Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky strongly objected after Vice President JD Vance asserted in a Saturday post on X that "Killing cartel members who poison our fellow citizens is the highest and best use of our military.""JD I dont give a s[---] Vance says killing people he accuses of a crime is the highest and best use of the military. Did he ever read To Kill a Mockingbird? Did he ever wonder what might happen if the accused were immediately executed without trial or representation??" Senator Paul wrote. "What a despicable and thoughtless sentiment it is to glorify killing someone without a trial."In a Truth Social post last week, President Donald Trump shared video footage of what he said was "a kinetic strike against positively identified Tren de Aragua Narcoterrorists" who he said "were at sea in International waters transporting illegal narcotics, heading to the United States."SEN. RAND PAUL FAVORS THE PROSPECT OF ABOLISHING THE FEDERAL RESERVESomeone responded to Vance by writing that, "Killing the citizens of another nation who are civilians without any due process is called a war crime."But the vice president swiftly fired back.DEM SEN JOHN FETTERMAN BACKS USE OF MILITARY FORCE TO COMBAT DRUG TRAFFICKING INTO US"I dont give a s[---] what you call it," Vance declared.GOP Sen. Bernie Moreno of Ohio pushed back against Paul.RUBIO SAYS TRUMP WANTS TO WAGE WAR ON VENEZUELAN DRUG TRAFFICKERS: BLOW THEM UP IF THATS WHAT IT TAKES'CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP"Whats really despicable is defending foreign terrorist drug traffickers who are *directly* responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Americans in Kentucky and Ohio. JD understands that our first responsibility is to protect the life and liberty of American citizens," Moreno wrote on on X.

An FBI special agent based in Chicago gave Fox News Digital a deeper look into the bureaus operations combating violence as the Windy City continues to make headlines for its crime wave."In the city of Chicago, what I deal with most frequently are carjackings, commercial robberies, and our fugitive program. But along with that is the illicit drug trade. So narcotics, unfortunately, are at epidemic levels all over the country," Assistant Special Agent in Charge Robert Wieczorek said.Wieczorek works from the FBI's Chicago Field Office."Chicago's a very attractive destination because it's geographically centrally located. You can use that as a distribution hub. Chicago specifically, we have interstates that run north and south, east and west. We have a robust railway system. We have two international airports. We have smaller airports. We have Lake Michigan. We have rivers," he said.TOP CHICAGO OFFICIALS DEMAND CRIME CRACKDOWN AS MAYOR FIGHTS TRUMP OVER LOOMING TAKEOVER: '100% NEED HELP'Wieczorek stressed that Chicago's location gives drug traffickers plenty of opportunities to utilize the city as a "base of operations.""Along with that, we also have a large end-user market," he went on to say. "And that is driven by street gangs, which creates another problem, because that drug trade is driven by violence. A lot of our neighborhood violence is accentuated and is a byproduct of the drug trade, whether that's on a neighborhood-by-neighborhood basis or a larger distribution network."During the summer months, the FBI engages in a national initiative, Operation Summer Heat, to reduce violent crime. This is done in close coordination with local authorities, including the Chicago Police Department and Illinois State Police, to target gangs, violent offenders, and the drug trade.According toFBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino, Operation Summer Heat has resulted in over 6,000 arrests nationwide since its inception in June."All 55 fields of office are participating in it, where we are aggressively combating violent crimes wherever it comes, and it comes in all forms, so crimes against children and fugitives and streaking violence," he said."Specifically, in the crimes against children field, we had Operation Restore Justice, which was a multi-agency operation led by the FBI, where, for multiple operational cycles, we prioritize surging resources towards identifying and finding sexual predators," Wieczorek added.President Donald Trump and his administration have floated sending in National Guard troops to Chicago to combat crime.CHICAGO RESIDENTS BEG FOR MORE HELP AS CRIME WREAKS 'HAVOC ON NEIGHBORHOODSTrump issued another Truth Social post Tuesday morning, labeling Chicago the "murder capital."Trump doubled down on his sentiments later in the Oval Office, and said that places like Afghanistan "dont even come close" to the crime in Chicago. Additionally, he said he had decided to send National Guard troops to Chicago, despite Illinois Gov. JB Pritzkers opposition.FBI officials declined to weigh in on a potential National Guard presence in Chicago. However, Wieczorek did say that the FBI will try to identify a "federal nexus" to help local authorities in high-crime areas."A lot of the violent crimes in the city tend to be state and local crimes, like a shooting at face value is a local and state crime," the special agent explained."So, for example, it is illegal for a felon to be in possession of a firearm. So, if you're a known felon, and you're on the radar of the FBI, or our partners have put this individual on our FBI, on our radar because of the violence that they're driving in the neighborhoods, if they get in a shooting, then we now have a federal nexus to investigate that gun violation," he continued.He told Fox News Digital that they value human intelligence, as it is the best asset when investigating a crime. Wieczorek noted that people can either call their nearest field office or stop by in person."Every local field office has a duty agent that is there to engage with the public because some of our best tips, some of the best information," he said. "There's a lot of neighborhoods and communities that [is] really hard for law enforcement to penetrate. But a concerned citizensomeone who cares about their communitywho has some information, that's the greatest asset we can have."

