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Gov. Jim Justice announced the appointment Monday of five people to the board of a private foundation that will distribute most of West Virginia’s $1 billion-plus in opioid lawsuit settlements. The governor’s picks for the foundation’s 11-member board of the West Virginia First Foundation are Jefferson County Prosecutor Matt Harvey; former state Homeland Security Secretary Jeff Sandy; Harrison County schools Superintendent Dora Stutler; attorney and philanthropist Alys Smith, who is the wife of Marshall University President Brad Smith; and Raleigh County Commissioner Greg Duckworth. WEST VIRGINIA FLOODWATERS TRIGGER STATE OF EMERGENCY IN SOME AREAS The governor's choices still must be approved by the state Senate. The other six members of the committee were nominated by local governments throughout the state. West Virginia is home to the nation’s highest overdose death rate. The foundation was created as an initiative of the attorney general’s office, the agency litigating the state’s opioid cases. WEST VIRGINIA GOV. JIM JUSTICE APPOINTS WIFE OF HIS CHIEF OF STAFF TO FILL VACANT JUDGE'S POSITION It will distribute just under three quarters of the settlement money won by the state in lawsuits against opioid manufacturers and distributors in West Virginia. Around a quarter will go directly to local communities, and 3% will remain in trust. All funds must be used to abate the opioid crisis through efforts such as evidence-based addiction treatment, recovery and prevention programs, or supporting law enforcement efforts to curtail distribution.

Navarro urged judge to allow him to defend himself at contempt of Congress trial by testifying that Trump told him not to comply with congressional subpoena.

The Biden White House is refusing to say whether it would support a recommendation that Americans stop at only two beers a week, though White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre suggested President Biden might defer to "the experts." Fox News' Peter Doocy asked White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre about the recent reports that President Biden's alcohol czar may recommend Americans to have no more than two beers a week. Doocy asked Jean-Pierre if Biden wants "to limit Americans to two beers a week," which the press secretary did not answer. BIDEN ALCOHOL CZAR SAYS US MAY FOLLOW CANADA, LIMIT BEERS TO TWO A WEEK: ‘WHAT A JOKE’ "Where's this coming from? Maybe I didn't miss you so much," Jean-Pierre said. "Where is this? Where is this coming from?" Doocy rephrased his question to Jean-Pierre, asking her how dropping the recommendation on alcohol consumption "will go over" with the American public. "Let me tell you what I'm not gonna get involved in: that question," Jean-Pierre responded, which Doocy followed up asking if Biden would be "okay" with Americans being recommended to drink only two beers a week. But then she said: "I will leave it to the experts," she said. "I'm just not going to comment on that." Biden, who does not drink himself, encouraged Americans to take part in an Anheuser-Busch promotional giveaway to get COVID-19 vaccination numbers up. Anheuser-Busch offered of-age Americans a free round of beer if they got the shot. "Get a shot and have a beer," Biden said in 2021. Jean-Pierre's comments come after a Thursday Daily Mail interview with National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) Director George Koob, who said that the U.S. may follow Canada's footsteps on alcohol guidelines. Currently, American guidelines recommend men limit themselves to two drinks per day while women should only have one drink. The American recommendations are up for review in 2025. Canada's guidelines recommend only having two drinks per week. Koob, who said he partakes of a couple of glasses of "buttery Californian Chardonnay" a week, said he was watching the Canadian "big experiment" with interest. "If there's health benefits, I think people will start to re-evaluate where we're at," Koob said. Koob said there are "no benefits" to physical health from drinking alcohol and that he was "pretty sure" American alcohol consumption recommendations are "not going to go up." "So, if [alcohol consumption guidelines] go in any direction, it would be toward Canada," Koob said.

