Tech billionaire Elon Musk ripped alleged "fraudulent" Treasury payments on Saturday as reports circulated that the Department of Government Efficiency has gained acces to the federal government's payment system as the second Trump administration continues cutting what they say is government fat and overspending. 

"The @DOGE team discovered, among other things, that payment approval officers at Treasury were instructed always to approve payments, even to known fraudulent or terrorist groups. They literally never denied a payment in their entire career. Not even once," Musk, the chair of DOGE, posted early Saturday morning to X. 

Musk's post came just ahead of the New York Times reporting Saturday afternoon that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent granted DOGE personnel access to the payment system. The Treasury spends roughly $6 trillion per year on payments for federal agencies. 

The ranking Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden, posted to social media on Saturday that he has also been informed that DOGE was granted access to the system. 

DOGE ANNOUNCES MORE THAN $1B IN SAVINGS AFTER CANCELING 104 FEDERAL DEI CONTRACTS

"Sources tell my office that Treasury Secretary Bessent has granted DOGE *full* access to this system. Social Security and Medicare benefits, grants, payments to government contractors, including those that compete directly with Musk's own companies. All of it," Wyden posted to social media site BlueSky on Saturday evening. 

DOGE's reported access to the payment system comes after the Washington Post reported on Friday that the former acting director of the Treasury, David A. Lebryk, was planning to exit the finance department of the federal government following a clash over granting DOGE access to its payment system. Lebryk oversaw the Treasury Department in the days between President Donald Trump's inauguration on Jan. 20 and Bessent's confirmation to lead the department on Jan. 27. 

TOP DOGE LAWMAKER SAYS TRUMP ‘ALREADY RACKING UP WINS FOR TAXPAYERS’ WITH EFFICIENCY INITIATIVES

On Friday, reports also spread that civil servants within the Office of Personnel Management, which works as the federal government's HR department, were reportedly locked from the office's computer systems by DOGE. 

Musk quipped on X on Saturday that working over the weekend is a "superpower," where the "opposing team" disappear for two days. 

"Very few in the bureaucracy actually work the weekend, so it’s like the opposing team just leaves the field for 2 days! Working the weekend is a superpower," he posted. 

‘DOGE’-MEETS-CONGRESS: GOP LAWMAKER AARON BEAN LAUNCHES CAUCUS TO HELP MUSK ‘TAKE ON CRAZYTOWN’

Trump officially created DOGE via an executive order signed on his first day in office. The EO outlines that government agency chiefs provide DOGE with access to internal government platforms such as, "software systems, and IT systems."

"Agency Heads shall take all necessary steps, in coordination with the USDS Administrator and to the maximum extent consistent with law, to ensure USDS has full and prompt access to all unclassified agency records, software systems, and IT systems.  USDS shall adhere to rigorous data protection standards," the executive order reads. 

Trump and Musk had long previewed the creation of DOGE while on the campaign trail, championing that the team would weed out overspending and fraud within the federal government. DOGE is not a government department, but instead operates as a team within the Trump administration. 

Before Trump's win in November, Musk hosted the Republican president for an interview on X in August, where Musk railed against government overspending and inflation that has gripped the nation in recent years. 

"A lot of people just don’t understand where inflation comes from. Inflation comes from government overspending because the checks never bounce when it’s written by the government. So if the government spends far more than it brings in, that increases the money supply. If the money supply increases faster than the rate of goods and services, that’s inflation," Musk said during their conversation. 

MUSK RENEWS HARSH REBUKE OF DEMS WHO REJECTED DEPORTING SEX OFFENDERS: VOTE OUT ‘EVERY ONE’

"So really we need to reduce our government spending, and we need to re-examine… I think we need a government efficiency commission to say like, ‘Hey, where are we spending money that’s sensible. Where is it not sensible?’"

Since its official creation last month, DOGE's X account has provided updates on its work to cut government spending, including announcing last week that it has cut more than $1 billion from federal spending through now-defunct diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and personnel. 

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Fox News Digital reached out to the White House and Treasury Department on Sunday morning, but did not immediately receive replies. 

The Trump administration announced on Saturday that it is imposing tariffs through its new International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).

President Donald Trump signed an executive order authorizing the tariffs Saturday, which will go into effect Tuesday, consisting of a 25% additional tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico and a 10% tariff on imports from China.

Energy resources from Canada will have a lower 10% tariff, according to the White House. In a statement obtained by Fox News Saturday, the Trump administration said the legislation is a response to an "extraordinary threat posed by illegal aliens and drugs, including deadly fentanyl, (that) constitutes a national emergency."

REAGAN NATIONAL AIRPORT CRASH: MILITARY BLACK HAWK HELICOPTER COLLIDES MIDAIR WITH AMERICAN AIRLINES JET

"This challenge threatens the fabric of our society," the executive order states. "Gang members, smugglers, human traffickers, and illicit drugs of all kinds have poured across our borders and into our communities.

"Canada has played a central role in these challenges, including by failing to devote sufficient attention and resources or meaningfully coordinate with United States law enforcement partners to effectively stem the tide of illicit drugs."

In a fact sheet released by Trump officials, the White House said the tariffs are meant to hold the three countries accountable for "their promises of halting illegal immigration and stopping poisonous fentanyl and other drugs from flowing into our country."

The move was widely criticized by foreign leaders on Saturday. In an X post, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that he "did not want this, but Canada is prepared."

RNC CHAIR, AFTER CRUISING TO RE-ELECTION, VOWS TO BE ‘TIP OF SPEAR’ TO PROTECT TRUMP

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said that her country "categorically reject[s] the White House's slander against the Mexican government of having alliances with criminal organizations, as well as any intention of intervention in our territory."

"Mexico not only does not want fentanyl to reach the United States, but anywhere," the statement read. "Therefore, if the United States wants to combat criminal groups that traffic drugs and generate violence, we must work together in an integrated manner, but always under the principles of shared responsibility, mutual trust, collaboration and, above all, respect for sovereignty, which is not negotiable."

The changes were widely expected after White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Friday the tariffs would roll out over the weekend.

On the same day, Trump told reporters the U.S. may also increase tariffs on imports from the European Union, arguing the tariffs would make the U.S. "very rich and very strong." 

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

"We need to protect Americans, and it is my duty as President to ensure the safety of all," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post Saturday. "I made a promise on my Campaign to stop the flood of illegal aliens and drugs from pouring across our Borders, and Americans overwhelmingly voted in favor of it."

Fox News Digital's Brooke Singman and Diana Stancy contributed to this report.

President Donald Trump floated moving nearly 90,000 IRS agents hired under the Biden administration to the border to patrol the area while armed with guns. 

"On day one, I immediately halted the hiring of any new IRS agents. They hired, or tried to hire, 88,000 new workers to go after you. And we're in the process of developing a plan to either terminate all of them or maybe we'll move them to the border. And I think we're going to move them to the border," Trump said during a rally at Circa Resort & Casino in Las Vegas on Saturday evening. 

"Where they're allowed to carry guns, you know, they're so strong on guns, but these people are allowed to carry guns, so we'll probably move them to the border," he continued. Certain special IRS agents are permitted to carry firearms as part of their duties, according to IRS Code, 26 U.S. Code § 7608. 

Trump joined supporters in Las Vegas this weekend after touring destruction in North Carolina left by Hurricane Helene in September, as well as California, where he toured Los Angeles and met with local leaders about the wildfires that have ripped through the area this month. 

TRUMP VOWS TO DELIVER ON 'NO TAX ON TIPS' CAMPAIGN PROMISE DURING LAS VEGAS SPEECH: '100% YOURS'

While floating moving the thousands of IRS agents to the border, Trump also suggested ending income tax across the board, saying his plans on tariffs could fill the financial gaps. 

