Fox News Politics Newsletter: Mamdani a 'Messaging Nightmare' for Dems, Observer Says
Welcome to the Fox News Politics newsletter, with the latest updates on the Trump administration, Capitol Hill and more Fox News politics content. Here's what's happening…
-Trump, Hegseth seethe at 'fake news' media for doubting US strikes obliterated Iranian nuclear sites: 'Scum'
-Trump DHS sues entire bench of judges in Maryland district court
-Dem congresswoman pleads not guilty for Newark ICE facility incident, rallies supporters
The political earthquake that rocked the nation's most populous city may prove to be a gift for Republicans aiming to paint Democrats as extreme radicals ahead of next year's midterm elections.
As democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old state assembly member from Queens who is originally from Uganda, was on his way to topping former three-term New York State Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the rest of the large field in New York City's Democratic mayoral primary, Republicans pounced.
The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) was one of the first out of the gate to capitalize on the leftward lurch, firing off an email release that claimed, "the new face of the Democrat Party just dropped, and it's straight out of a socialist nightmare."
Veteran Republican strategist Colin Reed told Fox News that "the Democratic Party's trying to convince people that the tail is not wagging the dog, and they don't answer to the more extreme elements of their party. Now, that entire effort is undercut by a socialist winning handily in a bellwether election to determine who's going to run America's largest city."
"It's a messaging nightmare that's going to unfold in real time from now until the midterms," he added. …READ MORE.
CAPITAL EXIT: HUD becomes first major cabinet agency to exit DC, citing 'failing' HQ -- which DOGE wants to sell
'DISTORT COMPETITION': Bessent urged to stop EU's 'punitive' tax grab targeting U.S. firms
WASTE WARRIOR: Teen nicknamed 'Big Balls' leaves Trump's cost-cutting team after exposing wasteful spending
PHANTOM APPROVALS: Top Biden aide admits to Congress she directed autopen signatures without knowing who gave final approval
GOP DIGS DEEP: Republicans move to revive Trump's 'beautiful clean coal industry' after Biden shut it down
DEFENSE DOLLARS DUE: Trump to speak at NATO Summit amid warming relations with alliance's leaders
'THINK HE LIKES ME': Rubio cracks up at Trump's reaction to NATO leader calling president 'daddy'
'READINESS TO HELP': Zelenskyy pointedly thanks Trump, America for Ukraine support months after Vance's jab about lack of gratitude
STRENGTH ON DISPLAY: NATO leader praises Trump for 'decisive action' on Iran
RED LINE: Trump says US would strike again if Iran rebuilds nuclear program
NUCLEAR KNOCKOUT: US strikes set Iran's nuclear program back 'many years,' Israeli assessment finds
LOOKING AHEAD: Iranian dissident leader outlines vision for regime change, says it's 'inevitable'.
HIGH STAKES: CEASEFIRE: Can a pause in fighting lead to lasting peace where conflicts have become the norm?
'LIKELY BLUSTER': Russian official says Moscow has 'no intention" of supplying Iran with warheads, following Trump taunts
POWER PLAY: House Republicans inch closer to answers as former Biden advisors lose executive privilege shield
'CARRY THE TORCH': Dead congressman's social media accounts resurrected to boost former chief of staff's congressional bid
MIDDLE-CLASS SQUEEZE: Louisiana mom warns 'half of what we're working for' at risk if Trump's budget bill fails
RE-ELECTION MODE ON: Trump critic JB Pritzker expected to launch Democratic re-election bid for third term as Illinois governor
CRIME CITY NIGHTMARE: Former Democrat ousted from party over defund the police takes on Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg
CONTEST CONCLUDED: Alvin Bragg blows out Democratic challenger in Manhattan DA primary
BORDER BETRAYAL: Former Trump ambassador Scott Brown launches bid to flip key swing state Senate seat from blue to red
Get the latest updates on the Trump administration and Congress, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.
