your soul.
“Don’t you even realize that OUR shared Korean-American community has the highest number of undocumented immigrants amongst Asians?” she added. “You don’t even speak English well enough to hold a single cohesive argument. You ESL puppet. So embarrassing. A real life Judas to our community. You sicken me [Rep. Kim].”
The posts quickly caught the attention of the NRCC as it focuses on competitive House races.
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The comments come as ICE operations continue to be a major topic of debate in the Golden State. Most Republicans argue the efforts are necessary for public safety, while others worry it’s harming immigrant communities.
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“Unhinged Democrat Esther Kim Varet is a hate-filled bigot who embodies the worst of today’s political discourse. Californians will reject this vile extremist who has no business representing them in Congress,” NRCC spokesman Christian Martinez said in a statement Thursday.
In response to the NRCC’s comments, Varet told Fox News Digital it “seems like par for the course that national Republicans can’t tell Asians apart.”
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California congressional seats could face redrawing for the 2026 cycle, but the fate of redistricting is still to be battled out nationwide. Still, Kim could be in yet another closely watched race after President Donald Trump won the district narrowly in 2024. Kim defeated Democrat Joe Kerr by over 40,000 votes in November.
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Kim Varet is one of several candidates in a wide Democratic field seeking to challenge the incumbent Republican in the general election, according to Politico. Cook Political Report ranks the race as “Lean Republican.”
Kelly Clarkson’s ex-husband and former manager Brandon Blackstock dead at 48
Brandon Blackstock, Kelly Clarkson’s ex-husband and the former stepson of Reba McEntire, has died. He was 48.
“It is with great sadness that we share the news that Brandon Blackstock has passed away,” a representative for the family told Fox News Digital in a statement. “Brandon bravely battled cancer for more than three years. He passed away peacefully and was surrounded by family. We thank you for your thoughts and prayers and ask everyone to respect the family’s privacy during this very difficult time.”
KELLY CLARKSON POSTPONES REMAINING LAS VEGAS SHOWS FOR FAMILY CRISIS INVOLVING EX-HUSBAND BRANDON BLACKSTOCK
On Wednesday, Clarkson announced her plans to postpone additional shows from her Las Vegas residency due to a family emergency.
“Unfortunately, I need to postpone the remainder of the August Studio Session dates in Las Vegas,” the “Since U Been Gone” singer captioned an Instagram post on Wednesday. “While I normally keep my personal life private, this past year, my children’s father [ex-husband Brandon Blackstock] has been ill and at this moment, I need to be fully present for them.”
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“I am sincerely sorry to everyone who bought tickets to the shows and I so appreciate your grace, kindness and understanding,” she concluded.
Last month, Clarkson postponed the opening of her residency hours before it was about to begin.
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“Kelly Clarkson: Studio Sessions – The Las Vegas Residency,” which was announced in February, was originally scheduled to kick off at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace on July 4. There were 18 performances scheduled through Nov. 15.
In March, the “Because of You” songstress marked a major milestone with her 1,000th episode of “The Kelly Clarkson Show.”
That same month, Clarkson was absent for nearly two weeks while a variety of celebrities acted as guest hosts. She returned on March 18 only to have another guest host take her place the following day. She returned for the March 20 episode.
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Clarkson’s 1,000th episode came after she’d endured a tumultuous few years, navigating a highly publicized divorce from Blackstock. The divorce was settled in 2022, and Clarkson received primary physical custody of their two children, River and Remington.
The two were married in 2013, but they knew each other previously as Blackstock’s father, Narvel Blackstock, owns the music management company that represented Clarkson beginning in 2007. Blackstock was Clarkson’s manager from 2017 until their split in 2020.
Bannon dismisses speculation about presidential run with two words for his 2028 choice
After a report by the Daily Mail cited “well-placed” sources close to Steve Bannon who claim he is gearing up for a 2028 presidential run, the former chief strategist to Donald Trump gave a two-word response.
“Trump 2028,” Bannon said in response to a report he’s seeking political advice for a potential run. The report also claimed Bannon had privately disparaged Vice President JD Vance, considered the top contender to run for the presidency on the GOP’s ticket in 2028.