King Charles is said to be caught between his two sons in a painful, ongoing family feud.Prince Harry, the monarchs younger son, will be in London on Sept. 8, raising speculation that he could meet with his father. Fox News Digital reached out to Archewell and Buckingham Palace for comment.The Duke of Sussex has been estranged from his family since he made his royal exit in 2020 and moved to America.PRINCE HARRY 'DESPERATE' TO WIN BACK ROYAL FAMILY IN LATEST MANEUVER WITH KING CHARLES: EXPERT"King Charles is battling cancer," royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told Fox News Digital. "The very public royal rift has been a source of grief for him. It has meant that he has not seen his grandchildren for years. Harry and his father are not speaking Obviously, reconciliation, especially when illness is involved, is highly desirable. But for it to work, there must be mutual trust."Royal expert Ian Pelham Turner told Fox News Digital theres one royal who has no desire to reconnect with Harry his elder brother, Prince William. According to sources, the brothers are not on speaking terms."There have been many reports in the British press that William is still extremely angry with Harry and does not want his father softening his position by meeting with him or allowing contact," said Pelham Turner. "[It is understood] that King Charles feels it is his Christian duty to welcome Harry, Meghan Markle and their family back into the fold.""I had a conversation with a member of a Middle Eastern royal family recently who told me King Charles is more powerful and stronger these days than people understand," said Pelham Turner. "He will make his own decisions on the future of the monarchy, although there were some allegations about Meghan in the past which may worry him. Personally, I want to see unity."Harry will be in the U.K. on the third anniversary of Queen Elizabeth IIs death, attending the annual WellChild Awards. The event highlights his support for children battling long-term health challenges and the families who care for them.Harrys stay in London gives him a chance to see his father, 76. Its believed the king will be at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, where the queen died in 2022.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER"The anniversary of Queen Elizabeths death will weigh heavily on the kings mind right now, and any last promises he may have made to her in those final hours," said Pelham Turner. "I feel that this could be a very good time emotionally for the king to be reunited with Harry and heal the wounds between them.""Prince William will also be reminded of his brothers poor behavior, which sadly impacted and burdened his beloved grandmothers last few years of her life," added British broadcaster and photographer Helena Chard."Prince William will struggle to ever forgive Harry," Chard added.WATCH: PRINCE WILLIAMS MISTRUST OF MEGHAN MARKLE STALLS PEACE WITH PRINCE HARRY: AUTHORHarry has been estranged from his family since he and his wife Meghan stepped back as senior royals in 2020. At the time, they cited the unbearable intrusions of the British press and the lack of support from the palace as their reasons for the move.After the couple settled in California, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex aired their grievances in interviews and documentaries. Harrys 2023 memoir "Spare," which revealed embarrassing details about the House of Windsor and exposed his sibling rivalry with William, worsened tensions.In May, the 40-year-old told the BBC he wants to reconcile with his family but the king would not speak to him."I would love reconciliation with my family," he said at the time. "Theres no point in continuing to fight anymore. I dont know how much longer my father has.""None of my contacts can confirm whether theyll meet," said Chard. "It would be a positive step for father and son to have some quiet time behind closed doors. Even better if the king could enjoy his Sussex grandchildren. But King Charles will only be reminded of the unwanted drama and mistrust issues that circle Prince Harry. Still, Prince Harry could easily travel under the radar to Scotland to meet his father. The public neednt know."British royals expert Hilary Fordwich claimed to Fox News Digital that the only senior royal who would be willing to meet with Harry privately is Charles. However, it would be a "lose-lose situation" between "his boys."LIKE WHAT YOURE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS"If the king concedes to a meeting with Harry, he risks alienating Prince William," Fordwich warned. "If he doesnt, he will deepen the rift with Harry and risk more backlash from his son, who was already upset last time when the king