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‘Squad’ Dems demand end to US investigation into anti-Israel weapons embargo

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A trio of House Democrats in the progressive “Squad” is demanding an end to the U.S.-led investigation into a key ally’s anti-Israel arms embargo.

Reps. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., Cori Bush, D-Mo., and Summer Lee, D-Pa., wrote to the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), an independent agency that oversees maritime trade affecting the U.S., regarding Spain’s “decision to deny port entry to ships carrying weapons bound for the Israeli government and its ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza.”

“This investigation is a reckless insult to our allies in Spain, which has only sought to enforce in good faith its sovereign national policies and uphold international law, including its treaty obligations to prevent genocide,” the hardline-left lawmakers wrote.

“It is bad enough that the United States is violating these same obligations and its own domestic laws by sending these weapons. We urge you to immediately suspend this obstruction of justice and withdraw this misguided investigation.”

NETANYAHU WARNS HOUTHIS AMID CALLS FOR ISRAEL TO WIPE OUT TERROR LEADERSHIP AS IT DID WITH NASRALLAH, SINWAR

Democratic Reps. Cori Bush, left, and Rashida Tlaib have been vocal critics of Israel. (Getty Images)

Spain, a longstanding U.S. ally and fellow member of NATO, said it would stop selling weapons to Israel when its war with Hamas broke out in October 2023.

Since then, the Spanish government has been accused in three separate instances of refusing ships from docking in its ports over allegations those ships were carrying weapons meant for Israel.

Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares told state TV channel RTVE of one of the incidents in May, according to the Associated Press. “The Middle East needs peace. That is why this first denial of authorization will start a policy for any boat carrying arms to Israel that wants to dock at a Spanish port.”

The FMC opened its probe earlier this month after receiving information that “indicates Spain has refused entry to certain vessels on at least three separate occasions this year,” a press release read. “The two most recent instances involved U.S.-flagged vessels.”

The agency will now “investigate whether regulations or practices of foreign governments result in conditions unfavorable to shipping in the foreign trade of the United States.”

Gaza aid truck delivery

Palestinians surround trucks loaded with humanitarian aid brought in through a U.S.-built pier in the central Gaza Strip on May 18. (AP/Abdel Kareem Hana)

But the House Democrats wrote: “Spain’s decisions to bar the Maersk Denver and the Maersk Seletar from stopping in transit at its port in Algeciras in early November, as well as its decision to deny port of call to the Marianne Danica at the port of Cartegena in May of this year, are legitimate actions taken by a sovereign state to ensure that it is in compliance with international human rights and humanitarian law.”

Tlaib, Bush and Lee have been three of Congress’ loudest critics of the Israeli government since it launched its invasion in Gaza.

The campaign was launched in response to Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 surprise attack in southern Israel. Terrorists crossed the border and killed more than 1,200 Israelis who were in their homes, attending a music festival, and other areas.

The responding operation to eradicate Hamas in Gaza has killed more than 45,000 people, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry.

HOUSE DEMOCRAT BLASTS IRELAND, SPAIN, NORWAY RECOGNITION OF PALESTINIAN STATE AS ‘GIFT TO HAMAS’

Cars drive off of a barge onto a port in Algeciras, Spain

The port of Algeciras in Spain (Getty Images)

The trio of House Democrats has frequently accused the Biden administration of improperly acquiescing to Israel, the U.S.’s closest ally in the Middle East.

They also argued the U.S. has no standing to investigate Spain’s decision, claiming “these actions do nothing to threaten the reliable international ocean transportation supply system that the FMC is tasked with safeguarding.”

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“No agency of the United States should be in the business of punishing or sanctioning our allies for enforcing the international law that our government has refused to uphold,” they wrote.

Spain, along with Ireland and Norway, made the decision to formally recognize Palestinian statehood earlier this year.

Fox News Digital reached out to the FMC for comment.

Ring in the new year in style with these 2025 party essentials

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If you’re throwing a New Year’s Eve party this year, be prepared to host the party of the new year with the right party supplies. From 2025 glasses to balloons, table covers, napkins and more, these party supplies can liven up your party and get your guests excited about the new year.

To enhance the festive atmosphere, use balloons to create a stunning entrance arch or a vibrant centerpiece for your table. Incorporate the 2025 glasses as both a fun accessory and a decorative element by placing them around the room or using them as part of a table setting. By thoughtfully arranging these simple items, you can transform your venue into a lively and welcoming environment that sets the perfect tone for ringing in the new year.

Get everything you need in one pack. 

Get everything you need in one pack.  (Amazon )

You can get all the party supplies you need in this New Year’s Eve party supply bundle. It includes 2025 balloons, a hanging sign, 2025 glasses and a variety of other gold, black and white balloons you can put around the house.

You can get all your party decor on Amazon, and get it shipped to your door in 24 hours if you’re an Amazon Prime member. You can join or start a 30-day free trial to start your shopping today.

These tablecloths and paper plates add some festivity to your table. 

