James Talarico, a Democratic state lawmaker from Texas with a surging national profile, on Tuesday jumped into the Lone Star State's high-profile and combustible Senate race.Talarico, a state representative, former middle school teacher and Presbyterian seminarian who is considered a rising star among Democrats, becomes the second major contender from his party to launch a campaign in the race for the seat currently held by longtime Republican Sen. John Cornyn.Democrats believe they have a shot of flipping the seat as Cornyn trails scandal-scarred Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in most of the latest GOP Senate primary polls."The biggest divide in our country is not left vs right its top vs bottom. Billionaire mega-donors and their puppet politicians have taken over our state and our country, rigging the system for themselves," Talarico said in a statement shared with Fox News as he announced his candidacy. "Im running for the U.S. Senate to bring people together and take power back for working Texans."TRUMP NOT ON BALLOT BUT FRONT-AND-CENTER IN 2025 ELECTIONSTalarico painted himself as an underdog, saying he's "going up against the political establishment, and were going up against a lot of money. Big Money is powerful, but it's nothing compared to people power."FOUR KEY SENATE SEATS THE GOP AIMS TO FLIP IN NEXT YEAR'S MIDTERM ELECTIONSFormer Democratic Rep. Colin Allred launched a Senate campaign in July. Allred, a former college football star who later played in the National Football League, was the 2024 Democratic Senate nominee in Texas, losing to conservative firebrand Sen. Ted Cruz by eight points.Former astronaut Terry Virts is also running for the Democratic Senate nomination.Democrats have long aimed to turn red-state Texas purple, but have repeatedly fallen short in statewide elections.SENATE DEMOCRATS RECRUITING TOP CANDIDATES IN PUSH TO WIN BACK MAJORITYAlong with Cruz's comfortable re-election last year, President Donald Trump carried Texas by over 13 percentage points, besting his single-digit victory margins in the state in the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections.But Democrats see a pathway to victory in the 2026 general election if Paxton, who enjoys strong support among the GOP's MAGA base, ousts Cornyn in the Republican primary next March.Talarico, who speaks openly about his faith and how it shapes his progressive policy agenda, has garnered national attention through a slew of social media appearances that went viral. Also boosting his profile are his TikTok videos, which have grabbed millions of views, and his appearance on Joe Rogan's top-rated podcast.Earlier this summer, Talarico was a regular on the cable news networks, conducting dozens of national media interviews, as he and dozens of his fellow Democrats in the Texas House fled the state for weeks, to delay the eventual Trump-led redistricting push in Texas to create up to five more right-leaning congressional seats.Talarico, 36, will kick off his campaign with a rally Tuesday evening in his hometown of Round Rock, Texas, which is located north of Austin.

Last week, China showcased its military might and growing alliance with U.S. adversaries including Russia, North Korea and, at least for now, India. But that show of force is not the only threat posed by todays axis of evil.Equally alarming is the insidious attack by China and its allies on the U.S. dollar, ringing alarms across global financial markets. China and other central banks have been stockpiling gold, diversifying their reserves away from U.S. government bonds, driving gold prices higher and Treasury yields up. Their allies have followed suit.Does it matter to most Americans? Yes. A weaker dollar means traveling abroad and imported goods are more expensive, even without tariffs. Higher interest rates inflate borrowing costs.GOLD MIGHT GLITTER, BUT IT'S STILL MONEY. TAXES SHOULD TREAT IT THAT WAYMorgan Stanley reports, "The value of the U.S. dollar against other currencies dropped about 11% in the first half of this year, the biggest decline in more than 50 years, ending a 15-year bull cycle." The investment bank, writing last month, also noted that, "The U.S. dollar ended the first half of 2025 with its biggest loss since 1973," and predicts more deterioration over the next 12 months.While the dollar has been dropping, gold prices have surged. The Comex price for September delivery recently topped $3,600 per ounce, an all-time high. The price is up 45% over the past year.In June, J.P. Morgan analysts predicted that gold prices would move higher in large part because of continued purchases by central banks. They wrote, "Gold holdings by central banks amount to nearly 36,200 tonnes and account for almost 20% of official reserves, up from around 15% at the end of 2023, according to reported IMF data through the end of 2024."CHINA'S CENTRAL BANK CALLS ON STATE BANKS TO REDUCE US DOLLAR PURCHASES"Diversification away from U.S. dollar reserve holdings, while still moderate, has been accelerating in recent years The U.S. dollar share ended the year at around 57.8%, marking a 0.62 percentage point decline."Not all central banks have participated in the recent gold-buying spree. J.P. Morgan cited China, Poland, Turkey, India, Azerbaijan, Czechia