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20 minutes ago
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Donald Trump's Approval Rating Goes Negative in Texas
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Politico
25 minutes ago
- Politico
Thune says Senate won't overrule parliamentarian
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Forbes
27 minutes ago
- Forbes
In Major Update, GOP Efforts To Repeal Student Loan Repayment Plans May Be In Trouble
WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 6: Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) speaks at a press conference with members of ... More Senate Democratic leadership following a policy luncheon at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC May 6, 2025. Merkley announced on June 26 that the Senate Parliamentarian had ruled that GOP-led efforts to repeal popular student loan forgiveness and repayment plan options could not be passed via reconciliation. (Photo by Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images) Republican-led plans to make massive changes to federal student loan forgiveness and repayment programs by repealing several existing options suddenly hit a major roadblock on Thursday after a key senate official determined that the proposal would violate a senate rule. As a result, GOP lawmakers may not be able to enact all of their proposed changes, at least not in their current form. 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Repeal Of Several Student Loan Repayment Plans Now Uncertain In both the House and Senate versions of the reconciliation bill, GOP lawmakers would make significant changes to federal student loan repayment plans. The legislation would repeal several popular income-driven repayment options that offer borrowers lower payments tied to their income and family size and a pathway to eventual student loan forgiveness. Under the proposal, the Income-Contingent Repayment plan, Pay As You Earn plan, and Saving on a Valuable Education plan (ICR, PAYE, and SAVE, respectively) would be repealed, including for current borrowers. Borrowers who are currently enrolled in these plans would be moved into the IBR plan instead, which advocacy groups have warned could lead to massive spikes in monthly payments for millions of Americans. But the Thursday ruling by the Senate Parliamentarian now casts these proposals in doubt. The Parliamentarian ruled that the repeal of existing student loan repayment plans for current borrowers would violate the Byrd Rule and, therefore, would require 60 votes to pass the Senate. It is highly unlikely that seven Democrats would join all Republicans in voting for this measure. The Parliamentarian did not find, however, that the changes would violate the Byrd rule for new student loan borrowers going forward. So if the repeal of ICR, PAYE, and SAVE cannot pass the Senate via reconciliation for current borrowers in repayment, it still could pass via reconciliation for borrowers who take out new student loans after the bill's passage. Changes To Student Loan Forgiveness Eligibility Also Cast Into Doubt The Senate Parliamentarian also ruled that some proposed changes to student loan forgiveness programs would violate the Byrd Rule, as well. Specifically, Republican-led proposals to cut off student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program for medical and dental residents cannot be passed through the reconciliation process. GOP lawmakers had hoped to restrict PSLF eligibility for doctors and dentists by effectively eliminating their ability to receive PSLF credit during their low-earning residency and internship years. But following the Parliamentarian's ruling, this provision would require 60 votes in the Senate to pass, which is unlikely to happen. The Senate Parliamentarian has not yet ruled on other proposed changes to federal student loan forgiveness programs. These include repealing Biden-era rules governing Borrower Defense to Repayment, a loan forgiveness program for borrowers harmed by school misconduct; Biden-era rules governing the Closed School Discharge program, which provides debt relief to borrowers who were unable to complete their degree program due to a campus closure; and a provision that would place restrictions on the Department of Education's ability to draft new regulations expanding student loan forgiveness access. These provisions of the reconciliation bill are still under review. What Happens Next For Student Loan Forgiveness And Repayment Reform Efforts Democrats praised the Senate Parliamentarian's ruling as a fair interpretation of Senate rules. Democrats have widely criticized the GOP-led reconciliation bill as a vast overreach that would cause real harm for millions of Americans. 'The Byrd Rule must be enforced, and Republicans shouldn't get away with circumventing the rules of reconciliation,' said Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) in a statement on Thursday. 'Democrats will continue to make the case against every provision in this Big, Beautiful Betrayal of a bill that violates Senate rules and hurts families, students, and workers. Democrats are fighting hard against Republicans' plans to increase out-of-pocket health care costs and restrict access to reproductive care. Republicans are scrambling to rewrite parts of this bill to continue advancing their families lose, and billionaires win agenda, but Democrats stand ready to fully scrutinize any changes.' Meanwhile, Republicans will now need to go back to the drawing board to try to rewrite the legislation in order to comply with the Byrd Rule. It is unclear at this juncture how GOP lawmakers will handle their proposals to repeal popular affordable repayment plan options and student loan forgiveness programs for current borrowers, or whether there would be a way to amend the legislation to comply with the Byrd Rule. Other Republican lawmakers are calling for the Senate to overrule the Parliamentarian. But Senate Democrats have warned that doing so would have major implications for Senate procedures going forward. 'Should my Senate Republican colleagues overrule the Parliamentarian, it will have major long-term impacts for the Senate and the legislative filibuster," warned Senator Dick Durbin in May. Republican leaders in the Senate have said they would not move to overrule the Parliamentarian. Ultimately, borrowers concerned about the future of student loan forgiveness and affordable repayment plans got some good news this week, but they will have to wait and see while the process continues to play out.
