President Donald Trump signaled he may skirt Congress to extend his takeover of the Washington, D.C., police, and some congressional Republicans are heeding the call.Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., said he would vote for extending Trumps authority but didnt believe that Senate Democrats would budge and support giving the president more time."I'm absolutely in favor of President Trump doing whatever he needs to do," Marshall told Fox News Digital. "Of course, we want to follow the Constitution, and I need to go back and read what he can do and not do, but I think it'll take a 60-vote threshold in the Senate to pass this resolution."TRUMP PREDICTS LITTLE PROGRESS IN POTENTIAL SHUTDOWN TALKS WITH 'CRAZY' SCHUMER, JEFFRIESThe provision allows for the president to effectively federalize the local police force for up to 30 days, unless Congress, through a joint resolution, grants him an extension. But questions remain over whether that kind of resolution would hit the Senates typical 60-vote threshold or if it could pass through a simple majority.Trump on Monday invoked a section of the Home Rule Act that governs the district to give himself the authority to take control of the Metropolitan Police Department and has since sent in National Guard troops, alongside FBI and DEA agents, to patrol the streets.TOP HOUSE REPUBLICAN SAYS TRUMP 'RIGHTLY' TOOK OVER DC POLICE, DEMANDS BOWSER, OTHERS TESTIFY ON CRIMERepublicans control 53 seats in the upper chamber, meaning Democrats may be needed to grant Trump an extension beyond the 30-day window. But Trump, during a press conference Wednesday announcing new Kennedy Center honorees, said that he would be asking for "long-term extensions" and believed Democrats would not "do anything to stop crime."Trump also noted he may not need Congress."Well, if it's a national emergency, we can do it without Congress," Trump said. "But we expect to be before Congress, very quickly.TRUMP ACTIVATES NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS TO ADDRESS TOTALLY OUT OF CONTROL CRIME IN WASHINGTON"We're going to do this very quickly, but we're going to want extensions," he added. "I don't want to call a national emergency. If I have to, I will, but I think the Republicans in Congress will approve this pretty much unanimously."House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer, whose committee oversees the district, enthusiastically backed Trump's move to take control of D.C.'s police force Monday. When asked by Fox News Digital if he would back Trump leapfrogging Congress to continue his hold on the local police, a spokesman said, "We support the presidents actions to complete the mission."Both Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., and House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., initially supported the presidents move to crack down on crime in the district, which was spurred by a recent attack on a former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staffer.When asked for comment on Trumps latest remarks regarding an extension, Thunes office referred Fox News Digital to his previous statement on social media in which the GOP leader lauded the administrations move."Washington, D.C., should be a place where people can safely live, visit, work, and raise a family, and [Mondays] announcement is a positive step in that direction," he said.Fox News Digital reached out to Johnsons office for comment but did not hear back.A clearer picture of where lawmakers stand will likely have to wait, given that they are out of town in their respective states and districts for much of the 30-day window. But the issue will likely be front of mind when they return after Labor Day.Still, Trump already has some public support from Republicans for extending his timeframe.Sen. Jim Banks, R-Ind., told Fox News Digital in a statement he fully supported "President Trump's plan to make D.C. safe again, and will back up his efforts in the Senate."And Sen. Mike Lee, who has a bill that would repeal the Home Rule Act and federalize the district, similarly would support extending the 30-day window, "with the ultimate goal of working with him to pass the BOWSER Act and restore full Congressional oversight of the city.""The safety and sanity of our nations capital should not depend upon having good presidents in the Oval Office, but Im glad we have one now," the Utah Republican told Fox News Digital in a statement.

