Far-left influencer indicted on federal charges wins House primary in safe blue seat
Far-left social media influencer and former Media Matters journalist Kat Abughazaleh has lost her bid to replace a longtime House Democrat in Illinois.
Abughazaleh was one of 15 people running in a crowded primary to replace Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., who is retiring after nearly 30 years in Congress.
She lost to Daniel Biss, the mayor of Everston, Ill., and a former state lawmaker.
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The race to replace Schakowsky in Illinois’ 9th Congressional District, a safe blue seat, has been a battle of the ages.
Abughazaleh, 26, is part of an increasingly politically active coterie of left-wing Gen Z activists who have been critical of the Democratic establishment.
Her campaign website touts “a new type of Democratic campaign,” warning, “If you’re a right-wing billionaire or a member of the Democratic consultant class, this campaign isn’t for you.”
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She notably said during a primary debate that she did not support the continued leadership of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y.
The progressive influencer also got indicted on federal charges late last year related to an incident in which agitators allegedly attacked an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) vehicle outside a Chicago suburb holding facility.
Fine, who is supported by groups linked to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), said she would back Jeffries. She was the most moderate of the three front-runners.
Biss did not weigh in. He was the only candidate backed by Schakowsky in the race.
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Before becoming mayor of the Chicago suburb of Evanston, Biss ran for governor but lost his primary to Illinois’ current leader, Gov. JB Pritzker.
The 9th Congressional District includes part of Chicago and its northern suburbs and is rated D+19 by the nonpartisan Cook Political Report.
The winner of Tuesday night’s primary was all but assured to win the general election in November.
Venezuela surprises Team USA in thrilling World Baseball Classic final victory
Venezuela’s dominant pitching and timely hitting shocked the United States, 3-2, to capture the World Baseball Classic (WBC) title for the first time in team history.
Only Team USA, Japan and the Dominican Republic have been able to call themselves WBC champions. Venezuela, using its momentum from a semifinal victory over Italy on Monday night, had eyes set on history.
But no one could’ve expected what transpired at loanDepot Park in Miami, as the U.S. was held to just two hits and four total baserunners until a heroic moment by Bryce Harper made this a thrilling game in the end.
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Eduardo Rodriguez, the soon-to-be 33-year-old Venezuelan left-hander, had thrown to a 5.02 ERA over the past two seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks, but you wouldn’t think so the way he was living on the corners and keeping Team USA off balance throughout his 4.1-inning start.
Rodriguez let up just a single to Brice Turang, while notching four strikeouts including two on Team USA captain Aaron Judge. He probably wanted to go longer considering how much of a rhythm he was in, but manager Omar Lopez pulled Rodriguez after 57 pitches. He received a standing ovation from the Venezuela faithful as he made his way to the dugout, where the bullpen had to take over.
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Venezuela’s relievers followed Rodriguez’s lead, continuing to confuse Team USA hitters, where only Bryce Harper was able to muster a single off Jose Butto in the bottom of the sixth inning. But with Judge at the dish at a chance to turn momentum in favor of the U.S., the captain grounded out to third base to end the inning.
At the same time, Venezuela wasn’t lighting up the scoreboard, but they came up clutch in key moments to make it 2-0 by the top of the fifth inning. Team USA starter Nolan McLean found himself with runners on first and second when he yanked a curveball past catcher Will Smith, allowing those Venezuelans to advance into scoring position.
Maikel Garcia lifted a fly ball to center field to get the first run across home plate in the top of the third inning, striking first as Team USA was trying to figure out Rodriguez.
Then, Boston Red Sox outfielder Wilyer Abreu didn’t miss a stitch of McLean’s middle-away fastball in the top of the fifth, ripping it over the center field wall.
If Venezuela had momentum before, there was no denying it as he sprinted around the bases like a madman, getting to home plate as fast as possible to celebrate the moment with his teammates as the crowd went wild.
But the funny thing about momentum is it can switch at any moment, and it came in the bottom of the eighth for Team USA.
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Bryce Harper stepped to the dish with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning following a Bobby Witt Jr. walk. At that point, Team USA had just two hits and four total baserunners, with no one making it past first base.
