Ex-NBC News host Chuck Todd blamed former President Joe Biden on Friday for the return of President Donald Trump.Todd, who has not been shy about criticizing the Democrats for what went wrong in the 2024 election, spoke about how he felt they had snatched defeat from the jaws of victory on the "Chuck Toddcast."Todd asserted that Trump lost in 2020 because "the country was convinced, Yeah, this is not the direction - that this is not the type of leadership that is good for the long-term image of the United States."However, four years of Biden managed to change that - which Todd said speaks volumes.CHUCK TODD TEARS INTO BIDEN'S FAMILY-MAN IMAGE, QUESTIONS IF WE 'WERE SOLD A 40-YEAR BILL OF GOODS'"But Biden's presidency didn't turn the page, right? As I've said to you before, he wasn't a good enough leader, because a better leader helps the country turn the page. You know, we rarely go backwards as a country. So, how bad of a presidency do you have to encourage the country to go backwards?" Todd asked.He went on to argue "the perception of the Biden presidency was that it's just a weak and ineffective presidency. Its possible some of the things he signed into law will have long-term success, but the fact of the matter is his legacy is Donald Trump came back, and that's on Joe Biden."Fox News Digital reached out to Biden for comment.CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURETrumps return to the presidency after losing in 2020 is historically rare, with the only other president to do so in the United States' nearly 250-year history being Grover Cleveland.

Congressional Democrats remained skeptical that any progress toward an end to the war in Ukraine would be made ahead of the meeting between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.The high-stakes meeting in Anchorage, Alaska, comes as lawmakers have grown anxious to see an end to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and with many ready to slap a bone-breaking sanctions package on Moscow and its allies unless Putin relents.But Democrats are not so sure that Trump will yield results in his closed-door meeting with Putin, the first between U.S. and Russian leaders since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.TRUMP TO HOLD HISTORIC SUMMIT WITH PUTIN IN ALASKA SEEKING AN END TO RUSSIAUKRAINE WAR"I fear this meeting could once again end with America ceding ground to an autocrat who has spent his career undermining democratic values," Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., and the top Democrat on the Senate Intel Committee, said.He warned that there could be no concessions without Ukraines involvement, Russias withdrawal from Ukrainian territory and "enforceable guarantees" for Ukraines security."Anything less would be an invitation for further aggression from Moscow and every autocrat watching to see if the United States still has the backbone to defend the principles that have kept Americans safe since the Second World War," he said. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., accused Trump of previously "playing footsie" with Putin, but noted that it appeared that the presidents disposition toward his Russian counterpart had shifted.He added that last year, House Democrats and Republicans worked together to pass another military aid package for Ukraine, and likened it to a "Churchill or Chamberlain moment."WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT TRUMPS MEETING WITH VLADIMIR PUTIN IN ALASKA"We are either going to appease the dictator or we're going to aggressively oppose the dictator," Jeffries said. "And as we saw with Chamberlain, appeasing the dictator never works."Trump himself sought to set expectations for the summit, telling Fox News Radio earlier this week that there would be a 25% chance that the meeting would end in failure.And aboard Air Force One, Trump told reporters that he wanted to "see a ceasefire rapidly.""I dont know if its going to be today, but Im not going to be happy if its not today," he said. "Everyone said it cant be today, but Im just saying I want the killing to stop."The Trump administration has threatened to slap secondary tariffs on India, a major buyer of Russian oil, if the meeting did not go well. That comes after Trump gave Putin a 50-day deadline to reach a ceasefire agreement, which the president recently shortened to "10 or 12" days.PUTIN ALLY WARNS 'TITANIC EFFORTS' ARE UNDERWAY TO SINK TRUMP SUMMIT OVER UKRAINE WARSen. Jeanne Shaheen, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Intelligence Committee, told reporters that "people have been willing to give the White House and the president the benefit of the doubt.""But if he doesnt produce anything at this summit, after drawing red line after red line there will be growing concern and a growing pressure to try and get something done," the New Hampshire Democrat said.One area where many lawmakers in the upper chamber agree is the necessity for a sanctions package against Russia. Currently, Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., have a bill in the works that would slap up to 500% tariffs on countries buying energy products from Moscow.Blumenthal told MSNBC earlier this week if Trump stood firm and insisted on a ceasefire, Putin come to the table with European leaders and secure security guarantees "he has the makings of a potential agreement that could win him the Nobel Peace Prize.""But my fear is that he will be the mercurial Donald Trump who allowed the deadline for sanctions to pass last Friday without any imposition of new levies on Russia, and that he will fail to adhere to those principles adopted yesterday by the European countries in their meeting," he said.