Cincinnati Bengals rookie first-round pick Shemar Stewart was the reason behind a big scuffle at training camp on Wednesday.Stewart was rushing during 11-on-11 drills when he lost his footing and fell into quarterback Joe Burrow, knocking him to the turf.In training camp, its emphasized across the NFL to not hit the quarterback to avoid any chance of injury. Even if Stewart didnt mean to do so, the Bengals offensive line took exception, and tensions ran high between the teammates.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COMThe scuffle was caught on video, though it didnt seem to escalate to something too physical.After practice, multiple offensive linemen expressed their displeasure with Stewarts actions.BENGALS END TENSE STANDOFF WITH FIRST-ROUND PICK SHEMAR STEWART WITH SIGNING OF HIS ROOKIE DEAL"Just be smartergreat player, [but] thats all of our hopes and dreams right there," center Ted Karras told reporters. "Weve got to be better, too. Thats on us."Right guard Lucas Patrick also pointed some of the blame at himself."Gotta protect No. 9. Starts with me up front," Patrick said, per the Cincinnati Enquirer. "I gotta play better and protect better, but you cant let No. 9 get hit."Stewart was a spotlight early in Bengals training camp, as he still hadnt signed his rookie deal due to contract language involving guarantees. He previously left mandatory minicamp due to the situation.After the standoff ended, the 17th overall pick finally agreed to his deal.The Bengals were reportedly trying to restructure the way their first-round rookie contracts are done, which would allow the team to void future guarantees."Im 100% right," he said of his stanceabout his rookie deal in June. "Im not asking for nothing yall (the Bengals) have never done before. But in yall case, yall just want to win arguments (more) than winning more games."Stewart had been attending meetings during minicamp but was not getting on the field. He did not report to training camp earlier this week, which upset Bengals executive Duke Tobin."I think Shemar needs to be here," Tobin told reporters. "Im not going to blame Shemar. He is listening to the advice he is paying for. I dont understand or believe or agree with the advice, but Im not the one paying for it. If I felt we were treating him unfairly as it relates to all the other draft picks in this years draft, then maybe it would be a different story. But we are not. I dont really understand where things are there."Stewart recorded his first NFL tackle in the Bengals first preseason game last week against the Philadelphia Eagles.Follow Fox News Digitalssports coverage on X, and subscribe tothe Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Amid the Trump administration's sweeping crackdown on crime in the nation's capital, a woman was shot to death in broad daylight in northeast Washington, D.C.an area most locals consider safe.Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers found a woman who was shot multiple times just after 11 a.m. Wednesday on the 3300 block of 15th Street. D.C. Fire and EMS took the unconscious woman to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead.Homicide detectives are investigating, though no suspects have been identified.President Donald Trump on Monday federalized the MPD under section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, which allows the president to take emergency control of the police force for 30 days.FBI DIRECTOR KASH PATEL BACKS TRUMP'S DC POLICE TAKEOVER: 'WHEN YOU LET GOOD COPS BE COPS, THEY DELIVER'Within hours of the announcement, a man was gunned down in D.C.'s Logan Circle neighborhood, according to a report from local affiliate FOX 5 D.C.The victim, Tymark Wells, 33, was shot multiple times and pronounced dead shortly after the attack, according to the report.TRUMP'S PLAN TO DEPLOY NATIONAL GUARD IN DC SPARKS BACKLASH FROM RESIDENTSBUT SOME WELCOME ITHundreds of National Guard members have been deployed to the city, joining agents from federal law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), U.S. Capitol Police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).While D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser noted violent crime in the capital is at its lowest level in 30 years, city records show violent crime, including robberies and homicides, skyrocketed post-pandemic.Certain neighborhoods were highlighted as particular concerns, with violent gun crimes from 2022 to 2023 rising by 460% downtown, 240% in Golden Triangle, and 216% in Brightwood, according to D.C. records.Homicides rose 500% in the Southwest/Waterfront and H Street neighborhoods, 400% in Greenway, and 233% in Cardoza/Shaw, records show.Trump said he may later declare a national emergency to extend the crime sweep if Congress does not get on board."You can't have 30 days,"he said during a news conference at the Kennedy Center. "We're going to do this very quickly, but we're going to want extensions. I don't want to call a national emergency, but if I have to, I will."Fox News Digital's Anders Hagstrom contributed to this report.