and Iraq as the main players not exactly a Whos Who of U.S. allies.Investors, too, have bought gold, especially in China. "ETF inflows have sharply gained momentum, with year-to-date total inflows amounting to 310 tonnes translating to around 10% in total global holdings. This has been fueled largely by a 9.5% increase in U.S. holdings and a 70% increase in Chinese ETF holdings."Why is China ditching dollars and buying gold? To undermine the U.S. currency and the U.S. itself. Beijing is pressing hard to dethrone the dollar and promote widespread adoption of the renminbi as the worlds reserve currency.That is not going to happen any time soon, given Beijings currency manipulation, lack of reliable economic data and faltering economy. But raising doubts about the dollars strength serves Chinas purpose, reducing investor appetite for dollar-denominated Treasuries. That forces the U.S. government to pay higher interest rates to attract buyers a scenario already playing out.COULD THE US DOLLAR LOSE ITS RESERVE CURRENCY STATUS TO CHINA?The anti-Trump media has aided Chinas cause with incessant alarmism about President Trumps economic policies, especially his tariff program. Not surprisingly, the drumbeat of stories about tariffs, immigration enforcement, cuts to government agencies and high federal deficits has weighed on public optimism.Optimism is important. People dont buy homes, expand businesses or leave jobs for better opportunities unless they feel positive about the future.A gloomy consumer could easily stall U.S. growth. Ironically, Bloomberg recently asked, "The U.S. economy is still in pretty good shape. The unemployment rate is low and gross domestic product expanded at a 3.3% annualized pace in the second quarter. Yet Americans dont exactly see it that way, and the nagging question is why? Five years into an epic economic and stock market boom, why is everyone so negative?"CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINIONMaybe Bloomberg should check its own headlines: "U.S. Inflation to Rise as Higher Tariffs Feed Through" and "Trump Trade War Signals End of a Golden Era."Readers may have been surprised to see the Financial Times run a piece titled "Bond investors count on Trump tariff revenues to rein in U.S. debt," suggesting that tariff income will "bolster U.S. public finance in a sharp switch from earlier this year" when investors had a uniformly negative view. When a lower court ruled Trumps tariffs illegal last week, even critics admitted tariff revenues were substantial, valuable and would help reverse some of the damage from Joe Bidens spending spree.Neither China nor the liberal media will break the U.S. dollar or the economy. For the dollar to lose its reserve status, another currency would have to emerge and that is not happening. Europe remains stagnant politically and economically, and Japan is in turmoil.Meanwhile, investment incentives in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, combined with new White House trade deals, are already boosting U.S. investment. Jobs and tax revenues will follow.Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told NBCs Kristen Welker over the weekend that we will see "substantial acceleration" in the economy by years end. If he is right, expect the dollar to rebound and Chinas ambitions to be thwarted, at least for now.CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM LIZ PEEK

On Monday morning, a horrific terror attack happened in Jerusalem. At this writing six innocent people were murdered by machine-gun wielding fanatics at a bus stop. Another six were wounded, with two of those victims fighting for their lives as this is written. Two "ultra-Orthodox" Israelis, from a community which is often on the receiving end of criticisms within and outside of Israel for its privileged position within the State, killed the terrorists.On July 24, French President Emmanuel Macron, announced that he would instruct his countrys representatives to vote to recognize a Palestinian state when the United Nations General Assembly gathers in New York later this month. If Macron has an ounce of courage, he will cast the vote in person. He deserves the infamy it will earn and he ought not to make anyone else bear it.The Macron declaration in July is believed by many to have torpedoed the last chance for a deal for the Israeli hostages held by Hamas. Some of those critics point to Macrons abysmal approval ratings inside France and the imminent collapse of another government led by a Macron appointee and conclude Macrons idiocy was motivated by domestic political considerations. There are very few supporters of Israel left in France most of the countrys Jews were murdered by the Nazis with the cooperation of the Vichy government and France has become a leading focus for anti-Israel, anti-Semitic extremism in the West.MULTIPLE PEOPLE KILLED IN SHOOTING ATTACK ON JERUSALEM BUSWhatever Macron's motive, whatever the impact of his grandstanding, the rampage Monday gives the lie to his posturing. There is no prospect of a "state" for Palestinians in the foreseeable future.Mondays attack punctuates the memories of the awful massacre of 10/7: radical fanatics steeped in the worst of Islamist extremism cannot have a "safe