The nations capital reached an agreement with President Donald Trumps administration after suing over federal authorities takeover of the citys police force.The decision came on Friday afternoon, hours after the Trump administration named DEA chief Terry Cole as the new emergency head of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).Ultimately, both sides agreed to block Cole from assuming the role, while effectively returning the department to Police Chief Pamela Smith. Cole is now required to go through Mayor Murial Bowser before directing the MPD.DC SUES TRUMP ADMINISTRATION OVER 'UNLAWFUL' FEDERAL TAKEOVERUnder the agreement, the Trump administration retains control of the police force."In my nearly three decades in law enforcement, I have never seen a single government action that would cause a greater threat to law and order than this dangerous directive," Smith said in a court filing.The courtroom showdown was sparked by Trumps deployment of federal authorities within Washington D.C., with the city ultimately asking for a temporary restraining order blocking an executive order aimed at taking over the local police force.AG SHOWDOWN: DC ATTORNEY GENERAL REJECTS US ATTORNEY GENERAL PAM BONDI ORDER AS 'UNLAWFUL'Yaakov Roth, an attorney for the Trump administration, argued in court that the decision to remove Smith from her post was a result of an immigration order that neglected to provide financial aid to federal authorities, while claiming the ability to determine what type of help the MPD must provide is within presidential authority.U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes, a Biden appointee, previously indicated the law does not allow Trump to broadly take over the citys police force, but conceded it could grant him more power than the city would like."The way I read the statute, the president can ask, the mayor must provide, but the president cant control," Reyes said.DCS SOFT-ON-CRIME LEADERS LET TEENS RUN WILD, OPENED DOOR FOR TRUMP TAKEOVER: POLICE GROUPHowever, District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb wrote in court filings that the move threatens to "wreak operational havoc," while arguing the presidents power is limited to mandating that the mayor utilize the police force for federal purposes.Schwalb and the Department of Justice did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.Trump is the first president to utilize control over the capitals police department since the Home Rule Act was signed in 1973, granting the city the ability to elect its own city council and mayor. The law limits a presidents control to 30 days without congressional approval, which Trump has indicated he will seek to extend.The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Classical and character-based education may seem to some antiquated concepts in the new AI-driven world. However, two recent and prominent AI developments definitively prove the opposite to be true. Going back to our nations founding, great minds were universal in the belief that the survival of the Republic depended on an educated and virtuous public. Now, if AI experts are to be believed, classical and character education is fundamental to the very survival of humanity.This piece is in response to the following two recent developments. First, just last week, the "Godfather of AI" proposed that to protect humanity from destruction, AI developers must find ways to infuse AI with "compassion" and other virtues. Second, this suggestion was related to a June report, the essence of which was captured by the headline, "Top AI models will lie, cheat and steal to reach goals". The Report bluntly concluded, "[AI] Models didnt stumble into misaligned behavior accidentally; they calculated it as the optimal path."One response to this deliberate AI malfeasance, as seemingly suggested by the "Godfather of AI," is to attempt to "teach" character and virtue to AI. To be clear, the authors do not oppose the concept of placing guardrails in AI as possible. For example, one assumes AI could "learn" to comply with civil and criminal laws. However, the concept that human existence relies upon anything other than human virtue and character must be rejected. This seemingly philosophical imperative has direct, immediate, and practical policy ramifications.AI CAN SIMULATE A TEACHER, BUT IT CANT SHEPHERD A SOULSoon, virtually every person from the youngest toddlers to senior citizens will be regularly interacting with AI. Although the economic implications have received considerable attention, there has been comparatively limited examination of the impact on the moral values and character of society. AI is amoral and can be nothing else. No matter how sophisticated a machine, it cannot possess its own morality. The study referenced above demonstrating AI will readily lead users down or simply take itself immoral paths to achieve requested ends should surprise nobody.The reality that every person is exposed to immoral guidance and suggestions is as old as time. However, the new reality of the AI world will be not only are such suggestions embedded in every aspect of life and coming from a machine that some might wrongfully view as infallible, but those immoral paths could even be implemented (and even preferred) by AI absent human intervention.The answer to this extremely dangerous side of the AI revolution is the same as what our founders advised to preserve the Republic a people armed with critical thinking ability and firmly grounded in fundamental virtue. Therein lies the key to unleashing AI for untold advancement, not destruction, of humanity.The direct policy ramifications are clear. These developments make classical and character education not just a priority as they should always have been despite recent wanderings but literally an existential imperative to meet the simultaneous threat and opportunity of this incredible moment.Every childs first and most important moral teachers are their parents. Full stop. Schools are there to reinforce and support. From our founding, schools were expected to reinforce basic virtues like hard work, compassion, self-discipline, and honesty. In the last decades, we have strayed terribly from that. While the resulting societal and individual costs have been horrible, the recent AI studies are telling us the impacts could quickly become catastrophic.CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINIONA key component of classical education rests on structured questioning. Never simply accept an answer without test and today we add especially answers that come from a machine. The direct relationship between that time-honored classical process and harnessing AI for advancement should be self-evident. However, the warning lights are everywhere that learning to effectively use and test AI outcomes is nowhere near enough. We must also ask is the answer or path AI recommends or takes good? Is it consistent with honesty and compassion? Does it demonstrate resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity or the easy way out? Only a person, fully cognizant of fundamental concepts of virtue, possessing character, can ever judge those things.We are not born to do that. We must learn it, with much of it learned during the primary and secondary school ages. We learn it in our homes, places of worship, communities, and we learn it in our schools.If you, like the authors, are watching the AI revolution with a decided mixture of hope and trepidation, we suggest an important part of the answer to this simultaneous threat and opportunity rests in the immediate and massive reinvigoration of both classical and character education. Classical education that builds the skills and thought processes necessary to truly unlock the potential of AI. Character education so that moral judgments that infuse everyday life are never left to machines. Through this combination, the immense potential of AI might be turned not to our destruction, but to advancing that which is the good and the beautiful.Christopher Mohrman, CEO of Resilience Learning.

Claudia Schiffer impressed fans with her three-minute ice plunge.The 54-year-old supermodel's figure was on display as she took a dip in the cold water."3-minute ice plunge in my beautiful @chloe bathing suit," she captioned photos and a video on Instagram.The blonde bombshell wore a floral one-piece with a bow tied to the shoulder. Schiffer accessorized with white sunglasses and wore her hair in a ponytail.HALLE BERRY TURNS HEADS WITH BIRTHDAY BIKINI PHOTOS FROM VACATIONThe German model and actress opened up about aging after turning 50 in 2020."I think age should be celebrated and revered," Schiffer told Country and Town House that year. "Theres a reason we have cakes and parties on our birthdays, and I feel the same way about getting older each year."I am so happy to be turning 50 and have never felt more confident or happy in my life. I dont try to lookor feel younger. I embrace now."LIKE WHAT YOURE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSSchiffer explained she had also gained appreciation for her modeling career over the years."I have always enjoyed getting older as it comes with more confidence, and I hugely appreciate the position Im in now," she told the outlet."Im very lucky to love what I do and to be able to pick and choose my projects. Im also enjoying the different avenues my career has taken, including roles where I am designing or curating collections."CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTERSchiffer married English director Matthew Vaughn in 2002, and they share three children together Caspar, 22, Clementine, 20, and Cosima, 15.The model opened up about the values she's instilled in her children."I teach my kids to be independent thinkers and to go for their dreams, regardless of what people think," she previously said. "And to be kind and gentle."

A New York woman recently discovered a 2.3-carat white diamond in an Arkansas state park while hunting for the perfect stone for her engagement ring.Micherre Fox a 31-year-old Manhattan resident decided years ago that she wanted to find her own diamond. On July 8, she traveled to Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas to begin her search, according to a news release from Waymon Cox, the parks assistant superintendent.MANHUNT INTENSIFIES FOR ARKANSAS SUSPECT LIKELY INJURED IN FATAL ATTACK OF COUPLE"There's something symbolic about being able to solve problems with money, but sometimes money runs out in a marriage," Fox said in a statement. "You need to be willing and able to solve those problems with hard work."Fox spent three weeks scouring the park's 37.5-acre search area. On July 29, her final day at the park, she noticed a glimmer near her feet. At first, she thought it may have been a spiderweb, but upon closer inspection, she realized it was a diamond, according to the news release.MUSEUM DISCOVERS RARE 67-MILLION-YEAR-OLD DINOSAUR BONE UNDER ITS OWN PARKING LOT"Having never seen an actual diamond in my hands, I didnt know for sure, but it was the most "diamond-y diamond I had seen," Fox said in a statement.Park staff confirmed the gem was a diamond, and Fox was immediately flooded with emotion falling to her knees crying and then laughing, according to the news release.RARE 10-CARAT PINK DIAMOND LINKED TO MARIE ANTOINETTE TO BE DISPLAYED AND AUCTIONEDThe gem which is about the size of a human canine tooth is the third-largest diamond discovered so far this year at Crater of Diamonds State Park.Fox has since named her gem "Fox-Ballou Diamond," after the last names of her and her partner, according to the news release.Since the Crater of Diamonds became an Arkansas state park in 1972, park visitors have discovered and kept over 35,000 diamonds. Adults can participate in gem hunting at the park, which is open to the public, for a fee of $15 per day, the Associated Press reported.Earlier this year, a Minnesota resident unearthed a 3.81-carat brown diamond in the state park.

FIRST ON FOX: Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Friday lodged an arrest detainer against an illegal immigrant from Lebanon accused of kidnapping his Uber passenger in Texas.Sameh Mohamad Chami, 49,was arrested by Friendswood Police Department on Aug. 6 after allegedly sexually assaulting a young woman while working as an Uber driver, according to a report from affiliate FOX 26 Houston.The 21-year-old victim fell asleep in the backseat of Chami's car after a late night at a Galveston saloon and reportedly woke up in the front seat of his car parked near a school with her shorts unbuttoned.ICE LODGES DETAINER AGAINST ILLEGAL MIGRANT CHARGED WITH KIDNAPPING, SEXUALLY ASSAULTING NEIGHBOR IN TEXASThe woman's family was following her location and tracked her to an empty parking lot at about 3 a.m., according to the report. She told police she remembered Chami putting his hands down her pants.Friendswood police said Chami intentionally ended the ride before dropping the woman off at home, FOX 26 reported.ICE IN HOUSTON RELEASES NEW DETAILS ABOUT ARRESTED ILLEGAL CHILD SEX OFFENDERSChami entered the U.S. on Dec. 2, 2021, under the Biden administration, on a B-2 tourist visawith permission to remain for six months, according to a statement from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).He applied for and was granted an extension until Dec. 1, 2022, but failed to depart as required and has remained in the U.S. illegally for more than three years, DHS said.PREVIOUSLY SELF-DEPORTED IRANIAN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT PICKED UP AFTER REFUSING ICE ARREST IN TEXAS"ICE lodged an arrest detainer againstSameh Mohamad Chamia criminal illegal alien let into our country by Joe Biden," DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin wrote in a statement to Fox News. "This depraved criminal was charged with aggravated kidnapping after he allegedly sexually assaulted a 21-year-old girl who was a passenger in his Uber car. President [Donald] Trump and Secretary [Kristi] Noem unleashed our brave law enforcementto take down these sickos and to protect women from sexual predators."The detainer was issued on the day of Chami's arrest to ensure he is transferred to ICE custody and not released into American neighborhoods, according to DHS."President Trump and Secretary Noem are committed to restoring integrity to the visa program and ensuring it is not abused to allow aliens a permanent one-way ticket to remain in the U.S.," DHS wrote in a statement.

Authorities are investigating after an apparent jailhouse video leaked showing convicted murderer Bryan Kohberger inside his maximum security prison cell.The video, shot from above, shows Kohberger seemingly placing an item on a shelf while standing inside his cell."We are aware of the videos circulating online and are investigating the matter," the Idaho Department of Correction said in a social media post. "While we cannot yet confirm the veracity of the videos, if verified, they are a clear violation of IDOC policy and the parties responsible will be held accountable, up to and including termination."IDAHO KILLER BRYAN KOHBERGER COMPLAINS TO GUARDS ABOUT INMATE TAUNTS WITH TARGET ON HIS BACK: REPORTThe department also cautioned that the videos could be fake or a product of artificial intelligence, while noting two emails had recently been sent reminding employees of the prisons policy on social media and professionalism."Videotaping and publicly sharing security footage is prohibited conduct and we will be reviewing all legal options, including criminal prosecution."Kohberger is currently serving four consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole at Idaho Maximum Security Institution for the 2022 murders of four University of Idaho students Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle.BRYAN KOHBERGER'S 'WEIRD' BEHAVIOR AND SOCIAL AWKWARDNESS MAY MAKE HIM BIGGER TARGET THAN JEFFREY DAHMERHe is being housed in the prisons "J Block," a section of single-occupancy cells that are typically reserved for high-risk prisoners who are only granted an hour of outdoor time per day, according to the Idaho Department of Correction.The video comes just days after Kohberger reportedly complained to prison guards about being tormented by other prisoners,according to the Daily Mail."They are literally getting up into the grate and yelling at him," Chris McDonough, a former detective with the Cold Case foundation, told the outlet. "The inmates are taking it in turns doing it. Its relentless."NEWLY RELEASED DOCUMENTS REVEAL IDAHO KILLER'S DISTURBING BEHAVIOR BEFORE CAMPUS MURDERSIn a statement toNewsNation, an Idaho Department of Corrections spokesperson said: "We are aware of Kohbergers complaints about what he considers taunting.""Incarcerated individuals commonly communicate with each other in prison," the spokesperson said. "Bryan Kohberger is housed alone in a cell, and IDOC security staff maintain a safe and orderly environment for all individuals in our custody."Fox News Digital's Michael Ruiz contributed to this report.

French leaders are condemning vandals who chopped down a tree honoring a Jewish man who was kidnapped and tortured for over three weeks before dying on the way to a hospital.In 2006, a group that called itself the "Gang of Barbarians," led by Youssouf Fofana, kidnapped Ilan Halimi, a 23-year-old Jewish man. For more than three weeks, Halimi was held hostage and tortured. Believing an old antisemitic stereotype, Halimis captors assumed his family was wealthy and demanded a ransom it could not afford.At least 27 people participated in Halimis abduction and torture, but it is believed that more knew of the crime and did not report it to law enforcement.On Feb. 13, 2006, Halimi was found naked, handcuffed and barely clinging to life at a train station. He died while being transported to a hospital.AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER SUSPENDED AFTER FREE PALESTINE BROADCAST TO ISRAELI PILOTSThe commemorative olive tree, planted in Halimis honor 14 years ago, was cut down late Wednesday night. The Associated Press reported the felling appeared to be done with a chainsaw.French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the act, saying, "Cutting down the tree honoring Ilan Halimi is an attempt to kill him a second time."It will not succeed: the nation will not forget this child of France who died because he was Jewish," he added.French Prime Minister Franois Bayrou said, "No crime can uproot his memory."In response, U.S. Ambassador to France Charles Kushner thanked Bayrou for his "strong and unequivocal" condemnation of the felling of the memorial tree."I hope your clear condemnation, as the leader of the French government, stands as a model of principled leadership and zero tolerance toward the surge of antisemitism in France and worldwide. Your statement will resonate far beyond the immediate context, reassuring those targeted and inspiring all who cherish tolerance," Kushner wrote on X.EUROPEAN LEADERS DECRY HAMAS VIDEO OF ISRAELI CAPTIVES: UNLIMITED INHUMANITYDespite strongly condemning the incident, Macron was not praised by Israeli Minister of Diaspora and Combating Antisemitism Amichai Chikli. The Israeli official pointed to Macrons recent promise to recognize a Palestinian state and suggested the French president effectively "wielded the axe.""Macron rushed to condemn it but I told him his own hands wielded the axe. No French president has been more hostile to the Jewish community since the Vichy regime," Chikli wrote."By pushing recognition of a Palestinian state under the heavy shadow of the October 7 atrocities, while our people rot in captivity Macron places himself at the political vanguard of Hamas and of the surging tide of global antisemitism."In the years since Halimis murder, France has grappled with antisemitic incidents, including a 2015 attack on the Hyper Cacher store in Paris that left four dead. In March, just over 10 years after the attack, the store was targeted again. An arsonist set a fire that damaged the front of the store and some of its interior, according to The Times of Israel.FRANCE TO DEPORT PALESTINIAN WOMAN OVER ANTISEMITIC POST FEATURING HITLER, HALTS GAZA EVACUATIONSAntisemitism in France has persisted since the war in Gaza began in 2023 after Hamas brutal Oct. 7 massacre. Jews in France have not only seen mass protests against Israel. They have been victims of antisemitic violence.In June 2024, a 12-year-old girl was raped by three teen boys who, according to police reports, uttered death threats and antisemitic remarks during the attack. The incident sparked outrage in France and was condemned by Macron.According to The Times of Israel, the boys were charged with sexual assault on a minor and recording and sharing sexual images, aggravated by religious motivation. The outlet reported that two of the attackers, who were 13 at the time of the rape, were sentenced to nine and seven years in prison. One assailant could not be sentenced to jail due to his age and would reportedly be placed in closed foster care for five years.Recently, the Israeli airline El Al has been a target for antisemitism in France. Earlier this month, the companys Paris offices were vandalized with red paint and anti-Israel graffiti. The vandals wrote that El Al was a "genocide airline."Just days later, a French air traffic controller broadcast "Free Palestine" to El Al pilots. The worker has since been suspended. El Al called the remarks "unprofessional and inappropriate."Fofana, who led the attack on Halimi, was sentenced to life in prison in 2009 and is not eligible for parole for 22 years. Two of his accomplices were sentended to 15 and 18 years in prison. A man who was a minor at the time of the attack was also sentenced to 15 years in prison. A girl who used to lure Halimi was sentenced to nine years in prison.

A judge on Friday weighed limiting the power of the Trump administration to assume control of the police department in Washington, D.C., after suggesting the appointment of Drug Enforcement Administration head Terry Cole to assume the police chiefs duties was illegal.Judge Ana Reyes gave lawyers for the Department of Justice and the D.C. government until early evening to reach a deal that would limit Coles authority, or she would issue a temporary restraining order.Reyes, a Biden appointee, said broader questions over President Donald Trumps sweeping executive order declaring a crime emergency in the nation's capital would be addressed in a court hearing next week.In the immediate future, the Trump administration will still largely have control over the Metropolitan Police Department regardless of whether it reaches a deal with the D.C. government or becomes subject to a court order.BRAZENLY UNLAWFUL: DC OFFICIALS ESCALATE FIGHT WITH TRUMP OVER POLICE TAKEOVERReyes convened the emergency hearing after D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb sued to block Trump's takeover of D.C.'s law enforcement operations. Schwalb argued the move was unconstitutional and violated the Home Rule Act, a federal law that gives D.C. residents the ability to self-govern.The hearing was a small setback for the administration, as Reyes indicated that Cole must go through Mayor Muriel Bowser to give any further directives to the police force.Schwalb on Friday framed the hearing as a win, telling reporters his "expectation is that the key issue with respect to control and command of [the MPD] has been resolved today, and that it is clear, as a matter of law, that it is under the chief of police appointed by the mayor."But the law also implies that Bowser must be heavily deferential to Cole, meaning he is likely to be able to continue carrying out the Trump administration's policing priorities in D.C. regarding immigration and homelessness for a 30-day period.DOJ attorney Yaakov Roth, arguing on behalf of the government, said the president has "a lot of discretion in determining what's necessary and appropriate."Bowser and Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-D.C., attended the hearing at the E. Barrett Prettyman Federal Courthouse. Outside the building, dozens gathered to protest the federal takeover, which has also included activating hundreds of National Guard soldiers in D.C. More protesters, including those from the "Free DC" movement, appeared inside the courtroom, underscoring the tension that has arisen over Trump's orders."What we know is that D.C. residents are worried and concerned, and we have a surge of federal officers," Bowser told reporters. "Chief [Pamela] Smith's job during this week has been to make sure that if we have and while we have federal officers, that they are being used strategically."DEA HEAD SAYS PHONE CALLS ARE COMING FROM 'ALL OVER THE COUNTRY FROM FED AGENTS WANTING TO HELP IN DCAt the outset of the hearing, Reyes observed that she will be the first judge to rule on a presidents authority to temporarily take control of the Metropolitan Police Department under the Home Rule Act since Congress passed the legislation in 1973, underscoring the significance of the case.The judge made clear she did not plan to immediately rule on whether there was a crime emergency, as Trump stated in his executive order, but that some temporary resolution was still needed."I want to get to a practical solution because time is short and there are people who need to know who they are taking direction from and what they are doing," Reyes told both parties.Reyes, who has become known for presiding over a fast-paced court that keeps litigators on their toes, struck a careful tone of moderation Friday."I dont think the statute is as narrow as you think or as broad as Mr. Roth thinks," she told attorney Mitchell Reich, who argued on behalf of the D.C. attorney general.Schwalb's lawsuit challenged Trump's executive order that temporarily federalized D.C. under Section 740 of the Home Rule Act and Attorney General Pam Bondi's more recent order Thursday that sought to install Cole as the emergency commissioner of the D.C. police force. Schwalb's office argued the moves were unprecedented and could "wreak operational havoc" on the police department.Schwalb urged the court to block both of the Trump administration's orders, stating that the federal government's temporary takeover of D.C. police under the Home Rule Act "does not authorize this brazen usurpation of the Districts authority over its own government."AG BONDI STRIPS POWER FROM DC POLICE CHIEF, RESCINDS SANCTUARY CITY PROTECTIONS IN CRIME CRACKDOWN OPERATION"They infringe on the Districts right to self-governance and put the safety of DC residents and visitors at risk," he said.Critics have excoriated Trumps executive order, arguing it is not reflective of any real emergency in the nation's capital, which has seen a drop in violent crime (though by how much, exactly, remains a point of contention).Attorney Norm Eisen, the former White House ethics czar under President Barack Obama, told reporters Thursday that Trumps order in D.C. is the latest in a "pattern of assaults on the rule of law" in his second term as president, which all involve declaring various forms of "emergency" as a means of sidestepping normal policymaking processes.Trump "has declared a fake emergency" in D.C., Eisen said. "There is no emergency upon which this action with MPD or the federal military is predicated."Jessica Sonkin contributed to this report.