EXCLUSIVE: An large, influential bloc of House Republicans is urging Speaker Kevin McCarthy to muscle in key conservative priorities in any short-term spending deal made to avoid a government shutdown.  The 175-member-strong Republican Study Committee (RSC), led by Rep. Kevin Hern, R-Okla., sent an internal memo to lawmakers on Monday calling on them to oppose a "clean" spending patch, known as a continuing resolution (CR), that would extend the last year’s fiscal priorities.  "A ‘clean’ CR would simply serve as a continuation of the [fiscal year] 2023 omnibus ‘monstrosity’ by extending Pelosi’s bloated spending levels and Biden’s failed policies," the memo, obtained exclusively by Fox News Digital, said. "Thus, as part of an effort to expeditiously establish a conservative House position on a CR, members must decide what funding level, attached policy reforms, and length justify passage of temporary funding." RONNY JACKSON WARNS MCCARTHY LOSING SPEAKERSHIP 'INEVITABLE' IF HE DOESN'T CAVE TO CONSERVATIVES ON SPENDING Outspoken members on the right of McCarthy’s House GOP conference have criticized calls for a CR, panning it as an extension of a Democrat-controlled Congress’ priorities packaged in a mammoth "omnibus" spending bill.  But House and Senate leaders on both sides have acknowledged the need for more time to cobble together 12 individual spending bills, as McCarthy promised, and have argued that a several-week CR is needed to extend the funding deadline past Sept. 30 to do so. HOUSE REPUBLICAN SAYS HE OPPOSES ALL TEMPORARY GOVERNMENT FUNDING BILLS AS SHUTDOWN LOOMS In the memo sent to GOP lawmakers on Monday, the RSC argued that not only is the CR an opportunity to pass conservative agenda items, but also that passing any spending deal would put pressure on Democrats to advance it – or risk the economic effects. "When the House returns in September, Congress will have just three weeks before discretionary government funding expires. Leaders in both the House and Senate have suggested a Continuing Resolution (CR) would be needed to avoid a shutdown," the memo said. "While House Republicans should continue to advance individual appropriations bills that turn back the clock on Biden’s failed policies and bloated discretionary budget, they could also move expeditiously to establish a truly conservative House position on a CR. "In doing so, Republicans could seek to: (1) reiterate the House’s support for pre-COVID spending levels by ensuring the CR comports with the overall spending limit contained in the House-passed Limit, Save, Grow Act; (2) ensure the CR lasts to a date that takes holiday shutdown pressure out of the equation; and (3) show unwavering commitment to fighting Biden’s radical agenda by coupling the CR with high priority conservative policies." TOP CONSERVATIVE PREVIEWS NEXT GOVERNMENT SPENDING SHOWDOWN, UNVEILS DEMANDS TO CURB BIDEN 'ABUSE OF POWER' The memo added that "the pressure of a shutdown would shift to Senate Democrats and President Biden." It also called on Republican lawmakers to be wary of Biden’s $40 billion supplemental funding request grouping federal disaster relief aid with Ukraine aid and border security. "Conservatives may also wish to separate unrelated aspects of supplemental funding. For instance, even conservatives who support Ukraine funding may nonetheless wish to separate it from funding for the Disaster Relief Fund (DRF), which would provide aid to Americans impacted by natural disasters such as those in Hawaii, and a CR designed to prevent a shutdown," the RSC said. "Additionally, conservatives may note that Biden’s supplemental request included funding purportedly for addressing the crisis he has created at the border. Conservatives must recognize that sending more money without adequate policy changes would simply aid and abet Biden and Mayorkas’ illegal open border policies." McCarthy reiterated the need for a CR in an interview on Fox Business’ "Mornings With Maria" on Sunday and vowed not to force a vote that would put the matter right up against the holiday season. He also suggested that failing to make a deal by Sept. 30, risking a shutdown, could hamper the House GOP’s investigative efforts into President Biden and his son Hunter. "I don't believe we'll have enough time to pass all the appropriation bills by Sept. 30th. So I would actually like to have a short term CR, only to make our argument stronger," McCarthy said. "If we're able to pass our appropriation bills, we're in a stronger position to remove [former Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s] policies that are locked into law right now – the wokeism, the overspending, the non-security of this border…make us energy independent, make our streets safer, and let our parents have a say in their kids education." The RSC memo comes after a similar push by the hardline-right House Freedom Caucus also opposing a "clean" CR. They're wary of repeating the final debt limit deal's passage, which got more Democratic than Republican votes in both chambers – despite getting a majority of House Republicans as well.

Trump’s White House chief of staff argues he acted in capacity as federal officer and that case should be moved to federal court Mark Meadows, the former White House chief of staff under Donald Trump, has testified for nearly three hours in a hearing to move his Georgia election interference case from state to federal court on Monday. Meadows was charged alongside Trump and 17 other defendants for conspiring to subvert the 2020 election in a Georgia superior court. He faces two felony charges, including racketeering and solicitation of a violation of oath by a public officer. Continue reading...