EXCLUSIVE: First lady Melania Trump is putting Hunter Biden on $1 billion notice over what she claims are "false, defamatory, disparaging, and inflammatory statements" made about her, demanding he immediately remove and retract the content and issue an apology or face legal action, Fox News Digital has learned.Fox News Digital exclusively obtained the letter that Alejandro Brito, attorney serving as litigation counsel for the first lady, sent to Hunter Biden and his attorney, Abbe Lowell, Aug. 6.DAILY BEAST PULLS STORY ALLEGING MELANIA-EPSTEIN CONNECTION AFTER LAWYERS DISPUTE FRAMINGBrito demanded that Biden "immediately retract the false, defamatory, disparaging and inflammatory statements made about Mrs. Trump," which were contained in a video interview with Channel 5 with Andrew Callaghan and posted to Youtube in early August.Fox News Digital reached out to Channel 5 with Andrew Callaghan for comment and did not receive a response."Failure to comply will leave Mrs. Trump with no choice but to pursue any and all legal rights and remedies available to her to recover the overwhelming financial and reputational harm that you have caused her to suffer," Brito wrote.In the video interview, titled "Hunter Biden Returns" video earlier in August, the former first son claimed "Epstein introduced Melania to Trump. The connections are, like, so wide and deep."Biden also claimed that "Jeffrey Epstein introduced Melania, and thats how Melania and the first lady and the President met.""These false, disparaging, defamatory, and inflammatory statements are extremely salacious and have been widely disseminated throughout various digital mediums," Brito wrote. "Indeed, the video has since been re-published by various media outlets, journalists, and political commentators with millions of social media followers that have disseminated the false and defamatory statements therein to tens of millions of people worldwide."Brito added: "Consequently, you have caused Mrs. Trump to suffer overwhelming financial and reputational harm."Brito said that Bidens "source" for the false statements is "serial fabulist Michael Wolff, whose lies were published by The Daily Beast in the article titled Melania Trump very involved in Epstein Scandal: Author."JEFFREY EPSTEIN THROWN OUT OF MAR-A-LAGO FOR HIRING THE HELP: TRUMP"Following receipt of our cease-and-desist demand letter just a week ago, The Daily Beast issued an apology to Mrs. Trump and retracted the false and defamatory statements contained in the article by deleting it in its entirety," Brito wrote. "Despite this, you have unjustifiably relied upon Mr. Wolffs false, defamatory, disparaging, and inflammatory statements about Mrs. Trump and maliciously elected to republish them."Brito warned Biden that he lacks "any viable defense to the overwhelming reputational and financial harm" he has caused the first lady to suffer."The timing of this video is evident and underscores the actual malice behind the decision to publish it given the plain falsity of the statements," Brito wrote. "Given your vast history of trading on the names of othersincluding your surnamefor your personal benefit, it is obvious that you published these false and defamatory statements about Mrs. Trump to draw attention to yourself."Brito demanded, on behalf of the first lady, that Biden "immediately issue a full and fair retraction of the video and any and all other false, defamatory, disparaging, misleading, and inflammatory statements about Mrs. Trump in as conspicuous a manner as they were originally published."Brito also demanded, on behalf of the first lady, that Biden "immediately issue an apology for the false, defamatory, disparaging, misleading and inflammatory statements about Mrs. Trump."Brito also directed Biden not to "destroy, conceal, or alter any paper or electronic files, physical evidence" or other records relating to the false claims; including communications regarding Melania Trump; records of his sources; and any documents or data regarding Mrs. Trump.MELANIA TRUMP POSTS VICTORY X POST AFTER JAMES CARVILLE REMOVES PODCAST ALLEGING 'EPSTEIN CONNECTION'"If you do not comply with the above by August 7, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. EST, Mrs. Trump will be left with no alternative but to enforce her legal and equitable rights, all of which are expressly reserved and are not waived, including by filing legal action for over $1 Billion Dollars in damages," Brito wrote. "You are on notice."A source close to the matter told Fox News Digital that Biden did not comply with the requests by the set deadline.The source said Biden and his team "leaked the letter" from the first lady's attorney to "a friendly reporter," which "shows how deeply concerned they are about Hunter's serious liability for spreading defamatory lies."It is unclear which reporter and for which outlet the letter was shared with.Biden and Lowell did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. The letter comes after the Daily Beast pulled the article detailing allegations by journalist Wolff that Melania Trump was introduced to her husband Donald Trump via a modeling agent connected to Epstein, after a challenge from the first ladys lawyers."Editors Note. After this story was published, The Beast received a letter from First Lady Melania Trumps attorney challenging the headline and framing of the article. After reviewing the matter, the Beast has taken down the article and apologizes for any confusion or misunderstanding," The Daily Beast posted in place of the article. The url for the article appears to have been amended to remove the original headline and now reads: thedailybeast.com/epstein-this-story-has-been-removed.It also comes after James Carville apologized to the first lady after repeating the same claim.Carville opened his latest episode of the Politics War Room podcast with a legal note."In last week's podcast episode, we spoke with Judd Legum," he said. "After the episode, we received a letter from Melania Trump's lawyer. He took issue with our title of one of those YouTube videos from that episode and a couple of comments I made about the first lady. We took a look at what they complained about, and we took down the video and edited out those comments from the episode. I also take back these statements and apologize."An aide to the first lady, Nick Clemens, told Fox News Digital in a statement, "First Lady Melania Trumps attorneys are actively ensuring immediate retractions and apologies by those who spread malicious, defamatory falsehoods. The true account of how the First Lady met President Trump is in her best-selling book, Melania." The first lady shared a screenshot of the apologys transcript and a crossed-out screenshot of a video of the episode titled, "The Epstein connection: Trump & Melania."Fox News' Alexander Hall and David Spector contributed to this report.