"How about just no tax," he said to cheers, while he chuckled. "You could do that. You know if the tariffs work out like I think, a thing like that could happen, if you want to know the truth." 

‘FLOODING THE ZONE’ TRUMP HITS WARP SPEED IN FIRST WEEK BACK IN OFFICE

"Years ago, 1870 to 1913, we didn't have an income tax. We had, what we had is tariffs, where foreign countries came in and they stole our jobs, they stole our companies, they stole our product. They ripped us off. And, you know, they used to do numbers. And then we went to tariff, a tariff system. And the tariff system made so much money. It was when we were the richest from 1870 to 1930. Then we came in with the – brilliantly came in – with an income tax," he continued, explaining the Great Depression rocked the U.S. shortly after moving away from the tariff system of the 1800s and early 1900s.

Democrats in 2022 approved $80 billion in funding for the IRS, including to hire roughly 87,000 new agents across a 10-year period as part of the Inflation Reduction Act. President Joe Biden signed the legislation into law that year. 

IRS BANNED FROM BUYING GUNS, AMMO WITH TAXPAYER FUNDS UNDER NEW BILL FROM SEN. ERNST

Trump's Vegas speech focused on taxes, hearkening back to his June campaign rally in the state when he first announced he would eliminate taxes on tips.

"Any worker who relies on tips [as] income, your tips will be 100% yours," Trump said on Saturday in the city that is run by service workers at flashy hotels and casinos and restaurants. 

DEMOCRATS HIRE ARMY OF AGENTS AT IRS TO SQUEEZE HONEST TAXPAYERS FOR GREEN NEW DEAL

Trump also touted that a handful of his campaign promises are already unfolding into real results, including withdrawing from the World Health Organization (WHO) and dismantling some federal diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices.

"We got rid of the woke crap," Trump said Saturday. "A lot of crap… you know, these people were petrified of it. I'll tell you, these companies, they run these big companies, they were petrified of it."

Fox News Digital's Andrea Margolis contributed to this report. 

President Donald Trump's recent AI announcement has the potential to jumpstart a technological "renaissance" in the United States and serve as a strong declaration, similar to former President John F. Kennedy's pledge to put a man on the moon, according to a top former White House information technology (IT) official.

During a speech at the White House, Trump announced that Softbank, OpenAI and Oracle have joined forces for Stargate, a project to build data centers in the U.S. for powering AI. The initial investment for the project will be $100 billion, with plans to expand to $500 billion over the next four years. The first data center built under the initiative will be in Texas, and it will eventually expand to other states.

Speaking with Fox News Digital, Theresa Payton, the first female White House Chief Information Officer during President George W. Bush's administration, says the news, which Trump calls the "largest AI infrastructure project, by far, in history," has her attention.

TRUMP'S AI DEAL FUELING EARLY CANCER DETECTION: ORACLE'S LARRY ELLISON

"I do really believe that very much like when you read in the history books about how President Kennedy said, we're going to put a man on the moon. This is one of those big declarations that's so important to the future of America. This has the potential to be sort of the beacon of America's technological progress. And I really think our true success, though, is going to hinge on what goes behind the big headline," she said.

To ensure success and a U.S. lead in AI, Payton says the project should set a "gold standard" for the rest of the world regarding responsible innovation, considering safety, security, individual rights, and privacy.

The first data center built under the initiative will be in Texas, eventually expanding to other states. The Trump administration claims that the venture could create 100,000 new jobs.

Payton told Fox News Digital that the people involved in the project have been through several technology innovation changes and have had to reimagine their companies and the skillsets needed to thrive—with the potential to offer firsthand knowledge on what is needed to mitigate workforce displacement.

A LOOK AT PRESIDENT TRUMP'S FIRST FULL DAY IN THE WHITE HOUSE

"If you think about the typing pools of the past and how they were replaced by word processing if you think about manufacturing jobs that were replaced by robotics and machinery, we need to be thinking about that upfront and showing people who are in jobs impacted. You can be retrained, you can be upskilled, things can be retooled. And I do believe it will create sort of the next technology renaissance," she said.

Payton believes that Trump's foray into AI infrastructure can have great economic impacts if the United States "dreams" the project upfront and sets the proper requirements.

The project represents a growing entanglement between Trump and Big Tech leaders, a relationship that has some critics worried. On Monday, CNN referred to Trump's return to the White House as the "inauguration of the oligarchs."

President Biden warned in his farewell speech of an "ultra-wealthy" "oligarchy" posing a threat to America as big tech CEOs were warming up to then President-elect Trump in recent months.

However, Payton says that how Trump handles these relationships will be the true test of their success or failure.

AI EXECUTIVES PRAISE TRUMP'S STARGATE PROJECT: 'THIS IS A VERY LARGE INVESTMENT THAT AFFECTS ALL OF HUMANITY'

"There are career government employees, there are private sector companies. There are different industry sectors. And each one of them plays a role in making our economy strong and improving our national security. And, you know, I think you could probably say about every president, they bring with them a set of relationships. And so, the key is really just understanding how are those relationships utilized in a way that benefits the United States and, you know, kind of let the results and the deliverables be, the proof of, you know, how those relationships are being leveraged," she said.

Payton also noted that the Trump administration's transparency will be key to the success of AI, infrastructure and energy projects in the U.S.

This week, Trump live-streamed the signing of executive orders, calling out loud what they are as he held them up and letting reporters ask questions. She suggested that level of transparency on large administration projects would be "incredible."

CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE

However, her greatest fear is that short-term deliverables regarding massive spending and big strategic projects will not be announced or met.

"I saw this when I worked in financial services, and you can see it in government projects is what are the deliverables in 30, 60, 90 days. So that, to me, hopefully, they're going to start releasing an approach that shows you sort of 90-day sprints over the next year, over the next two years for the Stargate project, so that we actually see kind of how the money is being spent, the successes and keep people sort of behind the success, rooting, cheering for it, but also that level of transparency that's going to be needed," she added.

Payton also stressed that the computers from large datacenters must be properly appropriated and designated for important causes and not frivolously overspent on low-level AI tasks. 

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Massachusetts must pay the federal government $2.1 billion over the next 10 years to resolve a debt after the state under former GOP Gov. Charlie Baker's administration mistakenly used federal pandemic funds to cover unemployment benefits.

Current Gov. Maura Healey, a Democrat, and her deputies released details on Monday of a settlement they reached with the outgoing Biden administration last week in which the state will repay most of the money it owed because of the error, the State House News Service reported.

In 2023, Healey announced that her administration uncovered that the prior administration improperly used about $2.5 billion in federal pandemic relief funds to cover unemployment benefits that should have been funded by the state.

The total liability exceeded $3 billion, including fees and interest, according to Healey’s office. Negotiations with the U.S. Department of Labor dropped the total owed to $2.1 billion over the next decade.

DEM MASSACHUSETTS NOW WANTS TO LIMIT ILLEGALS IN CRIME-RIDDEN MIGRANT SHELTERS

"We were dismayed to uncover early on in our term that the previous administration misspent billions of dollars in federal relief funds and that our state was facing what could have been a more than $3 billion tab to pay it back," Healey said in a statement on Monday.

"For the past year and a half, we have engaged in extensive negotiations with the U.S. Department of Labor to minimize the impact on Massachusetts residents, businesses and our economy," she continued. "Today, we have reduced our potential liability by over $1 billion and negotiated a decade-long payment window to mitigate the impact."

The governor added that it is "incredibly frustrating that the prior administration allowed this to happen" but that the current administration is "going to use this as a moment to come together with the business and labor community to make meaningful reforms to the Unemployment Insurance system."