White House officials suggested Monday that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' education bills may contribute to the type of racial violence seen in Jacksonville this week. White House Director of the Office of Public Engagement Stephen Benjamin made the statement during a press briefing on Monday. Benjamin addressed the recent "racially motivated" shooting in Jacksonville, and a reporter pressed him about whether Florida's reforms on the teaching of African American history contributed to the violence. "Does the White House see any connection with the changes that the Florida governor has made in teaching about African American history to the kind of violence that we saw in Jacksonville?" the reporter asked. Benjamin responded by highlighting President Biden's recent effort to set up a new national monument honoring Emmett Till and his mother, adding that acknowledging America's painful history is "edifying." JACKSONVILLE SHERIFF RELEASES IMAGES OF WEAPON BEARING SWASTIKAS AFTER DOLLAR GENERAL SHOOTING "Establishing these monuments in Mississippi and Illinois is meant to make sure that people understand that we cannot rewrite American history, and that we have to tell the good with the bad," Benjamin said. "So I don't think it's a stretch to suggest that trying to rewrite American history is not only wrong, but also encourages our children and those among us not to lean in to the beautiful and also painful past of what our history looks like." FLORIDA DEPUTIES ARREST MAN WEARING 'SCREAM' MASK DURING 2 ROBBERIES: OFFICIALS DeSantis' office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital. The exchange comes one day after a gunman in Jacksonville, Florida, killed two men and one woman in what authorities called a "racially motivated" shooting on Sunday. The suggested connection is the latest White House criticism of the Florida Department of Education's updated standards for teaching African American studies. The detractors claim the curriculum shies away from the darker parts of American history when it comes to African Americans. MaryLynn Magar, who was appointed to the State Board of Education by DeSantis in March, says there is nothing missing from the standards. "Everything is there," Magar told The Tallahassee Democrat. "The darkest parts of our history are addressed, and I’m very proud of the task force. I can confidently say that the DOE and the task force believe that African American history is American history, and that’s represented in those standards."  ACTIVIST CONFRONTS ST. LOUIS SCHOOL BOARD OVER POOR BLACK STUDENT OUTCOMES: 'REQUIRE YOUR CRIMINAL CONVICTION' DeSantis himself has defended the changes following criticism from Vice President Kamala Harris in late July. The governor went so far as to challenge the vice president to a debate. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP "Our state pushed forward nation-leading standalone African American History standards – one of the only states in the nation to require this level of learning about such an important subject," the governor wrote in a letter to Harris. "One would think the White House would applaud such boldness in teaching the unique and important story of African American History. But you have instead attempted to score cheap political points and label Florida parents 'extremists.' It's past time to set the record straight." Fox News Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.

Samuel "Joe" Wurzelbacher, who became known as "Joe the Plumber" during the 2008 presidential race, died Sunday.

GOP presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday directed $1 million to bolster security at a historically Black college near the site of what authorities deemed a racially motivated shooting that killed three Black people at a Dollar General in Jacksonville over the weekend. The governor also pledged $100,000 to help the families of those shooting victims. "We are not going to allow our HBCUs to be targets for hateful scumbags," DeSantis said in a written statement. "I’ve directed my administration to use every resource available to ensure the Edward Waters campus is safe following this shooting and to help the impacted families as they mourn their loved ones." Over the weekend, DeSantis "vehemently condemned the horrific, racially-motivated murders in Jacksonville near Edward Waters University," the governor's office said in a press release.  The governor announced an initial, immediate award of $1 million through the Volunteer Florida Foundation to bolster campus security at Edward Waters University in addition to an award of $100,000 to help the impacted families of this tragedy.  The announcement comes a day after DeSantis was met with boos at a Jacksonville vigil for the victims Sunday. Jacksonville City Councilwoman Ju'Coby Pittman, a Democrat, interjected to defend DeSantis, urging the crowd to "set parties aside," because "it ain’t about parties today" and a "bullet don’t know a party."  JACKSONVILLE DEMOCRAT COUNCILWOMAN DEFENDS DESANTIS AMID BOOS AT SHOOTING VICTIMS VIGIL: 'PUT PARTIES ASIDE' DeSantis paused campaigning, canceling stops in South Carolina over the weekend to return to deal with dueling crises in his home state.  "Before I get into Idalia, we do have an update on the Jacksonville shooting. I was working with some of the local officials, as well as the president of Edward Waters College, to see what kind of support we can provide. So I'm pleased to be able to announce we're going to be able to do $1 million to Edward Waters College to increase security on campus," DeSantis said at a press conference Monday. "As I've said for the last couple of days, we are not going to allow our HBCUs to be targeted by these people. And so we're going to provide security help with them. We also have FDLE [Florida Department of Law Enforcement] on site today evaluating security on campus and making recommendations for any additional infrastructure improvements. "Also, per the request at yesterday's vigil, we're able to do $100,000 to the charity that is supporting the victims families," DeSantis added. "And those funds are all coming from Volunteer Florida. So we're going to continue to work with those folks in the days and weeks ahead."  At the White House press briefing Monday, Director of Public Engagement Stephen Benjamin, the former mayor of Columbia, South Carolina, responded to a reporter who asked if the Biden administration saw "any connection with the changes that the Florida governor has made in teaching about African-American history to the kind of violence that we saw in Jacksonville."  FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SLAMS WHITE HOUSE FOR ‘PARTISAN AND INACCURATE’ CRITICISMS ABOUT BLACK HISTORY In response, Bejamin said the president's decision to establish the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument in Mississippi and Illinois last month "was meant to make sure people understand that we cannot rewrite American history, that we have to tell the good with the bad, and that is edifying to the soul of this country." "The president, since day one, as you've heard him talk about his personal reaction to Charlottesville, redeeming the soul of America's central to who Joe Biden is as a man and why he chose to run for president as a candidate," Bejamin said. "I don't think it's a stretch to suggest that that trying to rewrite American history is not only wrong, but also encourages our children and those among us not to lean in to the beautiful and also painful past what our history looks like and encouraging people to move forward together."  Starting Sunday, FDLE began visiting the campus, providing additional security including during the vigil, and began monitoring social media for any additional threats. On Monday, FDLE Commissioner Mark Glass is visiting with EWU President Dr. A. Zachary Faison Jr. to begin the assessment of the campus’ security infrastructure. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP DeSantis has directed Volunteer Florida "to release the funds as quickly as possible to help the Edward Waters University community and the impacted families," the governor's office said.  The governor has also remained in contact with the university president, Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan and Sheriff T.K. Waters "to ensure that the community has the resources they need as they process this tragedy," the press release added.

