California Gov. Gavin Newsom is demanding that President Donald Trump abandon a GOP-led redistricting push in Texas following a Democratic walkout that blocked the vote in the Lone Star State over a Republican effort to redraw congressional maps.The Democratic governor warned the partisan battle risks spiraling into a national redistricting "arms race" and urged Trump to "stand down."After days of aggressive back and forth between the two leaders, Newsom tweeted from the official page of the Governor Newsom Press Office, mocking Trump in what was ostensibly meant to mimic the presidents idiosyncratic style of using all-caps and superlatives for many of his posts.DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST SAYS PARTY LACKS 'MORAL AUTHORITY' ON TEXAS REDISTRICTING FIGHT"DONALD TACO TRUMP, AS MANY CALL HIM, MISSED THE DEADLINE!!! CALIFORNIA WILL NOW DRAW NEW, MORE BEAUTIFUL MAPS, THEY WILL BE HISTORIC AS THEY WILL END THE TRUMP PRESIDENCY (DEMS TAKE BACK THE HOUSE!). BIG PRESS CONFERENCE THIS WEEK WITH POWERFUL DEMS AND GAVIN NEWSOM YOUR FAVORITE GOVERNOR THAT WILL BE DEVASTATING FOR MAGA. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER! GN," the tweet read.Newsoms hyperbolic, Trump-mimicking tone suggested that California will be retaliating in the ongoing redistricting battle unless red states like Texas abort their partisan map plans.The governor seemed to double down on comments on X from Monday in which he posted a video along with the caption:"Donald Trump: Its time to call Greg Abbott and tell him to stand down. You are not entitled to 5 congressional seats. If you do not call your lapdogs off, CA will act quickly and swiftly. We will go to the ballot. We will neutralize whatever gains you make. We will not stand by while you light Democracy on fire."CALIFORNIA LAUNCHES REDISTRICTING FIGHT TO NULLIFY TEXAS GOP PLAN, WITH DEMS POISED TO GAIN 5 SEATSThe post coincided with a letter to Trump from Monday accusing the president of "playing with fire."The governor said he is prepared to do whatever it takes to combat any gains that the republicans may achieve through efforts in Texas."You are playing with fire, risking the destabilization of our democracy, while knowing that California can neutralize any gains you hope to make," Newsom told Trump in the letter."This attempt to rig congressional maps to hold onto power before a single vote is cast in the 2026 election is an affront to American democracy," Newsom said.Newsom said he was in favor of leaving the decision to independent commissions, and that he would "happily" stand down if other states followed suit in the redistricting effort.In another snarky, all-caps tweet meant to mimic Trumps social media style, Newsoms office summarized the letter: "DONALD TRUMP, IF YOU DO NOT STAND DOWN, WE WILL BE FORCED TO LEAD AN EFFORT TO REDRAW THE MAPS IN CA TO OFFSET THE RIGGING OF MAPS IN RED STATES. BUT IF THE OTHER STATES CALL OFF THEIR REDISTRICTING EFFORTS, WE WILL DO THE SAME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER!"Newsoms threat could mark a dramatic reversal of Californias voter-approved independent redistricting process and potentially require legislative action or even a statewide ballot measure.While this is only intended as a political counterpunch, the move has sparked debate among Democrats and Republicans about whether the party risks sacrificing its moral high ground on fair maps.