base" from which to operate. It will require a generation or two of stability and peaceful co-existence alongside Palestinians on the West Bank and in Gaza for Israelis scarred by the two intifadas, the invasion of Israel by Hamas and the ongoing murderous ambitions of Tehrans mullahs to trust in any adjacent Palestinian states ability or actual intent to stamp out anti-Semitic fanaticism among the Palestinian people.It is possible that could occur some day. There are many Palestinians who have long condemned the extremism of Hamas and the corruption of the Palestinian Authority. But, they have no power and the Palestinians with any sort of power have not stepped forward to condemn Mondays murders.Amit Segal, one of Israels finest journalists, posted the names and ages of the victims of Mondays massacre:Segal did readers a great service in reminding them that Mondays victims are not just numbers, not data points or talking points, but men and women, fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, gunned down because they were Jews living in the Jewish State, reborn in 1948 by action of the United Nations and as legitimate as any nation in the world. (Segals daily newsletter is free and can be subscribed to at AmitSegal.net.)More legitimate, actually, as the nation of Israel has the equal of any historical claim to sovereignty of any nation on the globe. Its ancient roots are indisputable.CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINIONSo too are the facts of Israels repeated attempts to arrive at peace with its neighbors, including the Palestinians.But no matter what Macron and his fellow travelers at the U.N. "declare," there will be no Palestinian state until all or nearly all Palestinians convincingly abandon their ambitions to destroy Israel.Those ambitions have been manifested in the murderous rampages that have marked the entire modern history of Israel since the Hebron pogrom on August 24, 1929, while Great Britain still administered the lands which would become Israel pursuant to the Mandate the Brits received from the League of Nations following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire after World War I.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

1. White House vows accountability after Charlotte Metro murder2. Supreme Court justice defends Court's independence during Fox News interview3. Bill Clinton letter in Epstein 'birthday book' among new files releasedPOWER PLAY Senate GOP leader moves to lower the filibuster threshold for Trump nominees through nuclear option. Continue reading BEHIND BARS Feds bust 'public enemy number one' in a massive operation netting $11M and 617 arrests. Continue reading STRANGE START Ryan Routh trial opens with bizarre jury questions and witness drama. Continue reading MCCARTHY MAGIC Vikings QB shakes off early struggles with a heroic victory in his first career start. Continue reading PAINTED AWARENESS Bears QB's fingernails send a powerful statement before the season opener vs Vikings. Continue reading --COMBAT READY War secretary lands in Puerto Rico as US ramps up Caribbean cartel fight with naval forces. Continue reading 'EXISTENTIAL THREAT' Meet the AI doomsayer pushing back against Trumps plans for American AI dominance. Continue reading PARTISAN WARFARE Democrats flood defense bill with far-left amendments aimed at Trump. Continue reading VISA GRAY ZONE ICE raids Georgia Hyundai battery plant, sparking a firestorm with South Korea. Continue reading Click here for more cartoonsBIG APPLE BATTLE NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani defends past tweets. Continue reading 'CESSPOOL' CNN's Brian Stelter says 'pro-Trump activists' seized on Charlotte stabbing. Continue reading COMIC CONFESSION Late-night host Kimmel weighs in on whether his anti-Trump jokes defend democracy. Continue reading COMPLETELY FALSE Stern tricks outlets into reporting he quit SiriusXM with Andy Cohen prank. Continue reading MARK HARRIS Iryna Zarutska fled Ukraine for safety but Democrats' soft-on-crime policies failed her. Continue reading HUGH HEWITT MORNING GLORY: When Macron's foolishness fades, Israel will still stand proud. Continue reading --WOUNDED NINERS 49ers' George Kittle expected to miss 3-5 weeks with hamstring injury. Continue reading NAME GAME Mark Zuckerberg sues Meta over Facebook suspensions. Continue reading AMERICAN CULTURE QUIZ Test yourself on autumn amusements and federal firsts. Take the quiz here MEDICAL CLARITY 'Goonies' star shares life-changing diagnosis that finally made everything make sense. Continue reading 'I FOUND HISTORY' Man and his grandson find a possible 19th shipwreck. See video BRIT HUME Trump's approach on crime is a political winner. See video BILL ESSAYLI Supreme Court lifts limits on LA ICE raids. See video Tune in to the FOX NEWS RUNDOWN PODCAST to break down the murder on the Charlotte light rail and if it could have been prevented. Check it out ...Whats it looking like in your neighborhood?Continue readingFacebookInstagramYouTubeTwitterLinkedInFox News FirstFox News OpinionFox News LifestyleFox News Entertainment (FOX411)Fox BusinessFox WeatherFox SportsTubiFox News GoThank you for making us your first choice in the morning! Well see you in your inbox first thing Wednesday.