had other priorities."There was hope earlier this year that the king was ready to have peace talks with his son.In July,the U.K.s Daily Mailreported that Harry quietly extended an olive branch by offering to share his official schedule of engagements. The outlet said this was meant to ease tensions with the king.The outlet also reported that Harrys aides had a private meeting with the kings communications secretary in London. Representatives for Buckingham Palace and the Duke andDuchess of Sussex did not respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment at the time.Williams reps were noticeably absent from the so-called "peace summit" and the future kings team was reportedly not notified of the secret meeting."Prince William [insists] that Harry cant be trusted," Fordwich claimed. "The family is rightly concerned regarding privacy and the risks of conducting any conversations with Harry that are later leaked to the press Theyre also wary of Harrys motive and the likely fallout from any unguarded discussions.""Communication lines between Harrys team and the kings were re-opened," Fordwich shared. "However, all working with and for the family agree its going to be a lengthy process with trust being beyond difficult to rebuild."Charles and Harry have not met in person since Feb. 2024. They met days after Buckingham Palace announced Charles was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer.Last May, Harry was in London for the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games, while the king hosted an event just miles away. In August, Harry returned for the funeral of his uncle, Lord Robert Fellowes, but he and William remained apart.Royal experts agree it will take time for Harrys relationship with the royals to heal. As the king continues to prioritize his health, he may avoid stepping into the middle of his sons ongoing war of silence."The only way reconciliation will work is if the differences are resolved privately," said Fitzwilliams. "Then, trust can slowly be built. The Sussexes' relationship with the media does not inspire trust While reconciliation is always desirable, it just seems to be a long way off."

President Donald Trump's strategy to address crime in U.S. cities may come into sharper focus this week, as he reiterates his call to deploy the National Guard more widely.Over the weekend, Trump doubled down on his plan to curb crime and crack down on illegal immigration, specifically in Chicago."Do you know how many people were killed in Chicago last weekend? Eight. You know how many people were killed in Chicago the week before? Seven. You know how many people wounded? Seventy-four people were wounded. You think there's worse than that? I don't think so," Trump told reporters at the White House when asked about Chicago.TRUMP ROILS CHICAGO DEMOCRATS WITH APOCALYPSE NOW MEME HINTING AT NATIONAL GUARD DEPLOYMENTHis remarks came amid questions about a meme he shared on Truth Social the previous day, which critics said threatened Chicago with deportations of illegal immigrants and the use of the U.S. military. The meme featured an AI image of Trump styled as Robert Duvalls character in "Apocalypse Now," a Vietnam War-era movie about a U.S. military officer who went rogue in the Cambodian jungle. The words "Chipocalypse Now" were also seen on the image."'I love the smell of deportations in the morning'" Trump wrote in the post, referring to a famous quote from the movie. "Chicago about to find out why its called the Department of WAR," he added.When asked again about the post on social media, Trump told reporters that "we're not going to war."DEMOCRATS SLAM TRUMP FOR 'WAR' THREATS TARGETING US CITIES: 'NOT YOUR WAR ZONE'"We're going to clean up our cities. We're going to clean them up so they don't kill five people every weekend," he said. "That's not war. That's common sense," he added before boarding Marine One to watch the U.S. Open mens singles final.Trumps focus on Chicago comes as his administration extends a National Guard deployment in Washington, D.C., citing concerns over crime and homelessness in the capital. He has repeatedly characterized Washington, D.C., as "one of the most dangerous cities anywhere in the world."In August, Trump said he was considering sending the National Guard to Chicago calling the Windy City "a mess." He said on Aug. 22 that his administration will "straighten that one out probably next," adding that "it wont even be tough."Meanwhile, the White House has not offered additional details of a potential deployment of troops to Chicago.Trump has also threatened to send troops to Baltimore and has cited crime in Portland and Boston to justify a broader crackdown.Fox News Digital's Landon Mion contributed to this report.