A federal appeals court on Tuesday upheld an Arkansas law prohibiting doctors from providing gender transition medical treatment to minors, reversing a lower court decision thatblocked the first-in-the-nation law.The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 8-2 on Tuesday to overturn a lower court decision, now allowing the state to enforce the law. The appeals court cited the U.S. Supreme Court decision in June upholding a similar ban in Tennessee, in which the nation's highest court ruled that the law was constitutional and did not discriminate against transgender people.Referencing the Supreme Court's decision, the appeals court agreed with Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin, a Republican, that the law did not violate transgender minors' equal protection rights under the U.S. Constitution."I applaud the courts decision and am pleased that children in Arkansas will be protected from experimental procedures," Griffin said in a statement following the ruling.FEDERAL COURT REJECTS CHALLENGE TO OKLAHOMA LAW BANNING GENDER TRANSITION TREATMENT FOR MINORSArkansas Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders wrote on social media that the ruling "is a win for common sense -- and for our kids."Arkansas became the first U.S. state to ban transgender treatments such as puberty blockers, hormones and surgery for minors in 2021, when the Republican-led legislature passed the ban after they overruled the veto of then-GOP Gov. Asa Hutchinson.Four families of transgender children and two doctors challenged the law, arguing the Save Adolescents From Experimentation (SAFE) Act violated parents' due process rights under the U.S. Constitution's Fourteenth Amendment.Writing the majority opinion, U.S. Circuit Judge Duane Benton said parents have never had a right to obtain medical treatment for their children that a state government had banned.The judge also wrote that the lower court's decision, in which U.S. District Judge Jay Moody ruled in 2023 that the law discriminates against transgender people and poses "immediate and irreparable harm" to transgender children, conflicts with the Supreme Courts decision in the Tennessee case. The law was also previously blocked from taking effect in 2021.U.S. Circuit Judge Jane Kelly, meanwhile, wrote in the dissent that there is a "startling lack of evidence connecting Arkansas' ban on gender-affirming care with its purported goal of protecting children."The American Civil Liberties Union and the American Civil Liberties Union of Arkansas were among the groups representing the plaintiffs.SCOTUS RULES ON STATE BAN ON GENDER TRANSITION 'TREATMENTS' FOR MINORS IN LANDMARK CASE"This is a tragically unjust result for transgender Arkansans, their doctors, and their families," Holly Dickson, executive director of the ACLU of Arkansas, said in a statement."The state had every opportunity and failed at every turn to prove that this law helps children; in fact, this is a dangerous law that harms children," she continued. "The law has already had a profound impact on families across Arkansas who all deserve a fundamental right to do what is best for their children. As we and our clients consider our next steps, we want transgender Arkansans to know they are far from alone and we remain as determined as ever to secure their right to safety, dignity, and equal access to the health care they need."The ruling on Tuesday comes after the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled unanimously last weekthat a similar ban in Oklahoma is constitutional, also relying upon the Supreme Court's decision on the Tennessee law.Reuters contributed to this report.

The Trump administration is cracking down on the Smithsonian Institution ahead of America's 250th anniversary celebration next year, requiring specific national museums and affiliated exhibits to "reflect the unity, progress, and enduring values that define the American story."In a letter penned to Smithsonian Institution Secretary Lonnie Bunch III, Trump administration officials laid out a review process that the institution will undergo in order to ensure alignment with President Donald Trump's "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History" executive order."This initiative aims to ensure alignment with the Presidents directive to celebrate American exceptionalism, remove divisive or partisan narratives, and restore confidence in our shared cultural institutions," the letter reads.TRUMP WHITE HOUSE CALLS OUT SMITHSONIAN FOR PUSHING 'ONE-SIDED, DIVISIVE POLITICAL NARRATIVES'The following museums are included during Phase I of the comprehensive internal review: the National Museums of American History, Natural History, African American History and Culture, and American Indian; the National Air and Space Museum; the Smithsonian American Art Museum; the National Portrait Gallery and the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden.The administration said the review is "rooted in respect" for the institution's mission and contributions, and the goal is not to interfere with daily operations, but to highlight "historically accurate, uplifting, and inclusive portrayals of Americas heritage."The review has five focus points, ranging from an analysis of current and future content within exhibitions at the museums to ensuring that all guidelines for museum content reflect the "Smithsonian's original mission."MICHELLE OBAMA PORTRAITIST'S EXHIBIT WITH TRANS STATUE OF LIBERTY PULLED AFTER PRESSURE FROM VANCEMuseum curators and senior staff will also be interviewed to "better understand the selection process, exhibition approval workflows, and any frameworks currently guiding exhibition content."The administration is also asking that the aforementioned museums provide them with all materials including digital files for current, upcoming and traveling exhibitions; educational resources; external partnerships; grant-related documentation; survey responses; and internal guidelines and governance.All of those items will be reviewed by staff tasked with ensuring the institution aligns with Trump's order.SMITHSONIAN TEMPORARILY REMOVES TRUMP IMPEACHMENT REFERENCES FROM HISTORY MUSEUM, DRAWING LIBERAL IREA 120-day implementation guideline was given, but the museums are expected to act on some parts of the process within 30 days of receiving the letter from the administration.The immediate tasks include submitting current exhibition descriptions, draft plans for upcoming shows, America 250 programming materials, and internal guidelines used in exhibition development. The museums will also choose a staff liaison to serve as the primary contact point during the review process, which will also include on-site observational visits.Within 120 days, the museums will be expected to implement corrections to content, if needed, and to replace any "divisive or ideologically driven language with unifying, historically accurate, and constructive descriptions."CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPThe Trump administration anticipates completing the review in early 2026 and described the process as "a collaborative and forward-looking opportunity" that focuses on "the strength, breadth, and achievements of the American story.""By focusing on Americanismthe people, principles, and progress that define our nationwe can work together to renew the Smithsonians role as the worlds leading museum institution," the letter read.It concluded by saying that the goal is for the Smithsonian Institution to remain "vibrant, trusted and inspiring for generations to come."