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr said in an interview published Monday that he is willing to penalize major media companies if he and President Donald Trump believe they are "out of line."The Wall Street Journal described Carr as a maverick, saying he has embraced Trumps "showman instincts" to hold broadcasters accountable. While previous FCC chairs were often reluctant to rein in major companies, Carr said he would pull broadcast licenses from any outlet he believes has engaged in misconduct against the "public interest.""Broadcast licenses are not sacred cows," Carr told the outlet.FAIR ELECTION FUND URGES FCC TO HOLD CBS ACCOUNTABLE FOR 'UNLAWFUL CONDUCT RELATED TO 60 MINUTES INTERVIEWCarr, who has been with the FCC since 2017, said the agency is "fully aligned with the agenda that President Trump is running."He said Trump has set the tone for the governments approach to media companies, stating, "President Trump ran directly at the legacy mainstream media, and he smashed a facade that theyre the gatekeepers of truth."Following Trumps accusations that Comcast, the parent company of NBCUniversal, shows bias toward Democrats, Carr launched two probes into the company.The FCC has been investigating Comcasts diversity policies. In April, Carr said the NBC News and MSNBC parent was "misleading the American public" with its coverage of a high-profile deportation, the Wall Street Journal reported.Carr said in July that the FCC would examine Comcast's relationship with NBC stations and affiliates and whether its programming decisions "best reflect the needs and interests of their communities."'60 MINUTES' KAMALA HARRIS INTERVIEW AT CENTER OF TRUMP LAWSUIT RUNS AFOUL OF CRONKITE-ERA CBS GUIDELINESAs the Journal noted, Carr has justified these actions by citing a 1934 law stating that "because a given broadcast network is granted airwaves to use exclusively as its own, it needs to operate in public interest, convenience and necessity."The report noted the only time the FCC revoked a companys broadcast license was in 1971, when a Mississippi station defended segregation. Carr has signaled he would have no issue doing the same today.While previous FCC chairs tried to appear independent of the presidents agenda, Carr said he is leaning in."We are fully aligned with the agenda that President Trump is running," he told the paper.Critics argue Carr is politicizing the FCCs work."This appears to be part of a political campaign against what the chairman perceives to be enemies of the president," said Robert Corn-Revere, chief counsel of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), arguing to the Wall Street Journal that it violates the agencys responsibility to protect free speech.CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURESen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., said in July that the FCCs approval of the merger between CBS parent Paramount Global and Skydance Media "looks like corruption, plain and simple." Weeks before the merger, Paramount agreed to pay Trump a $16 million settlement in his election interference lawsuit over the editing of a CBS News "60 Minutes" interview.Before the deal, Skydance also pledged it would appoint an ombudsman to "evaluate complaints of bias" at Paramount, and would not enact new diversity policies.Carr defended the FCCs handling of the deal, saying the merger review followed the rules and noting the ombudsman reports to CBS, not the FCC.The FCC did not immediately reply to Fox News Digitals request for comment.