A source in Bannon’s inner circle told the Daily Mail Bannon has repeatedly said he does not think Vance is tough enough to run in 2028.
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However, this week, President Trump said JD Vance would most likely be his successor. He added that Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio would make a formidable ticket, noting it was “too early” to discuss the matter.
“I think JD Vance would be a great nominee if he decides he wants to do that,” Rubio said during an interview with Lara Trump.
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Bannon’s two-word response was published by the conservative news outlet The National Pulse, which blasted the Daily Mail for the “thinly sourced story” and argued the article was an effort to drive division within the Republican Party.
Bannon told Politico in March that “all I do is back President Trump and try to move the populist agenda and the America First agenda. I don’t think like a politician.” Bannon also described the notion of him running for president as “absurd.”
In April, Bannon told News Nation that there are “many different alternatives” that could permit Trump to sidestep constitutional term limits, noting in another interview the same month that “we have a team” looking at those alternatives.
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Three days after Trump’s 2025 inauguration, Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., introduced a constitutional amendment that would allow the president to serve a third and final term.
According to Congress.gov, that proposal was referred to the House Judiciary Committee but has received no further consideration thus far.
The official Trump Store continues selling “TRUMP 2028” merchandise, such as a hat for $50, which has further fueled speculation about a potential Trump run for a third term.
‘The truth shall set you free’: Conservative actress wins battle against Disney
Disney settled a wrongful termination lawsuit on Thursday that was filed by former “Star Wars” actress Gina Carano, bringing to an end a years-long dispute.
“I have come to an agreement with Disney/Lucasfilm @disney @Lucasfilm which I believe is the best outcome for all parties involved. I hope this brings some healing to the force… I hope to make you proud. I am excited to flip the page and move onto the next chapter. My desires remain in the arts, which is where I hope you will join me,” Carano said in a statement.
Carano, 43, was fired from her role as Cara Dune in the “Mandalorian” in February 2021, after Disney objected to a controversial social media post she wrote. The actress maintained that she had lost her job for her conservative views, and was wrongfully discriminated against.
The former MMA star has been vocal about her conservative views on social media, voicing her opposition to Black Lives Matter, COVID lockdowns and transgender dogma. Carano came under fire after she posted a picture of a Jewish woman beaten savagely in the city of Lwow while it was occupied by the Germans during World War II, and compared the hatred conservatives in the U.S. were experiencing at that time to that experienced by the Jews during the Holocaust.
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“Jews were beaten in the streets, not by Nazi soldiers but by their neighbors…. even by children, because history is edited, most people today don’t realize that to get to the point where Nazi soldiers could easily round up thousands of Jews, the government first made their own neighbors hate them simply for being Jews. How is that any different from hating someone for their political views?” the actress posted at the time.
Disney fired her from the hit “Star Wars” spinoff and accused Carano of “denigrating people based on their cultural and religious identities” in a statement. She was also dropped by her talent agency, UTA. Carano sued Disney in 2024 for putative damages alleging wrongful termination and discrimination. She also demanded the studio recast her in her role. The lawsuit was backed by Elon Musk as part of an initiative where his social media platform, X, would fund the lawsuits of anyone who felt they were wrongfully discriminated against by their employer due to something they posted on the app.
Disney filed a motion in April 2024 to have the suit dismissed, claiming they had a First Amendment right not to associate their brand with Carano’s views. The actress blasted the entertainment giant on her social media in response, claiming that Disney had shown they “will fire you if you say anything they disagree with” and alleging her former employers had mischaracterized her statements. In a statement announcing the settlement Thursday, Disney reversed course and said Carano was “always well respected” by her colleagues and vowed to try to work with her again “in the near future.”
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“The Walt Disney Company and Lucasfilm are pleased to announce that we have reached an agreement with Gina Carano to resolve the issues in her pending lawsuit against the companies. Ms. Carano was always well respected by her directors, co-stars, and staff, and she worked hard to perfect her craft while treating her colleagues with kindness and respect. With this lawsuit concluded, we look forward to identifying opportunities to work together with Ms. Carano in the near future,” Disney said in a statement.
“… and the truth shall set you free,” Carano posted on X on Thursday.