EXCLUSIVE President Donald Trump will announce the launch of America Prays at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C. today while tying the faith-driven initiative to the nations 250th birthday.The inspiring program calls on Americans to dedicate time every week to pray for the country and to underscore faith as central to the nations founding and future."President Trump has revived one of Americas most prominent and powerful founding principles we are one nation under God," White House Spokeswoman Taylor Rogers told Fox News Digital. "As we approach the 250th anniversary of the greatest country in the world, President Trump invites Americans to pray for our nation and for our people. America is stronger with the power of prayer."The initiative also suggests people join with at least 10 others each week to pray.TRUMP TO SPEAK AT MUSEUM OF THE BIBLE ON RELIGIOUS LIBERTY IN EDUCATIONThe announcement will follow Trumps appearance at the Iowa State Fairgrounds back in July, where he kicked off America250, the official year-long celebration."As we prepare to celebrate two and a half centuries of freedom, I am inviting Americas great religious communities to pray for our nation and for our people," Trump said at the time. "From the beginning, this has always been a country sustained and strengthened by prayer. If we bring religion back stronger, youre going to see everything get better. So as we chart our course toward the next 250 years, let us rededicate ourselves to one nation under God."The launch of America Prays Monday extends that message into a faith-driven initiative.SEN. TIM SCOTT OUTLINES IMPORTANCE OF FAITH IN EVERYDAY AMERICAN LIFEFaith leaders have rallied around the presidents effort. Franklin Graham, President of Samaritans Purse, noted: "Our greatest battles are fought on our knees, and through America Prays we can join together to ask God to guide and protect this land."TRUMP HEADS TO THE HEARTLAND TO KICK OFF A YEAR CELEBRATING AMERICA'S INDEPENDENCEPastor Clint Pressley of the Southern Baptist Convention added that prayer is "a public testimony that we depend on God for wisdom and strength."The America Prays initiative has also drawn partnerships from across the faith community, including Samaritans Purse, Pray.com, Hallow, National Religious Broadcasters, Faith and Freedom Coalition and dozens of churches and ministries nationwide.Organizers say the effort reflects the same spirit that has defined America since its founding: a people united in faith, asking for Gods blessing on the nation as it enters its next 250 years.

Italian archaeologists recently discovered an ancient Roman bathhouse submerged underwater and it may have belonged to Rome's greatest orator.The Campi Flegrei Archaeological Park, located in Naples, announced the discovery on Aug. 6. Though the site of the bathhouse was first identified in 2023, it was only recently documented.In a translated Facebook post, officials said the thermal complex was found around 10 feet underwater in Portus Julius, a port famous for being the first permanent Roman naval base.ANCIENT ROMAN APARTMENT BUILDING FOUND BENEATH PUBLIC SQUARE AMID SUBWAY CONSTRUCTIONOfficials believe it may have belonged to Marcus Tullius Cicero, the legendary Roman statesman who lived from 106 B.C. to 43 B.C.Cicero is famed for being a staunch advocate of Rome's Republic, as well as for translating Greek philosophical texts into Latin.The bathhouse was built before the area was developed into a naval base in 37 B.C. Local officials believe it may have belonged to Cicero, based on ancient records.ANCIENT ROMAN 'PERFUME GARDEN' BLOOMS AGAIN NEARLY 1,900 YEARS AFTER VESUVIUS ERUPTION"Current research suggests that we may be looking at the baths of Cicero's villa, known from historical sources," the post said.The bathhouse also featured cutting-edge engineering, such as its suspensurae system, which allowed its mosaic floors to heat up.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER"This, together with the tubular structures along the walls, allowed hot air to circulate, creating a true sauna, or laconicum," the statement added.Officials also said they recovered ceramic materials "of particular importance," which may offer clues about how the structure was built and how it was destroyed.For more Lifestyle articles, visit foxnews.com/lifestyle"Work will continue throughout the autumn with the restoration of the mosaic floor, [which is] partly encrusted with mortar remains, and of the small but significant traces of wall paintings," the post concluded.Roman bathhouses which functioned as important community spaces in antiquity are still being discovered across Europe and Asia Minor today.In Turkey, archaeologists recently unearthed an ancient Roman bathhouse that still preserved traces of its original engineering design.In Rome's Appian Way Regional Park, excavators found a Roman bathhouse-turned-church that functioned as an ancient baptistery.