The stabbing death of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska aboard a train comes amid a nationwide debate about law enforcement and safety. Now, commuters in Charlotte, North Carolina, where Zarutska was stabbed on Aug. 22, are wondering whether they are protected while riding the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS)."I worked right up the street at the gas station and was actually at work when it happened on the train, so I was kind of, I dont know what was going to happen," one woman told Fox News Digital on Monday. "I didnt know if he had gotten away or what happened, but it kind of made me wary about getting on the train after that."Another woman who spoke to Fox News Digital while waiting to ride the light rail said she was grateful she was not in the city when the stabbing occurred, calling the surveillance video "very disturbing.""Female safety is a big concern everywhere, and now its even more so an extra concern popping on the train," the woman said. "I never have two earbuds in; I always just have one [so Im] very aware of my surroundings for that reason. I do not want that to happen to me."GOFUNDME PULLS FUNDRAISERS FOR FELON ACCUSED OF KILLING COMMUTER IN RANDOM CHARLOTTE TRAIN ATTACKWhile both women said they were aware of the attack, they also said that they felt safe on CATS. Another commuter who spoke with Fox News Digital agreed but said the fact he was there during the day could play a role in why he feels safe riding the system. One of the women who spoke with Fox News Digital said that she doesnt ride the light rail after dark because of safety concerns.In July, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) released its mid-year public safety statistics, boasting a 29% drop in homicides."I am incredibly proud of our patrol officers, who are in our neighborhoods daily, engaging with the community, observing suspicious activity and providing our detectives with the crucial information needed to arrest violent offenders," Deputy Chief Ryan Butler said in a statement. "The progress were making in reducing violent crime comes from strong, ongoing teamwork."DEM GOVERNOR BREAKS SILENCE ON MURDER OF UKRAINIAN REFUGEE AFTER SOCIAL MEDIA BACKLASHHowever, the stabbing, which was captured on surveillance video, is making some feel as though the drop in crime isnt enough.The viral video of the attack shows Zarutska boarding the train and sitting in front of a man wearing a red hoodie. Zarutska began scrolling on her phone and after a few minutes the man pulled out a knife and stabbed her.The suspect in the video has since been identified as Decarlos Brown, who is charged with first-degree murder, according to the Mecklenburg County arrest warrant. Fox News Digital obtained records showing that Brown has a history of arrests going back over a decade.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPHis record includes a 2013 conviction for larceny and breaking and entering, as well as a 2015 conviction for robbery with a dangerous weapon, which sent him to prison. He was released in 2020 and remained on parole until 2021.Since his arrest, North Carolina leaders, including Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles and Gov. Josh Stein, have faced backlash over their responses to the attack and approach to crime. Stein appeared to call for more police presence in his statement, drawing criticism from White House Deputy Press Secretary Abigail Jackson, who accused the governor of "trying to shift the blame."

A sweeping immigration raid at a Georgia electric vehicle battery plant left hundreds in federal custody last week, adding to the Trump administration's growing list of high-profile enforcement actions.Former DHS Deputy Assistant Secretary Jonathan Fahey says news of the raid is a powerful "deterrent," sending a message that companies can no longer undercut American workers and businesses by hiring people who are in the country illegally."This raid was a great deterrent to ensure that people here are working legally," Fahey said Monday on "America's Newsroom."TRUMP BACKS ICE RAID AT HYUNDAI PLANT, BUT SAYS US NEEDS FOREIGN EXPERTS TO TRAIN AMERICANS"Illegal people arent allowed to work, and businesses arent allowed to profit from using illegal workers."The facility, a $4.3 billion to $7.6 billion HyundaiLG Energy Solution (LGES) joint venture located approximately 20 miles outside of Savannah in Ellabell, was raided last Thursday in the largest single-site operation carried out by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).The facility, which is still under construction, is slated to supply batteries to Hyundais nearby Savannah EV plant and stands as the largest single industrial investment in Georgias history.Fox News national correspondent Madison Scarpino appeared at the site Monday, where she relayed Homeland Security's claim that everyone arrested in the raid had either crossed the border illegally, had expired worker visas, or was not supposed to be working on a visa waiver program.SOCIAL MEDIA FIRESTORM AFTER MASSIVE GEORGIA IMMIGRATION RAID: 'TAKING BOLD ACTION'Scarpino said an attorney representing two of the people detained told Fox News his clients were working in the U.S. legally.Fahey disputed that claim on-air."There was a federal judge that issued a search warrant for this, so that judge found that there was probable cause for criminal law violations going on there, mainly with the employers," he said.LGES told Fox News Digital in a statement that they are "closely monitoring the situation and gathering all relevant details.""Our top priority is always ensuring the safety and well-being of our employees and partners. We will fully cooperate with the relevant authorities," the statement continued.Hyundai also said it is aware of the raid but believes that none of its workers were detained."As of today, it is our understanding that none of those detained is directly employed by Hyundai Motor Company," Hyundai told Fox News Digital in a statement."We prioritize the safety and well-being of everyone working at the site and comply with all laws and regulations wherever we operate."Some employees worked for subcontractors at the site.Fox News' Michael Dorgan and Rachel Wolf contributed to this report.

