In Trump’s first term, his administration proposed major funding cuts to housing, food and other public benefits. Congress did not pass them, but advocates worry this time could be different.
Jan. 6 charges against Trump dismissed following Special Counsel Smith request
A judge has dropped the charges against President-elect Donald Trump in the D.C. case against him, following a request that Special Counsel Jack Smith made on Monday.
The decision concerns the investigation into the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol breach. Fox News Digital previously learned of Smith’s request earlier on Monday.
“The Government has moved to dismiss the Superseding Indictment without prejudice,” U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan wrote in a decision. “Defendant does not oppose the Motion…and the court will grant it.”
Smith also filed a motion to drop his appeal in his classified records case against Trump – a case that was tossed in July by federal Judge Aileen Cannon. Cannon ruled Smith was unlawfully appointed as special counsel.
The Jan. 6 case against Trump was dropped on Monday. (Fox News Digital)
The moves come after Smith, earlier this month after Trump’s victory in the 2024 presidential election, signaled he would begin winding down his case against Trump. The filing went live on the Department of Justice docket on Monday afternoon.
Smith had already filed a motion to vacate all deadlines in the 2020 election interference case against Trump in Washington, D.C. – a widely expected move, but one that stopped short of dropping the case against Trump completely. Smith had said his team planned to give an updated report on the official status of the case against Trump on Dec. 2.
Trump pleaded not guilty to all charges in the case and took the fight to the U.S. Supreme Court, arguing on the basis of presidential immunity.
The high court ruled that Trump was immune from prosecution for official presidential acts, forcing Smith to file a new indictment. Trump pleaded not guilty to those new charges, too. Trump’s attorneys have been seeking to have the election interference charges dropped in Washington, D.C., alleging that Smith was appointed unlawfully.
TRUMP’S LEGAL CASES LIKELY TO DIE OUT AMID IMPENDING WHITE HOUSE RETURN, EXPERTS SAY

WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 06: Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump arrives to speak during an election night event at the Palm Beach Convention Center on November 06, 2024 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
“The American People re-elected President Trump with an overwhelming mandate to Make America Great Again. Today’s decision by the DOJ ends the unconstitutional federal cases against President Trump, and is a major victory for the rule of law,” Trump spokesman and incoming White House communications director Steven Cheung said in a statement. “The American People and President Trump want an immediate end to the political weaponization of our justice system and we look forward to uniting our country.”
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Trump pleaded not guilty to all charges stemming from both of Smith’s investigations.
Smith is expected to resign as special counsel before Trump takes office.
Trump posted to his Truth Social Monday afternoon that the cases against him “are empty and lawless and should never have been brought.”
“These cases, like all of the other cases I have been forced to go through, are empty and lawless, and should never have been brought. Over $100 Million Dollars of Taxpayer Dollars has been wasted in the Democrat Party’s fight against their Political Opponent, ME,” Trump posted. “Nothing like this has ever happened in our Country before.”
Trump said “state Prosecutors and District Attorneys, such as Fani Willis and her lover, Nathan Wade (who had absolutely zero experience in cases such as this, but was paid MILLIONS, enough for them to take numerous trips and cruises around the globe!), Letitia James, who inappropriately, unethically, and probably illegally, campaigned on ‘GETTING TRUMP’ in order to win Political Office, and Alvin Bragg, who himself never wanted to bring this case against me, but was forced to do so by the Justice Department and the Democrat Party.”
Trump added: “It was a political hijacking, and a low point in the History of our Country that such a thing could have happened, and yet, I persevered, against all odds, and WON. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Productions rips rigged fight claims in Mike Tyson bout: ‘Illogical and inane’
Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions has heard the rumors and speculation that his fight with Mike Tyson was rigged since the Nov. 15 bout ended with the 58-year-old boxing legend losing by unanimous decision to the 27-year-old fighter.
Paul issued a lengthy statement on the matter through MVP, denying all accusations that the fight was manipulated.
“Rigging a professional boxing match is a federal crime in the United States of America,” MVP wrote. “Paul vs. Tyson was a professional match sanctioned by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations (TDLR). Both fighters in good faith performed to the best of their abilities with the goal of winning the fight.
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Mike Tyson, left, and Jake Paul face off during weigh-ins, held at Toyota Music Factory in Irving, Texas, USA, ahead of their heavyweight bout, on November 15th at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. (Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
“There were absolutely no restrictions – contractual or otherwise – around either fighter. Each boxer was able to use his full arsenal to win the fight. Any agreement to the contrary would violate TDLR boxing rules.”
MVP added that Paul and Tyson gave their all, saying it’s insulting to think otherwise. Also, the partnership with Netflix, the streaming service that broke records with the fight but experienced buffering issues, would’ve been jeopardized if the fight was rigged.
“It is further illogical and inane that MVP, in the debut of a hopeful long-term partnership with the world’s biggest streamer – an organization that made its first-ever foray into live professional sports with Paul vs. Tyson – would even so much as consider such a perverse violation of the rules of competition.”
Co-founder of MVP, Nakisa Bidarian, recently spoke to Fox News Digital about the claims of rigging the fight.