Its almost a clich to say that Donald Trump has accumulated enormous power in the last six months.He has busted through what used to be guardrails, come close to defying the courts, collected big bucks from ABC and CBS, not to mention $200 million from Columbia, cajoled elite law firms into settlements, and taken over law enforcement in Washington.One example: Trump fired Erika McEntarfer as commissioner at the Bureau of Labor Statistics when he didnt like the Biden appointees weak jobs number, 73,000 for July.He has now hired the chief economist from the conservative Heritage Foundation, E.J. Antoni, who has been an outspoken critic of the BLS and has a PhD in economics. He worked on Heritages Project 2025, the plan that became a blueprint for the second Trump term, and wants to reform BLS but his numbers will obviously be pleasing to the White House.TRUMP FIRES LABOR OFFICIAL OVER WEAK JOBS NUMBER, ORDERS CRIMINAL PROBES OF PAST OPPONENTSTrumps takeover of the D.C. police, which will report to Pam Bondi, is legal under the citys limited home-rule powers, and others have used such power for different ideological goals. The move has been denounced by area Democrats and whether it succeeds is an open question.The presidents insistence on meeting Vladimir Putin in Alaska without knowing whether hes serious about a peace deal, or even a cease-fire, is a classic roll of the dice. Trump has been downplaying expectations, saying he may have to walk away.While Trump thrives on the spectacle of these leader-to-leader negotiations, they dont always pan out. Despite his loving exchanges with Kim Jong-un, North Korea never reduced its nuclear arsenal.In fairness, Trump has pulled off cease-fires with a number of warring countries, the latest being Armenia and Azerbaijan.TRUMP SAYS HE'LL KNOW 'IN THE FIRST TWO MINUTES' IF UKRAINE PEACE DEAL IS POSSIBLE WITH PUTINThe president has ordered up so many criminal investigations of his opponents his perceived enemies that weve lost sight of the fact that this kind of interference with the Justice Department has long been considered way off-limits.The latest is New York AG Letitia James, who brought the civil suit against Trump that resulted in a $350 million penalty but is now being appealed. Also Sen. Adam Schiff on a question about mortgages.And he has ordered up criminal probes of the Obama administration for allegedly targeting him over Russian hacking that turned out to be unsuccessful, and accused Barack Obama of "treason." Never mind that a special counsel from the first term investigated this and brought no charges. Trump has also demanded a probe of his first cybersecurity chief, Chris Krebs, and Miles Taylor, better known as Anonymous.TRUMP DELIVERS ON CAMPAIGN PROMISES WHILE LIBERAL MEDIA CRIES HE'S 'DESTROYING DEMOCRACY'The president does this out in the open. You dont have to rely on, well, anonymous sources.National Reviews Rich Lowry said recently that Trump is the most consequential president since Ronald Reagan. "Even if Trumps second term ended tomorrow, he would have left a significant mark." Its hard to argue with that.SUBSCRIBE TO HOWIE'S MEDIA BUZZMETER PODCAST, A RIFF ON THE DAY'S HOTTEST STORIESAll this amounts to an image of a strong president, a fighter determined to stoke his base and smite his enemies. The average D.C. resident doesnt feel safe with this frightening wave of carjackings "only" 16 of them in July. The average American is just glad the border has been shut down. Trumps opponents are on notice that hell use lawsuits and legal threats to get his way.And his war on the media is constant, with him calling for some individual journalists to be fired, and yet irony alert unlike Joe Biden, he speaks to them virtually every day.Whether you like this president or not, whether you approve of his policies or not, he keeps declaring states of emergency to justify his blizzard of executive orders.And thats why he continues to drive the media agenda.