Welcome to the Fox News Politics newsletter, with the latest updates on the Trump administration, Capitol Hill and more Fox News politics content. Here's what's happening-US appeals court says Trump can slash billions in owed USAID funds-Three states sign new agreements with ICE for expanded immigration enforcement operations-Zohran Mamdani takes aim at Trump's immigration policies in fiery Staten Island speech: 'We are fighting to keep NYC a sanctuary city'President Donald Trump threatened"very severe consequences" for Russia if President Vladimir Putin doesnt agree to end the war in Ukraine after their meeting in Alaska on Friday.Trump issued the warning Wednesday as he was preparing for a sit-down with Putin in Anchorage."Yes, they will. There will be consequences," Trump said in response to a reporters question on the topic. The president then refused to elaborate on what the punishment would beRead more'FIGHTING FORCE': Adversaries are afraid of U.S. military, and that makes tough talks like Putin possibleFISCAL FIGHT: Trump predicts little progress in potential shutdown talks with 'crazy' Schumer, Jeffries'IF I HAVE TO': Trump warns he may bypass Congress with national emergency to keep D.C. police control beyond 30 days'STEP UP': Vance to visit U.S. troops during high-stakes UK trip ahead of Trump's Putin meeting'ENOUGH DAMAGE': Former Navy SEAL Rep. Eli Crane fires off message for ex-President Obama: 'Probably best to sit this one out'PHILADELPHIA FREEDOM: Soros-linked DA warns Trump after D.C. crime crackdown: Better not try it in PhillyLEGAL SHOWDOWN: Venezuelan migrants, progressive group sue Trump admin after Noem nixes Biden-era protected status'NO SIGN': Zelenskyy, ahead of Trump-Putin meeting, says there is 'no sign' Russia wants to end the war'REMAKE AMERICA': Vulnerable Democrats hammered with scathing ad handcuffing them to Mamdani, JeffriesCHECKING OUT: Last migrant hotel in New York City set to close as 'emergency shelter' program sunsetsQUORUM CRISIS: ORourke, Soros-linked groups face call for DOJ probe over alleged funding of Texas Dem walkoutCLASSROOM CRISIS: Democratic governor hopeful unveils education overhaul plan as election nears'SAFER' STREETS: Trump's new D.C. crime crackdown yields more than 100 arrestsCONTROVERSIAL DEAL: Rural town to turn closed prison into ICE detention facility, despite resident pushbackJUDICIAL SHOWDOWN: DOJ faces off with entire Maryland federal bench over automatic pauses in deportation casesGet the latest updates on the Trump administration and Congress, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.