Trump has converted the blizzard of indictments into fundraising gold. His campaign raised $7m on the Fulton county booking last week Donald Trump’s legal headaches have drawn one step closer to colliding with the Republican nomination calendar. On Monday, the US district judge Tanya Chutkan set 4 March 2024 as the first day of jury selection in the Washington DC election interference and civil rights case. Super Tuesday is one day later. Republican nominating contests in California, Texas, and 14 other jurisdictions will be immediately set against the backdrop of the 45th president’s woes. In the weeks that follow, Ohio, Illinois and New York will be hosting primaries of their own. Continue reading...

Ron DeSantis rose to prominence in part on his “anti-woke” agenda, especially when it comes to education. In some settings, culture-war messaging seems to be receding.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has pursued an “anti-woke” agenda in Florida.

Convicted former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder has been transferred to Oklahoma to begin his time in federal prison. The 64-year-old Republican had been held in the Butler County Jail in southwestern Ohio since he was sentenced June 29 to 20 years for his role in the largest corruption scheme in Ohio history. He was recently moved to the federal transfer center in Oklahoma City, according to Bureau of Prisons records. His attorney, Steven Bradley, said Householder was not granted a request to be released during his appeal. FORMER OHIO HOUSE SPEAKER LARRY HOUSEHOLDER CONVICTED IN $60M RACKETEERING CASE Householder and lobbyist Matt Borges, a former chair of the Ohio Republican Party, were convicted in March of conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise involving bribery and money laundering. A jury found Householder masterminded and Borges participated in a $60 million bribery scheme that was secretly funded by Akron-based FirstEnergy Corp. to secure Householder's power, elect his allies — and then to pass and defend legislation that delivered a $1 billion nuclear power plant bailout of two nuclear plants that were owned by a FirstEnergy affiliate. FirstEnergy also has admitted to its role. FORMER GOP OHIO HOUSE SPEAKER LARRY HOUSEHOLDER SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS FOR ROLE IN CORRUPTION SCANDAL Two others and the dark money group pleaded guilty, and a third man charged died by suicide. Borges, 51, was sentenced to five years, which he is serving at the federal prison in Milan, Michigan, near Ann Arbor, bureau records show. The government's investigation remains open.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer will call on state lawmakers this week to pass legislation proactively protecting key provisions in the Affordable Care Act, including no-cost preventive services, as the nation's health law continues to face legal challenges in federal court. Whitmer, who is in her second term and working for the first time with a Legislature under complete Democratic control, will call for a plan to codify the Affordable Care Act during a speech Wednesday where she will outline her legislative priorities for the second half of the year. It comes as one of the Affordable Care Act's most popular provisions that requires insurers to cover preventive services faces a threat in federal court. US GOVERNMENT CAN ENFORCE OBAMACARE REQUIREMENTS FOR HIV, SOME CANCER SCREENINGS AS LEGAL BATTLE PLAYS OUT Writing the Affordable Care Act into state law will ensure Michigan residents "aren’t at risk of losing coverage," due to future threats, Whitmer said in a statement provided to The Associated Press. The plan, according to the governor's office, must include measures that prohibit insurers from denying or limiting coverage based on preexisting conditions and would further protect a range of no-cost preventive services. Whitmer also wants legislation that requires all insurers to cover a set of "essential" services, such as ambulance services, birth control, maternity care and mental health. The nation's health law, often referred to as "Obamacare," has faced numerous legal challenges in its 13-year history, including several that have made it to the U.S. Supreme Court. Earlier this year, a federal judge in Texas struck down an Affordable Care Act provision that requires most insurers to cover preventive services that include screenings for cancer, diabetes and mental health. It's among the most popular features of the law, with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimating 150 million individuals in private health plans have benefited from the no-cost preventive services. While a court agreement put a stay on the judge’s ruling as appeals are pursued, Whitmer directed state departments and the state Legislature in April to take action to ensure residents were not stripped of protections if federal law was changed. JUDGE STRIKES DOWN PREVENTATIVE OBAMACARE MANDATES "These are life saving measures that are protected by the ACA. So as long as Democrats have these majorities, it is important that we can protect these services in perpetuity," said Dr. Rob Davidson, the executive director of the Committee to Protect Health Care. A version of Whitmer’s proposal was passed by the state House in June but was never introduced in the Senate. It included a ban on annual or lifetime benefit limits and would protect a provision that requires insurers to allow young adults to stay on a parent’s plan until they turned 26. A number of states added similar protections several years ago as the ACA faced a federal lawsuit challenging the law’s constitutionality. But self-funded plans established by private employers are exempt from most state insurance laws, stunting the impact of any state measures, according to Krutika Amin, the associate director of the non-profit Kaiser Family Foundation ’s Program on the ACA. "State-based approaches make it so that some people in the state continue getting valuable services, such as zero-cost preventive services, but it won’t apply to the most people with private insurance," Amin said.