He's not on the ballot, but President Donald Trump is smack in the middle of Tuesday's special congressional election in the northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C.The federal jobs cuts implemented by Trump's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), crime and immigration, transgender policies, and even the push to release the Justice Department's files on the late convicted sex-offender Jeffrey Epstein are also in the spotlight as voters cast ballots in the Fairfax County anchored district.James Walkinshaw, the Democratic Party nominee, told Fox News Digital the sweeping and controversial agenda Trump pushed during his first eight months back in the White House will have a "real impact" on the special election in Virginia's left-leaning 11th Congressional District.Republican nominee Stewart Whitson also says Trump's in the campaign spotlight because of a "lot of the great policies that he's been championing."TRUMP NOT ON BALLOT BUT FRONT-AND-CENTER IN 2025 ELECTIONSThe winner will succeed the late longtime Democratic Rep. Gerry Connolly, who died in June after a battle with cancer.The Republicans currently control the House 219-212, with three seats controlled by Democrats vacant, as well as one held by the GOP. And if Walkinshaw tops Whitson in a district Republicans haven't won in nearly two decades, it will further narrow the GOP's fragile House majority.In a district that's home to tens of thousands of federal workers and contractors, many voters have been affected by the DOGE implemented job cuts and layoffs.FOUR KEY SENATE SEATS THE GOP AIMS TO FLIP IN NEXT YEAR'S MIDTERM ELECTIONS"Folks in Northern Virginia and Fairfax are feeling the impact of the Trump policies. And I like to say we're kind of on the leading edge of the Trump economy here. Everybody in Fairfax knows someone, probably someone on their street, maybe the parent of their kid's soccer team, who has lost their job because of DOGE or the Trump policies," Walkinshaw said on Election Day eve.Walkinshaw, a Fairfax County Board of Supervisors member who previously served as Connollys chief of staff, argued that "if the Trump policies continue, tariffs, the so-called big, beautiful bill, that's going to be the case all around the country. So I think we're on the leading edge of that. And I think voters tomorrow are going to send a statement about that."Whitson, an Army veteran and former FBI special agent who oversees federal affairs for a conservative think tank, told Fox News digital that "the people in our district who have lost their job or who are worried about losing their job, they don't need empathy. They need solutions."He said Walkinshaw is "claiming he's going to fight President Trump and fight the administration. And my pitch to voters in our district is: is that going to help? Is that going to help improve the situation? The answer is no.""We need someone to represent the people in our district who can work with any administration, whether it's Republican or Democrat," Whitson emphasized.Pointing to federal workers and contractors who lost their jobs, he said, "I want to find a way to get them back in. I also want to find other economic opportunities for them as well."While Trump isn't very popular in the district the president won just 31% of the vote in his White House re-election last year Whitson said that Trump's polices "center on common sense."And taking aim at Democrats, he argued, "People in our district are realizing that the radical left has just pushed so far away from common sense the radical policies they're pushing on our kids behind closed doors, the reckless soft on crime policies that are making us less safe. These are issues that are important to our voters."Whitson, pointing to the ongoing battle over allowing transgender children to use public school bathrooms in some Fairfax County schools, targeted Walkinshaw."My opponent believes it is a civil right for men who identify as girls or women to go into our girls' locker rooms and watch them change. I think this is all backwards," Whitson charged. "I think it is a civil right for girls and women when they see a female sign on a bathroom that they know they can go in there and be safe. And again, this just comes back to common sense. I'm a father with five kids. Three of those kids are daughters."Walkinshaw charged that Whitson has "been really obsessed with how maybe 1% of the kids in our schools use the bathrooms, and what I hear from folks in our community, and what I'm focused on is how 100% of our kids can succeed in the classrooms. So the threats to pull federal funding, the dismantling of the Department of Education, threatens the performance of our kids in the classrooms, and that's what I'm focused on."Whitson has also been trying to link Walkinshaw to Zohran Mamdani, the socialist candidate who rocked the political world in June by