While the White House can't directly control local jurisdictions that refuse to issue cash bail for accused criminals, particularly repeat offenders, experts say the president does have some ways to influence cities where crime has gotten out of control.President Donald Trump recently announced a new executive order as part of his plan to undo the spread of cashless bail. He directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to, within 30 days, compile a list of all jurisdictions that have implemented the policy. And he instructed other federal agencies to identify what grants and contracts can be suspended as a result."As President, I will require commonsense policies that protect Americans safety and well-being by incarcerating individuals who are known threats," Trump wrote in the order. "It is therefore the policy of my Administration that Federal policies and resources should not be used to support jurisdictions with cashless bail policies, to the maximum extent permitted by law."TRUMP TO SIGN EXECUTIVE ORDER TO ELIMINATE NO-CASH BAIL FOR DC SUSPECTSIn Washington, D.C., where the president has more direct control, he ordered the Justice Department to file federal charges and seek pretrial detention whenever possible."While the president may not have direct ability to control the law enforcement of these individual cities and states, what he does have is the power of the purse strings," said Randolph Rice, a Baltimore-area attorney and legal analyst. "He can use money and withhold that money to force these jurisdictions and these states to accept the help of the federal government."His intervention in Washington is already paying dividends, he said, with carjackings down more than 80% in a 20-day span, as revealed by Mayor Muriel Bowser."Which is amazing to me why you have a mayor or a governor of another state, where crime is a problem, and they're unwilling to accept that help,'" said Rice, whose previous clients include the family of Rachel Morin, who was killed by a fugitive illegal immigrant two years ago this month."It's like your house is burning down," Rice continued. "The fire department is calling and saying, 'Hey, we can send another fire truck to put out the fire.' And you just say, 'No. I think we're good. We won't take the help.'"AG PAM BONDI SUGGESTS TRUMP'S CRIME CRACKDOWN IN DC WILL HELP LATINO RESIDENTSUnder cashless bail schemes, an arrested suspect walks free before their trial without having to post any overhead fees, known as bail or bond, that are meant to ensure they keep coming back to court."So essentially the person goes to court within the first 24 hours, and the judge lets them go and says, you need to come back to court on this date," Rice said. "And if you don't, there really are no consequences."Such policies have spread through liberal jurisdictions in recent years despite frequent criticism that they are too lenient on repeat offenders, some of whom have gone on to commit more serious crimes.In Washington in March 2022, a then-31-year-old man named Johnwann Elliott gunned down 37-year-old Nikia Young in broad daylight at a bus stop, according to the Justice Department. At the time of the murder, despite a prior robbery conviction for which he served time in prison, he was freed from custody while awaiting trial on an unrelated car theft charge.TRUMP DEMANDS END TO CASHLESS BAIL, SAYS 'COMPLETE DISASTER' DRIVING CRIME IN CITIES, ENDANGERING POLICEA California study in 2023 found that violent crime tripled in the state under its "Zero Bail" policy."Every single individual and every case should be evaluated by a judge, an independent magistrate, who can look at that person's criminal history, look at the facts of the current case and make an informed decision about what their risk level is and what's it going to take to make sure that they don't go out and harm somebody again," Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig told Fox News Digital at the time. "That needs to happen in every case."Another version of cashless bail, according to Rice, is called unsecured bond. In those situations, bond is set with a dollar value, but the defendant doesn't have to post it unless they miss a court date."Well, the funny part about that is, is if somebody doesn't show up to court, they're probably not going to pay a bond either," Rice told Fox News Digital. "So it really is a ludicrous idea to have these unsecure bonds, but cashless bond is becoming more popular in a lot of these blue states, a lot of the more liberal states. And I think a lot of these states are starting to see a backfire on them."In particular, he said, low-level criminals who are released go back to committing crimes like shoplifting and burglary almost immediately, before their pending cases go to court, lowering the quality of life and keeping crime levels high even in areas where murders are down.In Baltimore, for example, medical advances have made it more likely for victims to survive shootings."What we see is that people that got shot who maybe 5, 10, 15, 20 years ago would have died, they go to Shock Trauma, and they save them," he said, referring to the University of Maryland Medical Center's Shock Trauma Center. "So while the murder number may drop, the shooting number may be consistent or be going up, which is still a sign of crime in a city."