For Republicans in 2008, he briefly became a symbol of Middle America when he questioned the presidential candidate Barack Obama in an impromptu televised encounter.

Samuel Wurzelbacher, joining Senator John McCain, right, for a campaign rally in October 2008, was transformed into a populist hero by Republicans. Cindy McCain, the senator’s wife, appeared with them.

President Biden called GOP political opponent Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Monday to say he’d approve a request for a federal disaster declaration ahead of Tropical Storm Idalia’s expected landfall later this week.  The governor’s office confirmed to Fox News Digital that DeSantis spoke with Biden Monday morning, while the White House told outlets the discussion centered on storm prep. Biden "also expressed his commitment to ongoing support for the people of Jacksonville following the horrific shooting on Saturday," the White House said. Asked at a press conference if the governor believed his 2024 presidential candidacy would impact financial and other aid from the White House, DeSantis denied the notion.  "There's a time and a place to have political season, but then there's a time and a place to say that this is something that's life-threatening," DeSantis said Monday morning. "This is something that could potentially cost somebody their life, it could cost them their livelihood. And we have a responsibility as Americans to come together and do what we can to mitigate any damage and to protect people."  JACKSONVILLE DEMOCRAT COUNCILWOMAN DEFENDS DESANTIS AMID BOOS AT SHOOTING VICTIMS VIGIL: 'PUT PARTIES ASIDE' Biden ordered federal assistance to supplement state, tribal and local response efforts due to the emergency conditions resulting from Idalia, which the National Hurricane Center said was near the coast of Cuba Monday and on a potential track to come ashore as a hurricane in the southern U.S. DeSantis said Idalia is forecasted to reach hurricane status by later Monday and reach landfall later in the week as a Category 3.  Biden’s emergency declaration for Florida authorizes the Department of Homeland Security and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), "to coordinate all disaster relief efforts which have the purpose of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population, and to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures, authorized under Title V of the Stafford Act, to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, and to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe," the White House said.  The federal order impacts the counties of Alachua, Bay, Calhoun, Charlotte, Citrus, Columbia, DeSoto, Dixie, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Gulf, Hamilton, Hardee, Hernando, Hillsborough, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lee, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Sarasota, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, and Wakulla. DeSantis already declared a state of emergency for 33 of the state’s 67 counties on Saturday, warning that residents even outside the emergency declaration should remain vigilant.  "Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize, and provide at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency," the White House statement said. "Emergency protective measures (Category B), including direct Federal assistance, under the Public Assistance program will be provided at 75 percent Federal funding." DESANTIS WARNS FLORIDA RESIDENTS TROPICAL STORM IDALIA LIKELY TO BE HURRICANE: 'REMAIN VIGILANT' Brett Howard of FEMA was appointed to coordinate federal recovery operations in the affected areas. On Sunday, DeSantis warned that fuel contamination reported at potentially dozens of gas stations in the Gulf Coast is "happening right of the eve of the storm."  "If (consumers) filled up at any one of these stations, they probably don't want to drive their car — because you're going to have people potentially just stuck on the side of the road," he said.  The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services said late Sunday the contamination impacting at least 29 affected stations in several cities, including Tampa, Fort Myers and Sarasota, was caused by "human error." In a Sunday statement, the Houston-headquartered Citgo cited a product routing issue at its Tampa terminal. Those locations with potentially contaminated fuel have been notified and asked by Citgo to halt sales. Citgo is working to remove the contaminated fuel from all locations that may have it, the company said. With so many residents potentially evacuating as Idalia approaches, state officials said the contaminated fuel can damage the engines of vehicles or cause them to malfunction.  DeSantis canceled campaign stops in South Carolina over the weekend in the wake of what authorities deemed a racially motivated shooting at a Jacksonville Dollar General store, where a now-dead suspect killed three Black people. DeSantis was booed at a vigil for the victims Sunday, but a Democrat local official came to his defense.  The governor on Monday committed $1 million to bolster security for an historically Black college nearby.  The Associated Press contributed to this report.

A racially motivated shooting and an impending storm provide the most serious tests of Mr. DeSantis’s leadership since he began running for president in May.

Twin crises in Florida provide the most serious tests of Gov. Ron DeSantis’s leadership since he began running for president in May.

In 43 instances in recent years, the airline kept passengers stranded on the tarmac for hours in violation of federal rules, the Transportation Department said.

For domestic flights, airlines are not allowed to keep passengers sitting on the tarmac for more than three hours without giving them a chance to deplane.