winning the Democratic Party mayoral nomination in New York City.Listing Walkinshaw's record and his proposals, Whitson charged, "This is someone who has a history of supporting a lot of the exact same type of policies that Mamdani is supporting. And so I'll let voters draw the comparison."Asked about the comparison, Walkinshaw said during his four months on the campaign trail this summer, "not a single voter has asked me about the New York mayor's election. I don't care what happens in the New York mayor's election. I care what happens to folks right here in the 11th District."But what Walkinshaw says he has heard about on the campaign trail is the push by both Democrats and Republicans for the Justice Department to release files related to the federal investigation of Epstein, who died in prison six years ago while awaiting federal charges related to sex trafficking."One of these things that I hear from Democrats, independents and a lot of Republicans and conservatives who believed Donald Trump when he said there was a cover-up of the files during the Biden administration. They took him at his word, and now they're wondering if he was lying. So yeah, it comes up, and it comes up across the political spectrum," Walkinshaw said.And if he wins Tuesday's election, Walkinshaw said he will immediately sign a discharge petition by Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna of California and Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky. The petition, which is currently just a few votes shy of passing, calls on the House to vote to urge the Justice Department to release the files."I absolutely will sign it," he said. "I think the American people deserve to know. I want to know what the Trump administration, if anything, is covering up. And right now, the discharge petition is the vehicle to do that."Whitson argued that "my opponent's really late to the game on this," and that "months ago I called for a complete disclosure of all the records from Epstein files."Whitson pointed to his years as a federal law enforcement officer in declassifying documents, and charged that Walkinshaw was using the issue as a political weapon."How long has this case been going on, and now he finally wants to reach on those records. And so what does that mean? It means he doesn't care about these victims at all. He's using the pain and the suffering that they experience to try to get political gain," he argued.Fox News' Kiera McDonald contributed to this report.

Archaeologists in Romania have unearthed an elite Roman family's ancient treasure, buried for centuries beneath the remains of a millennia-old city.The discovery, announced by the National History Museum of Romania on Aug. 23, was made within the remains of Histria, an ancient Greek city on the coast of the Black Sea.The treasure consists of more than 40 coins and several ancient ornaments made of precious metals, according to the MNIR's announcement.ANCIENT CIVILIZATION'S GOLD COINS, LUXURY ARTIFACTS UNEARTHED DURING 'UNPRECEDENTED' DIG"These artifacts were discovered in the archaeological context of a dwelling that was destroyed by fire during the Roman period," the translated statement noted."From the same layer, numerous other artifacts were also found, [including] inscriptions, ceramic vessels, bronze, iron, glass and stone objects."Pictures show the coins heavily corroded over the centuries with a green and brown patina, yet still retaining their shape, with some gold visible.RARE ANCIENT GOLD DISCOVERY MADE BY FLORIDA STUDENT AT ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITEArchaeologists believe that the treasure was originally hidden in a wooden chest, which "fused together while retaining its shape," during the fire."Most likely, the dwelling belonged to an important family from the mid-2nd century to the mid-3rd century AD, and the valuables were stored in a special place but could not be saved at the time of the fire," the statement noted.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTERThe house also contained limestone pavements and painted walls. The structure was called "sumptuous" by researchers, reflecting the living conditions of well-to-do Romans."[It] represents significant testimony for reconstructing a moment in the life of the ancient city during the Principate period," the statement said.For more Lifestyle articles, visit foxnews.com/lifestyleThe coins were brought to the MNIR's restoration laboratory. After conservation work was done, the artifacts were added to the museum's collections.Romania, a country rich with history, has been the setting of several treasure discoveries in recent months.In the spring, a metal detectorist found a hoard of 1,469 Roman coins in the field of a small village in Romania.Two metal detectorists also came across millennia-old treasure in Romania this spring, in the historic region of Transylvania.