Washington, D.C.'s mayor struck a dramatically different tune Tuesday regarding President Donald Trump's federalization of the city's police force, diverging from her original response to the matter."This is a time where community needs to jump in. We all need to, to do what we can in our space, in our lane, to protect our city and to protect our autonomy, to protect our home rule, and get to the other side of this guy, and make sure we elect a Democratic House so that we have a backstop to this authoritarian push," Bowser said during town hall with community leaders, which was livestreamed on X.She called Trump's effort "an intrusion on our autonomy."RADICAL DC OFFICIALS TREATED OFFICERS LIKE CRAP, POLICE LEADER SAYS 7 ATTACKS THAT LED TO TRUMP TAKEOVERMonday, the mayor's comments were significantly less inflammatory, when she simply called the move "unprecedented" but said she wasn't "totally surprised."During the meeting, she also pleaded with parents to be aware of what their children are doing, and suggested that mobs of juveniles committing crimes are not actually criminals."You've heard me talking about youth a lot in the last several months, especially youth who are participating in really destructive, disruptive behavior with these kind of youth takeovers," Boswer said. "Some of them are our kids. Some of them are coming across the region to descend on places like the Navy Yard. So parents this is not the first time you've heard me say this so parents, you really need to know where your kids are. I think we really have some kids that are, you know, not criminals, but they are getting together in big groups and causing some really they're causing destruction."DC ATTORNEY GENERAL BRIAN SCHWALB SLAMS TRUMP'S FEDERAL TAKEOVER, BREAKING WITH POLICE UNIONOn Wednesday, the Trump administration blasted Bowser's leadership in response to her comments."President Trump has rightfully stepped in to restore safety and security to Washington D.C. because for years, Democrat leadership failed to do so," White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson told Fox News Digital. "While crime surged and homelessness skyrocketed, DC leaders did nothing to stop the dangerous situation their only response was to change crime statistics to hide the problem."But this hasnt fooled DCs residents and visitors who are well aware of how dangerous the city is. In just the few days since President Trump has gotten involved, over 100 dangerous criminals have been removed from the streets along with illegal weapons and drugs. Where Democrat leaders failed, President Trump will succeed DC will be safe and clean again thanks to bold actions from President Trump."When asked for further clarification about Bowser's Tuesday comments, the mayor's press secretary, Daniel Gleick, directed Fox News Digital to crime statistics Bowser mentioned during the same town hall that the White House disputed."MPD has been doing the job with community and all of their partners in government to drive down violent crime in the District of Columbia," Bowser said. "We have, in fact, experienced a 26% decrease, and that's on top of the 35% decrease we saw in violent crime last year. Having said that, we never take our foot off the gas, and we're never satisfied with any level of crime."But those statistics, as the White House noted, may have been manipulated by a D.C. police commander, who is on administrative leave pending an investigation into the matter.Gleick responded to that report by pointing to comments Bowser made in a separate interview Tuesday.TRUMP TAKES CONTROL OF METRO POLICE, DEPLOYS NATIONAL GUARD TO TAKE ON WASHINGTON CRIMEBowser said, "The chief of police had concerns about one commander, investigated all seven districts and verified that the concern was with one person. So, we are completing that investigation, and we don't believe it implicates many cases."Gleick added, "The mayor says department leadership found data reporting anomalies in just one police district."Juvenile crime has been a point of emphasis amid the Trump administration's federalization move.On the night of May 17, a mob of about 100 teenagers terrorized the Navy Yard neighborhood a block from Nationals Park.It was the second such teen takeover in less than a month.At about 8 p.m., police began receiving calls about disorderly conduct, but the situation quickly turned violent. One group of teens beat two bystanders, punching them, knocking them to the ground and then stomping on them, according to WUSA9.There was at least one other similar incident that night.Fox News Digital reached out to Bowser's office and the DOJ.

Minnie Driver is enjoying some solo time at the beach.The 55-year-old "Good Will Hunting" actress posted a series of photos on Instagram Sunday from her solo vacation to Rome. In one of the photos, Driver lay on a lounge chair in a black bikini with high-waisted bottoms, which she paired with black sunglasses.In the next photo, Driver smiled into the camera as she took a selfie on the beach, this time adding an Armani sunhat to the mix to protect her skin."Slightly ambivalent about being alone for this long , but the lady next to me took the very nice overhead shot showing off my @leftonfriday swimsuit and I swam for 1.5 miles until a lifeguard in a pedalo () arrived to ask me if I was ok," she wrote in the caption.HALLE BERRY CHANNELS INNER BOND GIRL IN BIKINI PHOTOS FROM LAKE POWELL VACATION"Something seemed to make sense to him when I told him I was British. I love my work and I miss my family, I suppose these things must just live side by side . #sunday #roma #seaside #isleybrothers."Many fans flooded the comments section with compliments for the actress, while others were impressed by her dedication to her work and fitness.APP USERS CLICK HERE FOR POST"That swimsuit looks amazing on you, what a beautiful shot! Your dedication to swimming is inspiring, keep up the great work! It's tough being away from loved ones, but your work is impressive," one fan wrote in the comments section.A second fan wrote, "Another gorgeous swim suit you look amazing ," while a third added, "Was just thinking of buying one of those swimsuits and now I absolutely will because you look so damn good!!! Hope youre well ."LIKE WHAT YOURE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSThis isn't the first time Driver has posted a swimsuit photo on social media. In August 2024, the actress shared a photo of herself in a black one-piece, posing in front of a green screen to make it seem as if she was at the beach, writing in the caption that the scenario had her questioning her sanity.Earlier that year, the actress opened up to The Sunday Times about the mistakes she made in her life, particularly with relationships."If I look at my history, what it did was make me want to be married so much and then choose men who were so not the right men to be married to," Driver told The Sunday Times. "So, I would carry on longing to be married and to have that conservative version [of a relationship], find men who had no interest in that, and then if one did, run a mile."The one time I was engaged it would have been, I think, the biggest mistake of my life." Driver was engaged to actor Josh Brolin from April 2001 to October of that year.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTERDriver has never been married but has been in a relationship with writer and director Addison ODea since 2019, telling People in July 2024, "I could see what an amazing person he was from the minute I met him."