Rep. Andrew Clyde, R-Ga., is planning to use the upcoming government spending fight to pump the breaks on the federal and state prosecutions targeting former President Trump. "Americans’ hard-earned tax dollars have no place funding the radical Left’s nefarious election interference efforts," Clyde told Fox News Digital. "Together, Jack Smith, Alvin Bragg, and Fani Willis intentionally brought four sham indictments against the sitting president’s top political opponent, President Donald J. Trump, as the upcoming 2024 presidential election ramps up." Clyde is a member of the House Appropriations Committee, which has been tasked with assembling 12 different spending bills for the next fiscal year, which begins on Oct. 1. TRUMP CAMPAIGN RAISES $7.1 MILLION IN FUNDRAISING SINCE MUGSHOT WAS TAKEN THURSDAY, FOX NEWS CONFIRMS He said on Monday that he intends to introduce two amendments to the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, which allocates funding to the Justice Department, among other offices.  Both would prevent federal funds from going toward the prosecution of a major presidential candidate ahead of the 2024 White House race. The first is aimed at federal cases and the second at state prosecutions. TRUMP LAWYER CALLS FOR SPECIAL COUNSEL JACK SMITH TO BE INVESTIGATED, SAYS CHARGES ARE ALL 'THEATRICS' Trump’s allies have rallied around him in the wake of his four criminal indictments, accusing prosecutors in each case of playing politics to kneecap his front-runner status in the 2024 GOP primary. The former president is facing 91 total charges, including two cases related to his alleged efforts to overturn his 2020 loss. Clyde on Monday dismissed the cases as "witch hunt" efforts and said he had "serious concerns" about how they were being handled. It comes after a flurry of GOP proposals with the similar aim of defunding the cases against Trump. Many have specifically targeted Special Counsel Jack Smith, who brought two separate federal indictments against the former president – one for his handling of classified documents and another related to the 2020 election. GEORGIA INDICTMENT: 2 TRUMP CO-DEFENDANTS BOOKED IN FULTON COUNTY JAIL "The American people get to decide who wins the White House — not Deep State actors who have shamelessly attacked Donald Trump since he announced his first bid in 2015. It is imperative that Congress use its power of the purse to protect the integrity of our elections, restore Americans’ faith in our government, and dismantle our nation’s two-tiered system of justice," Clyde said. "I’m fully committed to helping lead this effort, and I call on my House Appropriations colleagues to join me in this righteous fight." If Clyde’s amendments make it through the legislative process and end up on the House floor for a vote, they face a decent prospect of passing under the GOP’s razor-thin majority. However, the measures are likely dead on arrival in the Democrat-controlled Senate.

People used the words “old” and “confused” to describe president, and “corrupt” and “dishonest” to describe Donald Trump More than three-quarters of respondents in a new US poll said Joe Biden would be too old to be effective if re-elected president next year. But as many people in the survey said the 80-year-old Biden was “old” and “confused”, so a similar number saw his 77-year-old likely challenger, Donald Trump, as “corrupt” and “dishonest”. Continue reading...

Gen. Andrey Averyanov is being tapped to run the Wagner Mercenary group's Africa operations following the death of Yevgeny Prigozhin. Averyanov currently serves as the head of covert offensive operations in Russia’s military intelligence service, and he has been accused of ordering assassinations of Russian dissidents. He now has the task of maintaining Wagner's operations in Africa after the death of their architect, The Wall Street Journal reported. Averyanov met with African leaders during a Russia-Africa summit in July. The summit was also Prigozhin's first public appearance following his brief mutiny against Russian President Vladimir Putin's regime. When Prigozhin's private jet crashed last week, Wagner lost several members of its top brass in addition to their leader. Prigozhin's second in command, Dmitry Utkin, and Wagner's non-military logistics chief, Valery Chekalov, were also aboard. WAGNER TROOPS MOURN PRIGOZHIN FOLLOWING PLANE CRASH Putin forced Wagner mercenaries to withdraw operations in Ukraine following their mutiny earlier this year. However, the group remains heavily active in Africa. PENTAGON SAYS WAGNER CHIEF YEVGENY PRIGOZHIN LIKELY KILLED IN PLANE CRASH, NO EVIDENCE OF MISSILE ATTACK It is unknown what caused Prigozhin's plane to crash, but experts believe Putin ordered an assassination. Rescuers said they found 10 bodies in the wreckage, and Russian officials stated Sunday that a DNA analysis confirmed that Prigozhin was among them. WHO IS YEVGENY PRIGOZHIN? In comments following the crash, Putin described Prigozhin as "a man of difficult fate" who "made serious mistakes in life, and he achieved the results he needed — both for himself and, when I asked him about it, for the common cause, as in these last months. He was a talented man, a talented businessman." "It would be harmful to make changes immediately," one Wagner employee in Africa told WSJ. "The first concern now is not to lose control of the situation while waiting for the appointment of one (or more) heirs."