Payments will begin Dec. 1 and continue each year for the next decade.

The agreement states that principal payments must come from the Unemployment Insurance (UI) Trust Fund, which is funded by a tax on employers and is also used to cover benefits, according to the State House News Service. Interest payments will come from the state’s General Fund.

Healey’s office said businesses will not face higher rates on their unemployment insurance payments through at least the end of next year, at which point rates will depend on system reforms.

BLUE STATE GOV CHANGES TUNE AFTER VOWING TO FIGHT TRUMP DEPORTATION EFFORTS, NOW HOPES HE FIXES BORDER

The governor vowed to pursue changes to soften the burden on employers, who already face higher costs to support an uptick of claims during the pandemic, according to the State House News Service.

Healey directed state Labor Secretary Lauren Jones and Administration and Finance Secretary Matthew Gorzkowicz to "conduct a comprehensive review of the solvency of UI and assess potential reforms."

The Healey administration projected the UI Trust Fund would be hundreds of millions of dollars in debt by the end of 2028, even before taking into account the $2.1 billion in additional payments.

President Donald Trump has made no secret that his – second – first 100 days in office will be incredibly fast paced. 

To that end, the country should be prepared for a "shock and awe" period of executive orders, addressing everything from mass deportations of illegal migrants, tariffs, ending sanctuary cities and more. 

Where executive orders fall short, Trump is pushing his allies in Congress to take up parts of his agenda as legislation.  

DNC HIRES FORMER HARRIS STAFFERS BEHIND @KAMALAHQ FOR SOCIAL MEDIA RESPONSE TO TRUMP

Among other things, Trump wants to push through legislation extending the 2017 tax cuts, increasing the debt limit while also slashing federal spending, comprehensive immigration reform and giving tax breaks to energy companies. 

However, what Trump envisions, and the realities of Congress are two different things. 

With Republicans’ ultra-slim majority in the House, and divisions in the Republican caucus and party generally – as the conflict between Steve Bannon and Elon Musk suggests – there is the potential for problems in various areas of Trump’s proposed agenda. 

That being said, presidential powers in certain areas like immigration, national security and even tariffs, are broad enough that much, if not all, of Trump’s agenda will likely be enacted rather quickly.  

All of this leaves Democrats, dispirited after an election that saw Republicans sweep the White House and both chambers of Congress, in a precarious position.

Do they continue blindly opposing Trump, despite the will of the voters who decisively elected him and handed Congress to the GOP?  

Or, recognizing that "resistance at all costs" is an exercise in futility, do Democrats adopt a policy of strategic bipartisan cooperation?  

With pre-election polling from Fox News showing that voters trusted Donald Trump rather than VP Kamala Harris by wide margins on issues like immigration (+15%), as well as the economy and crime (+8% each), doubling down on resistance would be a costly mistake. 

In no uncertain terms, Democrats would be significantly better served – as would the country – if they choose the latter, and emphasize a new, moderate agenda centered on bipartisan compromise on key issues such as the economy, immigration, crime and government excess.  

Positively, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jefferies has indicated that he understands the importance of this cooperation. He recently said, "House Democrats will work to find bipartisan common ground whenever and wherever possible with the incoming administration." 

Indeed, moderate Democrats should take the lead and work with their GOP colleagues to forge compromise where it can easily be found. Securing the border, for example, is a commonsense policy that both parties can work towards together.  

Moreover, by working with Republicans, Democrats would be able to ensure some of their own policies make it into final legislation.  

Returning to the border and immigration, a compromise could surely be struck that minimizes the extent of Trump’s planned mass deportations by limiting them to adults who entered the country illegally and those who have committed crimes while here. 

In exchange, Democrats could push for a pathway to citizenship for children who were brought here. 

Further, bipartisan efforts can be made to increase the number of H1B visas for the highest skilled migrants so that America preserves its technological advantage over China.  

Over the objections of many on the far-right, Trump recently came out in support of the H1B program. Democrats should take him up on that in exchange for wholly necessary steps to address illegal immigration.  

Similarly, a moderate Democratic agenda must entail the end of support for sanctuary cities and soft-on-crime policies. Too often, progressives have been allowed to dictate Democrats’ position on these related issues, damaging the entire party.   

To be sure, while immigration is one high-profile area for compromise, Democrats would be wise to adopt a moderate agenda across the board.  

On the economy, there are middle-of-the-road policies that can keep taxes low, spur growth, and lower the cost of living – an issue that seriously hurt Democrats in the election. 

A key part of this would be working with Republicans to reform education and job training programs.  

There are potential deals to be made that increase funding for vocational training and school choice programs while also making education more accessible for all Americans. 

In that same vein, with Republicans targeting federal spending, Democrats must finally admit that they cannot simply spend with impunity.  

The national debt, now sitting at more than $36 trillion was a significant concern for voters, and the combination of inflation and high interest rates needed to combat it risk strangling the American economy.  

By working with the Department of Government Efficiency, Democrats can contribute to reining in the debt while protecting core programs such as social security and Medicare.  

Finally, even though foreign policy is largely the purview of the president, the challenge for Democrats here is two-fold.  

They must embrace a more moderate foreign policy that recognizes the need to expand the Abraham Accords and support Israel, while finding a compromise with Trump on other issues. 

Under President Joe Biden, America’s foreign policy was often prodding, weak, and relied on the misguided strategy of "diplomacy at all costs."

CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION 

Democrats should look to support Trump’s more muscular foreign policy, in exchange for Trump’s commitment to NATO and not forcing Ukraine into a deal that overly favors Russian President Vladimir Putin.  

Taken together, Democrats would be wise to heed the lessons of former President Bill Clinton. During my time in that administration, Clinton moved to the right on certain issues – the debt, crime and welfare reform – taking the mantle from Republicans and contributing to a boost in his approval. 

Ultimately, during and after Trump’s first 100 days, Democrats cannot afford a strategy of total resistance, lest they be consigned to minority status for the foreseeable future. 

If Democrats hope to demonstrate that they are a viable alternative, they must develop a new, moderate agenda that shows the American people that they are capable of putting actual governance over petty politics. 

Importantly, this is not to say that Democrats need to surrender on everything, particularly on issues that go against their core principles.  

Rather, it is to underscore that working with Trump and Republicans to find compromise and address issues facing all Americans is to everyone’s benefit. 

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM DOUG SCHOEN

President Trump did not pardon or commute the prison sentence of Ross Ulbricht, the founder of the anonymous marketplace website Silk Road, despite his promise on the campaign trail to free him on "day one."

Ulbricht was convicted because his website, which was founded in 2011 and used cryptocurrency for payments, was used to sell illegal drugs, even though he did not sell any of the illicit substances himself.

After being sworn into office on Monday, Trump issued several executive actions, including efforts to reduce immigration, designating cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, a move to resume federal executions and pardoning or commuting sentences to time served of people convicted in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.

But Trump's first day back in the White House came to an end with Ulbricht still behind bars without a pardon or commutation from the president, who pledged to do so last spring.

TRUMP VOWS TO COMMUTE PRISON SENTENCE OF SILK ROAD FOUNDER ROSS ULBRICHT

In May, Trump delivered a speech at the Libertarian National Convention to a hostile crowd of boos in an attempt to win over Libertarian voters. Libertarians believe government investigators overreached in their case against Silk Road and generally oppose the War on Drugs.

While the attendees were not favorable to Trump for most of the event, they did give a big cheer when he said he would commute Ulbricht's sentence to time served, as the crowd chanted "Free Ross" in the hopes that the then-presidential candidate would take action if elected to allow the Silk Road founder to return home to his family after more than a decade behind bars.