Dolly Parton has some advice for Kelly Clarkson and Reba McEntire as they grieve the loss of Brandon Blackstock.The country superstar, who counts Clarkson and McEntire as friends, was asked during an interview with Entertainment Tonight about what she'd say to them about Blackstock's death Clarkson was his ex-wife and the mother of his two youngest children, while McEntire was his former stepmother."I think that you just have to be grateful for the years that you've had with someone, and you just try to remember the very best of all that," she said. "Take their energy that they had given you then, and you just kind of recycle that, and let that become a part of you. Just honor their memory and just know they're in a better place than we are these days."Parton, who is herself mourning her husband, Carl Dean, after his death earlier this year, said that she hadn't had a chance to speak with either woman yet, but that she has "love" for both of them.KELLY CLARKSON REMAINED PROTECTIVE OF EX BRANDON BLACKSTOCK DESPITE LEGAL BATTLE AND MESSY DIVORCEMcEntire took to Instagram on Tuesday to pay tribute to her former stepson, who died on August 7. She posted a carousel of photos featuring her and Blackstock spending time together fishing, hugging and posing with a chicken."Last week, my stepson/oldest son Brandon Blackstock went home to be with God His struggle is over and he is in eternal peace in Gods presence. There is no one else like him, and Im thankful for the time we had together. His legacy and laughter will be carried on through his family. Rest in peace cowboy. Happy trails to you til we meet again."McEntire became Blackstock's stepmother during her marriage to his father, Narvel Blackstock, from 1989 to 2015. In that time, she was also stepmother to his two other children, Chassidy and Shawna, and despite them being her stepchildren, McEntire has always made it clear she considers them hers.LIKE WHAT YOURE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS"Brandons been my son forever, it seems. Although hes my stepson, I still love him like hes my total my blood," she told Entertainment Tonight in 2021.She had previously told The Boot in 2010 that she doesn't "consider Brandon, Chassidy and Shawna stepchildren."APP USERS CLICK HERE FOR POSTBlackstock died at the age of 48 after a private three-year battle with cancer. His cause of death was melanoma, a form of skin cancer.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER"Brandon Blackstock passed away peacefully at his home in Butte, Montana on August 7th under hospice care surrounded by his family," Silver Bow County Coroner Dan Hollis told Fox News Digital.Blackstock leaves behind his parents, siblings and four children: Savannah, Seth, River Rose and Remington.

