Optimism lives despite Trump's ‘arson of our public infrastructure'
Max Stier might keep a closer eye on federal agencies and their employees than anyone else not in government.
A former employee of all three federal branches who worked for Democrats and Republicans, Stier is the founding president and CEO of the Partnership for Public Service, a nonprofit that promotes good governance. Among its projects are the annual Best Places to Work in the Federal Government rankings and the Service to America Medals, a.k.a. the Sammies, which honor federal workers.
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Karoline Leavitt rips Van Hollen, media for their portrayal of suspected human trafficker Kilmar Abrego Garcia
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt called out Democrats and the media for defending illegal immigrant and suspected MS-13 member Kilmar Abrego Garcia Friday. Abrego Garcia, who was deported in March to an El Salvador mega prison, was returned to the U.S. Friday to answer federal charges for human smuggling and conspiracy. "The Justice Department's Grand Jury Indictment against Abrego Garcia proves the unhinged Democrat Party was wrong, and their stenographers in the Fake News Media were once again played like fools," Leavitt said in a statement to Fox News. Democrats Celebrate Return Of Suspected Human Trafficker Kilmar Abrego Garcia "Abrego Garcia was never an innocent 'Maryland Man'– Abrego Garcia is an illegal alien terrorist, gang member, and human trafficker who has spent his entire life abusing innocent people, especially women and the most vulnerable," Leavitt added. She also called out Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., who traveled to El Salvador in April "to show solidarity" with Abrego Garcia. Read On The Fox News App "Abrego Garcia will now return to the United States to answer for his crimes and meet the full force of American justice," Leavitt said. "The Democrat lawmakers, namely Democrat Senator Chris Van Hollen, and every single so-called 'journalist' who defended this illegal criminal abuser must immediately apologize to Garcia's victims. The Trump Administration will continue to hold criminals accountable to the fullest extent of the law." Abrego Garcia previously lived in Maryland before the administration deported him to the Central American country's mega prison. According to Abrego Garcia's indictment, he played a "significant role" in a human smuggling ring operating for nearly a decade, and Bondi described him as a full-time smuggler who made more than 100 trips, transporting women, children and MS-13 gang-affiliated persons throughout the United States. Fox News Digital obtained Tennessee Highway Patrol bodycam footage from a 2022 traffic stop where troopers pulled over Abrego Garcia for speeding. Inside his vehicle were eight other men, raising immediate suspicions. "He's hauling these people for money," one trooper said. Law enforcement found $1,400 in cash and flagged Abrego Garcia in the National Crime Information Center, which returned a gang/terrorism alert. ICE was called, but never responded. Despite Abrego Garcia's alleged illegal activity, various media outlets continued to refer to him as a "Maryland man" Friday, including the Washington Post and the New York Times. Fox News contributor Guy Benson shared a screenshot of their Breaking News alerts using the phrase. Axios and USA TODAY referred to him as a "Maryland man" or "Maryland father" on social article source: Karoline Leavitt rips Van Hollen, media for their portrayal of suspected human trafficker Kilmar Abrego Garcia
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FLASHBACK: Musk accused Trump, GOP leaders of not wanting to cut spending — here's where they said they would
Elon Musk's fiery feud with President Donald Trump spilled onto the top Republicans in Congress, where the tech billionaire questioned if their zeal to cut spending had disappeared. Musk launched into a social media assault this week against Trump's "big, beautiful bill," and accused Republicans of crafting a "disgusting abomination" full of wasteful spending. What started as a rant against the bill turned into pointed attacks against Trump, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., and House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La. 'He's Not A Big Factor': Trump's Senate Allies Dismiss Elon Musk's Calls To 'Kill The Bill' The tech billionaire and former head of Trump's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) lamented the bill as not cutting deep enough into Washington's spending addiction. The House GOP's offering, which is now being modified in the Senate, set a goal of $1.5 trillion in spending cuts. Musk set a benchmark of finding $2 trillion in waste, fraud and abuse to slash with his DOGE initiative, but fell far short, hitting only $160 billion in his four-month stint as a special government employee. Read On The Fox News App Elon Musk Warpath Against Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill' Rattles House Gop Still, he came with receipts, questioning whether Trump, Thune and Johnson were actually committed to making deep cuts. Below are moments from the campaign trail and recent months compiled by Fox News Digital where the trio affirmed their commitment to putting a dent in the nation's nearly $37 trillion debt. A common theme for Trump during his 2024 presidential campaign was to go after the Biden administration, and his opponent, former Vice President Kamala Harris, for "throwing billions of dollars out the window." The then-presidential candidate vowed that should he win a second term, his incoming administration would halt wasteful spending. "We will stop wasteful spending and big government special interest giveaways, and finally stand up for the American taxpayer, which hasn't happened since I was president," he said. "We stood up. Our current massive deficits will be reduced to practically