These tablecloths and paper plates add some festivity to your table.  (Walmart)

Serve all your festive foods and desserts on New Year’s themed plates when you get this Happy New Year table supplies pack. You get a banner, a tablecloth and 16 nine- and seven-inch plates, cups, utensils and napkins.

Pass out 2025 glasses to all your guests. 

Pass out 2025 glasses to all your guests.  (Walmart)

Every New Year’s Eve party needs glasses with the new year on them. This pack of 2025 glasses has a variety of different glasses styles, so partygoers can choose ones that match their style. You get 10 different glasses in each pack.

Sip champagne from sparkly glasses. 

Sip champagne from sparkly glasses.  (Walmart)

Champagne is a staple of any good New Year’s Eve party, but if you don’t have multiple champagne glasses lying around, plastic ones will work, too. This six-pack of plastic champagne flutes have gold glitter to add to the festivities. Plus, they’re recyclable when the party’s over.

Crackers are festive and fun. 

Crackers are festive and fun.  (Paper Source)

Star crackers help you celebrate the new year with a bang. When the clock strikes midnight, grab one of these eight crackers and pop it to show your excitement for the start of 2025. Inside is a mix of black and gold confetti.

These funny napkins will make all your guests laugh. 

These funny napkins will make all your guests laugh.  (Paper Source)

A pack of funny napkins keeps your house clean and adds some fun to the party. This set of napkins features the hilarious saying “Let’s get this party started because I would love to be in bed by 11.” For the early birds that choose to have an earlier party, these napkins really get the sentiment across.

GET READY FOR POTLUCK SEASON WITH THESE COOKING AND PARTY ESSENTIALS

Original price: $12.99

Turn on these lights for an exciting party!

Turn on these lights for an exciting party! (Amazon )

Turn the party up a notch by creating the perfect mood lighting. This small sound-activated party light won’t take up a ton of space, but it can transform your home into party central. The light has three sound-activated modes and seven lighting modes, so you can customize the lights to your liking.

For more deals, visit www.foxnews.com/category/deals

Party late into the night with more than 200 glow sticks, bracelets and glasses. 

Party late into the night with more than 200 glow sticks, bracelets and glasses.  (Amazon)

Glow lights are a fun addition to any party. You can get a pack of 222 glow in the dark party supplies. You’ll get glow in the dark glasses, bracelets and necklaces all in different neon colors. Pass them out at the party and turn the lights down and all your guests can dance, mingle and have a great time.

‘Sopranos’ star says she wanted to ‘go after’ 76ers’ Joel Embiid for elbowing Knicks guard during playoff game

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Don’t mess with Carmela Soprano.

Edie Falco, the actress who played the wife of Tony Soprano on the acclaimed HBO series “The Sopranos,” revealed in an interview with New York Knicks stars Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart that she was really upset with Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid during the playoffs.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Edie Falco as Carmela Soprano in “The Sopranos.” (HBO)

Falco said she was about to go after Embiid after the big man elbowed Brunson in the first round of the playoffs last season.

“Joel Embiid, he’s mean,” Falco said in the latest episode of  the “Roommates Show.” “He like elbowed you in a game last year and I was going to go after him. I mean that’s how bad it was. And then I think I’ve seen you guys play since then and you guys are all like cool with each other. I’m like, ‘You don’t hold a grudge?’”

KNICKS’ MIKAL BRIDGES OUTDUELS SPURS’ VICTOR WEMBANYAMA; KNICKS HOLD ON FOR NARROW VICTORY

Jalen Brunson drives

New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson in action against the 76ers during the NBA playoffs at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, May 2, 2024. (Bill Streicher-USA Today Sports)

Brunson said he’s known Embiid since they came into the league and made clear that it wasn’t cool of him to throw the elbow, but whatever ill will there was between them at the time of the heated moment was gone.

The Knicks got the last laugh anyway, as they defeated the 76ers in the first round and eventually lost to the Indiana Pacers in the playoffs.

Jalen Brunson celebrates

New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson after scoring against the Sixers during the NBA playoffs at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, April 28, 2024. (Bill Streicher-USA Today Sports)

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Falco is long removed from her “Sopranos” days. She’s set for a “Nurse Jackie” sequel on Amazon Prime Video.

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Trump has Christmas message to ‘Radical Left Lunatics,’ tells inmates Biden granted clemency to ‘GO TO HELL!’

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President-elect Trump dished out a fiery Christmas message on Wednesday in which he wished a “Merry Christmas” to “Radical Left Lunatics,” told the 37 prisoners whose death row sentences were recently commuted by President Biden to “GO TO HELL!,” and more.

“Merry Christmas to the Radical Left Lunatics, who are constantly trying to obstruct our Court System and our Elections, and are always going after the Great Citizens and Patriots of the United States but, in particular, their Political Opponent, ME. They know that their only chance of survival is getting pardons from a man who has absolutely no idea what he is doing,” Trump declared on Truth Social.