The chances of a person facing a violent crime in Washington, D.C., have dropped in recent years, but the possibility of dying during such a crime has skyrocketed, data shows."You have less chance of being victimized, but if you are victimized, you have more of a chance of dying," John Jay adjunct lecturer Jillian Snider, a retired New York Police Department officer, told Fox News Digital Tuesday of violent crime trends in the nation's capital.Snider was referring to a report published by the Council on Criminal Justice in July, which studied violent crime data of 17 large U.S. cities between 2018 and 2024, specifically diving into the lethality of violent crimes in those cities. It found Washington, D.C., had the highest lethality level out of the group which included cities such as Baltimore and Chicago at a 38% increase in lethality in 2024 compared with 2018.Lethality in D.C. jumped by a whopping 341% when compared to 2012 data, the study found, reporting that there were 13 homicides per 1,000 serious violent crimes in 2012 to 57 homicides per 1,000 serious violent crimes in 2024.The study defined lethality as "the number of homicides per aggravated assaults and robberies."TOP DEMOCRATS RIPPED ON SOCIAL MEDIA OVER 'BONKERS' REACTIONS TO TRUMP'S DC CRIME PLAN: 'MASSIVE LIAR'D.C.'s crime rates are under the national spotlight this week after President Donald Trump announced Monday morning during a packed press conference that he was federalizing the Metropolitan Police Department under section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, which allows the president to assume emergency control of the capital's police force for 30 days.WASHINGTON POST SOURCE SAYS DC IS SAFE BUT STAYS ANONYMOUS OVER 'PERSONAL SAFETY' CONCERNS"Our capital city has been overtaken by violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals, roving mobs of wild youth, drugged-out maniacs and homeless people," Trump said during the press conference. "And we're not going to let it happen anymore. We're not going to take it."Upon Trump's announcement, Democratic lawmakers slammed the president for allegedly overstepping and sending in the National Guard despite crime trends falling in recent years. Top Democrats, such as House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, promoted the narrative that crime is at a 30-year low."Violent crime in Washington, D.C. is at a thirty-year low," Jeffries said Monday. "Donald Trump has no basis to take over the local police department. And zero credibility on the issue of law and order. Get lost.""As you listen to an unhinged Trump try to justify deploying the National Guard in DC, here's reality: Violent crime in DC is at a 30-year low," former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton posted to X.When asked about some Democrats touting that crime has fallen to a 30-year-low, Snider argued that it's not "fair" to compare any city in 2025 to one in the 1990s.TRUMP CLAIMS DC CRIMES TROUNCE STATS FROM NOTORIOUSLY VIOLENT CITIES WORLDWIDE"The 90s were a shaky time in most urban and metropolitan areas," she said. "We were coming out of the crack epidemic. We were coming out of economic instability from the late 80s. And then the '90s, we saw like this revolutionary policing, this broken windows policing, this now hot-spot policing, this CompStat-driven era.""I don't think that any agency today in 2025 should be saying, like, 'Oh, we're doing so much better than we were in 1995,'" she continued. "It's a completely different world than it was in 1995. You have different demographics in different areas. You have different population counts in different areas."The U.S. was rocked by violent crime waves from coast-to-coast in 2020 and the subsequent years, when the pandemic upended day-to-day life with lockdown orders and social justice protests and riots broke out in major cities nationwide. The FBI logged a nearly 30% increase in murders compared to the year prior, marking the largest single-year increase in killings since the agency began tracking the crimes.TRUMP ADMIN CUTTING $20M IN DC SECURITY FUNDING AFTER FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ORDERED TO INCREASE PRESENCEWashington, D.C., was among the cities caught up in the national crime trend, recording 198 homicides that year, which marked a 16-year high for the city. Homicides jumped to 226 in 2021, another 203 in 2022 and 274 in 2023 which was a 20-year high for the city.D.C., saw homicides drop by roughly 31% from 2023 to 2024, according to year-end Metropolitan Police Department data reporting 274 homicides in 2023 compared to 187 in 2024. The data shows violent crime across the board fell by roughly 35% from 2023, when the department reported 5,345 violent crime incidents, to 2024, when it reported 3,469 violent crimes."Everyone should be celebrating that crime is falling," Snider said. "But at the same time, we don't have the full picture: Why is crime more deadly than it once was?"The Council on Criminal Justice study found, specifically, that Washington's lethality increased each year from 20122021, except for 2016."The largest single-year increase was a 57% jump from 2014 to 2015," the study reported. "From 2019 to 2020, lethality increased by 22%, followed by another 14% increase in 2021. It then declined slightly in 2022 (-3%) and 2023 (-8%), before a 5% uptick in 2024. Lethality in 2020 was significantly higher than in all earlier years, except for 2019. However, lethality levels observed in 2021 through 2024 were not significantly different from those in 2020."The author behind the study, Council on Criminal Justice senior researcher Ernesto Lopez, explained to local media in July that "lethality has climbed significantly" in the nation's capital despite crime trends falling."We look back to 2012 lethality again, that share of violence that ended a homicide that increased by over 300% from 2012 to 2024, even though the homicide rate drops," Lopez told WTOP in July. "So, the violent situations can be getting less frequent, but when those violent situations occur, they more likely end in