Jake Paul celebrates after his victory over Mike Tyson following their heavyweight bout fight at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, USA. (Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
“I don’t care what people have to say,” Bidarian said. “They’re always going to have something to say. It is what it is.
“This was 100% real from beginning to end. It was so real that the guy had an ulcer, and we took a five-month break to give him time to heal the ulcer to be able to perform at his best level.
“If it was staged, why did we even postpone it? We could have just moved forward with the date: ‘Oh, you have an ulcer, you’re not going to hit each other. It’s going to be fine.’ What are people talking about?”
Bidarian added, “The only win there was if Mike Tyson knocked out Jake Paul, otherwise, the haters would have found a way to complain no matter what.”

Mike Tyson and Jake Paul exchange punches during their heavyweight world titles of the Premiere Boxing Championship on Friday night at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, United States on November 15, 2024. (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)
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Tyson reportedly earned a whopping $20 million for the fight, though Paul got $40 million to step in the ring with the former heavyweight champion of the world.
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Thousands Demand Imran Khan’s Release in Major Pakistan Rally
The capital of Pakistan is under lockdown as thousands of supporters of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan have marched towards Islamabad to demand his release.
Menendez brothers resentencing pushed back, judge eyes late January
A California judge has delayed the highly anticipated resentencing hearing for Erik and Joseph “Lyle” Menendez, two Beverly Hills brothers serving life without parole for the 1989 shotgun murders of their parents.
Outgoing Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon asked the court to reduce their sentences less than two weeks before Election Day – then he lost to independent candidate Nathan Hochman, who takes office on Dec. 2.
Judge Michael Jesic said he likely wouldn’t be ready for the previously scheduled Dec. 11 hearing and said he would push it back to late January “out of respect for the new administration” after both sides agreed.
GOV NEWSOM ANNOUNCES DECISION IN MENENDEZ BROTHERS CASE
Tammi Menendez, Erik Menendez’ wife, and Erik Menendez’ stepdaughter walk near the Van Nuys Courthouse West, on the day of a hearing in the case of Erik and Lyle Menendez on whether to reconsider the first-degree conviction of the Menendez brothers in Los Angeles, California, U.S., November 25, 2024. (REUTERS/Daniel Cole)
Defense Attorney Mark Geragos said he expects the hearing to take more than a day in court.
Judge Jesic scheduled the hearing’s new date for Jan/ 30 and said any filings to change the date again are due by Jan. 17.
WATCH ON FOX NATION: MENENDEZ BROTHERS: VICTIMS OR VILLAINS?

Defense Attorney Mark Geragos, arrives at the Van Nuys courthouse in Los Angeles, for a hearing for Erik and Lyle Menendez, on Monday, Nov. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Due to a technical glitch, the brothers did not appear virtually as expected. Geragos waived their right to appear while the court addressed scheduling.
Two witnesses were still expected to testify Monday due to health concerns – including the brothers’ 93-year-old aunt, Joan Andersen VanderMolen, who is their mother’s sister.
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Mary “Kitty” Menendez was sitting alongside her husband Jose when the brothers barged into their living room and shotgunned them from behind while they were eating ice cream and watching TV. Jose died quickly, but the brothers had to go outside and get more ammunition to finish off their mother.

Lyle Menendez, left, and his brother Erik are pictured in their most recent prison mugshots, taken on Oct. 10, 2024. (California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation)
The brothers later claimed self-defense, arguing they were afraid their father would kill them because they planned to expose him as a child sex abuser.
While two dozen relatives have sided with the brothers in their quest for reduced sentences, Kitty and VanderMolen’s brother, Milton Andersen, remains vehemently opposed to their release.

Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon, right, shakes hands with members of the Menendez family after addressing the case of brothers Erik and Lyle Menendez at a news conference at the Hall of Justice in Los Angeles on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
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“It’s Milton Andersen’s continued belief that the claims of molestation were made up, and they were false, and he believes that the correct verdict was issued by the jury and the correct sentence was also committed,” his attorney, Kathleen Cady, told Fox News Digital.
Hochman, a moderate who rejected Gascon’s soft-on-crime approach to running the DA’s office, has pledged to thoroughly review the case before taking a stance on whether he will continue with the resentencing push begun by his predecessor.

An undated photo of the Menendez family as it appears on screen during a panel at CrimeCon 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee, on Sunday, June 2. The brothers Lyle and Erik were convicted of fatally shooting both of their parents in 1989. (Michael Ruiz/Fox News Digital)
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A separate habeas corpus petition is also making its way through the court, which would be an additional path to freedom if successful.
Their petition is based on newly emerged evidence in support of their allegations of child abuse against their father – a corroborating letter of unconfirmed origin and the word of Roy Rosello, a former Menudo member who said he too had been abused by Jose Menendez as a child.

New Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024. ( Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
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Gov. Gavin Newsom also declined to grant a clemency petition for the brothers – at least for now – stating he would defer to Hochman’s pending review of the case before making a decision.
This is a developing story.
Here’s how Martha Stewart stays fit and flexible in her 80s
Martha Stewart’s new Netflix documentary “Martha” is giving fans an inside peek into the American businesswoman’s personal life.
Despite her past legal challenges, the 83-year-old author and entrepreneur appears to be healthy and fit as ever.
In an interview with Women’s Health last year, Stewart shared her fitness routine, which keeps her disciplined and on schedule.
WWII VETERAN, 95, STILL WORKS OUT AT LOCAL GYM EVERY WEEK: ‘I’M IN CONTROL’
Pilates, yoga and more
Stewart is reportedly committed to attending Pilates three mornings per week.
Stewart leaves the house at 6:15 a.m. for her Pilates class, where she and the instructor are the “only people in the [studio] at that time,” according to Women’s Health.
“Nobody else gets up that early,” she told the publication.
WHAT IS RUCKING? THIS POPULAR FITNESS TREND GOES BACK TO BASICS FOR BIG GAINS
Stewart has also mentioned being a fan of yoga to keep her “muscles long, limber and flexible,” according to a past blog post.
On her property in Bedford, New York, Stewart stays generally active, telling Women’s Health that “just getting around from place to place on the farm and making sure the gardening is being done and the animals are taken care of [is a lot of exercise].”
Snoop Dogg, U.S. rapper and record producer, sits next to Martha Stewart at the equestrian team dressage final during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on Aug. 3, 2024. (HENRIK MONTGOMERY/TT/TT NEWS AGENCY/AFP via Getty Images)
She also enjoys caring for her horses and horseback riding for exercise, according to various blog posts.
Stewart also has a home gym – where she has previously worked with a personal trainer – equipped with weight machines, free weights and a treadmill.
‘Keeping things practical’
Celebrity personal trainer Kollins Ezekh, who is based in Los Angeles, applauded Stewart for “keeping things practical and enjoyable” in her approach to fitness.
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“At 83, she’s a great example of how to stay active without pushing yourself to extremes,” he told Fox News Digital in an interview. “She mixes Pilates, yoga and weight training, which helps keep her muscle mass and flexibility in check.”
Ezekh added that Stewart is also a “big fan of walking,” an exercise that is simple yet “so effective for cardiovascular health and mental clarity.”

Martha Stewart is pictured during an interview on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” in December 2023. (Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty Images)
“What I love about Martha’s approach is that it’s sustainable,” he went on.
“She’s not going for intense, over-the-top workouts. She focuses on functional fitness — stuff that helps her stay strong, mobile and independent in her day-to-day life.”
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For other women in their 80s, Ezekh noted that fitness is all about “staying strong and mobile without overdoing it.”
He recommends trying workouts like chair yoga, which is “super easy on the joints but great for flexibility and balance.”
“You can do it sitting down, and it helps keep everything loose and limber,” he added.

Martha Stewart at Netflix’s “Martha” New York Premiere at The Paris Theater on Oct. 21, 2024, in New York City. (Stephanie Augello/Variety via Getty Images)
To build leg strength, the trainer also suggested sit-to-stands, which only require standing up from a chair and sitting back down without using the hands.
Heel-to-toe walks are another simple balance exercise for octogenarians, according to Ezekh.
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“Just walk in a straight line, placing your heel right in front of your toe with each step,” he instructed. “It’s great for preventing falls.”
“These moves are all about keeping you strong, stable and able to move easily through your day.”
Prosecutors file motion to dismiss Jan. 6 case against Trump : NPR
Special counsel Jack Smith led the Jan. 6 case against Donald Trump. That case is now all but dead.
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images
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Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images
Federal prosecutors have filed a motion to dismiss the Jan. 6 case against Donald Trump.
The move was widely expected.
Just a day after the election, Jack Smith, the special counsel investigating the case, began to unwind the federal cases against Trump: the first for clinging to power in 2020, events that resulted in the storming of the U.S. Capitol; the second for hoarding classified documents and obstructing FBI efforts to retrieve them.
Monday’s filing is in line with longstanding Justice Department policy that says a sitting president cannot be indicted or tried on criminal charges because it would violate the Constitution and interfere with the working of the executive branch.
Over the summer, the U.S. Supreme Court said the constitution gave the president broad immunity, putting the cases against Trump in peril.
The Florida documents case is yet to be resolved.
10 gifts for gamers you can find during Amazon’s early Black Friday sales
Make gaming easier for the video game enthusiast in your life. (iStock)
Finding a gift for the gamers in your life can be difficult, especially if you have no idea what type of tech they’d like. Well, Amazon has you covered this holiday season. During their early Black Friday sales, Amazon has sales on gaming accessories and consoles that every type of gamer is sure to love!
In an era where gaming is not just a hobby but a lifestyle, the right present can really enhance the gaming universe and make a gamer’s setup more comfortable. These 10 gifts cater to various aspects of gaming, ensuring that you can find something that will be cherished by the gamers in your life.
Most purchases can be delivered 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 holiday shopping today.
Original price: $199.99
A lighter version of the classic Switch, the Nintendo Switch Lite brings everything gamers love just in a slightly smaller package. It’s still compatible with all physical and digital Nintendo Switch games that support Handheld mode.
Original price: $229.99
A floor rocker is the ultimate gaming chair for gamers who want to be comfortable. This gaming floor rocker has helpful arms that fold down when you don’t want to use them. It also has a built-in Bluetooth speaker for an immersive gaming experience.
8 STADIUM ESSENTIALS YOU’LL NEED FOR GAME DAY
Original price: $79.99
Gamers who play via a computer will love this newly updated Logitech gaming mouse. It has 11 customizable buttons you can assign commands to. It also has onboard memory that stores up to five player profiles.
Original price: $69.99
When playing multi-player games, a gaming microphone helps you communicate with other players. This USB gaming microphone comes with one-click noise cancelation technology that immediately blocks out background noise, helping gamers stay focused. You can also change the color of the lights on the microphone to match your gaming aesthetic.
Original price: $849.99
Gamers who primarily use their laptops to game could likely use a new gaming laptop this holiday season. The Acer Nitro V is extremely fast and allows you to play all your favorite games wherever you are.
Original price: $39.99
Gamers of all kinds will love a gamer neon sign featuring a controller. This vibrant sign is easy to hang and gives off bright, neon light that will add to the gaming atmosphere.
12 LAWN GAMES TO HELP YOUR FAMILY GET OUTSIDE MORE
Original price: $129.99
Get the gamer in your life a new shiny gaming keyboard this year. The Logitech gaming keyboard is a durable keyboard that delivers an audible and tactile click that’s so satisfying while gaming. It’s also ultra-portable and won’t take up a ton of space on a gaming desk.
Original price: $34.80
Xbox users can more easily keep their controllers charged with a controller charging station. The station includes one rechargeable battery pack that provides 18 to 25 hours of game play once the controllers are charged. It’s also a universal charger that works on all Xbox controllers.
Original price: $32.99
Level up your gaming equipment with this gaming mouse pad with a wireless charging station. It’s big enough to hold a keyboard, mouse and phone. Speaking of phones, this mouse pad also has a built-in charger that’s compatible with most iPhones and Samsung devices.
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Original price: $43.99
Gamers who spend their days playing Minecraft can show off their love of the game with this Minecraft pullover hoodie. You can choose from blue, black and gray.
Storm Bert Causes Flooding Across Britain and Ireland
Heavy weekend rain and strong winds brought in by Storm Bert caused widespread flooding and travel disruptions across Britain and Ireland, and killed at least three people in England and Wales.
Plaintiffs in high-stakes CNN defamation suit want to grill Jake Tapper again
The legal team representing the U.S. Navy veteran suing CNN for defamation has requested the court to compel anchor Jake Tapper to sit down for an additional hour of deposition after he refused to answer key questions “aimed at punitive damages discovery” during the first go-round.
Zachary Young alleges that CNN smeared his security consulting company, Nemex Enterprises Inc., by implying it illegally profited when helping people flee Afghanistan during the Biden administration’s military withdrawal from the country in 2021. Young believes CNN “destroyed his reputation and business” during a segment that year on Tapper’s program “The Lead.”
A high-stakes civil trial is scheduled to begin on Jan. 6 in front of Judge Henry in the Circuit Court for Bay County, Florida.
Tapper sat down for a deposition last week but was instructed by CNN’s counsel not to answer a variety of questions, according to a court filing obtained by Fox News Digital.
CNN FACES DEFAMATION SUIT OVER AFGHANISTAN WITHDRAWAL STORY: ‘EVIDENCE OF ACTUAL MALICE’
The legal team representing the U.S. Navy veteran suing CNN for defamation says Jake Tapper refused to answer key questions “aimed at punitive damages discovery.” (Photo by Scott Kowalchyk/CBS via Getty Images)
Young’s attorney, Vel Freedman, wrote that “CNN’s counsel directed Tapper not to answer more than 30 questions” in the course of less than two hours.
“The end result was that CNN prevented Plaintiffs from (1) gathering basic financial information (e.g., Tapper’s salary); (2) exploring issues the jury might need to assess a punitive damages award (e.g., Tapper’s opinion on what financial penalty might deter CNN from future misconduct); and (3) from even asking for clarification of Tapper’s answers or getting complete answers to the questions the witness did answer (e.g., interrupting the witness mid-answer saying: ‘Just answer the question as asked),” Freedman wrote.
Freedman then offered “some of the more egregious examples of CNN’s improper instructions” that resulted in a request to spend more time grilling Tapper.
CNN instructed Tapper “not to answer questions about his salary,” “not to answer questions about financial penalties that directly tracked the Court’s order,” “not to answer questions that sought to explore other punitive damages related issues” and “not to answer questions seeking to follow up on his responses.”
Freedman argued that Tapper’s salary is “relevant information for Plaintiffs, and speaks to CNN’s resources and their profitability,” and exploring the “bounds of what penalties might be required to sufficiently penalize CNN and deter similar misconduct in the future.”
“CNN instructed Tapper not to answer innocuous foundational questions that were intended to lead to information relevant to assessing and calculating punitive damages,” Freedman wrote.
“During the deposition, Tapper would at times respond with answers injecting topics or issues into the deposition,” Freedman continued. “When counsel tried to follow up on those answers, or seek clarity or further explanation of them, CNN’s counsel objected.”

Plaintiff Zachary Young’s photo was aired by CNN during the segment in question. (CNN/Screenshot)
Freedman continued: “Another example occurred when Tapper injected comments made before the deposition commenced into the deposition. When Plaintiffs asked for clarification and follow up, CNN instructed Tapper not to respond, prejudicing Plaintiffs from making a full record for the jury.”
Freedman wrote that in another instance, “CNN’s counsel cut Tapper off mid-sentence to stop him from testifying about something CNN didn’t want him to, despite the issue not being privileged.”
Specific examples of Freedman’s claims were heavily redacted in the deposition transcript.
“For the foregoing reasons, Plaintiffs respectfully request the Court compel CNN to produce Mr. Tapper for one additional hour, order him to respond to questions aimed at punitive damages discovery, and permit reasonable follow up and clarification from Tapper’s answers,” Freedman wrote.
CNN’s legal team did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The CNN segment at the center of the suit, which was shared on social media and also repackaged for CNN’s website, began with Tapper informing viewers that CNN correspondent Alex Marquardt found “Afghans trying to get out of the country face a black market full of promises, demands of exorbitant fees, and no guarantee of safety or success.”
CNN ACCUSED OF WITHHOLDING CRITICAL DOCUMENTS NEEDED TO DETERMINE VALUE AHEAD OF DEFAMATION TRIAL

CNN’s Jake Tapper is caught up in a lawsuit over a 2021 story centered around the chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal. (Getty Images)
Tapper tossed to Marquardt, who said “desperate Afghans are being exploited” and need to pay “exorbitant, often impossible amounts” to flee the country. Marquardt then singled out Young, putting a picture of his face on the screen and saying his company was asking for $75,000 to transport a vehicle of passengers to Pakistan or $14,500 per person to end up in the United Arab Emirates.
“Prices well beyond the reach of most Afghans,” Marquardt told viewers.
No other people or companies were named other than Young, who alleged that CNN, using the terms “black market,” “exploit” and “exorbitant,” inaccurately painted him as a bad actor preying on desperate people.
Internal communications between CNN employees that were revealed during the discovery process have indicated editors were concerned about the segment, but aired it anyway. Other internal communications revealed CNN employees used profanities and disparaging language when privately discussing Young.
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