EXCLUSIVE: More than 20 Republican attorneys general are demanding that the Trump administration reinstate safety protocols for the abortion drug mifepristone, saying it poses "serious risks to women."In a letter obtained by Fox News Digital, 22 attorneys general called on Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Food and Drugs Administration head Martin Makary to bring back safeguards for the pills that were scrapped by the Obama and Biden administrations."Recent comprehensive studies of the real-world effects of the chemical abortion drug mifepristone report that serious adverse events occur 22 times more often than stated on the drugs label, while the drug is less than half as effective as claimed. These facts directly contradict the drugs primary marketing message of 'safe' and 'effective,'" the letter reads, citing studies published earlier this year by the Ethics and Public Policy Center (EPPA), a Washington, D.C.-based advocacy group.The EPPA report claims the pill presents harm to women, causing 1 in 10 patients to experience a "serious adverse event," including hemorrhage, emergency room visits and ectopic pregnancy.FDA CHIEF HAS 'NO PLANS' FOR ABORTION PILL POLICY CHANGES BUT CONTINUES SAFETY REVIEWThe letter, led by Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach, comes after Kennedy Jr. asked Makary to review the latest data on mifepristone and its safety."Based on that review, the FDA should consider reinstating safety protocols that it identified as necessary as recently as 2011 in its issuance of a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) for mifepristone, but which were removed by the Obama and Biden administrations," the letter reads, adding that the drug should be taken off the market if safeguards cannot be put in place."Alternatively, in light of the serious risks to women who are presently being prescribed this drug without crucial safeguards, and in the event the FDA is unable to reinstate the 2011 safety protocols for mifepristone, the FDA should consider withdrawing mifepristone from the market until it completes its review and can decide on a course of action based on objective safety and efficacy criteria," the attorneys general wrote.Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., also sent a letter to Kennedy Jr. last month urging him to take immediate action to reinstate safety guardrails on mifepristone following the secretary's commitment to conducting a safety review of the drug.Makary had previously said that he had no plans to modify policies surrounding mifepristone but that the FDA would act if the data suggested there was a safety issue.Mifepristone, which is taken with another drug called misoprostol to end an early pregnancy, was first approved by the FDA in 2000 after "a thorough and comprehensive review" found it was safe and effective, according to the agency's website, which noted that periodic reviews since its approval have not identified new safety concerns.Last year, the Supreme Court rejected a challenge targeting the drug's availability. The plaintiffs had sought to restrict access to mifepristone across the country, including in Democrat-led states where abortion remains legal. The court did not rule on whether the FDA acted lawfully when it moved during the Obama and Biden administrations to ease the rules for mifepristone's use that had been established during the Clinton administration.Medication abortions made up more than half of all abortions in the U.S. health care system in 2023, according to a study by the Guttmacher Institute.MEDICAL GROUPS URGE FDA, KENNEDY TO REEXAMINE BROAD APPROVAL OF ABORTION DRUGSCLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP"Currently, a woman can obtain a mifepristone abortion by participating in only one telehealth visit with any approved healthcare provider (not necessarily a physician), ordering the drugs through a mail-order pharmacy, and self-administering them," the attorneys general wrote. "And the prescriber is only required to report an adverse event if he or she becomes aware that the patient has died.""The FDAs removal of these crucial safety protocols in 2016 (and in 2023) that only five years before the FDA considered necessary begs the question of whether the removal was motivated by considerations other than the safety of patients The current FDAs dedication to the health and wellbeing of all Americans is encouraging, as is the much-needed review of mifepristone that Secretary Kennedy has promised," the letter concludes.

Recently, some wild rabbits have been seen in the U.S. with "horn-like" growths spurting from their heads that are caused by a viral infection, according to experts."Rabbit papillomas aregrowths on the skin caused by the cottontail rabbit papillomavirus," Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) says on its website, as some people in the state have reported the strange sightings."It looks like it was black quills or black toothpicks sticking out all around his or her mouth," Fort Collins, Colorado, resident Susan Mansfield, who saw one of the rabbits, told 9News. "I thought he would die off during the winter, but he didnt. He came back a second year, and it grew."NUCLEAR PLANT ON COASTAL WATERS SHUT DOWN OVER MASSIVE JELLYFISH SWARMCPW says the infection is typified by "black nodules on the skin, usually the head," adding, "Growths can sometimes become elongated, taking on a hornlike appearance."The department says the growths dont harm the rabbits unless they interfere with the animals ability to eat and drink.RARE TICK-BORNE VIRUS CAUSING NEUROLOGICAL SYMPTOMS DIAGNOSED IN NORTHEASTERN STATE"Most infected cottontails can survive the viral infection, after which the growths will go away," CPW says. "For this reason, CPW does not recommend euthanizing rabbitswith papillomas unless they are interfering with the rabbits ability to eat and drink."The department says the virus is specific to rabbits and cant be transmitted to other species, but it could infect domestic rabbits, "especially if rabbits are housed outdoors where they may contact wild rabbits or biting insects. In domestic rabbits, the disease is more severe than in wild rabbits and should be treated by a veterinarian."CPW also advises people to avoid touching infected rabbits, according to News9.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPThere is no known cure for the virus.

This Fridays high-stakes meeting between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska could bring real relief to Ukraine but only if it stays laser-focused on one goal: an enforceable ceasefire. No redraw of the map. No "land for peace" concessions that reward Moscows aggression and punish Ukrainian sovereignty.A United FrontOver theweekend, Vice President JD Vance convened a secure call with European and Ukrainian officials. The message from allied capitals was blunt: halt the fighting first, then negotiate the rest without giving up an inch of Ukrainian land. Europeanleaders have repeated it publicly: "Peace cannot be decided without Ukraine".Why Now MattersOn theground, the wars toll is rising. Russia is pushing hard in Donetsk and Luhansk, pounding civilian infrastructure and displacing thousands. Ukrainian officials report hundreds of daily clashes, rising casualties, and failing power and water systems. A ceasefire wont end the war, but it would stop the bloodshed and open humanitarian corridors.Putin Under PressurePutins motives are mixed. He wants the optics of meeting a U.S. president on neutral ground. He wants to test Trumps red lines. But his economy is straining, his elites are restless and ordinary Russians are tired of a costly war. The looming U.S. secondarysanctions on Russian oil exporters, shipping insurers and tankers if enforced with Europe could fracture his revenue lifeline.TRUMP MEETS PUTIN AMID AN ERA DONE AWAY WITH JOHN QUINCY ADAMS' 'ABROAD'The Risk and the FixCritics warn a ceasefire could give Russia breathing space to rearm. Theyre right if its toothless. Strict enforcement is needed: deploy OSCE monitors within 48 hours, use satellite imagery and signals intelligence to track violations, and implement automatic snap-back sanctions for breaches.Compliance should be visible and indisputable.Why Alaska?The venue is not an accident. Alaska is remote, symbolic and equally inconvenient aneutral stage that avoids home-field advantage for either leader. Its history as U.S. territory purchased from Russia adds a certain symmetry.CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINIONThe Day After the CeasefireAny truce must lead somewhere. The next step is a credible security framework for Ukraine NATO membership or a coalition defense pact paired with reconstruction aid. The "Coalition of the Willing" led by Britain and France is already planning a peacekeeping presence to enforce any ceasefire.The Human FactorThis is not just geopolitics its human lives. Families sheltering underground. Children uprooted from schools. Veterans maimed for life. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy put it bluntly: "Concessions do not convince a killer".Will Putin Come?Yes. He wants the spotlight, the appearance of parity and relief from mounting sanctions. But he will try to reopen territorial talks in the future. Thats why the United States must keep the agenda tight, enforcement credible and Ukraine fully represented in any next phase.Americas Playbook for AlaskaBottom LineThe Alaska summit should be remembered as the day the guns fell silent not as the day Western resolve crumbled. A ceasefire-first approach, backed by enforcement and leverage, is not weakness. Its principled, America-first diplomacy. And its the only way to stop the killing without surrendering the map.CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM ROBERT MAGINNIS

A new report warns that red states are quietly adopting liberal policies including DEI mandates, ESG investing, and gender ideology even under Republican leadership, due to deep-rooted influence from national bureaucratic organizations.The State Leadership Initiative (SLI), a group focused on state-level policy reform, argues in its "Shadow Government" report that unelected national associations are embedding progressive ideologies into state bureaucracies across the country, regardless of who voters elect."Conservative leaders are fond of declaring victory," the report reads. "They win elections, pass legislation, and appoint agency heads with great fanfare, yet, on issue after issue, the administrative state trudges forward in open defiance of their mandate: enforcing equity initiatives, embedding climate policy, and advancing bureaucratic priorities wholly alien to the voters who ostensibly elected the government. This disconnect is not incidental. It is structural."The report claims that dozens of well-funded national associations often branded as nonpartisan or professional groups are responsible for this "shadow governance." These organizations set policy frameworks, distribute federal funding and provide "best practices" guidance that often aligns with left-wing values.DEMOCRATIC PARTY TENSIONS SEEP INTO BIPARTISAN GROUP AS GOVERNORS RESISTING TRUMP'S AGENDA RECONSIDER DUESGroups named in the report include the National Association of State Treasurers (NAST), National Association of Medicaid Directors (NAMD) and the National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE)."Every single one of these associations pushes DEI," SLI founder and president Noah Wall told Fox News Digital. "It doesnt matter how specificwhether it's a fish and wildlife group or a treasury departmentDEI is a core part of their programming."Wall said SLI examined 23 of the largest associations for the report and found widespread adoption of progressive agendas, including diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles and gender ideology initiatives.The report characterizes the influence of these organizations as a form of "shadow governance," where state bureaucrats adopt ideological frameworks from national partners without input from lawmakers or voters."The ideological left does not need to win a single statehouse so long as it controls the bureaucratic bloodstream," the report claims.The State Leadership Initiative warns that this arrangement allows DEI programming to persist in state transportation departments, ESG investing standards to dictate financial strategy and gender ideology to shape school curricula even in states where voters oppose these ideas. State treasurers may object to ESG investment criteria, but find that national rankings and training frameworks still push those standards. A superintendent may oppose gender-affirming school policies, but still face accreditation pressure from a national group that insists on "inclusive pedagogy."In short, the report argues that these associations have created a parallel system of governance one that functions independently of voter oversight and continues to advance a progressive agenda even under conservative administrations.NORTH CAROLINA GOVERNOR VETOES REPUBLICAN-LED ANTI DEI AND TRANS LEGISLATIONIn one example, the report alleges that the NAMD pushed equity not outcomes as a top priority of Medicaid reform.In the NAMD 2021 Regulatory Priorities document, the group lists 11 "broad issues" that Medicaid directors could focus on to improve state Medicaid programs. The first priority listed was "advancing equity in Medicaid" and it stated, "Equity work should include a focus on racial and ethnic minorities, rural populations, Tribal populations, and any other groups experiencing disparate health outcomes, with an understanding that inequities are multidimensional and often fall across multiple population characteristics or categories. We also see discrete areas where focus would be beneficial, bearing in mind that the work to advance equity in Medicaid is holistic and branches across all issue domains."The National Association of Medicaid Directors did not immediately respond to a request for comment.Another example was NAST having a standing DEI committee and alleging that the group was embedding DEI into hiring and treasury operations. In 2022, the chair of the DEI committee shared a message with other members of NAST highlighting the DEI work in her state and how she and others on the committee were working to share best practices on how to incorporate DEI policies in their state."Our goal is to gather resources to support our fellow treasurers. We plan to send out a survey to gather information on DE&I initiatives in the different states, similar to the successful approach we used with Financial Education several years ago. The results from this survey will be shared with everyone and could provide a basis for us to host future panels and webinars to support each others strategies," Deborah B. Goldberg, who was the Massachusetts State Treasurer, wrote.She also shared how her state prioritized hiring a diverse workforce and how it benefited the treasury workforce."By starting with a diverse transition team and utilizing more extensive outreach we found that an exceptional talent pool began applying for positions in our various offices. And over the years, we have seen how diversity benefits and enriches our entire Treasury workforce," she wrote. "We truly pride ourselves in promoting DE&I within our office. Even though we are the most diverse office in the Massachusetts state government, we do not rest on our laurels. Our Treasury team began hosting monthly DE&I educational events in February of 2019, created a formal DE&I policy in December of 2020, and implemented a DE&I Strategic plan in August of 2021. We have developed a DE&I Working Group and DE&I Champions who meet regularly to brainstorm new ways to pursue DE&I in our offices and update one another on the accomplishment of department specific goals."When reached for comment, NAST said the DEI committee in 2022 was an ad hoc committee and those committees expire at the end of the year, and they currently do not have a DEI committee. They also noted to Fox News Digital that Goldberg's DEI work was within her own office and not NAST.The report also accused NASBE of pushing gender-inclusive curricula, pronoun policies and resisting restrictions on transgender sports participation even in red states. In a 2020 report titled, "Removing Barriers to LGBTQ Student Safety and Achievement," NASBE shared the need for states to issue guidance on the needs of transgender students. The report suggested that states address the "discriminatory school policies limiting their access to facilities" for transgender students and maintaining school records that reflect the gender identity and pronouns of students.The guidance, according to the report, was in response to "the proliferation of potentially harmful legislation at the state level."The National Association of State Boards of Education declined to comment.Wall argued that Republican governors and lawmakers have underestimated the scale of the problem."Theyre not just sharing best practices," Wall said. "Theyre setting the internal culture of state agencies and implementing federal priorities under the radar. Even conservative states are running progressive policies out of habit."To address what it calls "shadow governance," the State Leadership Initiative outlines a series of recommendations aimed at helping conservative governors and lawmakers reclaim authority over state agencies. First, the report urges a full audit of every national association to which state agencies belong. This includes reviewing how much taxpayer money is spent on dues, how much influence these groups have over policy, and whether their agendas align with state law. It encourages states to withdraw from associations that are in direct conflict with their legislative priorities and to require legislative approval before renewing any membership.The report also calls for an end to the automatic adoption of "model policies" and "best practices" by national associations. Instead, SLI recommends executive orders that prevent agencies from implementing these guidelines without in-state review and oversight from elected officials. It also calls on states to prohibit public funds from being used to support DEI training or performance metrics, which the group describes as ideological Trojan horses."We think that Republican governors in particular need to make sure that they're sending people to these associations, knowing the problems that these associations have had in the past,"Wall said. "And I don't think they have. So our goal is to educate Republican governors about the scale of the problem and make sure that they condition future membership on reforms."