"If you vote for me, on day one I will commute the sentence of Ross Ulbricht, to a sentence of time served. He’s already served 11 years. We’re going to get him home," Trump told the crowd of Libertarians, many of whom were holding signs that read "Free Ross."

Ulbricht reacted to Trump's comments the following day on the social media platform X.

"Last night, Donald Trump pledged to commute my sentence on day 1, if reelected," he wrote. "Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. After 11 years in prison, it is hard to express how I feel at this moment. It is thanks to your undying support that I may get a second chance."

Last month, Ulbricht wrote: "For my last monthly resolution of 2024, I intend to study every day and to get up to speed as much as I can as I prepare for freedom."

Trump later reiterated his promise to commute Ulbricht's life sentence at a bitcoin conference, which he received loud cheers for.

Despite Trump failing to deliver on his promise to free Ulbricht on his first day back in office, the president reportedly may still grant him clemency as early as Tuesday.

"Pres. Trump's staff just confirmed to me Ross's pardon will be issued late tonight or tomorrow morning," Libertarian Party chair Angela McArdle wrote Monday night on X.

Elon Musk, who serves in the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency in the Trump administration, also said Ulbricht would be released soon.

"Ross will be freed," Musk wrote on X.

Many Libertarians have said they supported Trump in November's election, citing, in part, his commitment to free Ulbricht.

TRUMP PARDONS NEARLY ALL 1/6 DEFENDANTS

During his first term, Trump considered intervening to release Ulbricht before ultimately deciding against a pardon.

Ulbricht, now 40, operated the website from 2011 until his arrest in 2013. He was sentenced two years later to life in prison.

"I was trying to help us move toward a freer and more equitable world," Ulbricht said from prison in 2021. "We all know the road to hell is paved with good intentions, and now here I am. I'm in hell."

"Trump is done signing EOs and pardons for the night," 2024 Libertarian presidential candidate Chase Oliver wrote on X. "Hopefully, we will see a #FREEROSSULBRICHT commutation in the morning."

The Wall Street Journal argued that California Gov. Gavin Newsom should waive environmental regulations for all Californians, not just victims of the fires in Los Angeles.

The paper's editorial board said Newsom should use the same logic behind waiving environmental regulations to aid in the rebuilding of Los Angeles to help make life easier for Californians in general. 

"California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sunday waived the state’s environmental laws in areas affected by the fires to expedite rebuilding," the editorial board wrote in an article published Tuesday. 

CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES: ESSENTIAL PHONE NUMBERS FOR LOS ANGELES-AREA RESIDENTS AND HOW YOU CAN HELP THEM

"Wonderful, but that raises a question: Why not ease regulations for all projects if the rules are such a barrier to development?" The Journal asked. 

The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires that a review be conducted to weigh any potential environmental effects before a building permit is approved. Another state law, the California Coastal Act, focuses on development as it relates to "the preservation of sensitive coastal and marine habitat and biodiversity."

Both laws were halted on Sunday for those who tragically lost their homes after Newsom signed an executive order to suspend the environmental review process.

NEWSOM SUSPENDS CA ENVIRONMENTAL LAW TO ELIMINATE ‘ROADBLOCKS’ FOR WILDFIRE VICTIMS REBUILDING HOMES

CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE

"California's environmental laws also delay and inflate costs of needed public works, when they don't kill them," The Journal wrote. 

"If Mr. Newsom agrees that the state's environmental laws are a problem, why doesn't he at least try to reform them?" the editorial board asked. 

"The reason is Democrats in Sacramento are beholden to the green lobby, which opposes most development and uses the laws to extort businesses," The Journal wrote. "It's nice of Mr. Newsom to ease permitting so L.A.'s affluent can rebuild. Perhaps he's worried they might leave if it takes too long or costs too much to rebuild. Moonscape neighborhoods wouldn't look good if he runs for President in 2028, or when the Olympics comes to town the same year."

Houses along the scenic Pacific Coast Highway in California burned down in a monstrous fire that destroyed more than 10,000 homes and structures beginning on Jan. 7. 

California's onerous environmental regulations have become a target of criticism amid the crisis, with some even suggesting they served as a contributing factor to the spread of the wildfires. 

Fox News' Aubrie Spady contributed to this report.

President Biden released a farewell letter Wednesday saying that "It has been the privilege of my life to serve this nation for over 50 years." 

"Today, we have the strongest economy in the world and have created a record 16.6 million new jobs. Wages are up. Inflation continues to come down," he added ahead of a speech tonight from the Oval Office. 

Biden began his letter by writing that four years ago when he took office, "We were in the grip of the worst pandemic in a century, the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, and the worst attack on our democracy since the Civil War.  

"But we came together as Americans, and we braved through it. We emerged stronger, more prosperous, and more secure," he said. 

BIDEN SAYS HE'S BEEN CARRYING OUT ‘MOST AGGRESSIVE CLIMATE AGENDA’ IN HISTORY AS HE DESIGNATES CALIFORNIA MONUMENTS

While touting economic growth, Biden said "We’re rebuilding our entire nation -- urban, suburban, rural, and Tribal communities.  

"Manufacturing is coming back to America. We’re leading the world again in science and innovation, including the semiconductor industry. And we finally beat Big Pharma to lower the cost of prescription drugs for seniors," he continued. "More people have health insurance today in America than ever before." 

Biden said he "ran for president because I believed that the soul of America was at stake. 

"The very nature of who we are was at stake. And, that’s still the case. America is an idea stronger than any army and larger than any ocean," he declared. 

WHITE HOUSE REMOVE'S CUBA'S STATE SPONSOR OF TERRORISM DESIGNATION, REVERSING TRUMP ADMINISTRATION MOVE

Biden is now set to leave office next week with President-elect Donald Trump returning to the White House for a second term. 

"It has been the privilege of my life to serve this nation for over 50 years. Nowhere else on Earth could a kid with a stutter from modest beginnings in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and Claymont, Delaware, one day sit behind the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office as President of the United States," Biden wrote. "I have given my heart and my soul to our nation. And I have been blessed a million times in return with the love and support of the American people. 

At one point in the letter, Biden wrote that "Vice President Harris and I asked our staff to prepare a detailed summary of the progress we’ve made together throughout the last four years."

The White House released an accompanying fact sheet titled "The Biden-Harris Administration Record," which is nearly 26,000 words in length.

It mentioned accomplishments including "Ending the COVID-19 Pandemic," "Catalyzing a Small Business Boom," protecting Americans "from Terrorism and Wrongful Detention" and "Advancing the Most Ambitious Environmental Justice Agenda in History."

Biden concluded his letter by saying that history, power and "the idea of America" is in the hands of its citizens. 

"We just have to keep the faith and remember who we are. We are the United States of America, and there is simply nothing beyond our capacity when we do it together," he said. 

A Washington state Democrat is floating a policy to help protect unemployed illegal immigrants who are unable to receive unemployment benefits.

The news comes as President-elect Trump and his border czar-designate Thomas Homan signal a crackdown on illegal immigration and talk of "mass deportation" plans in a reversal of the Biden-era status quo.

State Sen. Rebecca Saldaña is introducing a bill that would ensure Washington residents legally ineligible to work in the U.S. – a group for which illegal immigrants compose the vast majority – have access to assistance.

Saldaña, of Seattle, declined to comment further on her bill to Fox News Digital, but a representative for the lawmaker noted she had previously highlighted "undocumented workers' … substantial contributions to Washington’s economy."

BIDEN'S BORDER CRISIS WREAKING HAVOC ON K-12 SCHOOLS SAYS TOP GOP LAWMAKER

That group collectively paid almost $400 million in unemployment taxes over the past 10 years, and the bill will aim to ensure those who pay into the system are able to rely on it when they need to, her office said.

The representative said Saldaña has reintroduced similar legislation during both Democrat and Republican administrations in the past because the "inequities in our immigration system" are systemic and longstanding.

Saldaña has previously argued that providing unemployment benefits to undocumented workers who qualify will help stabilize the workforce and prevent future cases of poverty and homelessness due to job loss.

It will therefore have lasting positive effects on the Evergreen State’s economy, her office said.

Senate Minority Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, said he had not seen the text of the bill as of Monday afternoon but was aware of the proposal itself.

CALIFORNIA BILL AIMED AT MAKING IT EASIER FOR MIGRANTS TO BUY HOMES MAKES MAJOR ADVANCEMENT

"We have a lot of work to do on immigration, both on undocumented immigrants and on legal immigration in our state. That's largely a federal issue," Braun said.

"I look for the folks in D.C. to handle [the immigration issue] and for us [in state government] to stay clear."

Under federal law, illegal immigrants are not eligible to apply for work permits and, therefore, unable to register or file for unemployment compensation. Neither are individuals with expired work authorizations and dependents of people living in the U.S. under several visa classifications.

The excluded visa classes include O – "extraordinary ability"; R – Religious worker; and F – student visas.

According to a 1985 memo from the Department of Labor, "an alien must be legally authorized to work in the United States to be considered ‘available for work’ – Therefore, an alien without current, valid authorization to work from the INS is not legally ‘available for work’ and not eligible for benefits."

The memo referred to the INS, or Immigration and Naturalization Service, a predecessor entity to today’s Department of Homeland Security.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Elsewhere in the U.S., the Colorado Office of New Americans allows undocumented workers to access a "Benefit Recovery Fund" to help those who have been "separated from employment through no fault of their own" and meet several other specifications.

In California, however, Democrat lawmakers sought to offer assistance similar to that Saldaña is seeking but were blocked by fellow liberal Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Newsom vetoed that legislation in September and also blocked a proposal that would have allowed illegal immigrants better access to home loans and mortgages.

FIRST ON FOX: A powerful, fiscally conservative political advocacy group is launching what it says is an eight-figure campaign to urge Congress "to protect prosperity" by renewing the sweeping tax cuts signed into law by President-elect Trump during his first administration.

Americans for Prosperity (AFP), the influential and deep-pocketed grassroots network founded by the billionaire Koch Brothers, is announcing that it's spending $20 million to launch a wide-ranging campaign to urge the extension of Trump's signature Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA).

The campaign, which includes an ad blitz starting this week in all 50 states, was shared first with Fox News on Monday.

"Americans must unite and tell Washington now is not the time for higher taxes. By extending and improving the Trump tax cuts, we can make America more affordable, create greater opportunity, and reignite the American dream," the narrator in one of the AFP ads argues.

TRUMP DETAILS STRATEGY TO RENEW HIS TAX CUTS

The 2017 law revised the nation's tax code and gave a financial break to nearly all taxpayers. Many of the provisions are scheduled to expire at the end of this year, which would likely result in a tax increase for many Americans if Congress is unable to pass legislation to extend the cuts.

AFP says Congress is "facing a countdown to crisis that threatens the family budgets of virtually every American."

The group also said that millions of Americans will pay an extra $1,500 or more next year in taxes if the cuts are not extended. 

AFP President and CEO Emily Seidel, highlighting that her group worked alongside Trump to pass the tax cuts last decade, called them the most pro-growth tax reform in American history.

TRUMP, GOP SENATORS TO HUDDLE AT CAPITOL, WEIGH STRATEGY ON BUDGET, TAXES AND BORDER

"Renewing the TCJA must be a top priority so we can ensure this historic achievement continues to fuel decades of economic prosperity – and AFP is fully committed to mobilizing millions of people to ensure it gets done," Seidel told Fox News in a statement.

AFP Vice President of Government Affairs Akash Chougule argued that the expiration of the tax cuts would "result in crippling tax increases for millions of families," but "by extending and improving on the TCJA, we can make America more affordable, create greater opportunity, and reignite the American dream."   

The group, and its aligned political wing, has a wide-ranging grassroots network across the country that it touts has reached nearly 30 million voters the past two years.

AFP says it will once again activate its grassroots army "to ensure pro-growth tax reform is Congress’ top priority" through "calls to lawmakers, community phone banks, and 20,000 contacts at constituent doors planned in February alone."

The group says its campaign will also include more than 1,000 meetings at congressional offices, in-district events with their activists, roundtables with job creators and "shared testimonials from real American families and businesses who would suffer if Congress fails to renew the Trump tax cuts."

Also being utilized: op-eds at the national and state levels, TV and radio interviews, direct mail efforts and AFP's highly visible podcast.           

During his campaign last year to win back his old job in the White House, Trump repeatedly pledged to extend his tax cuts. 

No Democrats voted for the original tax cuts, which passed when Republicans controlled both houses of Congress, as they do once again. 

While GOP House and Senate leaders are prioritizing extending the tax cuts, the massive price tag for extending them, which would likely even further balloon the nation's $2 trillion deficit, is sparking divisions among congressional Republicans.

While AFP had its differences with Trump during his first administration, it was a major supporter of his tax cuts as well as his bipartisan criminal justice reform law.

But the group's political wing, which has long backed fiscally conservative causes and candidates, endorsed and supported Trump rival Nikki Haley in late 2023 as the 2024 GOP presidential nomination race got started. Haley was the last remaining rival to Trump, but after she ended her White House bid, AFP Action, the group's political, wing concentrated its political efforts on down-ballot races.

Leaders in the tech industry are urging the Biden administration not to add a new regulation that will limit artificial intelligence exports, citing concerns it is overbroad and could diminish the United States' global dominance in AI.  

The new rule, which industry leaders say could come as early as the end of this week, effectively seeks to shore up the U.S. economy and national security efforts by adding new restrictions on how many U.S.-made artifical intelligence products can be deployed across the globe. 

"A rule of this nature would cede the global market to U.S. competitors who will be eager to fill the untapped demand created by placing arbitrary constraints on U.S. companies' ability to sell basic computing systems overseas," stated a Monday letter from Jason Oxman, the president and CEO of the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI), sent to Commerce Department Secretary Gina Raimondo. "Should the U.S. lose its advantage in the global AI ecosystem, it will be difficult, if not impossible, to regain in the future."

FBI'S NEW WARNING ABOUT AI-DRIVEN SCAMS THAT ARE AFTER YOUR CASH

The process to place new export controls on artificial intelligence goes back to October 2022, when the Biden administration's Commerce Department first released an updated export framework aimed at slowing the progress of Chinese military programs. Details of the new incoming export controls surfaced after the Biden administration called on American tech company NVIDIA to stop selling certain computer chips to China the following month.

In an update to the rule the following year, the Biden administration announced the initiation of a public notice and comment period. Finally, last month, as the president's term in the White House winds down, the administration published two new updates to the rule that added more limits to the proposed export controls. The rule is now in its final stages before it will be formally published in the Federal Register.

"The Bureau of Industry and Security’s ('BIS') proposed Interim Final Rule ('IFR') is a highly complex and wildly overbroad attempt to regulate Artificial Intelligence and GPUs in the name of national security," Ken Glueck, the executive vice president at Oracle, wrote in a blog post Sunday that was published to his company's website. 

"For over half a century, bipartisan consensus has held that the best way to achieve U.S. technological leadership is to regulate technology with a light touch. As a result, American companies have continued to lead each successive generation of technology, from the personal computer to the Internet, to mobile, to the cloud, and now Artificial Intelligence."