“Also, to the 37 most violent criminals, who killed, raped, and plundered like virtually no one before them, but were just given, incredibly, a pardon by Sleepy Joe Biden. I refuse to wish a Merry Christmas to those lucky “souls” but, instead, will say, GO TO HELL! We had the Greatest Election in the History of our Country, a bright light is now shining over the U.S.A. and, in 26 days, we will, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN. MERRY CHRISTMAS!” he added.

TRUMP AND BIDEN OFFER CHRISTMAS GREETINGS AS US APPROACHES TRANSFER OF POWER

President-elect Donald Trump smiles during Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest at the Phoenix Convention Center on Dec. 22, 2024 in Phoenix, Ariz.  (Rebecca Noble/Getty Images)

Biden recently announced that he commuted the sentences of 37 prisoners on federal death row to life sentences without the potential for parole.

“Make no mistake: I condemn these murderers, grieve for the victims of their despicable acts, and ache for all the families who have suffered unimaginable and irreparable loss,” the president said in a statement, but noted that he is “more convinced than ever that we must stop the use of the death penalty at the federal level.” 

TRUMP PLEDGES TO BRING BACK FEDERAL EXECUTIONS AFTER BIDEN COMMUTES DEATH SENTENCES FOR 37 INMATES 

President Joe Biden

President Joe Biden speaks at the US Department of Labor in Washington, D.C., on Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (Samuel Corum/Sipa/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

In a separate post, Trump declared, “Merry Christmas to all, including to the wonderful soldiers of China, who are lovingly, but illegally, operating the Panama Canal (where we lost 38,000 people in its building 110 years ago), always making certain that the United States puts in Billions of Dollars in ‘repair’ money, but will have absolutely nothing to say about ‘anything.’

He also discussed Canada, referring to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as the “Governor” of America’s northern neighbor, while suggesting that Canadian businesses would boom if the nation became a U.S. state.

TRUMP FLOATS NHL LEGEND WAYNE GRETZKY AS CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER AMID TRUDEAU TURMOIL

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau with President Joe Biden

Justin Trudeuau, prime minister of Canada, and Joe Biden, president of the United States, talk as part of the G20 Summit Rio de Janeiro 2024 at Museu de Arte Moderna on Nov. 19, 2024 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Wagner Meier/Getty Images)

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“Also, to Governor Justin Trudeau of Canada, whose Citizens’ Taxes are far too high, but if Canada was to become our 51st State, their Taxes would be cut by more than 60%, their businesses would immediately double in size, and they would be militarily protected like no other Country anywhere in the World. Likewise, to the people of Greenland, which is needed by the United States for National Security purposes and, who want the U.S. to be there, and we will!” Trump declared.

The life-changing benefits of Apple’s Personal Voice and Live Speech

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Imagine losing the ability to speak and communicate with your loved ones. It sounds scary, right? What if you could preserve your unique voice and continue expressing yourself, even when speaking becomes challenging?

Apple’s Personal Voice and Live Speech features are groundbreaking accessibility tools designed to do exactly that. These innovative technologies allow you to create a synthesized voice that sounds just like you, giving individuals at risk of losing their speech a powerful way to maintain their personal communication style. 

Whether you’re dealing with a progressive medical condition, recovering from an injury, or simply want a backup communication method, Personal Voice and Live Speech offer an incredible solution.

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Live Speech and Personal Voice features on iPhone. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

 How does Personal Voice work?

Personal Voice lets you create a digital version of your own voice by recording a series of phrases. Here’s how it works:

  • Personalized voice synthesis: Record your voice using your iPhone, iPad or Mac.
  • Privacy-focused: Voices are encrypted and stored securely on your device.
  • Compatibility: Works across Apple devices running iOS 17, iPadOS 17 or macOS Sonoma or later.
iPhone live speech 2

Personal Voice feature on iPhone.

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Setting up Personal Voice

Personal Voice allows you to create a synthesized voice that sounds like your own. But first, ensure you have a compatible device running iOS 17, iPadOS 17 or macOS Sonoma or later. Choose a quiet room with minimal echo or background noise. You can pause and resume the recording session as needed. Now, here’s how to set it up:

On iPhone or iPad:

  • Open the Settings app.
  • Go to Accessibility.
  • Click Personal Voice.
  • Tap “Create a Personal Voice.”
  • Authenticate using Face ID, Touch ID or your device passcode.
iPhone live speech 3

Steps to set up Personal Voice feature on iPhone. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

  • Click Continue.
  • Click the record button at the bottom of the screen.
  • Follow the on-screen instructions, which require you to “Read the Phrase” on the screen to record 150 randomly chosen phrases.
  • It will tell you once you are done recording. Then click Continue.
iphone live speech 4

Steps to set up Personal Voice feature on iPhone. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

On Mac:

iphone live speech 5

Steps to set up Personal Voice feature on Mac. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

  • Click System Settings.
  • Then, select Accessibility.
  • Click Personal Voice on the left of the screen.
  • Then, click “Create a Personal Voice.”
Personal voice 7

Steps to set up Personal Voice feature on Mac. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

  • Authenticate using Touch ID, or your device passcode.
  • Then tap Continue, and then Continue again.
personal voice 8

Steps to set up Personal Voice feature on Mac. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

  • Click Continue one more time.
  • Click “Continue with Default Phrases.”
  • Click the record button at the bottom of the screen to check the sound quality.
  • Then tap Done. 
personal voice 9

Steps to set up Personal Voice feature on Mac. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

  • Follow the on-screen instructions, which require you to “Read the Phrase” on the screen to record 150 randomly chosen phrases. In this example, you’d say, “Does he know how to speak Spanish?”
  • Make sure it’s set to Continuous recording so that you can go from reading one phrase to the next without stopping.
  • It will tell you once you are done recording. Then click Continue.

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personal voice 10

Steps to set up Personal Voice feature on Mac. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Note: The device will generate your personal voice after you complete the 150-phrase recording process, which typically takes a few hours to days to fully process. It will process your speech securely on your device overnight while it is charging and connected to Wi-Fi. You can create multiple voices on each device, and the voice generation occurs only when your device is locked and charging.

TALK IN TWO LANGUAGES WITH APPLE WATCH’S REAL-TIME TRANSLATIONS

Using Live Speech

Live Speech allows you to type what you want to say and have it spoken aloud using your Personal Voice or other system voices. Here’s how to set it up and use Live Speech:

On iPhone/iPad: 

  • Click Settings.
  • Tap Accessibility.
  • Click Live Speech.
  • Toggle on Live Speech.
LIVE SPEEch steps 11

Steps to use Live Speech on iPhone. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

On Mac: 

  • Tap Apple menu.
  • Click System Settings.
  • Select Accessibility.
  • Click Live Speech.
live speech 12

Steps to use Live Speech on Mac. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

On Apple Watch: 

  • Go to the Settings app.
  • Tap Accessibility.
  • Click Live Speech.
  • Toggle on Live Speech. 
  • Then scroll down and select a voice to use, including your created Personal Voice, if available.

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live speech 13

Steps to use Live Speech on Apple Watch. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

APPLE AIRPODS PRO 2 MAKES HEARING TESTS AS EASY AS A FEW TAPS

How to use Live Speech

On iPhone/iPad:

  • Triple-click the side or top button.
  • Tap “Live Speech.”
  • Type your message.
  • Tap “Send” to have it spoken aloud.

On Mac:

  • Click the Type to Speak text field in the Live Speech window.
  • Type your message.
  • Tap the play button to have it spoken aloud.

On Apple Watch:

  • Triple-click the Digital Crown.
  • Tap Live Speech
  • Tap where it says “Type to Speak.”
  • Type your message using the letters below it.
  • Tap “Send” to have it spoken aloud.

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Kurt’s key takeaways

Personal Voice and Live Speech provide a means of communication for those who may lose their ability to speak and offer a deeply personal touch by allowing users to maintain their own voice. The ability to use these features across multiple Apple devices ensures continuity and accessibility in various situations, from phone calls to in-person conversations. It’s important to note that Apple has designed these features with privacy and security in mind. Personal Voice data is encrypted and stored securely on the device, and when shared across devices, it uses end-to-end encryption in iCloud.

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Eight Takeaways: How Israel Weakened Civilian Protections When Bombing Gaza

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An investigation by The New York Times has found that Israel, in the weeks after Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack, severely undermined its system of safeguards to make it easier to strike Gaza, and used flawed methods to find targets and assess the risk to civilians.

The Israeli military acknowledged changes to its rules of engagement but said they were made in the context of an unprecedented military threat and always complied with the laws of war.

Here are some of the main takeaways from the investigation.

Raised threshold of civilian harm per pre-emptive strike

In previous conflicts with Hamas, Israeli officers were usually only allowed to endanger fewer than 10 civilians in a given strike. In many cases the limit was five, or even zero.

At the start of this war, the Israeli military increased that threshold to 20, before reducing it in certain contexts a month later. Strikes that could harm more than 100 civilians would also be permitted on a case-by-case basis.

Expanded list of targets

Israel vastly increased the number of military targets that it proactively sought to strike. Officers could now pursue not only the smaller pool of senior Hamas commanders, arms depots and rocket launchers that were the focus of earlier campaigns, but also thousands of low-ranking fighters as well as those indirectly involved in military matters.

Removed limits on how many civilians could be put at risk each day

The military leadership briefly ordered that its forces could cumulatively risk killing up to 500 civilians a day in preplanned strikes. Two days later, even this limit was lifted, allowing officers to conduct as many strikes as they deemed lawful.

Struck too fast to vet all targets properly

The pace of the bombing campaign was one of the most intense in 21st-century warfare, which officers said made it far harder to vet targets properly. Israel dropped or fired nearly 30,000 munitions into Gaza in the first seven weeks, at least 30 times more than the U.S.-led coalition fired in the first seven weeks of its bombing campaign against ISIS.

Used a simplistic risk assessment

Israel often used a simplistic statistical model to assess the risk of civilian harm: It regularly estimated the number of civilians in a building where a target was believed to be hiding by using a formula based largely on the level of cellphone usage in the surrounding neighborhood.

Dropped large, inaccurate bombs

In previous wars, the air force would often use a “roof knock,” a smaller munition to give civilians some time to flee an imminent attack. From the first day of this war, Israel significantly reduced its use of roof knocks. The military also sometimes used less-accurate “dumb bombs,” as well as 2,000-pound bombs.

Used AI to propose targets

Israel used an artificial intelligence system in a widespread way for the first time. It helped officers analyze and sign off on targets exponentially more quickly, increasing the number of targets that officers could propose each day.

Delayed strikes

Hours often passed between when an officer vetted a target and when the air force launched a strike at him. This meant strikes often relied on outdated intelligence.

Why Minnesota Democratic chair Ken Martin thinks he can shape the DNC : NPR

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Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar stands with state Democratic Party Chairman Ken Martin before speaking at the election night watch party on Nov. 5 in St. Paul.

Abbie Parr/AP


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Abbie Parr/AP

ST. PAUL — In nearly 14 years atop Minnesota’s Democratic Party, Ken Martin has endured bleak outlooks, deep internal party divisions and some close calls. But in his tenure, he’s never had to explain away a loss on his watch in a statewide race.

That’s because there weren’t any.

It’s a selling point Martin is driving home in his bid to lead the Democratic National Committee. He’s also stressing his success in raising money for the party, working with state party leaders as a longtime leader of a Democratic chairs group and offering the appeal of being from the nation’s heartland, where Democrats are in desperate need of a rebound.

Following Vice President Harris’ loss at the top of the ticket, the Democratic National Committee is looking for a new leader that can move the party forward. And members will meet in Maryland late next month to size up their options.

Martin, the current DNC vice chair, is viewed as a frontrunner in the race. Martin says he’s confident he can turn things around for Democrats across the country.

“I think there’s a lot of folks in D.C. who are interested in winning the argument, and I’m interested in winning elections. That’s why I’m running,” Martin said. “It’s what we’ve done here in Minnesota. And I think we have a recipe for success that we can bring to the national party.”

Martin took the helm of the Minnesota Democratic Party, known as the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, in 2011. Despite having just won the governor’s office for the first time in decades, the party was in debt and at times viewed as adrift. Martin brought party leaders, advocacy groups and activists together and set a new trajectory.

Fast-forward to today, the party is in a strong financial position and hasn’t lost a statewide race since 2006. Martin says that’s what sets him apart from other contenders, like neighboring Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Ben Wikler. Former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley and New York state Sen. James Skoufis are also in the running.

“What it’s going to take to get us back on track is someone who’s already done that work of turning around a party that had low morale and was trying to figure out a path forward,” Martin said.

Wikler’s supporters say there would be a benefit in selecting a leader from a swing state on the frontlines of campaigning in tight elections.

But Martin said he’s thinking broader than that. Martin said the DNC needs to refocus its energy and outreach efforts by engaging state Democratic parties across the country. That means getting people on the ground for year-round voter interaction — and recruiting candidates for races at all levels.

He also said the party needs a messaging make-over, as well as a new approach to where Democrats are directing those messages. Martin said they need to expand their scope to include more podcasts, social media channels and a broader scope of news outlets.

“The majority of Americans now believe that the Republican Party best represents the interests of the working class and the poor, and the Democrats are for the wealthy and the elite. That’s a damning indictment on our party, and clearly our brand as Democrats,” Martin said. “We’ve got to get back to reestablishing our brand in the eyes of voters, and part of that is connecting our very popular policy prescription with our candidates and our party.”

To that end, Martin said Democrats need to remind voters that they are the ones pushing policies like a higher minimum wage, enhanced worker protections and paid family and medical leave benefits around the country — not Republicans.

“We’re fighting for people, people who are working harder than they ever have before,” he said. “And we have to get back to basics.”

Grant Reeher, a political science professor at Syracuse University, said Martin’s pitch makes sense for Democrats in this moment.

“They need to try something different,” Reeher said. “They need to perhaps get back to their older roots as a Democratic Party and emphasize the economic issues more clearly and be less identity-focused.”

For his part, Martin said the party can do both. He said defending marginalized groups shouldn’t detract from a message aimed at working-class Americans.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said Martin will have a strong shot if he takes Minnesota Democrats’ mantra — “we all do better when we all do better” — to the national stage.

“If he carries the Minnesota message to the U.S., I think that the Democratic Party will have this kind of success that Minnesota has enjoyed from a DFL perspective,” said Ellison, who ran for the DNC chair position with Martin’s support in 2017. He ultimately became the deputy chair.

Dan Engelhart was an Uncommitted delegate to the Democratic National Convention, a movement that protested the Biden administration’s handling of the war in Gaza. Despite disagreements with Martin over the party platform, Engelhart said Martin is the best candidate in the running.

“I think he would be a good fit. … He was certainly fair to us as the uncommitted delegation,” Engelhart said. “We were treated fairly, and that’s what really matters, given the general mindset towards the uncommitted delegation at the DNC (Democratic National Convention).”

Republicans in Minnesota also acknowledge that Martin has been a force in building up the Democratic Party there.

“We are very evenly divided politically, but I think the DFL has built a pretty strong organization,” said Minnesota Republican Party Chair David Hann. “I think you have to give Ken Martin a lot of credit for that.”

The DNC is expected to pick its new leader after a series of candidate forums next month. Until then, Martin is hoping to make the case that it should follow the Minnesota model.

Minnesota Public Radio reporter Clay Masters contributed to this report.

‘Super sanctuary’ immigration policy threatens lives and aids violent criminals

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Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger once said that “government’s first duty and highest obligation is public safety.” He was right.

Less than a decade later though, progressive Democrats in Sacramento passed California’s now infamous “sanctuary state” law, throwing aside public safety for what they viewed as a more righteous and important cause; ensuring that immigrants here illegally wouldn’t face deportation when they committed crimes.

Instead of removing illegal immigrant criminals from our communities by releasing them to federal agents for deportation, law enforcement agencies throughout the state have since been forced to release them back on to our streets where they all too often re-offend, sometimes with catastrophic consequences.

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In 2021, federal immigration officials tried to pick up an illegal immigrant already flagged for deportation when he was arrested for domestic violence after beating the mother of his three-year-old child. Instead, thanks to these “sanctuary” policies, he was released the next day. He went on to shoot her dead in front of their daughter.

Earlier this year, I visited our southern border and spoke with immigration officers who warned of the danger these illegal immigrant criminals pose. They voiced grave concerns about the increasing number of young men crossing the border, with fear that some may have unknown criminal histories back home. But in San Diego, even if these illegal immigrants do go on to commit crimes, our law enforcement agencies are hamstrung by these reckless “sanctuary” policies.

These rules have hurt Californians and will continue to do so. But now, in their infinite wisdom, the Democrat-majority San Diego County Board of Supervisors has decided to take things a step further.

Current law allows local law enforcement to cooperate with federal immigration officers in extreme cases like murder and gang violence, but the board thought even that was too harsh for these criminals. Last week, they voted to make San Diego County a “super sanctuary” where under no circumstances can local law enforcement cooperate with the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency without a federal judge’s order.

In their race for the title of who hates Trump the most, three Democrats on the board voted to make sure that even if illegal immigrants are arrested for murder, rape, child abuse or drug sales, they will not be deported. That means if a case falls through because a witness disappears or decides not to testify, as often occurs, illegal immigrants who have killed San Diegans will be freed to kill again in our communities even if ICE requests them for deportation.

They claim it’s a stand against Trump policies that might allow more of these criminal illegal immigrants to be deported, but in reality it is a step much, much further. It amounts to full aiding and abetting of hardened, violent criminals who are in our country illegally and committing heinous and violent crimes in our communities.

And to what end? To poke and antagonize an incoming president for progressive brownie points? To be seen as standing up to a perceived boogeyman by protecting and surrounding yourself with real-life ones right here in our communities?

This is despicable. Our job as elected officials is to protect the people we represent. The families and communities who elected us. It is to look out for their interests and safety above all else. This, is not that.

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There is some hope, however, as San Diego County Sheriff Kelly Martinez announced she will not adhere to the new “super sanctuary,” citing her position as an independently elected official whose policy is not set by the County Board. I commend her for rejecting this partisan virtue signaling and prioritizing public safety.

Meanwhile, myself and other San Diego Republican elected officials are working to find solutions to combat the board’s folly at the state level.

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We must return to an era when elected leaders put serving the best interests of their constituents over engaging in political battles for headlines. To a time when politicians prioritized keeping hardworking, everyday people safe instead of protecting criminals here illegally who seek to do them harm.

I call today on the Board of Supervisors to reconsider this new “super sanctuary” policy and I call on the people of San Diego to speak up and have your voices heard. If this “super sanctuary” policy is not what you want for your community, call your supervisor and let them know. Because, as Governor Schwarzenegger put it, your safety is meant to be their first duty and highest obligation.

Vance is the likely 2028 frontrunner, but these Republicans may also run for president

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With former president and now President-elect Trump term-limited and constitutionally unable to run again for the White House in 2028, Vice President-elect JD Vance is on a glide path to be the heir apparent to the America First movement and the Republican Party’s powerful MAGA base.

It was a point driven home by Donald Trump Jr., the former and future president’s eldest son and powerful ally of the vice president-elect.

“We are getting four more years of Trump and then eight years of JD Vance!” Trump Jr. said on the campaign trail in Ohio a few weeks ahead of November’s election.

Plenty of Republican politicians, strategists and pundits agree that Vance, who was elected to the Senate in Ohio just two years ago, will likely be the clear frontrunner in the next Republican presidential nomination race.

HERE ARE THE DEMOCRATS WHO MAY RUN FOR THE WHITE HOUSE IN 2028

Sen. JD Vance and former President Trump speak during an election night celebration at the Palm Beach Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Nov. 6, 2024. (Eva Marie Uzcategui/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

“The vice president will be in the catbird seat. No question about it,” longtime Republican consultant Dave Carney told Fox News Digital. 

Carney, a veteran of numerous Republican presidential campaigns over the past four decades, said Vance “is the guy to beat.”

David Kochel, another longtime GOP strategist with plenty of presidential campaign experience, told Fox News that Vance is the frontrunner due to “the size and the scope of last week’s victory and the implied passing of the torch from Donald Trump.”

“There will be no shortage of people looking at it. But most people looking at it are seeing the relative strength of the Trump victory and the movement,” Kochel said.

Trump greets Vance

Former President Trump greets Sen. JD Vance at an election night celebration, in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Nov. 6, 2024. (AP/Evan Vucci)

And with Trump’s support in a party firmly in the president-elect’s grip, the 40-year-old Vance will be extremely hard to knock off. 

However, Kochel noted that “nobody will completely defer to JD Vance. There will be a contest. There always is.”

Carney added that “there may be other people who challenge him [Vance]… there’s a lot of people who want to be president, but it will be a very hard lane other than the Trump lane.”

He added that a possible rough four years for the Trump/Vance administration would give potential Vance challengers “opportunities.”

However, he praised the vice president-elect’s messaging and accessibility on the campaign trail and that “he is the guy to beat, regardless of whether it’s a good four years or a rough four years.”

Carney also touted that the Republican Party has a “deep bench.” 

Republican National Committee chair Michael Whatley, a top Trump ally, said in a recent Fox News Digital interview that he’s “very excited about the bench that we have in the Republican Party right now.”

Pointing to Trump’s remaking of the GOP, Whatley added that “as we go into 2028, we are in a great position to be able to continue the momentum of this agenda and this movement.”

But he also emphasized that regardless of Vance’s likely frontrunner status as 2028 nears, the RNC will hold to its traditional role of staying neutral in an open and contested presidential primary.

Here’s a look at some of those on the bench that may have national aspirations and ambitions in 2028, or beyond.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis

Ron DeSantis waves from the stage on Day 2 of the Republican National Convention

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis waves from the stage during the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on July 16, 2024. (Reuters/Elizabeth Frantz)

The conservative governor of Florida was flying high after a landslide re-election in 2022, but an unsuccessful 2024 presidential primary run and a bruising battle with Trump knocked Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis down in stature.

However, the term-limited 46-year-old governor, who has two years left in office steering Florida, proved over the past few years his fundraising prowess and retains plenty of supporters across the country.

DeSantis was also able, to a degree, to repair relations with Trump, helped raise money for the GOP ticket during the general election, and earned a prime time speaking slot at July’s convention.

It’s likely that DeSantis, who sources say Trump has considered as a plan B for Defense secretary if his nominee Pete Hegseth runs into trouble, has his eyes on another White House run.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp

Gov Brian Kemp

Gov. Brian Kemp of Georgia stands for an interview with Fox News Digital, his first after being elected Republican Governors Association chair, on Nov, 20, 2024, on Marco Island, Florida. (Fox News – Paul Steinhauser)

The popular conservative governor is one of the few in the GOP who can claim he faced Trump’s wrath and not only survived, but thrived.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, who is term-limited, has two years left in office and enjoys strong favorable ratings in a crucial battleground state.

Expect to see the 61-year-old Kemp on the campaign trail across the country for fellow Republicans in 2026, as his national profile expands.

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin

Election 2024 Trump

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin speaks before former President Trump at a campaign rally in Salem, Virginia, on Nov 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

With his 2021 gubernatorial victory – the first by a Republican in Virginia in a dozen years – Gov. Glenn Youngkin instantly became a GOP rising star.

In Virginia, governors are limited to one four-year term, which means Youngkin has one year left in office. 

The 58-year-old governor, who hails from the Republican Party’s business wing but has been able to thrive in a MAGA-dominated party, likely harbors national ambitions. 

A first step could be a Cabinet post in the second Trump administration after his term as governor ends.

Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas

Conservative warrior Ted Cruz highlights his bipartisan chops as he runs for re-election in the Senate

Republican Sen. Ted Cruz sits for an interview with Fox News Digital on May 9, 2024, in Washington, D.C. (Fox News – Paul Steinhauser)

Sen. Ted Cruz was the runner-up to Trump in the blockbuster 2016 Republican presidential battle.

The controversial conservative firebrand passed on challenging Trump again in 2024, as he ran for what was thought to be another difficult re-election bid, after narrowly surviving his 2018 re-election.

However, the 53-year-old senator ended up winning a third six-year term in the Senate by nearly nine points.

Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas

Sen Tom Cotton

Sen. Tom Cotton is interviewed by Fox News Digital on the floor of the Republican National Convention on July 20, 2024, in Milwaukee. (Fox News – Paul Steinhauser)

The Army veteran, who served in combat in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars before becoming a rising star in Republican Party politics, was considered to be on the larger list of potential Trump running mates.

The now-47-year-old Sen. Tom Cotton seriously mulled a 2024 White House run of his own before deciding against it in late 2022, putting his young family ahead of political ambitions. However, he did not rule out a future presidential bid.

Cotton is currently bidding for the GOP conference chair, the number three leadership position in the incoming Senate Republican majority.

Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri

Josh Hawley

Sen. Josh Hawley at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on March 1, 2024, in Washington, D.C. (Tom Williams)

The 44-year-old Sen. Josh Hawley, along with Cotton, is another rising conservative star in the Senate. 

Hawley is also a strong defender of Trump’s America First agenda and is thought to have national aspirations.

Former Ambassador Nikki Haley 

Haley speaks at RNC

Nikki Haley speaks at the 2024 Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee. (Pedro Ugarte/AFP via Getty Images)

The former two-term South Carolina governor, who served as U.N. ambassador in Trump’s first term, was the first GOP challenger to jump into the race against the former president in the 2024 nomination race. 

Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley outlasted the rest of the field, becoming the final challenger to Trump before ending her White House bid in March.

While the 52-year-old Haley ended up backing Trump in the general election, her earlier clashes with the now president-elect during the primaries left their mark. Even though she addressed the GOP faithful at the convention, her political future in a party dominated by Trump is uncertain.

Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders

Sarah Huckabee Sanders

Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders appears on stage at the Republican National Convention on July 16, 2024, in Milwaukee. (Getty Images)

The first-term conservative governor of Arkansas is a well-known figure in MAGA world, thanks to her tenure as Trump’s longest-serving White House press secretary during his first administration.

The 42-year-old Sanders, the daughter of former Arkansas governor and former two-time presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, has also grabbed national attention for delivering the GOP’s response to President Biden’s 2023 State of the Union address.

Former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy

Vivek Ramaswamy gives a thumbs up from the stage on Day 2 of the Republican National Convention

Vivek Ramaswamy gives a thumbs up at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on July 16, 2024. (Reuters/Brian Snyder)

The multimillionaire biotech entrepreneur, anti-woke crusader and first-time candidate was one of the biggest surprises during the GOP presidential nomination race.

The now 39-year-old Vivek Ramaswamy, who touted during his campaign that he and Trump were the only two “America First candidates” in the large field of contenders, eventually dropped out of the race and became a major backer and surrogate for the former president.

He’s now teaming up with billionaire Trump supporter and pal Elon Musk to steer DOGE, the new presidential advisory commission that will look to make massive cuts in the federal budget.

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Others to keep your eyes on include Sen. Marco Rubio, who ran for the 2016 nomination and was nominated to serve as secretary of state in the second Trump administration; Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, who ran unsuccessfully for the 2024 nomination but remains very popular; and Sen. Rick Scott of Florida and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who both mulled but decided against presidential runs this past cycle.

Also, not to be ignored – top Trump supporters Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida and Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York, whom Trump picked to serve as U.S. ambassador to the U.N., and South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, who was named to head the Department of Homeland Security

Then there is Donald Trump Jr., the president-elect’s eldest son and MAGA warrior. However, the younger Trump is very close to Vance, which would likely prevent him from making any White House bid in the next cycle.

Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.

Taxi smashes into pedestrians at NYC tourist hot spot on Christmas Day

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A taxi cab plowed into a group of pedestrians in busy New York City, leaving at least six injured at an iconic tourist hot spot on Christmas Day.

The New York Police Department (NYPD) confirmed to Fox News Digital that a taxi cab struck a group of pedestrians at Herald Square at 6th Avenue and West 34th Street just after 4 p.m. ET.

The taxi cab driver was identified as a 58-year-old man, police said. They did not share what led to the crash.

The six patients in various conditions were taken to local hospitals for treatment, police said.

FIERY BOAT EXPLOSION IN FLORIDA MARINA LEAVES ONE DEAD, SEVERAL INJURED

A yellow taxi cab crashed into a group of pedestrians. At least six people were injured. (WNYW)

Authorities said that a 9-year-old boy was taken to the hospital with lacerations to his leg; a 41-year-old female was taken to the hospital with a head injury; and a 49-year-old female was taken to the hospital with a leg injury.

The other individuals refused further medical treatment following the crash, police said.

Taxi

Image of the taxi cab that crashed into a group of pedestrians on Christmas Day in New York City. (WNYW)

Herald Square is a popular tourist destination, especially during the holiday season, where Broadway, Sixth Avenue and 34th Street meet.

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No one was arrested following the accident, and the cause of the incident is still under investigation, police said.