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Researchers reveal the real culprit behind high cholesterol, and it’s not eggs
The question of whether to incorporate eggs into a healthy diet has long been debated due to their cholesterol content.
But recent research has found that eggs may not be as bad for cholesterol as previously believed.
A new study led by researchers in Australia investigated the impact of dietary cholesterol and saturated fat on LDL cholesterol, often known as “bad cholesterol.”
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High cholesterol is known to be a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), which is a leading cause of death.
The randomized, controlled study — which was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition — assigned 61 adults with baseline LDL cholesterol to various diets for five weeks each.
These included a high-cholesterol, low-saturated fat diet with two eggs per day; a low-cholesterol, high-saturated fat diet without eggs; and a high-cholesterol, high-saturated fat control diet with one egg per week.
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The researchers found that the nutrition plan with two eggs per day, as part of a low-saturated fat diet, reduced LDL cholesterol more than the egg-free diet.
Across all three diets, saturated fat intake was “positively correlated” with LDL cholesterol, but dietary cholesterol (primarily found in animal products like meat and eggs) was not.
“The key message is that it is not foods that are high in cholesterol that increase blood levels of ‘bad’ cholesterol, but it is the saturated fat in the foods that we consume,” study co-author Jon Buckley, executive dean at the University of South Australia, told Fox News Digital.
“Most foods that are high in cholesterol are also high in saturated fat, but eggs are somewhat unusual in that they are high in cholesterol but low in saturated fat.”
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These findings follow a December 2024 advisory from the FDA that deemed eggs “healthy,” due to growing research that the food does not raise bad cholesterol.
“Current research shows that cholesterol in eggs does not negatively impact your body’s cholesterol levels as was once thought,” the news release stated.
“This important milestone closes the door on decades of debate over whether eggs are good for you and reinforces their standing as a powerhouse of nutrition.”
Certified holistic nutritionist Robin DeCicco, who is based in New York, confirmed in an interview with Fox News Digital that eggs can be part of a balanced diet.
They serve a “decent amount” of lean protein at about 6 grams per egg and contain a variety of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, the expert said.
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“For a long time, it was thought that dietary cholesterol (any foods containing cholesterol) caused cholesterol levels to rise – but in more recent years, that notion has been debunked by many studies,” she said. “It is more noted now that saturated fat is a main reason for LDL cholesterol to increase.”
DeCicco, who was not involved in the study, said saturated fat is mostly found in dairy and meat products like cheese, creams, butter, fatty cuts of meat, dark meat poultry, processed meats like sausage and bacon, and processed baked goods.
“Not only do eggs contain little saturated fat, but they also contain monounsaturated fat and omega 3 fats, which are heart- and brain-protective,” she added.
Eggs contain less than 2 grams of saturated fat, and the American Heart Association recommends about 12 to 13 grams of saturated fat per day for a 2,000-calorie diet.
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“So eating two to three eggs with vegetables and fruit is a nutritious breakfast full of protein, fiber and healthy fat that will provide long-lasting fuel,” DeCicco said.
Buckley agreed, recommending that “if you are going out for a cooked breakfast of bacon and eggs, consider swapping out some of the bacon or sausage for more eggs, and this will help you maintain a healthier blood cholesterol level.”
‘We are going back to basics’: Hegseth eyes return of banned military training tactic
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is considering reversing a ban on the “shark attack,” the time-honored aggressive practice used by drill sergeants to train U.S. Army recruits in basic training.
The practice was usually employed at the beginning of training by having several drill sergeants swarming trainees and yelling in their faces at the top of their lungs.
“It starts at basic training. It starts at our military academies,” Hegseth said Thursday during an appearance on “The Will Cain Show.”
“We are going back to basics. Drill sergeants will be drill sergeants with knife hands who ensure, who maintain good order and discipline and train up great recruits who will make great formations. Just like we need military officers with that same rigorous discipline and background. So, we’re going back to the basics, and it’s bearing fruit.”
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The Army began phasing out the shark attack in recent years and largely ended it in 2020. It was replaced by the ‘First 100 Yards,’ a more structured training exercise designed to build camaraderie and encourage teamwork under stress.