Harper was one of those U.S. hits, and Andres Machado had just thrown his fifth straight ball to give him a hitter’s count. The next pitch was a fastball right down the middle and Harper put his best swing on it.
As Harper watched the ball fly to deep center field, the crowd erupted, knowing the game was tied off the crack of the bat. Harper screamed as the Team USA dugout came out onto the field to celebrate the home run that rejuvenated the entire U.S. side. Harper gave a salute as he touched third base, and he pointed to the American flag on his left sleeve before touching home.
The U.S. needed that moment desperately considering how the game was going – after all, they were down to just four more outs.
But Venezuela didn’t skip a beat in the top of the ninth inning, as Garrett Whitlock, who had been great in a high-leverage role earlier in the tournament, didn’t look like his usual self. He issued a walk to start the inning, and after Venezuela’s pinch runner, Javier Sanoja, stole second base, Eugenio Suarez smashed a changeup to left-center field for a go-ahead double to retake the lead.
Daniel Palencia got the call in the bottom of the ninth for Venezuela after closing out Italy, and the Chicago Cubs agreed this would be the only moment he could throw again.
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He made the best of the opportunity, striking out Kyle Schwarber, getting Gunnar Henderson to pop up to Garcia, and striking out Roman Anthony to seal an emotional victory for Venezuela.
Family’s fight to save father ends in tragedy after hospital withdrew care unlawfully
A British appeals court ruled that a hospital broke the law when it withdrew life-sustaining treatment from a 68-year-old man without first obtaining court approval amid a dispute with his family.
In a judgment released March 3, Lord Justice Newey, Lady Justice Asplin and Lord Justice Baker said Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust acted unlawfully when it stopped providing dialysis to Robert Barnor Feb. 11 after describing the move as a “clinical decision.”
The court said that when there is a disagreement over withdrawing life-sustaining treatment from a patient who lacks mental capacity, the issue must be decided by the Court of Protection under Britain’s Mental Capacity Act, the law governing decisions for adults who cannot make them for themselves.
“The hospital cannot pre-empt court proceedings by unilaterally withholding or withdrawing treatment on ‘clinical’ grounds,” Baker wrote. “A decision whether or not to withdraw treatment has to be a best interests decision. There is no carve out for ‘clinical decisions.’”
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Barnor died Feb. 27. The Court of Appeal had granted permission for his daughter, Lesley Barnor Townsend, to challenge the hospital’s decision and sent the case back to the Court of Protection, a specialist court that handles financial and healthcare decisions about vulnerable people who may lack capacity, for an urgent hearing, but no best-interest determination was made before his death.
Barnor had been hospitalized since April after suffering a stroke and a series of further strokes that caused extensive and irreversible brain damage, according to the judgment. He never regained consciousness, though family members said they saw signs of responsiveness, including tracking people with his eyes, blinking on request, reacting to music and squeezing his wife’s hand. He later developed severe acute kidney injury and required dialysis twice a week.
According to the judgment, the trust obtained opinions in late 2025 from three outside specialists after doctors concluded that continued dialysis was clinically inappropriate. The court said two of those reports could properly be described as second opinions, but that Professor Lynne Turner-Stokes’ report was “not a conventional ‘second opinion’” because she did not examine Barnor.
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The family was told at a Feb. 6 meeting that clinicians had decided Barnor was not suitable for long-term dialysis. In a Feb. 11 letter, the trust’s solicitors said no further long-term dialysis would be provided and argued the matter was a clinical decision that did not require prior approval from the Court of Protection.
Townsend then sought permission to bring the case in the Court of Protection. The application was refused Feb. 17, but she filed an appeal Feb. 19. The Court of Appeal heard the case Feb. 23, later granting permission for the application and sending the matter back for an urgent hearing.
The appeals court stressed that courts cannot force doctors to provide treatment they consider clinically inappropriate. But it said that when a patient lacks mental capacity, a dispute over withdrawing life-sustaining treatment must still be handled as a best-interests question under the Mental Capacity Act.