On Independence Day, President Donald Trump signed into law the most consequential federal school choice legislation in our nations history, declaring educational freedom as a new right for students and families across America. This landmark legislation, a part of the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act, will help get American education back on track and improve opportunities for generations of Americans to come.Quality education is foundational to success; it is the key to unlocking the American dream, and as Tim Scott rightly says, the closest thing to magic in America.For too long, however, parents have been forced to accept a one-size-fits-all approach to education that often does not work, and which has failed millions of students across decades. Those failures disproportionately affect low-income and minority families, whose children are frequently trapped in failing schools with no alternatives.It is a system that led to test scores that lag the rest of the world, poor literacy rates, too many children giving up and dropping out of school and ultimately, a failure to properly educate our rising generation.HOW TRUMP'S 'BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL' ENDS DECADES OF TEMPORARY TAX POLICY GAMES IN WASHINGTONThe consequences of academic failure are far more consequential than just failing a grade. Poor academic performance dramatically increases the likelihood of poverty, incarceration, joblessness and drug abuse. When a kid doesnt achieve his or her potential, it hurts society. It hurts us all.It was long past time for Washington to act and we did so decisively.Giving parents the ability to choose the school that best meets their childs individual needs is about more than just test scores its about giving every child a real shot at success.The One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act establishes the first-of-its-kind tax credit scholarship program for all types of educational settings. Beginning in 2027, individuals will receive a dollar-for-dollar tax credit of up to $1,700 per year for donations to educational nonprofits that fund K-12 scholarships for low- and middle-income students.Eligible scholarships can cover tuition, books, tutoring, transportation, uniforms, special needs services and educational technology. Parents and students will receive these scholarships tax-free.TRUMP JUST SCORED THE BIGGEST CONSERVATIVE VICTORY IN THREE DECADESThe result? Tens of billions of dollars for scholarships will be made available to K-12 students all across America. Millions of families will now be able to send their children to a school that aligns with their values and beliefs. Parents will be able to reclaim control of their childrens education.Thirty states right now have at least one private school choice program currently in effect. The education freedom provision we championed and President Trump signed into law now gives every state a choice: will they give new opportunities to students, or will they bow to the demands of the union bosses?Sadly, every single Democrat in Congress voted against the most important civil rights legislation of the 21st century. But President Trump and the Republican Congress delivered.It was our responsibility to fix a broken system. Our own parents worked hard and sacrificed to give us opportunities they never had. And we want the same and more for todays children.As a nation, the truth is we need more. We cannot remain the most prosperous, entrepreneurial, groundbreaking nation on Earth if we fail to set our children up for success.CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINIONBy creating multiple pathways to high-quality education, we ensure that no child remains trapped in an unsafe or failing school. Millions of low- and middle-income students of all races and backgrounds will now benefit enormously from billions in new scholarships. And new hope and opportunity.The right education can change the course of a childs life. We know this. Our Founding Fathers knew this. And now, every child in America has the right to access an excellent education regardless of race, income, or zip code.Ten, 20, 30 years from now, we will look back at this groundbreaking school choice provision as the single most important part of the One, Big, Beautiful Bill.Now parents not union bosses will control their childrens educational freedom.Advancing President Trumps pro-family, pro-student agenda marks the beginning of a historic era one that uplifts students, empowers families, overcomes poverty, and secures a brighter, freer future for generations to come.CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM SEN. BILL CASSIDYCLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM SEN. TIM SCOTTCLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM SEN. TED CRUZCLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM BETSY DEVOSRepublican Tim Scott represents South Carolina in the U.S. Senate. He is author of "One Nation Always Under God: Profiles in Christian Courage."RepublicanTed Cruzrepresents Texas in the U.S. Senate. He serves on the Judiciary Committee and isauthor of "Unwoke: How to Defeat Cultural Marxism in America."Betsy DeVos served as the 11th U.S. secretary of education and is author of "Hostages No More: The Fight for Education Freedom and the Future of the American Child."

North Carolinas HB 805, which passed earlier this year, changed everything for me, as a detransitioner from that state. By extending the statute of limitations on medical malpractice for gender transitions, the bill has given me a second chance to receive justice against a medical establishment that destroyed my body.Doctors put me on testosterone when I was just 17, destroying my healthy endocrine system and preventing my pubescent body from developing as it should have. Even after quitting testosterone, I continue to suffer the side effects: vaginal atrophy and sexual dysfunction, and chronic pain. I used to love singing, but no longer can the hormones damaged my voice, too.Fortunately, despite it all, I was able to conceive a healthy and beautiful baby boy, who is now a year old but years of testosterone left me with a hormone imbalance that, per doctors, made him big when I was carrying him. Testosterone also stopped my hips from developing properly, making pregnancy painful and vaginal delivery impossible, which meant I had to have a C-section.It wasnt only my hormones that medical transition irreversibly damaged. When I was 18, a surgeon amputated my healthy breasts and botched the procedure, which not only meant that I would eventually be robbed of the choice to breastfeed my son it meant that when I became a mother, I had milk trapped in my chest because, during the procedure, the surgeon had removed my nipples and sewn them on in the wrong place after cutting them up and reshaping them to look more "masculine."THE SUPREME COURT DID THE RIGHT THING. I KNOW BECAUSE I WAS PART OF A HORRIFYING GENDER TRANSITIONEach step of the way, the medical establishment profited from my suffering: first from the hormones and surgery that harmed me, then from corrective hormones and surgery to mitigate and try to heal the damage they caused.Last year, in a landmark legal victory, my case for fraud and deception was cleared to go forward in court the first detransitioner case of its kind to be declared legally viable. But because I had been mutilated at such a young age, my medical malpractice claims had been thrown out: the law had previously allowed for a four-year deadline from whenever you were injured, whether or not you knew that you were injured.CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINIONSo, in my case, even though I had no way of knowing that I would have breastmilk trapped in my chest until the age of 26 when I went through pregnancy and gave birth to my son the court ruled that I would not have been able to sue for that past the age of 22, since my botched double mastectomy was performed on me at the age of 18.But HB 805 expands this statute of limitations to 10 years after you discover your injury, and, because it applies retroactively, it revives claims that were previously time-barred such as mine. In light of this new development, I am hoping that my full case fraud as well as medical malpractice can advance.The court is expected to make a decision on this motion soon. A favorable decision would allow me to pursue justice and hold my doctors accountable and could inspire similar laws around the country for others harmed like I was.I cant get my breasts back. I cant get my health back. But if HB 805 works for my case, it may cause a domino effect nationwide and could allow not just me, but detransitioners in other states, too, to get justice for what was done to us.And it goes even deeper: if medical transition becomes a financially risky proposition, doctors and surgeons are less likely to perform it. While, in an ideal world, those who swear to do no harm would reject such mutilation in the first place, if the prospect of malpractice lawsuits means even just one fewer person suffering from the damage that I am, it will have been worth it.CLICK HERE TO READ MORE BY PRISHA MOSLEY