“‘The First 100 Yards’ is a U.S. Army trainee’s first exposure to their Basic Training (BCT), Drill Sergeants, and their first opportunity to begin their transformation as members of the world’s most potent and lethal fighting force,” the U.S. Army Center for Initial Military Training posted on Facebook. “‘The First 100 Yards,’ a homage to their lineage of closing the last 100 yards of the fight, incorporates teamwork into a competition that features mental and physical challenges on the day they arrive to their basic training company.”
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The act of replacing the shark attack grew out of deliberations at the Army Infantry School in Fort Benning, Georgia. Senior leaders believed the practice was outdated but stressed at the time that the Army was not going soft despite the absence of the in-your-face pile-on trainees were subjected to.
Supporters of the shark attack said it helps trainees transition from civilian to military life and prepares them for the chaotic environment some will experience on the battlefield.
“The secretary is very excited to be making basic training great,” Defense Department press secretary Kingsley Wilson said Thursday. “Again, I can confirm that he’s going to be looking at basic training and making sure that the standards are where they should be.
“We want our warfighters to be strong, and that starts in basic training, and we want to make sure we really, again, go back to basics. And shark attacks are going to be something that he is looking at reinstating.”
One Army unit recently reversed a ban on “tossing bays,” another traditional practice in which drill sergeants overturn bunks and mattresses, wall lockers, garbage cans and other items in the bays where enlisted trainees sleep, forcing them to clean the area.
A July 31 memo by Col. Christopher J.C. Hallows, commander of the 197th Infantry Brigade, which trains infantry soldiers, announced that bay tossing was “strictly prohibited.”
“Drill sergeants will not ‘toss’ the bay to include flipping mattresses, knocking over wall lockers, touching and/or damaging Trainee personal items or equipment,” the memo states. “Drill sergeants will not use bay ‘tossing’ for any reason to include methods of corrective action.”
On Sunday, Hallows issued another memo reversing the ban.
On Thursday, Hegseth noted that bay tossing and the shark attack have been part of basic training for decades.
“It’s the basic stuff that anyone who went through any form of basic training for decades understood as a recruit, you were going into a crucible,” he said. “You were going to be forged. You were gonna be challenged. You were to be scared, nervous and anxious.
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“And by coming through that, you are gonna be forged an American warrior. A shark attack is when drill sergeants surround one particular enlistee, right?” he added. “Creating a stressful situation that they have to figure out how to manage. Bed tossing inside barracks after you’ve had a long day doing map out on the range or walk in patrol — this is basic stuff. This is not beyond what’s been done. This is a restoration.”
Bombshell Hur report pushed Biden team to spike Super Bowl interview: source
Former President Joe Biden’s campaign team allegedly opted against a Super Bowl interview last year because of special counsel Robert Hur’s report, Fox News Digital has learned.
A source familiar with Anita Dunn’s interview with the House Oversight Committee told Fox News Digital the report, in which Hur described Biden as “well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory,” factored into Biden breaking with the decades-old tradition.
But a source close to Dunn told Fox News Digital she said Biden’s team decided against doing a Super Bowl interview last year because it thought the main coverage would be about what he did with classified records and not about the president’s policy decisions. The source claimed the choice was made before Hur’s report was released.
Dunn sat with House investigators for just over five hours Thursday as Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., probes allegations that Biden’s inner circle worked to conceal evidence of mental decline in the former president.
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The source familiar with her interview said Dunn also told committee staff that Biden’s inner circle came to a consensus he should not take a cognitive test, concluding it would offer no political benefit.
It comes two days after Fox News Digital was told that ex-deputy White House chief of staff Bruce Reed, who met with House investigators Tuesday, said Biden’s White House physician Kevin O’Connor called cognitive tests “meaningless.”
The source close to Dunn said Thursday that Biden’s team believed he would be able to pass a cognitive test, even if they saw no political benefit in one.
Dunn also told investigators she was not aware of Biden’s stutter, which he’s said he dealt with all his life, until media coverage of it in 2020, the first source said.
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“She went on to blame the media for pushing the narrative that President Biden was old,” the source said.
The practice of pre-Super Bowl interviews began with former President George W. Bush opting to sit for an interview before the big game in 2004 and has followed by both former President Barack Obama and President Donald Trump, though Trump also skipped out on a Super Bowl interview in 2019.