In addition to fears that the new regulations will stifle economic growth in the domestic AI sector, some critics have also argued that blocking American AI manufacturers from selling their computer chips around the globe could actually benefit China. 

WHITE HOUSE UNVEILS AI EXECUTIVE ORDER, REQUIRING COMPANIES TO SHARE NATIONAL SECURITY RISKS WITH FEDS

"The Biden administration is trying to force other countries to pick a side – the United States or China – and it is likely going to discover that if it issues this ultimatum, many will pick China," Stephen Ezell, vice president of global innovation policy at the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, said in a Tuesday statement published on the foundation's website. 

"Moreover, the United States should be countering efforts by China and Russia, which recently launched an AI Alliance Network among BRICS countries, to offer its own allies and partners access to AI data, models, and computer resources," he added.

Ezell and others also highlighted the rushed nature of the new proposed rule on export controls, arguing that hurrying to get it finalized has been at the cost of adequate industry input on the new regulations. 

"We respectfully caution against making such a swift and significant shift in policy during this transitional period, and without meaningful consultation with industry," the Semiconductor Industry Association said in a Monday statement. The group encouraged the Biden administration to "hand over the policymaking process" to the incoming Trump administration because it will "ensure there is appropriate opportunity for government and industry leaders, together with our global partners, to thoughtfully address this critical matter."

EXPERTS PRAISE LONG-AWAITED AI REPORT FROM CONGRESS: ‘A THOUGHTFUL AND FORWARD THINKING FRAMEWORK’

It is uncertain exactly how the incoming administration might approach this issue. Trump has signaled he is not afraid to initiate new trade deals and could potentially use the export controls as leverage.

However, the president-elect said following his November election victory that a focus of his second term will be to "win the A.I. arms race with China (and others)."

"With U.S. Energy Dominance, we will drive down inflation, win the A.I. arms race with China (and others), and expand American Diplomatic Power to end Wars all across the World," Trump wrote in an email announcing former North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum as the new head of the Interior Department.  

Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment but did not receive a response by publication time.

Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., sparked online backlash with a post in which he questioned President-elect Trump’s ability to bring down grocery prices. Social media users were quick to point out that food prices spiked under President Biden's leadership.

"I don’t care if Donald Trump wants to buy Greenland. I just want to know what he’s going to do to lower the cost of groceries," Rep. Swalwell wrote on X.

MAGAFEST DESTINY? TRUMP FLEXES HIS MUSCLES WITH REPEATED TALK OF AMERICAN EXPANSIONISM

But social media users noted that the congressman’s party had control of the House, Senate and White House while Americans struggled to afford food. While they later lost control of the House after the 2022 midterm elections, the Democrats held on to the Senate.

3 WAYS TRUMP CAN DELIVER AN ECONOMIC 'GOLDEN AGE' FOR AMERICA

Swalwell later appeared to double down on his assertion that Trump will not lower grocery prices.

"Guys, it’s so obvious. Trump has no idea how to lower your cost of groceries. So he’s going to distract you by sending your kids to die fighting Canada," Swalwell tweeted.

However, this only brought more fury the congressman’s way, with social media users questioning why the congressman is not more worried about the fires raging in his state that has so far left two dead and forced thousands to flee their homes.

AMERICANS FORCED TO LEAVE EVERYTHING BEHIND TO ESCAPE DEADLY WILDFIRES NOW FACING NEW THREAT

On Tuesday, President Biden released a statement on the deadly wildfires and announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency had approved a grant to help fight the inferno.

"I am being frequently briefed on the wildfires in west Los Angeles. My team and I are in touch with state and local officials, and I have offered any federal assistance that is needed to help suppress the terrible Pacific Palisades fire," Biden said in a statement.

The Trump team has not responded to a request for comment.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., on Sunday conceded that Democrats should regard the 2024 election as a loss and reflect on what went wrong for the party after losing both the White House and Senate and failing to flip the House of Representatives.

Schumer appeared on NBC’s "Meet the Press," where he was asked about Democratic strategist James Carville’s assertion that the reason Democrats lost was because of "the economy, stupid."

"I told my caucus, and I’ll say it here, too… certainly it was a loss, but it’s also a challenge," Schumer said of the election.

Schumer said Democrats faced "severe headwinds" to win four of seven contested Democratic Senate seats, though conceded that "we did some things wrong and we have to look in the mirror and see what we did wrong."

JAMES CARVILLE CONCEDES HE WAS WRONG ABOUT KAMALA HARRIS' CHANCES: ‘IT WILL ALWAYS BE THE ECONOMY, STUPID’

President-elect Trump defeated Vice President Harris to win the White House, while Republicans flipped the Senate and retained a razor-thin majority in the House.

Shumer said "there are some things we didn’t do that we should have done," such as focusing on working families in America.

KAMALA HARRIS' BUNGLED ANSWER ON ‘THE VIEW’ ABOUT BIDEN SEEN AS TURNING POINT FOR CAMPAIGN

Schumer said Democrats talked about the mechanics and details of the legislation, though "didn’t show the kind of empathy or concern, or enough of it, to average working families."

This failing made working families not "realize how much we have done and how much we care for them," the minority leader said.

"What we’re going to do is spend time talking to working families, showing them how much we care for them," Schumer said. "And not just talk about legislation, but talk about the conditions that have made so many working families worried about their futures."

2025 is here, and after diet and exercise, money and paying off debt are always at the top of the list for Americans' New Year’s resolutions. How can you make a game plan that’s actionable and tactical on January 1? Here are five great ideas to get the new year off to a bang! 

Did you know the average person visits the grocery store more than 10 times a month? According to Oxygen Financial, that adds up to a significant chunk of your time. And with each trip taking an average of 43 minutes (source: Time Institute), the hours really add up. And remember this, the grocery stores have the same goal as the casinos in Las Vegas, which is to separate you from your wallet.  

In fact, right near me in Atlanta, Ga., a Publix recently opened with a full bar where you can drink beer and wine. Now, why would you need to do that? The reason is that grocery stores know it's paramount to get you to spend more time in the store and, consequently, you’ll spend more money. 

RARE GOLD COIN WORTH THOUSANDS DROPPED INTO SALVATION ARMY BUCKET BY ANONYMOUS HOLIDAY DONOR

Here’s how you can cut down on those trips: 

Investing isn’t just for the ultra-wealthy anymore. With as little as $100, you can diversify your portfolio with assets once reserved only for the rich: 

These options offer creative ways to grow your wealth without requiring a massive upfront investment. 

Debt is a huge financial burden for many Americans, with credit card debt alone nearing $1.2 trillion and the average balance sitting at $6,327. Tackling your debt now will set you up for long-term financial freedom. 

Here are two pro tips going into 2025: 

Recurring subscriptions can quietly drain your finances. Many people forget about services they no longer use, and costs for some subscriptions like YouTube TV have doubled over the past seven years (now priced at $82.99 per month). 

Here’s how to regain control: 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION

Do you have a stash of airline miles, hotel rewards, or credit card points? These points represent real money — but their value decreases over time due to inflation and rising redemption costs. 

Consider this: In the past five years, your points have likely lost 20% of their value. Waiting too long to use them could mean missing out on rewards you’ve earned. 

Here’s how to make the most of your points: 

Whether it’s cutting down on unnecessary shopping trips or finding innovative ways to invest, these simple changes can make a big impact on your finances. Start small by reviewing your grocery habits or subscriptions, then work your way up to investing and tackling debt. Every step you take will bring you closer to becoming a millionaire. 

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE BY TED JENKIN

Former Maryland governor and DNC chair nominee Martin O’Malley didn’t mince words about the state of the Democratic Party following President-elect Donald Trump’s election victory last year.