EXCLUSIVE - Sen. Tim Scott will unveil a new plan on Monday that the Republican presidential candidate aims to "defend America's children, empower parents, and protect kids online." Scott will announce his proposal, which was shared first with Fox News Digital, as he meets with parents, homeschool advocates and voters during a campaign swing through his home state of South Carolina, a crucial early voting state that holds the first southern primary in the GOP presidential nominating calendar. "Teachers' unions, Big Tech, and [President] Joe Biden are on a mission to make parents less important," Scott charged in a statement. And the conservative senator showcased that "I have a bold agenda to support and empower parents — from the classroom to the locker room to the smartphone. We must empower parents and give them a choice, so that every child has a chance." CHECK OUT INITIAL FOX NEWS POWER RANKINGS IN 2024 GOP PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION RACE Scott's proposal is the latest example of Republicans pushing to elevate the role of parental control of public schools in recent years. The first component of Scott's "Empower Parents Plan" is defending children with a "family first culture." Scott, a rising star in the GOP and the only Black Republican in the Senate, calls for restoring "American childhood and let girls and boys be girls and boys, not guinea pigs" and "Save Title IX and women’s sports — if God made you a man, you play sports against other men." WHAT SEN. TIM SCOTT SPOTLIGHTED IN HIS CLOSING ARGUMENT AT LAST WEEK'S DEBATE He also spotlights that he will "stand with crisis pregnancy centers" and pledges to stop the Department of Justice, which he argues is "turning a blind eye to far-left threats and vandalism." Scott also vows to empower parents by defending their ability to know what their children are hearing and reading in school. He also wants to "empower every family the right to opt out of propaganda that attacks their values and religious liberty," and pledges to "break the back of the teachers' unions and enact nationwide school choice," which are staples of the conservative movement. The senator also wants to give parents a greater ability to decide whether to send their children to public, private, charter, or STEM schools, or homeschooling. Scott argued that he will "replace indoctrination with education. ABC, not C.R.T." CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST FOX NEWS REPORTING FROM THE 2024 CAMPAIGN TRAIL Scott's third component will also please conservatives, as he aims to "stop Big Tech from stealing kids’ attention spans, China from stealing their privacy, and predators from stealing their future." The senator calls for mandating country-of-origin labeling on every app so parents are fully informed and making big tech do more to keep kids safe online. Republicans have been showcasing their efforts to defend parental rights in recent years, helping to turn public education into a political battleground. The push came in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, which triggered school closures across the country, upending families and putting schools in the spotlight. MOMS FOR LIBERTY CLOUT WITHIN THE GOP KEEPS RISING  Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin's victory over former Gov. Terry McAuliffe in Virginia's high-profile 2021 gubernatorial election - in a contest where Youngkin made parental rights a centerpiece of his campaign - energized the GOP. Fast-forward to this year and House Republicans - in one of their first major legislative pushes after taking over the chamber's majority - passed mostly along party lines a "Parents Bill of Rights." The legislation, which aims to boost the information parents' receive regarding their children's education, fulfilled a pledge they made in last year's midterm elections. On the presidential campaign trail, the GOP White House contenders this year have been trying to one up each other in highlighting their commitment to boosting parental rights. Additionally, five Republican presidential candidates - including GOP nomination commanding front-runner and former President Trump - spoke in-person in June in Philadelphia at the annual summit of Moms for Liberty, a conservative leaning parental rights organization that has quickly become very influential in Republican circles. Democrats argue that the widespread push by Republicans is a mission by the GOP to take aim at what they consider an anti-woke agenda and weaken public education.

Leftwing senator advises ‘unification of progressive people in general’ because threat from Republican ex-president is too great Progressive US voters must unite behind Joe Biden rather than consider any of his Democratic primary challengers because the threat of another Donald Trump presidency is too great, Bernie Sanders has said. “We’re taking on the … former president, who, in fact, does not believe in democracy – he is an authoritarian, and a very, very dangerous person,” the senator and Vermont independent, who caucuses with Democrats, said on NBC’s Meet the Press. “I think at this moment there has to be unification of progressive people in general in all of this country.” Continue reading...