Biden sat for Super Bowl interviews in 2021 and 2022, but did not in 2023 and 2024.
In 2023, talks about a pre-Super Bowl interview fell through with Fox Corp.
Hur’s report was released publicly Feb. 8, 2024. The Super Bowl was played Feb. 11 that year.
Hur was appointed special counsel by former Attorney General Merrick Garland in 2023 to investigate whether Biden mishandled classified documents.
Hur “uncovered evidence that President Biden willfully retained and disclosed classified materials after his vice-presidency when he was a private citizen” but said it did not “establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.”
Given that Biden “would likely present himself to a jury, as he did during our interview of him, as a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory,” Hur said, “it would be difficult to convince a jury that they should convict him — by then a former president well into his eighties — of a serious felony that requires a mental state of willfulness.”
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Dunn is the tenth ex-Biden administration official to appear before the House Oversight Committee.
In addition to investigating the alleged cover-up, Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., is looking into whether decisions were approved via autopen without the former president’s knowledge.
Of particular interest to Comer is the myriad of clemency orders Biden signed in the latter half of his presidency, though the former president told The New York Times last month he was behind every decision.
Dunn, like most who appeared before her, defended Biden’s mental acuity to committee investigators.
“The president made it clear that decisions rested with him, and White House staff brought issues to him for him to decide,” Dunn said in her opening statement, obtained by Fox News Digital. “I believed strongly then, and I believe just as strongly today, that Joe Biden was an effective president who accomplished many important things for the American people.”
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A spokesperson for the House Oversight Committee criticized Dunn after the statement came out in the media, however.
“It’s no surprise Anita Dunn is telling the American people not to believe their own eyes, claiming Joe Biden was sharp and ‘fully engaged.’ This opening statement, leaked to media before Ms. Dunn even delivered it, is yet another example of the absurd lengths Biden loyalists will go to defend his failed presidency,” the spokesperson told Fox News Digital.
Fox News Digital also reached out to a representative for Biden and to Dunn’s counsel for comment.
FOX News host Greg Gutfeld joining NBC’s ‘Tonight Show’ with Jimmy Fallon
Fox News Channel host Greg Gutfeld will appear on NBC’s “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” on Thursday.
The “Gutfeld!” namesake will join Fallon from the iconic Studio 6B in Rockefeller Center, a stone’s throw from FOX News Media’s New York City headquarters in midtown Manhattan.
“It’s the biggest crossover since the Harlem Globetrotters visited ‘The Golden Girls,’” Gutfeld joked when informing Fox News viewers last week.
“It looks like I’ll be on with the Jonas Brothers, which is great, I haven’t seen them in a while. A lot of people don’t know this, but I was one of the original members until they booted me out for being too hot,” Gutfeld added. “But it should be fun. Fallon seems like a great, genuine guy who wants to make people laugh instead of putting them to bed angrier than ‘The View’ at a salad bar.”
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Gutfeld said that “unlike the other guys” Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert, the NBC late-night host doesn’t reside in a liberal echo chamber.
“Sitting with me proves he’s not afraid of upsetting his peers or afraid of my mesmerizing charm,” Gutfeld said.
“Remember, he was destroyed for humanizing [President] Trump by messing up his hair. The angry mob wanted a brutal take-down, but Jimmy did something different. He had fun, which is criminal to the liberal hive,” he continued.
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Indeed, Trump agreed and let Fallon reach out and ruffle his iconic hair in 2016 — a gesture that irked many on the left.
“If he wants to run his fingers through my hair, I will not complain. After all, the last time he did that, the guy became president,” Gutfeld said.
Fox News Channel’s “Gutfeld!” is the most-watched late-night program on television and regularly outdraws late-night offerings on NBC, CBS and ABC. Gutfeld is also co-host of “The Five,” alongside Dana Perino, Jesse Watters, Jessica Tarlov and Harold Ford Jr., which finished July as the most-watched news program in America.
The Jonas Brothers and Good Charlotte are also scheduled to be guests on Thursday’s edition of “The Tonight Show,” which airs on NBC at 11:35 p.m. ET.
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