The politician appeared on CNN Friday morning and admitted that his party was "badly battered" after Trump’s win and expressed his belief Democrats were defeated because they lost touch with the working class in America.

"What we failed to do was to connect to the biggest concerns that the hardest-working people in America had, and that was the fact that inflation, they felt, was going up faster than their paychecks," he told network host Kasie Hunt.

BERNIE SANDERS EXCORIATES DEMOCRATIC PARTY, CALLS CAMPAIGN 'DISASTROUS' AFTER TRUMP VICTORY

O’Malley pitched himself as the next DNC chair and someone who could bring change to the battered state of the party.

"The stunning losses that we‘ve had, the fact that our brand is so badly battered that the hardest working people in America lost sight of us – thought we were more for elites than we were for them – this requires a time of change, and I believe that I have the ability to be that change agent," he said.

He continued, noting that his experience as governor and the chair of a national committee in the past makes him the best candidate for the position. 

"I am a turnaround – operational turnaround leader, probably the best in our party, which is why the president dispatched me to Social Security. Secondly, I‘ve actually chaired a national committee… And third and finally, I‘ve actually run for office. I have been elected," he said.

NANCY PELOSI FIRES BACK AT BERNIE SANDERS FOR COMMENTS ON DEMS' SWEEPING ELECTION LOSS: NO 'RESPECT'

Hunt asked O’Malley if he agreed with Democratic strategist James Carville’s recent assessment that the party didn’t focus enough on economic problems.

In a New York Times guest essay on Thursday, Carville wrote, "We lost for one very simple reason: It was, it is and it always will be the economy, stupid. We have to begin 2025 with that truth as our political north star and not get distracted by anything else."

O’Malley told Hunt he "totally" agrees with the former Clinton adviser’s point and mentioned that Carville gave him advice on running for chair.

The candidate added that the change required to become that party is to "return to our true selves because our party‘s very purpose for being is the economic security of every single American."

CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE

In an interview with The Hill published this week, an anonymous progressive strategist called out the party for abandoning the working class as well, particularly singling out former President Obama for making the party cater to elites. 

"I don’t know exactly when Democrats lost their comfort with populism, but I don’t think it was because Trump picked it up," the strategist told the outlet, adding, "I think Trump picked it up because Democrats gave it up during the Obama years, when they started chasing Silicon Valley money, and Obama wanted to appeal to college-educated people who think populism is icky and uneducated."

President-elect Donald Trump suggested on Wednesday that the U.S. could take control of Canada, Greenland and the Panama Canal—an unexpected Christmas Day message that has sparked concerns among world leaders in recent days as they scramble to prepare for Trump's second White House term.

In a Wednesday post on the platform Truth Social, Trump wished a "Merry Christmas to all," including to the "wonderful soldiers of China, who are lovingly, but illegally, operating the Panama Canal," before moving on to take aim at Canada and Greenland as well, which he suggested again could be better off under U.S. governance.

Trump reiterated his claim that U.S. shippers are being forced to pay "ridiculous" and "exorbitant" prices to navigate the Panama Canal—an artificial, 51-mile waterway that connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. He has suggested, without evidence, that Chinese interests are gaining outsize influence over the waterway, something Panamanian leaders have steadfastly denied.

TRUMP FLOATS IDEA OF US RECLAIMING PANAMA CANAL: 'FOOLISHLY GAVE IT AWAY'

In his Truth Social post Wednesday, Trump also mockingly referred to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as "governor" reiterating his recent suggestion that Canada should be turned into a U.S. state. 

"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," Trump said.

Finally, the president-elect turned his attention to Greenland; an autonomous, geographically important Arctic location rife with natural resources, including rare earth minerals.

The U.S., Trump said on Wednesday, "feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity" for reasons of national security and "global freedom.'

Bigger picture

Trump’s lengthy Truth Social post did little to assuage the concerns of some world leaders, who have carefully watched Trump's actions and his statements in recent weeks for clues as to how he might govern in a second term.

The remarks also appear to be at odds with the "America First" policies long espoused by Trump, which seek to prioritize domestic policy rather than expansion or U.S. presence abroad.

Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont., echoed Trump's concerns in an interview Thursday, describing China's influence in the Panama Canal, and the higher prices incurred by shippers, as a "shot across the bow." 

"Remember, we have China and Cuba," Zinke said on "Mornings with Maria." "We have Maduro in Venezuela. We have had Russian ships there. And the Panama Canal is critical to our national security. And at present, it is being run by the Chinese Communist Party. So it's a concern—absolutely." 

'AMERICA FIRST' VS. 'AMERICA LAST': WHAT DOES TRUMP'S RETURN MEAN FOR US FOREIGN POLICY?

To be sure, it is not the first time Trump has indicated interest in Greenland, a mineral-rich, geographically important territory.

In 2019, then-President Trump told reporters he was "interested" in purchasing Greenland, which he described at the time as "essentially" a "large real estate deal." The 2019 effort never gained traction, however; and this week, Greenland Prime Minister Mute Egede immediately poured cold water on the idea that their territory could be sold to the U.S.

"Greenland is ours,"  Greenland Prime Minister Mute Egede said this week, in response to Trump's suggestion. 

"We are not for sale and will never be for sale," he said. "We must not lose our long struggle for freedom."

Meanwhile, Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino also disputed the notion that U.S. vessels have been singled out or paid higher fees to traverse the Panama Canal—as well as the notion that the U.S., which phased out its ownership beginning in the 1970s, has any right to reassert control over the shipping waypoint. 

In a video posted to social media earlier this week, Mulino reassured his country's people that the "sovereignty and independence of our country is non-negotiable."

The Panama Canal is one of the largest and most strategically important commodity shipping waterways in the world. It handles roughly 5% of all global maritime trade and roughly 40% of U.S. container ship traffic. 

Recent higher prices are primarily the result of drought and more competition, which sent water levels plummeting last year to their lowest point on record. Though water levels have since rebounded, operators of the canal were forced to temporarily limit vessel traffic and increase costs for ships using the waypoint.

Other factors have also played a role in higher maritime shipping prices.

A series of attacks on vessels in the Red Sea late last year prompted many major commodities shippers, including BP and Equinor, to pause or reroute their shipments away from the Suez Canal. Some opted to reroute supplies via the Cape of Good Hope, adding weeks of additional time to their trips.

The Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, incorrectly claimed on social media last week that the Panama Canal cost U.S. taxpayers $15.7 billion. In fact, the higher costs are shouldered by the ships that pass through the waterway, in the form of tolls.  The U.S. government does not subsidize the canal.

'AMERICA FIRST' VS. 'AMERICA LAST': WHAT DOES TRUMP'S RETURN MEAN FOR US FOREIGN POLICY?

Panamanian authorities have stressed that the prices are not the result of "unfair" treatment, or capitulation to China or any other nation-state influence.

"The canal has no direct or indirect control from China, nor the European Union, nor the United States or any other power," Mulino said in his remarks. "As a Panamanian, I reject any manifestation that misrepresents this reality."

Still, Trump does not appear to be backing down on expansion claims.

"The Panama Canal is considered a VITAL National Asset for the United States, due to its critical role to America’s Economy and National Security," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post Sunday. "A secure Panama Canal is crucial for U.S. Commerce, and rapid deployment of the Navy, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and drastically cuts shipping times to U.S. ports."

"We’re not going to stand for it," he said. "So, to the officials of Panama, please be guided accordingly."

Joe Biden ends his presidency with voters by a 30-point margin saying they have been hurt rather than helped by his economic policies.

In addition, a new Fox News national survey finds that most voters not only have negative views of the economy (77% negative) and their personal financial situation (62% negative) — they also feel things are getting worse (64%). Three-quarters say inflation has caused them financial hardship over the last six months, including about one-third who call it a "serious" hardship, and those numbers have held steady for more than two years.  