a fatality than over a decade ago."He added that the top takeaway from the study was "homicide and other violent crimes are declining through the first half of this year and continuing to fall below pre-pandemic levels.""This is a continuing pattern of declining crime rates," he added. "Even some offenses, such as motor vehicle theft, that are seeing huge spikes really throughout 2022 and 2023, are really starting to come down in many jurisdictions."While violence has dropped in D.C. in recent years, "its still at a very high level," Council on Criminal Justice President and CEO Adam Gelb told Fox News Digital Wednesday, when asked about recent rhetoric that crime is at a 30-year low despite lethality spiking in the city."Theres been a large and unmistakable drop in violence in Washington over the last two years but its still at a very high level and there are microtrends that cut against that overall positive picture," Gelb said. "When pieces of the puzzle are moving in different directions, its easy for people to pick out some of them and create an image that advances their policy and political agenda."Snider explained that violent crimes decreasing while lethality increases is attributable to a handful of variables, including gang-related crimes."D.C. is known for having gangs and crews, and I know that there have been reports of increased juvenile-related crime," Snider said, pointing to a surge that began in 2021 as youths committed violent carjackings. "If you see higher gang or crew-related activity that potentially is using weapons, obviously that's where you're going to see more serious physical injury or death. So that's one of the bigger attributes also."WHITE HOUSE LAUNCHES FEDERAL SECURITY BLITZ AS PRESIDENT VOWS TO END DC 'CRIME PLAGUE'Other variables that can contribute to an increase in lethality are long wait times to receive emergency care, such as slow EMS response times or long hospital waits, and if a police department is understaffed.The study argued "two interrelated developments" on firearms likely drove the lethality in D.C., claiming "widespread availability (of firearms) may contribute to a perceived need for self-armament, creating a feedback loop or arms race in which people acquire guns because they believe others are armed.""This dynamic appears to have real consequences: Firearms purchased in 2020 were used in more crimes than the annual average in previous years. In addition, the flow of new firearms into legal markets contributes directly to the stock of firearms in illegal markets. That is, guns that are legally obtained may eventually be illegally sold and acquired by people who may not have the right to lawfully possess a firearm," the study's findings reported, while adding the "advancement of firearm technology" that increases their "lethal potential" likely drove lethality.Snider added that she understands the Trump administration's rationale for federalizing the police force, but underscored the importance of having local police lead their jurisdiction as they understand the neighborhoods they patrol, the community and where crime lurks. Snider argued the administration should consider delivering federal funds to bolster local police departments' abilities to recruit and retain officers."Police presence in uniform does deter crime," she said. "You have two agents or two officers standing on a street corner, you're not going to see a lot of people getting their purses snatched, you're not gonna see a lot of people selling drugs on the corner, you're not gonna see a lot of people getting carjacked. But after the surge is over and after this National Guard deployment has withdrawn, what does that leave the MPD with?"

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas argued that race was driving President Donald Trumps crackdown on crime in major U.S. cities like Washington, D.C. because they are run by Black mayors.On Monday, Trump deployed the National Guard to Washington, D.C. and federalized the police department to crack down on crime in the area. During a press conference, he listed several other cities such as Chicago, Los Angeles, Baltimore and Oakland as other places that are being harmed by crime.While speaking to CNNs Kate Bolduan on Wednesday, Lucas pointed out that many of those major cities have Black mayors, such as himself, and believed that both race and politics are primarily behind Trumps more recent attacks.CHRIS MATTHEWS SAYS DEMOCRATS 'FALLING INTO A TRAP OF DEFENDING WHATS INDEFENSIBLE' ON CRIME"I wont say thats the totality of it, but I absolutely think it is," Lucas said. "Youre trying to create a counterpoint often in politics. And what is a better counterpoint than Donald Trump in whatever way you see him, and a mayor? Black women mayors have been the subject of lots of attacks."Lucas listed Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass as an example of someone Trump likes to "pick fights" with and encouraged others to also fight back even if their cities are experiencing high crime rates."And by the way, this is one of the best fights to pick, because what I have to sit in front of you and say is, yes, there are homicides in my city. Yes, there is crime. But we dont think the same prescription of help is necessary," Lucas said. "Its a tough position. But I think, frankly, this is the situation were in. And hes not really interested in trying to save lives for us, but just exploiting the political issue."CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURELucas remarked that his city is unlikely to be targeted by Trump because of their Republican governor, and "its not as interesting from just a broader political point.""This is nothing but a wedge issue against American cities and against American mayors who largely dont have the same megaphone to respond," Lucas said.D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Black woman, has called Trumps National Guard move "unsettling and unprecedented" and has repeatedly argued that the city is not experiencing a spike in crime.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP