More than 5,000 illegal immigrants have been arrested in the Los Angeles area since June, according to the Department of Homeland Security, including some of the "worst of the worst" violent offenders.The detainees highlighted by DHS include citizens of Mexico, El Salvador, South Korea, Vietnam, China and Eritrea."DHS law enforcement has made over 5,000 arrests in Los Angeles. Thats more than 5,000 criminal illegal aliens, gang members, child predators, and murderers taken off our streets. Precious lives saved," DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement.Some of the illegal immigrants highlighted by the agency have criminal histories that include violent offenses such as murder, theft and sexual abuse, including against children.DHS ARRESTS FIVE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS CONVICTED OF SERIOUS CRIMES, INCLUDING MURDER AND CHILD ABUSE"Families protected. American taxpayers spared the cost of their crimes AND the burden of their benefits. Thank you to our brave law enforcement officers. Make no mistake: if you are here illegally, we will find you, arrest you, and send you back. This is just the beginning," she continued.Diego Fernandez-Martinez, from Mexico, has convictions for carjacking, vehicle theft, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a controlled substance for sales, robbery and prisoner in possession of a weapon, according to DHS. The agency also said he is a member of the Surenosgang.Mexican national Juan Carlos Marin-Hipolito was convicted of murder and sentenced to 50 years to life in prison, DHS said.Jaime Sarinana-Rodriguez, also from Mexico, is a registered sex offender convicted of continuous sexual abuse of a child and was sentenced to 16 years in prison, according to the agency.Mexican woman Martina Zacarias is a convicted sex offender convicted of lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14 and was sentenced to eight years in prison, DHS said.DHS ARRESTS 'WORST OF THE WORST' MIGRANTS IN LA DESPITE RIOTERS, POLS PUSHING BACKEdgar Isaac Lopez, also from Mexico, was convicted of voluntary manslaughter, child cruelty resulting in injury or death, assault by a prisoner, unlawful display of a fake or fraudulent ID card or permit, and trespassing, according to the department.Omar Guzman-Rodriguez, a registered sex offender, has convictions that include burglary, possession of check or money order to defraud, taking vehicle without owner consent, vehicle theft and possession of stolen vehicle, and lewd acts with a child under 14, DHS said. He is also from Mexico.Joel Benjamin Reyes, from El Salvador, is a registered sex offender convicted of first-degree rape by forcible compulsion and incest engaged in sexual conduct with a related person, DHS said.Yohannes Zerai, from the African country of Eritrea, is a registered sex offender and was convicted of robbery, battery with serious bodily injury, assault to commit rape, sexual penetration with a foreign object with force, assault with a deadly weapon that is not a firearm, petty theft with priors and failure to register as a sex offender, according to DHS.South Korean national Justin Chung has convictions for murder and shooting at an inhabited dwelling, DHS said, and was sentenced to 75 years in prison.Quoc Dung Pham, from Vietnam, is a registered sex offender convicted of kidnapping, rape with force, sodomy in concert with force, oral copulation in concert with force, robbery and assault with intent to commit rape, possession of a controlled substance, DHS said. He was sentenced to 64 years in prison.His brother, Bo Quoc Pham, is a registered sex offender, convicted of rape with force, arm or weapon sex offense, rape in concert with force or violence, oral copulation and was sentenced to 118 years in prison, according to DHS.Chinese woman Hong Jing was convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol, aiding, abetting and engaging in sex trafficking of an individual, as well as racketeering.The arrests come amid federal immigration raids that began in June in the Los Angeles area, which also took place at local businesses and sparked weeks of protests against ICE arrests and the Trump administration's mass deportation efforts.

Illinois' Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker said the state "will not stand idly by" if President Donald Trump makes good on his threat to deploy the National Guard to Chicago to respond to crime in the Windy City."Unlike Donald Trump, we keep our promises," the governor wrote Wednesday on X. "We will not stand idly by if he decides to send the National Guard to intimidate Chicagoans.""Action will be met with a response," he continued.Pritzker's comments are just the latest in his recent feud with Trump, as the federal government weighs whether to send troops to Chicago.TRUMP SAYS 'INCOMPETENT' ILLINOIS GOVERNOR, 'NO BETTER' CHICAGO MAYOR SHOULD CALL HIM FOR HELP WITH CRIMELast week, the governor said there is no crime emergency in Chicago and Trump is "attempting to manufacture a crisis, politicize Americans who serve in uniform, and continue abusing his power to distract from the pain he is causing working families.""The safety of the people of Illinois is always my top priority," Pritzker said on Saturday. "There is no emergency that warrants the President of the United States federalizing the Illinois National Guard, deploying the National Guard from other states, or sending active duty military within our own borders. We will continue to follow the law, stand up for the sovereignty of our state, and protect the people of Illinois."On Monday, Pritzker said the potential federal deployment is "unconstitutional" and "un-American.""Donald Trump wants to use the military to occupy a U.S. city, punish its dissidents and score political points," he said. "If this were happening in any other country, we would have no trouble calling it what it is a dangerous power grab."Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, also a Democrat, has cited data showing that violent crime has declined in the last year, including homicides and robberies dipping by more than 30%, and shootings dropping by nearly 40%. Although, crime is still up compared to 2021, according to statistics posted by Chicago police.GOV. PRITZKER SAYS TRUMP TRYING TO 'MANUFACTURE A CRISIS' AS ADMIN PLANS NATIONAL GUARD DEPLOYMENT TO CHICAGO"The problem with the President's approach is that it is uncoordinated, uncalled for, and unsound," Johnson said on Friday. "Unlawfully deploying the National Guard to Chicago has the potential to inflame tensions between residents and law enforcement when we know that trust between police and residents is foundational to building safer communities.""When we fight back against tyranny, the people united will always prevail," the mayor later said.Other Illinois leaders have also made criticisms of the potential move to send troops to Chicago.Trump responded to Pritzker and Johnson on Tuesday, writing in a social media post that the governor is "incompetent" and the mayor is "no better.""A really DEADLY weekend in Chicago," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "6 DEAD, 27 HURT IN CRIME SPREES ALLOVER THE CITY. Panic stricken Governor Pritzker says that crime is under control, when in fact it is just the opposite. He is an incompetent Governor who should call me for HELP. Mayor Johnson is no better. Make Chicago Great Again!"CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPThis comes after Trump's move to boost the presence of federal law enforcement in Washington, D.C., in an attempt to reduce crime.Hundreds of federal agents and National Guard troops have been deployed to the streets of D.C. as part of the federal takeover of the district.

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The Trump administration on Wednesday announced a proposed rule to limit the length of time international students can remain in the U.S. for their studies to four years.If finalized, the proposed rule set to be published on Thursday would limit how long certain visa holders, including foreign students, are allowed to stay in the U.S., according to a press release from the Department of Homeland Security, which said the proposal seeks to curb "visa abuse" and increase the agency's ability to "properly vet and oversee these individuals."The agency said foreign students have "taken advantage of U.S. generosity" and become "forever students" by remaining enrolled in colleges so they could stay in the U.S.RUBIOS STATE DEPARTMENT YANKS MORE THAN 6K STUDENT VISAS DUE TO ASSAULT, BURGLARY, SUPPORT FOR TERRORISM"For too long, past Administrations have allowed foreign students and other visa holders to remain in the U.S. virtually indefinitely, posing safety risks, costing untold amount of taxpayer dollars, and disadvantaging U.S. citizens," a DHS spokesperson said in a statement."This new proposed rule would end that abuse once and for all by limiting the amount of time certain visa holders are allowed to remain in the U.S., easing the burden on the federal government to properly oversee foreign students and their history," the spokesperson continued.Since 1978, foreign students, or F visa holders, have been allowed to remain in the U.S. for their "duration of status," which means the time they were enrolled as a full-time student. The proposed rule would allow foreign students and exchange visitors to stay in the country up to the duration of the program they are participating in, although the federal government would not permit it to exceed four years, which is typically less time than it takes to pursue any additional education beyond a bachelor's degree.In addition to students, the proposed rule would set the initial admission period for foreign journalists at up to 240 days, although they may seek an extension of up to another 240 days, but no longer than the length of their assignment.Requiring regular assessments by DHS for foreigners to remain in the U.S. for a longer period would allow the agency to conduct "proper oversight" and reduce the number of people in the country on visas, the press release said.HOUSE DEMOCRATS CALL ON RUBIO TO ALLOW INJURED CHILDREN FROM GAZA INTO US FOLLOWING VISA HALTForeign students, notably, typically pay more tuition and receive fewer scholarship opportunities, meaning the proposed rule may have a financial impact on U.S. colleges if it leads to a dip in international enrollment."It will certainly act as an additional deterrent to international students choosing to study in the United States, to the detriment of American economies, innovation, and global competitiveness," Fanta Aw, executive director and CEO of NAFSA: Association of International Educators, said in a statement to POLITICO.

Russia launched a large-scale attack on Kyiv overnight, killing 10 people, injuring at least 38 others and damaging buildings, Ukrainian officials said on Thursday.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said a child was killed in the drone and missile attack."Right now in Kyiv, first responders are clearing the rubble of an ordinary residential building after a Russian strike," Zelenskyy said on X."Russia chooses ballistics instead of the negotiating table. It chooses to continue killing instead of ending the war. And this means that Russia still does not fear the consequences. Russia still takes advantage of the fact that at least part of the world turns a blind eye to murdered children and seeks excuses for Putin," he continued.RUSSIA LAUNCHES LARGEST ATTACK ON UKRAINE THIS MONTH FOLLOWING TRUMP'S MEETINGS WITH PUTIN, ZELENSKYYZelenskyy added that it is "definitely time for new, tough sanctions against Russia for everything it is doing.""All deadlines have already been broken, dozens of opportunities for diplomacy ruined. Russia must feel accountable for every strike, for every day of this war. Eternal memory to all victims of Russia," he said.The Ukrainian Air Force said it knocked down 563 of 598 drones and 26 of 31 missiles launched by Russia in a country-wide attack. It said 13 locations were hit and debris fell at 26 locations."Unfortunately, the Russians' style is typical in their attacks," Tymur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv's military administration, wrote on Telegram."Combined strikes, from different directions. And systematic, targeting ordinary residential buildings," the post added.Officials said numerous buildings had sustained damage, including several high-rise apartment blocks.In the Darnytskyi district, a five-floor building was partly destroyed, and rescue teams were searching the rubble for trapped people, Tkachenko said.He said emergency crews responded to the aftermath of the attacks at more than 20 locations in the city.Fires have also broken out in areas throughout the city.RUSSIA BOMBARDS UKRAINE HOURS BEFORE KEY MEETING ON TRUMP NATO WEAPONS DEALAntnio Costa, president of the European Council, said he was "horrified by yet another night of deadly Russian missile attacks on Ukraine.""My thoughts are with the Ukrainian victims and also with the staff of @EUDelegationUA, whose building was damaged in this deliberate Russian strike," he wrote on X."The EU will not be intimidated. Russias aggression only strengthens our resolve to stand with Ukraine and its people," he added.Separately, Russia's Defense Ministry said that its air defense systems intercepted 102 Ukrainian drones overnight.Reuters contributed to this report.

Kansas City is mourning the loss of a police officer after he was fatally struck by a driver fleeing law enforcement while attempting to deploy stop sticks.The Kansas City Police Department in Kansas identified the slain officer as 26-year-old Hunter Simoncic. The young officer graduated from the department's academy in 2023.Simoncic was struck early Tuesday morning while deploying stop sticks on State Avenue in an effort to stop a driver who was fleeing law enforcement, according to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.Dennis Mitchell III, 31, is accused of hitting Simoncic and is charged with capital murder, fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, criminal possession of a weapon and two counts of theft, according to Wyandotte County District Attorney Mark Dupree on Wednesday.MAUI OFFICER KILLED IN LINE OF DUTY, POLICE CHIEF CALLS HER THE FINEST OF USThe incident began at around 12:30 a.m. Tuesday when Kansas City officers responded to reports of shots fired on Everett Avenue, according to the department.Officers arrived at the location at 12:40 a.m. to find an unconscious man, later identified as Mitchell, in the driver's seat of a truck. He woke up when they approached him and fled the scene, sparking a pursuit.Mitchell abandoned the truck he was driving for another truck and continued fleeing, KBI said.While police continued pursuing Mitchell, Simoncic and another KCKPD officer exited their vehicle to stage stop sticks. When Mitchell got close to that location, he allegedly drove toward Simoncic, hit him with the second truck and drove off.Simoncic was taken to the University of Kansas Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.UTAH POLICE OFFICERS KILLED DURING DOMESTIC DISTURBANCE RESPONSE WERE HUSBANDS, FATHERS: 'DEFINITELY HEROES'After allegedly hitting the officer, Mitchell wrecked at around 12:55 a.m. on Kaw Drive. He was taken into custody and transported to the same hospital as Simoncic for treatment. He was released not long after and taken to the Wyandotte County Jail.Police said they later learned both trucks Mitchell drove Tuesday night had been reported stolen.The department said in a Facebook post that Simoncic's death brings a "profound sense of loss and pain."Before joining KCKPD, Simoncic worked as a shift supervisor at the Southeast Kansas Regional Juvenile Detention Center, according to the department. He also held a bachelor's degree in sociology and a master's degree in forensic science.He was also a volunteer at Benjamin Banneker Elementary School and read to children on a weekly basis through a program known as Lead to Read KC."While he grew up in a small town in southeast Kansas, he chose to serve our community because, in his words, I want to take what I have learned in life to make positive changes in a community I believe truly deserves it. Let that sink in," the department wrote.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPSimoncic's death comes just weeks after Elijah Ming, a deputy in Kansas City, was shot and killed in the line of duty."God speed Hunter. You and Elijah rest easy, we will take it from here," KCKPD wrote on Facebook.His funeral is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 3.

For a sixth straight season, the NFL will feature end zone messages. The initiative, which began in the fall of 2020 during the Black Lives Matter movement, gives teams the option to choose between "End Racism," "Stop Hate," "Choose Love" or "Inspire Change" in one end zone. The other end zone will feature the message, "It Takes All of Us."While each of these messages is vapid and clich, they have felt outdated for years now, a vestige of the woke sports era that began, in the NFL in particular, when Colin Kaepernick took a knee during the national anthem in 2016.Now, nine years removed from the gesture, most NFL fans would prefer the league return to simply focusing on football rather than use the field to make any sort of political statement at all. But while my preference is to remove messages like these from the field, if the NFL is going to use the end zone messages again this season, they should add one choice: give teams the option to include "Back the Blue."Colin Kaepernick didn't just refuse to stand for the national anthem. He referred to police as modern-day slave catchers, wore socks to NFL practices emblazoned with police depicted as pigs, and said in his post-game press conferences that police were targeting Black people and regularly getting away with murdering them. These were all lies that served to harm the NFL's relationship with police but it wasn't just Colin Kaepernick who denigrated police.WHY DOES THE NFL KEEP GETTING AWAY WITH BEING SO 'WOKE?'So did NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.As the Defund the Police movement took flight, the NFL, sadly, did not support police like it should have. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell even publicly praised Colin Kaepernick in 2020: "I wish we had listened earlier, Kaep, to what you were kneeling about and what you were trying to bring attention to. We had invited him in several times to have the conversation, to have the dialogue. I wish we had the benefit of that. We never did, and we wouldve benefited from that. Absolutely."Goodell also encouraged protests against police.In so doing, the NFL was profoundly wrong.Indeed, as the data reflected, one of the sad realities of the Black Lives Matter era was that more Black lives were taken through murder than at any other time in the 21st century.From 2020 to 2021, when the NFL put its messages on the field, murder rates skyrocketed at a rate never before seen by the FBI. Thousands more people may have died in 2020, 2021 and 2022 than would have died if police had been supported and allowed to do their jobs.NFL'S VIRTUE SIGNALING JUST HIT AN EMBARRASSING NEW LOWFive years later, as murder rates finally begin to decline, hardworking police are the primary reason why.Putting bad guys of all races in jail and keeping them there makes all of us safer. The NFL giving teams the ability to acknowledge this fact would go a long way toward repairing the relationship between the league and the police that was made worse by Kaepernick's lies and Goodell's endorsement of those lies.If the NFL insists on political messaging on the field, then give teams the option to thank the people who are keeping us all safe.Put "Back the Blue" in the end zones.CLICK HERE FOR MORE FROM CLAY TRAVIS

Democrats are in a freefall after President Donald Trumps 2024 landslide victory, and the numbers dont lie. A blistering New York Times report shows Democrats have bled voter registrations in nearly every state since 2020, losing ground while Republicans gained 4.5 million voters.Their favorability hit rock bottom at a three-decade low as we head into 2028. And instead of fixing their problems and broken agenda, Democrats are trying to mimic the raw, authentic, unfiltered MAGA energy that powered President Trumps comeback. But voters are not fooled. They want authenticity and results, not theatrics and empty rhetoric and that is why Democrats will lose again in 2028.MAGA wasnt manufactured in some consultants office. It is a real movement driven by Americans frustration with lip-service politicians and the corruption of the D.C. swamp, led by a once-in-a-lifetime leader, Donald Trump, who meant what he said and delivered. Voters connected with his promises for a strong economy, secure borders, and an unapologetic America First agenda. Pew Research shows Trump flipped key demographics, narrowing the Hispanic vote gap by 3 points and drawing unprecedented Black support.Now, Democrats are scrambling instead of innovating; they are trying to mimic MAGAs style without the substance. But you cant counterfeit MAGA, and they are learning the hard way.NEWSOM'S CALIFORNIA USED TAXPAYER FUNDS TO INDOCTRINATE CHILDREN. TRUMP IS ENDING THAT INSANITYNowhere is it more obvious than with California's golden boy Gavin Newsom, the self-anointed savior for 2028. He has traded his slick Hollywood veneer for Trump-style theatrics, blasting all-caps rants like "FINAL WARNING DONALD TRUMP MAYBE THE MOST IMPORTANT WARNING IN HISTORY,"inventing "Newsom Derangement Syndrome," and pushing a ballot measure to gerrymander California maps in retaliation for GOP redistricting in Texas.While Newsom tosses out nicknames and threats, California is drowning in real crises: sky-high gas prices, failing schools, rising crime, a housing disaster, and crumbling infrastructure. Instead of fixing the mess his policies created, Newsom is doubling down on his recent foul-mouthed statements, attacking President Trump, and railing against ICE enforcement, convinced that shouting and vulgarity will somehow carry him to 2028.TIKTOK ISN'T ENOUGH TO STOP GEN Z FROM DRIFTING TO AOC. TRUMP MUST DO 3 THINGS NEXTAxios calls it a "MAGA-like makeover" as Democrats wrestle with an identity crisis after Trumps 2024 landslide. CNN labels it "Trump Lite" as Democrats try to mimic Trumps style to fire up their base. The truth is, voters see through the act, and they are not buying MAGA Lite.Then there are Democrats like Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Texas, jumping on the MAGA bandwagon and acting more like a reality TV performer than a public servant. Shes gone full-blown political heckler, calling President Trump a "piece of s---," mocking Gov. Greg Abbotts disability by calling him "Gov. Hot Wheels," and spewing profanity while ranting about Republicans "cheating" on redistricting.The new Democrat playbook is simple: scream, curse, repeat. But voters arent buying it. The New York Times reports 2.1 million have already fled a party doubling down on divisive rhetoric, fake outrage and awkward theatrics.CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINIONThe truth is theres no Trump-like figure on the Left. Some point to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., because she can fire up the far-left base, but her self-described socialism repels the moderates who decide elections. Zohran Mamdani is another liability, dragging Democrats even further left and out of step with mainstream voters on the economy and public safety. Gavin Newsom is no better as his attempt to imitate Trump falls flat as he comes off stiff and scripted, and even profanity feels rehearsed.Democrats are mimicking Trumps style because they know it resonates with voters, but without authenticity it is pathetic. And even worse, behind the theatrics theyre doubling down on the same failed policies that drove Americans away in 2024: big government overreach, union handouts, open borders, soft-on-crime agendas, and green energy boondoogles. No number of insults, foul language or all-caps tweets can cover up that record.For Democrats to win elections, they must abandon shallow imitation and extremism and embrace commonsense centrism. MAGA under Trump worked because it tapped into real values of freedom, security and prosperity, not empty theatrics. Democrats imitation only exposes who they really are.Newsom cannot cover up Californias collapse, and Crocketts insults cannot hide the Lefts disconnect with voters. Polling shows the MAGA lite act is falling flat, with Democrat favorability sinking to just 32%. As voter registrations plummet and polls collapse, Democrats are learning a hard lesson: authenticity cannot be faked.The 2028 election will not be about theatrics, it will be about results. Voters will choose the party that defends freedom, prosperity and security. Republicans are offering exactly that: strength, truth and results. That is the winning formula.CLICK HERE TO READ MORE BY MEHEK COOKE

The Posse Comitatus Act of 1878, as amended, provides that "Whoever, except in cases and under circumstances expressly authorized by the Constitution or an Act of Congress, willfully uses any part of the Army, the Navy, the Marine Corps, the Air Force, or the Space Force as a posse comitatus or otherwise to execute the laws shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both."No one has ever been prosecuted under the act, and it has rarely been the subject of comment by the U.S. Supreme Court.The Brennan Center for Justice, a non-partisan, but decidedly liberal law and policy center, noted that the law has"ignominious origins" in the collapse of Reconstruction.POSSE COMITATUS ACT AT CENTER OF TRUMP-NEWSOM NATIONAL GUARD DISPUTE IN LAThe return to power of white Southern Democrats in federal and state offices after Reconstruction ended in 1877-1878 led to the rapid introduction and enforcement of Jim Crow laws over the shattered Confederacy as Union troops were withdrawn over the defeated areas of rebellion.(The last federal troops of the Reconstruction Era were withdrawn on April 24, 1877, on orders from President Rutherford B. Hayes from the state house in Louisiana the last federally defended state house in the South.) The presence and power of the Union troops were reviled by the defeated partisans of the Confederacy and the military governments whose will they enforced proved ineffective in reforming the law and practices of the Old South. Following the Compromise of 1876, some Republicans of that era joined Democrats to pass the statute to assure that military government would not return to the South.CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINIONThe original law has been amended several times, most recently in 1981 and 2021. Some scholars spend considerable time on its actual reach, with one, R.H. Moore providing this summary for the Department of JusticesJournal of Criminal Justicein 1987:The most recent amendment to the Act came in the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act which broadened the law to explicitly cover all branches of the military.The limits and effectiveness of the statute are not subjects of either settled law or study. As President Donald Trump deploys the National Guard and the military in new and sometimes novel circumstances, be alert that commentators invoking the Posse Comitatus Act are almost certainly relying on the talking points of whatever political party to which they belong. Bottom line: As of now, nothing Trump has done with the National Guard in Washington, D.C. is remotely close to illegal.If Trump dispatches the Guard to any city other than the federal enclave, expect attempts to challenge the scope of presidential powers in federal court. If the Supreme Court eventually reviews such a deployment and issues a ruling on the merits, only then will there be a conclusive interpretation of the laws reach and limits.Hugh Hewitt is host of "The Hugh Hewitt Show," heard weekday mornings 6am to 9am ET on the Salem Radio Network, and simulcast on Salem News Channel. Hugh wakes up America on over 400 affiliates nationwide, and on all the streaming platforms where SNC can be seen. He is a frequent guest on the Fox News Channels news roundtable hosted by Bret Baier weekdays at 6pm ET. A son of Ohio and a graduate of Harvard College and the University of Michigan Law School, Hewitt has been a Professor of Law at Chapman Universitys Fowler School of Law since 1996 where he teaches Constitutional Law. Hewitt launched his eponymous radio show from Los Angeles in 1990. Hewitt has frequently appeared on every major national news television network, hosted