Views on the economy are in negative territory by 54 points (23% positive, 77% negative). That is worse than at the beginning of Biden’s term by 14 points, and that increase in pessimism comes a touch more from Democrats (16 points) than Republicans (13) and independents (11).

While few Democrats say Biden’s economic policies have hurt them (17%), only one-third say they helped (33%), with half saying his policies didn’t make a difference either way (50%).  

Overall, nearly three times as many say the president’s economic policies have hurt (47%) rather than helped them (17%), while one-third say no difference (35%).

FOX NEWS VOTER ANALYSIS: HOW TRUMP REGAINED THE WHITE HOUSE

Big picture, 68% are unhappy with the direction of the country (up 3 points since August). That small increase comes mainly from a 20-point jump in dissatisfaction among Democrats, which is mostly offset by fewer Republicans being dissatisfied by 15-points — presumably both shifts can be attributed to Trump’s re-election.  

On the whole, only 1 in 4 think history will consider Biden an above-average president. One in 3 says he will be remembered as one of the country’s worst presidents, which is a touch better than the 4 in 10 who said the same about Trump at the end of his first term. Yet, in 2020, three times as many said Trump (22%) would be remembered as "one of the country’s greatest presidents" as feel that way about Biden today (7%).

Looking ahead, 39% think the economy will get better in 2025. That’s up from 22% who felt that way a year ago. 

There is a significant partisan gap in views on the economy’s future, as Republicans (63%) are more than three times as likely as Democrats (17%) to say it will be better next year. 

"The election post-mortems have emphasized the role of the economy in shaping the outcome, and it’s obvious that bad economic vibes hurt the incumbent party," says Republican pollster Daron Shaw, who helps run the Fox News Poll along with Democrat Chris Anderson. "What we’re seeing is a predictable shift toward optimism among Republicans and independents. We’ll see if Trump can sustain and perhaps even expand on that momentum with policies that lower prices and decrease taxes." 

Biden leaves office with a 41% job approval rating, just one point above his record low. Fifty-eight percent disapprove, including about 1 in 5 Democrats and most independents (76%). Disapproval is at all-time highs among voters under age 45, Hispanics and urban voters.  

Biden’s 41% approval is lower than Trump’s 47% approval at the end of his first term, former President Barack Obama’s 57% when he left office and former President Bill Clinton’s 62% approval in 2000, but higher than former President George W. Bush’s 34% approval at the end of his presidency.  

Overall, the president received his record high of 56% approval in June 2021 — one of only five times more voters than not rated him positively. His approval rating hit a record low of 40% in July 2022, November 2023 and October 2024.

FOX NEWS POLL: VOTERS FEEL HOPEFUL POST-ELECTION, WANT TRUMP TO FOCUS ON INFLATION

Biden ends his term with lopsided negative ratings on some key issues, as only about one-third approve of the job he’s doing on border security (31% approve-67% disapprove) and inflation (34%-64%). His marks on foreign policy are a bit better (37%-60%), but that is a record low, and he is still underwater by 23 points.  

After repeatedly promising not to, Biden granted a presidential pardon to his son, Hunter, on Dec. 1 for multiple felony convictions. Sixty-three percent of voters disapprove of the pardon — about double the share who approve (32%). Six in 10 Democrats approve, while 7 in 10 independents and 9 in 10 Republicans disapprove.

Overall, views are the same when voters are asked about Trump’s commitment to pardon people convicted for the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol: 62% disapprove, 34% approve. The partisan dynamic here flips, as 9 in 10 Democrats and 7 in 10 Independents disapprove, while 6 in 10 Republicans approve.  

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Conducted Dec. 6-9 under the direction of Beacon Research (D) and Shaw & Company Research (R), this Fox News survey includes interviews with a sample of 1,015 registered voters randomly selected from a national voter file. Respondents spoke with live interviewers on landlines (125) and cellphones (699) or completed the survey online after receiving a text (191). Results based on the full sample have a margin of sampling error of ±3 percentage points. Sampling error associated with results among subgroup is higher. In addition to sampling error, question wording and order can influence results. Weights are generally applied to age, race, education and area variables to ensure the demographics of respondents are representative of the registered voter population. Sources for developing weight targets include the American Community Survey, Fox News Voter Analysis and voter file data. 

CLICK HERE FOR TOPLINES AND CROSSTABS

Fox News’ Victoria Balara contributed to this report.

FIRST ON FOX: A new report looked at company statements, annual reports and other publicly available documents from every Fortune 500 company and found that virtually all of them have maintained their commitments to "diversity, equity and inclusion" (DEI) despite a trend of private companies relinquishing these commitments amid growing criticism.

Walmart, last week, became the latest major company to roll back its DEI commitments. The private sector's move away from such commitments, which include race-based hiring practices or other preferential treatment provided based on someone's immutable characteristics, has been strong enough that it spurred a cohort of 49 Democratic lawmakers in the House of Representatives to pen a letter several weeks ago to the country's Fortune 1000 companies, urging them not to give in to pressure to dismantle their DEI commitments. The lawmakers argued that such commitments help provide for a fairer shot at the American Dream for "everyone." 

The effort to ensure that "everyone" is given a fair shot is a main reason why Walmart decided to begin rolling back some of its commitments.

"Our purpose, to help people save money and live better, has been at our core since our founding 62 years ago and continues to guide us today," Joe Pennington, the director of Walmart's global press office, told Fox News Digital. "We’ve been on a journey and know we aren’t perfect, but every decision comes from a place of wanting to foster a sense of belonging, to open doors to opportunities for all our associates, customers and suppliers and to be a Walmart for everyone."     

While pressure on private companies to relinquish their DEI commitments has yielded some change, 485 of the country's 500 largest companies continue to maintain some form of DEI commitment, according to a new report from the right-leaning Heritage Foundation.

‘THIS S--- HAS TO STOP’: FORMER JILL BIDEN SPOX RIPS DEMS FOR ‘VILIFYING’ DEI CRITICS AS ‘WHITE SUPREMACISTS’

Researchers spent weeks combing through various documents and communications belonging to all of these companies, and developed a user-friendly database so that readers can see the commitments for themselves.

Jonthan Butcher, the report's lead author, told Fox News Digital that he thinks public pressure is very influential when it comes to getting private companies to relinquish what he described as discriminatory DEI commitments. Sources familiar with Walmart's decision to roll back their DEI policies indicated that public pressure, in addition to feedback from customers and associates, was an aspect that spurred some of the company's changes.

"I think that when the pressure has been applied one by one … businesses recognize that when they're called out, they don't have any way to defend themselves and say, 'Well, what we're really doing is wholesome.' No one has tried to say that," Butcher said. "Instead, they've simply backed away. And appropriately so."

TRUMP'S CHOICE FOR FCC CHAIRMAN SAYS AGENCY ‘WILL END ITS PROMOTION OF DEI’ NEXT YEAR

Some of the major companies highlighted in Butcher's report include Nike and UnitedHealth Group. 

Nike, for example, was found to have a page on its website about "representation and pay" that asserts, "NIKE is focused on its workforce representation, starting with women globally and racial and ethnic minorities in the United States." Meanwhile, UnitedHealth Group states on its "People & Culture" webpage that the company strives to provide patients with "culturally relevant care" and seeks to "advance a diverse health care workforce." 

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Fox News Digital reached out to both Nike and UnithedHealth Group for comment but did not receive a response.

Butcher ultimately said he believes Americans are waking up to the racially discriminatory elements of DEI practices, noting that the point of his research is to continue leveraging that momentum.