nothing. Our country will be powered by growth. Our country, will be powered by growth, will pay off our debt, will have all this income coming in." Gop Senators Express 'Concerns,' 'Skepticism' Over Trump's Spending Bill After Musk Rant Thune has agreed with his colleagues in the House GOP that the tax cut package needs to achieve steep savings, and believes that the Senate GOP could take those cuts a step further. After the bill advanced from the House last month, the top Senate Republican re-upped his vow to slash federal funding. "It does everything that we set out to do. It modernizes our military, secures our border, extends tax relief and makes permanent tax relief that will lead to economic growth and better jobs in this country, and makes America energy dominant, coupled with the biggest spending reduction in American history," he said. "So those are our agenda items, and that's what we campaigned on. That's what we're going to do." Johnson had to strike a balancing act in the House to cobble together enough support behind the legislation, and struck deals and satisfied concerned lawmakers across the spectrum of the House GOP while still setting a goal of $1.5 trillion in spending cuts. Rooting out waste, fraud and abuse has been a continued mantra of the speaker and his allies. "I said this is the beginning of a process, and what you're going to see is a continuing theme of us identifying waste, fraud and abuse in government, which is our pledge of common sense, restoring common sense and fiscal sanity," Johnson said. Original article source: FLASHBACK: Musk accused Trump, GOP leaders of not wanting to cut spending — here's where they said they would
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Senate sparks outrage after blocking state's gas car ban in stunning reversal: 'We are sowing poison seeds for the future'
The United States Senate voted in late May to overturn California's strict vehicle emissions standards, which were set to phase out sales of new gas-powered cars by 2035. In a 51-44 vote, the Senate reversed a decision that had given California the green light to enforce rules requiring an increasing number of new-car sales in the state to be zero-emission vehicles. As reported by the Los Angeles Times, federal lawmakers pulled back approval for a major environmental policy that aimed to speed the shift to electric vehicles and cut down on harmful air pollution and carbon emissions. Using the Congressional Review Act to repeal the waivers has been reported as atypical of Senate procedures. NPR also noted that "there are significant questions" about whether this use of the CRA has strong legal standing. In an effort to keep California's policies in place and allow the state to move forward to a cleaner and cooler future, Senator Adam Schiff had issued a dire warning to the Senate. "We are sowing poison seeds for the future," Schiff said, per the LA Times. "Seeds that will grow to be more asthma and more sickness and more hospitalization and more death. That is the bleak but blatant reality of what we are debating here today." The policy, known as Advanced Clean Cars II, was introduced by the California Air Resources Board in 2022. It was then approved by the Environmental Protection Agency in late 2024. The policy would have required carmakers to steadily increase the number of electric or hybrid vehicles they sell in California. By 2035, only zero-emission or hybrid vehicles would have been allowed as new-car sales in the state. In 2022, California Governor Gavin Newsom released a comprehensive plan for the state to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045. This included Advanced Clean Cars ll and other initiatives designed to focus on renewable energy, clean buildings, carbon removal, and clean fuels. Ahead of the 51-44 vote and from the Senate floor, Senator John Barrasso offered up a rebuke of Advanced Clean Cars ll and other policies designed to encourage the adoption of EVs. "Democrats have this delusional dream of eliminating gas-powered vehicles in America," he said, per the LA Times. "They want to force-feed electric vehicles to every man and woman who drives in this country. Well, Republicans are ready to use the Congressional Review Act to end this Democrat electric vehicle fantasy," Barrasso added. With federal lawmakers rescinding a state's requirements intended to improve air quality and reduce heat-trapping pollution, there could be consequences for human health. For example, the particulate matter produced by gas-powered cars, especially in areas of dense population and high traffic, has been linked to serious concerns, including decreased lung function and cardiac conditions, with the greatest impacts on children, older people, and marginalized communities. Should the government ban gas stoves? Yes Only in new buildings Only in restaurants No way Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. By revoking Advanced Clean Cars ll, the Senate may have also greatly impacted the fate of similar policies around the country. Following California's lead, 11 other states have drawn up plans to gradually phase out gas-powered cars over the coming decades. These states include New York, Massachusetts, Colorado, and New Mexico. Now that the measure has passed in the Senate, it will go to President Donald Trump, who is expected to sign it into law. However, Newsom and California Attorney General Rob Bonta said the state would sue in an attempt to restore the gradual gas-powered vehicle ban. While speaking at a news conference, Newsom pointed to a larger picture, one he says goes well beyond the borders of California. "This is about our economy, it's about our health, it's about our global competitiveness," Newsom said. "It is, Donald Trump, about our national security, and it's about our ability to continue to innovate and outpace competition all across the globe," he added. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