television shows for PBS and MSNBC, written for every major American paper, has authored a dozen books and moderated a score of Republican candidate debates, most recently the November 2023 Republican presidential debate in Miami and four Republican presidential debates in the 2015-16 cycle. Hewitt focuses his radio show and his column on the Constitution, national security, American politics and the Cleveland Browns and Guardians. Hewitt has interviewed tens of thousands of guests from Democrats Hillary Clinton and John Kerry to Republican Presidents George W. Bush and Donald Trump over his 40 years in broadcast, and this column previews the lead story that will drive his radio/ TV show today.CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM HUGH HEWITT

The Disney animator who brought "Mushu" and "Simba" to life left Hollywood to follow his faith and now hes bringing Jesus to the big screen."This honestly is the film that I never thought I wanted to do," Tom Bancroft told Fox News Digital. "Its kind of a dream project that I didnt know I was dreaming. And its something Im probably prouder of than even "The Lion King."Bancroft co-directed the new film, "Light of the World," which tells the story of Jesus Christ through the eyes of his young disciple John. The coming-of-age tale traces John's friendship with Jesus, his struggle to accept the crucifixion, and ultimately, his understanding of its true meaning. The film, hitting theaters Sept. 5, is animated in a classic 2D style, similar to Disneys golden era and DreamWorks "Prince of Egypt.""Honestly, its just the way Disney would have done it in the '90s without the musical," Bancroft explained.CHRISTIAN MUSIC STAR IS BRINGING 'POWERFUL' NEW FILM 'THE LAST SUPPER' TO BIG SCREENBancroft spent 12 years at Disney as a supervising animator before following a calling into Christian animation. The animator behind young Simba from "The Lion King," Abu and Jafar from "Aladdin," and Mushu the dragon from "Mulan," explained how his faith was challenged while working at Disney during the height of the boycotts from Southern Baptists.In 2000, Bancroft worked on an animated short about the American folklore legend, John Henry. The film explored Henrys path from slavery and included themes of faith in God. But during a private screening with Disney leadership, Bancroft recalled being told by one executive that the film made him feel "uncomfortable" because of the religious element.That reaction struck a chord with Bancroft. For years, he defended Disneys use of cultural and spiritual elements in films like "Pocahontas" and "Mulan," as reflecting the people in the story. But in this case, when Christianity was central to the narrative, it was sidelined. A few tweaks were made to the final product, he said."It really slammed into my face," Bancroft admitted. "Honestly, six months from then, I left Disney, and it was because of that day."PIXAR STAFF REPORTEDLY 'DEEPLY SADDENED' LGBTQ ELEMENTS WERE CUT FROM STUDIO'S LATEST FILM, 'ELIO'Bancroft went on to join the team behind the Christian kids' series "VeggieTales" and later CBNs "Superbook." Looking back, Bancroft says the "John Henry" short was the turning point that pushed him toward faith-based storytelling."Disney has never claimed to be a Christian company, and we should never have put that on them," he added. But he believes the studio drifted from its original family focus. Over time, they "crossed the line" by pushing messages many parents didnt want in children's entertainment, he said."Honestly, that's what has been the defining thing of the last half of my career trying to make family-friendly entertainment that edifies families and the Lord," he added.In 2020, Bancroft and other veteran animators from Disney, Nickelodeon and DreamWorks developed Pencilish Studios, a crowd-invested animation company dedicated to creating original 2D content.'THE KING OF KINGS' PROVES THERE'S 'CLEARLY AN AUDIENCE' FOR FAITH-BASED MOVIES: EXPERTHe hasnt lost his love for hand-drawn work, even as the industry has shifted to computer-generated animation for films. He pointed out how whenever he shares his animation collection on social media, the posts are hugely popular."There's a lot of nostalgia for 2D," he said. "People want those kinds of films to come back. And I'm blessed that I can be doing that now."A few years ago, Bancroft was approached by his "Superbook" colleague and producer John Schafer to help bring his vision for a hand-drawn animated feature about Jesus to life.The film, "Light of the World," was fully funded by the Christian nonprofit the Salvation Poem Foundation, which assembled a team of industry veterans to create the feature.Bancroft said it was a joy to merge his craft and his faith while being given full creative liberty."I wish that more creators could get that," he said. "We'd be seeing life-changing movies just like this one all the time," he said. "It's been a real blessing."The movie opens in theaters Sept. 5.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPDisney did not respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.