A community leader in Jacksonville defended Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Sunday amid boos at a prayer vigil held to memorialize shooting victims.  DeSantis, a GOP presidential candidate, canceled his planned campaign stops in South Carolina over the weekend to return to his home state after authorities said Ryan Christopher Palmeter, a 21-year-old White gunman, shot and killed three Black people at a Dollar General store in Jacksonville in what investigators believe to be a racially motivated attack.  At a vigil held about a block from the Dollar General store Sunday, DeSantis was welcomed to the microphone and assured a councilwoman he has already been looking to identify funds to ensure there is "adequate security" for Edward Waters University, the historically Black college near where the shooting occurred. "We are not gonna allow these institutions to be targeted by people," DeSantis said, above some jeers from the crowd.  FLORIDA 'RACIALLY MOTIVATED' SHOOTING LEAVES 4 DEAD, INCLUDING SHOOTER AT JACKSONVILLE DOLLAR GENERAL STORE However, Jacksonville city councilwoman Ju'Coby Pittman, a Democrat, quickly came and took the microphone off its podium to address the hecklers, telling them they should "put parties aside" at that time. "‘Cause it ain’t about parties today. A bullet don’t know a party. So don’t get me started," Pittman said.  "Now if the governor wanted to come here, and he’s bringing gifts to my community, ya’ll know I’m taking the gifts because we’ve been through enough already," she added. "And I don’t want to go through no more. Now ya’ll just be quiet just a minute and let the governor say what he’s gonna say, and we gonna get this party started. You hear me? Okay, let’s do it."  DeSantis had released a video statement earlier saying that after speaking with Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters, he was notified of a manifesto found that revealed the gunman was "targeting people based on their race," and "that is totally unacceptable."  "This guy killed himself rather than face the music and responsibility for his actions, and so he took the coward’s way out," DeSantis added.  DESANTIS WARNS FLORIDA RESIDENTS TROPICAL STORM IDALIA LIKELY TO BE HURRICANE: 'REMAIN VIGILANT' At the vigil, DeSantis said that on Monday the state would be announcing financial support for security at Edward Waters University and to help the affected families.  The governor called the gunman a "major league scumbag." "What he did is totally unacceptable in the state of Florida," DeSantis said. "We are not going to let people be targeted based on their race." Waters identified those killed as Angela Michelle Carr, 52, who was shot in her car; store employee A.J. Laguerre, 19, who was shot as he tried to flee; and customer Jerrald Gallion, 29, who was shot as he entered the store in a predominantly Black neighborhood. Gallion attended St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Bishop John Guns told the crowd. He was the 33rd murder victim in the 27 years Guns has been there, he said. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP "In two weeks I have to preach a funeral of a man who should still be alive," Guns said. "He was not a gangster, he was not a thug — he was a father who gave his life to Jesus and was trying to get it together. "I wept in church today like a baby because my heart is tired. We are exhausted." The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Two key hearings are scheduled Monday that could define the next phase of the state and federal cases against Donald Trump related to his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. Follow here for the latest live news updates.

A student rights group in California is looking to bridge the gap between parents and children as it relates to school policy with the proposal of three statewide ballot measures, which tackle cultural issues like fairness in female sports and the elimination of puberty blockers for minors. Protect Kids California, the group behind the effort, notes on its website that it advocates "for policies that promote all children’s rights and well-being." In an interview with Fox News Digital, Jonathan Zachreson, a co-founder of Students First California, a group that led the charge against lockdowns and vaccine mandates in the state during the COVID-19 pandemic, outlined the proposed ballot measures and explained their importance. GEORGIA SENATOR RENEWS PROPOSAL BANNING TEACHERS FROM DISCUSSING GENDER IDENTITY WITH STUDENTS "The first one is to require schools notify parents if their child requests to be treated as transgender in school. So it's to stop some of the secrets that are happening in California and to really build trust with parents again, to know that, hey, you'll know that your school isn't one of those schools that's keeping secrets for parents," said Zachreson. "The second one would protect girls sports and spaces by ensuring that in competitive sports at school that girls will only be playing against other girls and that when it comes to spaces they're not going to be changing in front of boys or showering in front of boys in the locker room," he added. "The third one would prevent the sterilization of kids by prohibiting puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, genital surgeries and mastectomies for minors." The proposed ballot initiatives, set to be submitted by the group to the Golden State's attorney general Monday afternoon, will require a total of 550,000 petition signatures each to make it to the ballot in the fall of 2024. The group will have six months to collect the total required signatures. PARENTAL RIGHTS PROTESTERS BATTLE BACKERS OF CALIF SCHOOL POLICY TO HIDE GENDER IDENTITY FROM PARENTS Zachreson, who was recently elected to serve on the Roseville City School Board, described the effort as a "defining moment" for California, as well as America. "You know, this issue is prevalent. We've seen it across other states where there's legislation [and] legislators are able to enact similar laws. In places like California, the legislature is just dominated by a very radical, progressive arm of the Democrat Party. So that can't happen here," he said. If successful, Zachreson said the group is hoping to help "change the conversation to a more rational discussion on how we treat these issues with children." The group's focus for now, Zachreson said, is to focus on "building our volunteer base and getting donations." "That's going to be our strategy over the next two months because it's going to take about two months before we start collecting signatures," he explained. "We're going to be talking in front of any and all groups. We have ambassadors across the state that can be relocated to any part of California, and [will have] a speaker come talk about these initiatives." Zachreson said he is expecting there to be "tons of arrows thrown" toward the group after its Monday evening press conference outlining the effort to have the measures make it to the ballot next year. "That's not going to deter us," he said. "Really, that's the only thing they can do. They can't fight us on the issues, so they're going to have to attack us through other means. We're prepared for that, but that's not going to stop us."

At least two people have been hospitalized after a Broward County Sheriff’s Office Fire Rescue helicopter crashed in Broward County, Florida on Monday. Footage from local media shows multiple fire trucks working to quell the blaze after the impact. It is unknown what condition the two people were in when taken to the hospital. This is a developing story. Check back soon for updates.