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A spokesperson for Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust told Fox News Digital, “Our sympathies are with the family at this very difficult time.”
Townsend said in a statement to the Christian Legal Centre that she hoped the judgment would help protect other families facing similar situations.
“It is too late now to save my father’s life, but the system which took it away should be held accountable for that, for the sake of other people’s fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, husbands, wives and children, whose lives still depend on it,” she said.
Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, which supported the Barnor family’s legal challenge, said lessons should be learned from the case.
“A thorough public inquiry into the medical and legal aspects of end-of-life care in this country is long overdue,” Williams said. “The system must be urgently reformed to introduce robust protections for the sanctity of life, which remains a fundamental principle of law.”
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United Farm Workers abandons Cesar Chavez Day after allegations surface
Celebrations for what would have been civil rights activist Cesar Chavez‘s 99th birthday are being canceled ahead of what’s being described as “deeply troubling allegations” against the historic figure.
Across the country, several local organizations began canceling their upcoming celebrations in anticipation of an upcoming story that is expected to share concerning reports about the former labor union advocate.
As cancellations grew, the United Farm Workers (UFW), an organization co-founded by Chavez, released a statement on Tuesday confirming allegations were being made, including ones involving abuse of young women or minors. In response, the UFW announced it would no longer take part in any Cesar Chavez Day activities.
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“We have not received any direct reports, and we do not have any firsthand knowledge of these allegations,” the statement read. “However, the allegations are serious enough that we feel compelled to take urgent steps to learn more and provide space for people who may have been victimized to find support and to share their stories if that is what they choose.”
The statement continued, “The United Farm Workers will not be taking part in any Cesar Chavez Day activities. Instead, we call on our allies and supporters to take part in immigration justice events and acts of service to support farmworkers or empower vulnerable people in their own communities.”
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The Cesar Chavez Foundation also released a statement on Tuesday expressing how “deeply shocked and saddened” the organization was at the allegations.
“In partnership with the UFW, we are establishing a safe and confidential process for those who wish to share their experiences of historic harm, and, if they choose to, participate in efforts toward repair and reconciliation. In addition, we are investing time and resources to ensure the Foundation promotes and strengthens a workplace culture that is safe and welcoming for all,” the foundation said.
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It continued, “We ask for our community’s patience as we learn more. Throughout this process, our organization and our partners in the movement will continue our work together to protect and uplift the families and communities that we serve.”
Both the Cesar Chavez Foundation and the UFW referred to their original statements when reached for comment by Fox News Digital.
It is unclear at this time what the source of the allegations are and the details surrounding them.
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Chavez has been a longtime-celebrated figure in the Democratic Party as a model for labor rights. However, Chavez has also reportedly spoken out against illegal immigration, calling illegal aliens a threat to union workers.
Lone GOP senator defects, joins Dems to block Trump voter ID bill as floor fight opens
Senate Republicans on Tuesday successfully launched their floor takeover to put Senate Democrats on record against Trump-backed voter ID legislation.
It’s a move to shift the spotlight from internal GOP divisions over the Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act onto Senate Democrats, who are ultimately withholding the needed votes to pass the bill.
“Not a single Democrat will support the SAVE Act. It is a radical bill,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said on the Senate floor.
“And if Republicans try to burn time on this legislation here on the floor, we will oppose them for as long as it takes.”
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It’s also the culmination of a pressure campaign on Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., from President Donald Trump, conservatives in his conference and a fervent online campaign to put the bill on the floor.
Trump said he spoke with Thune Monday morning about the forthcoming process and said “he’s trying.”
“I hope John Thune can get it across the line,” Trump said.
When asked if Trump understood the path forward, Thune said, “Well, I think he wants us to fight for our position, which we will, and then we’ll see what the Democrats want to do.”
Still, opening up what will be a multi-day marathon debate on the bill wasn’t without its hiccups. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, joined all Senate Democrats to block the legislation. Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., who threatened to do everything he could to block the bill, did not vote.
While the lobbying campaign from Sens. Mike Lee, R-Utah; Rick Scott, R-Fla.; and Ron Johnson, R-Wis., was partly successful in getting the bill on the floor, it is still destined to fail.