The first week of the 2025 NFL season is nearly in the books and fans were stunned by how the schedule played out between Thursday and Sunday night.The week started with Philadelphia Eagles star Jalen Carter spitting on Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. The Kansas City Chiefs suffered a tough loss in Brazil against the Los Angeles Chargers. Daniel Jones showed Indianapolis Colts fans what hes made of, putting up 33 points on the Miami Dolphins.Read below for the rest of the scores from Week 1.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COMFollow Fox News Digitalssports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

President Donald Trump was spotted signing autographs for fans at the U.S. Open before he left New York to head back to Washington, D.C., on Sunday evening.Trump was at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens to watch Carlos Alcaraz defeat Jannik Sinner in four sets. Photos showed fans going up to security guards around Trump and asking if the president would sign their hats. Trump spent a few minutes signing the items.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COMHe showed up less than an hour before the match began. He stepped onto the balcony of the Rolex corporate suite he was situated in and waved to the crowd. Tennis fans cheered for the president and Trump mouthed, "Thank you."The president saluted as the national anthem played in the stadium. He received a mix of cheers and boos from the crowd as the cameras panned toward him. He reportedly received boos again in the middle of the match.Its Trumps first visit to the Grand Slam tennis tournament since before he got into the White House. He was seen at the event in September 2015 months after he announced his run for president the first time.TRUMP'S FIERCEST CRITICS CONCEDE SPOTLIGHT TO PRESIDENT AT US OPENAlcaraz defeated Sinner 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4.Trump was seen cheering for Alcaraz after he wrapped up the match.Alcaraz won his first U.S. Open title back in 2022 over Casper Ruud. This year, Alcaraz won the French Open earlier this year and lost in the final of Wimbledon. He finished in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open.The 22-year-old has six Grand Slam titles on his resume with the Australian Open being the only major tournament he hasnt won.Follow Fox News Digitalssports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

New York Times columnist Ezra Klein said on his podcast Sunday that Democrats should consider forcing a government shutdown to oppose President Donald Trump.Klein opened "The Ezra Klein Show" by noting that government funding is set to expire at the end of the month, raising the possibility of another partial shutdown.Earlier this year, progressive House Democrats urged Senate colleagues to block funding, but Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., ultimately supported a continuing resolution and encouraged colleagues to follow."If you had forced me to choose, I would have said Schumer was probably right. It wasnt the time for a shutdown in part because Democrats werent prepared to win one," Klein said. "But the bill that passed back in March funding the government runs out at the end of this month. And so were facing the question again: Should Senate Democrats partner with Senate Republicans to fund this government? I dont see how they can."SCHUMER FACES 'NO-WIN SITUATION' WITH FAR-LEFT DEMS AHEAD OF GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN BATTLE, SEN. JOHN THUNE SAYSKlein claimed that with Trump in what he called the "authoritarian consolidation stageof his presidency," the Democratic Party would be guilty of complicity if it allowed government funding to continue."I want to be very clear about what I am saying here. Donald Trump is corrupting the government he is using it to hound his enemies, to line his pockets and to entrench his own power. He is corrupting it the way the Mafia would corrupt the industries it controlled. You could still, under Mafia rule, get the trash picked up or buy construction materials. But the point of those industries had become the preservation and expansion of the Mafias power and wealth," Klein said.He added, "This is what Trump is doing to the government. This is what Democrats cannot fund. This is what they have to try to stop."CHUCK SCHUMER DRAWS IRE OF DEMOCRATS, LIBERAL MEDIA VOICES AFTER VOTING TO AVERT SHUTDOWNKlein acknowledged that he was not "absolutely sure" a shutdown would be a good strategy but concluded it might still be better than the partys current approach."I am quite certain that this moment deserves real opposition that Democrats, morally speaking, should not fund a government that Trump is turning into a tool of personal enrichment and power. But I am not certain that Democrats can win a shutdown I am not certain that they have the leaders that they need. It is absolutely the case that Democrats could lose a shutdown, but whatever theyre doing right now, its not called winning," Klein said.Fox News Digital reached out to the Democratic National Committee for comment but did not immediately receive a response.CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURECLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPCongressional leaders face an Oct. 1 deadline to pass a continuing resolution to continue funding the government through the rest of the year. Senate Republicans will need Democratic votes to overcome a filibuster.