Lee said during a video call on X Monday that he and Trump were confident they could win the floor fight if Republicans “get this thing teed up, and we do not leave it until it’s passed.”
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Lee and a cohort of Republicans pushed Thune to enact a talking filibuster to effectively wear down Senate Democrats and lower the threshold to pass the SAVE America Act to just a simple majority vote.
But there wasn’t unanimous support among Republicans for the move, making a novel idea into a math problem that could easily backfire on the GOP, given that Republicans don’t have the votes to block several Democratic amendments that would drastically change the bill.
“If your senators don’t support using the talking filibuster to pass the SAVE America Act, you might need to replace them,” Lee said on X.
With the initial hurdle passed, the Senate will now begin the marathon debate and amendment process. Amendment votes will only come at the tail end of the floor battle and will require Republicans to take another procedural test that Democrats could block.
And each amendment, which Republicans will control, has to hit a 60-vote threshold, meaning that none of the provisions that Trump wants to be attached to the bill will survive.
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Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., will head off the flurry of amendments with a package of add-ons that include Trump’s desired modifications to the bill.
Those include ending unsolicited mail-in ballots, with exceptions for military service members, disabilities and illness; banning men from women’s sports; and halting transgender surgeries on minors.
Halting mail-in balloting isn’t a home run among Republicans, with many pushing back on a sweeping end to the practice.
Johnson acknowledged that hurdle before the vote and agreed that absentee ballots couldn’t be halted altogether, but lawmakers should find “reasonable restrictions” on the practice.
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“I’ve argued myself you can’t ban absentee ballots, or I’m not gonna be able to vote,” Johnson told Fox News Digital. “I’m here on Tuesdays in Washington, you know. So, you have to have absentee ballots, but there’s got to be restrictions on it.”
Senate Democrats could inflict maximum pain as the floor battle rages, too, turning to procedural moves to bog down the process that could derail the timing of Sen. Markwayne Mullin’s, R-Okla., confirmation hearing as the GOP sprints to install him as Trump’s next Department of Homeland Security chief.
Florida teen’s spring break ski trip turns into nightmare after accident
A Florida high school senior was looking forward to her graduation and starting college before severely injuring herself in a ski accident in Colorado that left her with broken ribs and head and spinal injuries.
Zoey McVoy was in Vail, Colorado, home to a massive ski resort, with a friend for spring break when she was involved in a serious accident while on the slopes Monday. The Boca Raton Tribune said McVoy was visiting the ski destination as the guest of a friend.
Among her injuries were shattered ribs, a brain bleed, internal bleeding, and a ruptured spleen, according to an online-fundraiser. She also sustained severe facial injuries, including fractures to her face and forehead that required surgical repair with titanium plates, as well as a shattered eye socket, the crowd-funding site states.
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“Instead of enjoying the final months of her senior year—prom, graduation, and preparing for college—Zoey is now facing a long and difficult road to recovery,” it said.
McVoy is recovering at Denver Health Hospital, her mother, Ann McVoy, wrote on Facebook.
“We do have a long road ahead of us. We are trying hard to navigate this unique situation,” she wrote. “I will say all the surgeries have been completed and we have had no serious complications. She is now in a healing and recovery type of situation.”
In an update, the Saint Andrew’s School senior said that the ski patrol and nurses at the local hospital initially thought her injuries weren’t that serious.
“However, they quickly realized that it was something more serious and I had to be transported to another hospital through a helicopter,” McVoy said. “When I arrived, the doctors immediately put me into surgery for my spleen, which had a grade 5 rupture and threatened my life. The doctors also discovered that 8 of my ribs were severely broken, causing me to bruise and puncture my lung and I also had a brain bleed and concussion.”
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Doctors eventually placed titanium plates in her ribs to put them back in place, she said. In the midst of that, doctors discovered 3 different bones in her skull were fractured and also required surgery.
All three surgeries went well, she said.
“I honestly don’t know what my return to school, graduation, college decisions, and my way of life will look like for the next several months,” she wrote.
In November, Saint Andrews singled McVoy out for her work during a “Solutions in Medicine” course over the summer.
“A special shoutout to Zoey McVoy ’26, who shared how this course strengthened her passion for both medicine and law,” the private school’s Facebook post reads. “We’re proud of our students and excited to see how this innovative program continues to grow.”
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The teen attends Saint Andrews on an academic scholarship and was also a member of the school’s varsity girls basketball team, according to the Tribune and school website.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the McVoy family and the high school.
Grammy winner’s lewd music video resurfaces as he runs for Congress
Latin Grammy-winning singer Bobby Pulido, now the Democratic nominee in Texas’ 15th Congressional District, appeared in a controversial music video depicting lewd behavior.
In a 2010 music video for his song “Dias de Ayer,” Pulido portrayed a character wrapped in a red blanket engaging in indecent acts and appearing to expose himself to a woman seated next to him on a plane.
According to the New York Post, Pulido faced questions from the Mexican press about his sexuality following the release of the video.
“People are opening up more. I can even tell you that when I started my career, I saw the whole situation (of gays) very differently. At first, they said I was gay; there were rumors that I was like that,” Pulido said in a 2010 interview with the outlet El Norte, translated from Spanish.
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Pulido responded to comments about sexuality in several posts, including a 2019 post on his personal X account: “Igualmente amigo, no homo.”
In a 2015 post, Pulido taunted pharmaceutical executive Martin Shkreli, who later served a seven-year prison sentence, writing, “Don’t drop the soap a–hole.”
After announcing his campaign last fall, Pulido faced scrutiny over resurfaced posts linking to explicit websites on his personal X account, as well as a post that appeared to show him urinating on President Donald Trump’s Hollywood Walk of Fame star.
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The Democratic nominee also drew backlash over past vulgar attacks against Trump, including posting the Spanish translation of “f— your mother.”
“I’d like to give you the biggest ‘f— you,’ you piece of s—, a–hole, d— head, son of a b—-,” Pulido wrote in another post.
Pulido also drew attention after previously describing himself as a “winter Texan” for spending much of the year in Mexico.
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Pulido is vying for the seat currently held by Rep. Monica De La Cruz, R-Texas, a two-term incumbent.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Pulido for comment.
Christina Haack flaunts bikini bod after shutting down marriage rumors
Christina Haack is shaking off the rumors and soaking up the sun.
“The Flip Off” star turned heads on Instagram Monday, sharing a radiant poolside photo from a tropical getaway. The 42-year-old lifestyle expert showcased a cream-colored crochet bikini featuring delicate floral details, paired with a matching mesh sarong.
Haack kept her vacation look casual and sporty, accessorizing with a black baseball cap with the logo for her champagne brand, Clé Cachée, and oversized aviator sunglasses. Holding a glass and a bottle of her own Clé Cachée bubbly, the mother of three appeared relaxed as she posed on a white towel with a scenic ocean backdrop.
The latest photo follows a flurry of social media speculation regarding the reality star’s relationship status. The rumor mill began spinning after Haack attended HGTV’s “Bachelor Mansion Takeover” event in Los Angeles March 12.
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At the event, the “Flip or Flop” alum wore a conspicuous bauble on her wedding finger, leading to reports suggesting she was ready to head back to the altar after three previous divorces. On March 15, Haack took to her Instagram stories to call out a report featuring a headline that claimed she “flashes a ring … as she says she WOULD get married again.”
“Bad reporting,” Haack wrote in response to the engagement reports, according to People. She clarified the jewelry causing the stir was actually a meaningful piece she has owned for a decade.
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“That ring (that I’ve worn for almost 10 years) is a Cartier love ring (a gift to myself) with my kids initials,” she shared. The mother of three also pushed back on the rumor that she was looking to head back to the altar.
“And ‘Marriage is just not on my radar right now,’ was my exact quote,” she reminded her followers, correcting the record.
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The design, a staple from the luxury jeweler, serves as a tribute to her three children. Haack shares her eldest, daughter Taylor, 15, and son Brayden, 10, with her first husband, Tarek El Moussa. She also shares her youngest son, 6-year-old Hudson, with her second husband, Ant Anstead.
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Despite the ring clarification, Haack confirmed her romance with current boyfriend Christopher Larocca is in a good place. Speaking with ExtraTV at the same HGTV event this month, she gushed about the relationship.
“Um, everything’s going good, going strong and, like, just nice, easy, great partner,” she said.
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The star’s love life has long been a fixture of public interest. Haack first rose to prominence alongside El Moussa, whom she married in 2009. After their 2018 divorce, she married British TV personality Ant Anstead, followed by real estate agent Josh Hall in 2021. Her split from Hall led to a contentious legal battle, with Haack even hiring powerhouse divorce attorney Laura Wasser to navigate a trial that wasn’t finalized until May 2025.
Amid the past drama, Haack has successfully navigated the waters of co-parenting and working alongside her exes. She stars with Tarek and his wife, Heather Rae El Moussa, on the house-flipping competition series “The Flip Off.”
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Five shootings in three days send spring break crowds running at beach hot spot
A popular spring break hot spot was rattled by violence after five separate shootings sent visitors to a Florida beach destination running for cover, with one ending in a police officer being hospitalized for gunshot wounds.
The shootings happened over the weekend in Daytona Beach, according to WFTV 9.
A video shot from the balcony at the Ocean Walk Resort shows hordes of beachgoers scrambling across the sand and into the road as police attempt to calm the chaos.
“Twerking, dancing, stopping traffic, cussing people, flipping people off, stopping everyone, screaming. It was insane. Stopping traffic, you couldn’t move, you couldn’t go forward, back, nothing,” Kissy Derito told WFTV 9.
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The cause of the panic was due to individuals crushing water bottles, causing the sound to be mistaken for gunfire, with the Volusia Sheriff’s Office reportedly saying there were no shootings on the beach over the weekend, according to WESH.
Officials arrested 133 spring breakers over the weekend, including 84 in Daytona Beach, the outlet reported.
“We will have zero tolerance,” Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood reportedly said.
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Officials have designated “special event zones” within Daytona Beach that will go into effect at 11 a.m. on Friday, allowing for specialized resources to be deployed in response to multiple unsanctioned public events being promoted to spring breakers on social media.
“We are coming after you financially,” Chitwood said, according to WESH. “That white Tesla you drive, I’m coming to get it.”
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On Friday, one shot was fired after a fight broke out at the Joint Bar in Seabreeze, located just off the beach strip, according to the Daytona Beach Police Department. No one was hurt in the shooting.
Just one hour later, one person was reportedly shot outside a nearby Crunch Fitness.
On Saturday, police were called to the scene of two separate beachside shootings, according to WFTV 9.
One of the shootings reportedly happened outside the popular Crusin’ Cafe, which is located a mere two blocks from the crowded beach.
“There was a poor [man] that’s never been to Florida in the elevator last night, and he was like this is our first time ever in Florida, he was like should we pack up and leave?” Derito told WFTV 9.
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On Sunday, South Daytona Beach Police Officer Jake Fessenden was hospitalized after responding to reports of a fifth shooting near Country Lane, the Port Orange Police Department said in a social media post.
The suspect allegedly fled in his vehicle as authorities responded to reports of shots being fired in the area, authorities said.
Officers from multiple agencies attempted to apprehend the suspect as he crashed his vehicle while going northbound on I-95 and began firing on deputies, striking Fessenden.
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Another officer struck the suspect, later identified as 31-year-old Todd Anthony Martin, according to WFTV.
Both Fessenden and Martin were transported to a local hospital, where Fessenden underwent surgery and is expected to survive. Martin, however, remains in critical condition.
“The big important news is that he’s in stable condition, and he’s in good spirits,” DBPD Deputy Chief Tim Morgan told ClickOrlando.
“God was on his side today. You know, he’s hit twice. Two critical areas, but we’re being told he’s in stable condition, and he’s going to be fine.”
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All the victims in the weekend shootings are reportedly expected to survive.
Police are still investigating if any of the shootings were related to spring break.
The Daytona Beach Police Department did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.