Meghan Markles family drama continues to haunt her long after her royal exit.In 2022, the Duchess of Sussexs estranged half-sister, Samantha Markle, sued her for allegedly defaming her in multiple interviews, including a 2021 tell-all with Oprah Winfrey. The case was dismissed with prejudice in 2024, which means Samantha cannot file the claims again. The elder sibling appealed the dismissal, and an oral argument has been scheduled for Sept. 9 in Jacksonville, Fla., Fox News Digital has learned.British royal expert Hilary Fordwich told Fox News Digital that despite Meghans departure from royal life and attempts to move forward, she can't escape her ongoing family turmoil.PRINCE WILLIAMS MISTRUST OF MEGHAN MARKLE IS STALLING PEACE WITH PRINCE HARRY: AUTHOR"Meghan Markle has done her utmost to rebrand herself as some sort of California royalty in a desperate attempt to forge a new identity," Fordwich claimed. "This will thwart those efforts. Regarding her own father, former Hollywood lighting director Thomas Markle, there is such entrenched bitterness, and this situation makes any reconciliation far from likely.""These constant airings of grievances will cause a great chasm," Fordwich added.A spokesperson for Archewell, which handles the office for the Duchess of Sussex, told Fox News Digital they wont be commenting on the ongoing legal dispute.In a statement sent to Fox News Digital, Samanthas lawyer, Peter Ticktin, said: "The attorneys representing Samantha Markle and Meghan Markle will be making their arguments to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. As each side has fully briefed their positions, we are not going to learn much from either side. However, we can get a good idea of what is to come from the questions which the panel of three judges is more than likely to ask.""After the oral argument, the judges will go into a conference and determine whether the case should be reversed and remanded to the trial judge or if the judges decision will be affirmed," he said. "As the whole question is to be addressed as a matter of law, where all the allegations of the complaint are deemed to be true for this purpose, there is a good chance that the court will reverse the trial judge.""The question is, assuming that all the allegations of the complaint are true, are the false allegations that Samantha was a part of a group of racists who are attacking Meghan Markle sufficient to be defamation under Florida law?" Ticktin added.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTERIn 2020, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped back as senior royals, citing the unbearable intrusions of the British press and a lack of support from the palace.Since the couples move to California, Meghan has been building her business empire. Her lifestyle brand, As Ever, launched earlier this year. Season 2 of her lifestyle series, "With Love, Meghan," premiered Aug. 26.Samantha, 60, claimed in her original filing that Meghan, 44, made defamatory statements during her interview with Winfrey when she said she "grew up as an only child,"People magazine reported. Samantha argued that she and Meghan "were close during childhood" but drifted apart after Meghan began dating Prince Harry.According to the outlet, Samantha also claimed there were defamatory implications when Meghan said during that same interview that Samantha "changed her last name back to Markle"after she began dating Harry. District Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell determined in a 2023 ruling that telling Oprah she "grew up as an only child" was a protected opinion."As a reasonable listener would understand it, [the] Defendant merely expresses an opinion about her childhood and her relationship with her half-siblings. Thus, the Court finds that Defendant's statement is not objectively verifiable or subject to empirical proof," Honeywell wrote.Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told Fox News Digital that Meghans family estrangement looms heavily over her, casting a dark shadow on her efforts to reinvent herself as an entrepreneur.LIKE WHAT YOURE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS"One of the strange characteristics of Meghan is that she plays at being so relentlessly positive yet only appears to get on with her mother," he claimed. "One of the reasons she is struggling with her work is that people dont buy it. She is not genuine. Whatever her fathers faults are and they are considerable he did play a huge role in bringing her up."Meghan has repeatedly accused Samantha and their father of selling stories to the British tabloids."I said, 'I just need you to tell me, and if you tell me the truth, we can help,' and he wasn't able to do that,"Meghan recalled to Winfrey, 71, about confronting her father about speaking with paparazzi.At the time of the televised interview, which was viewed by nearly 50 million people globally, Meghan was expecting her second child."And that, for me, has really resonated, especially now as a mother," she said. "I look at Archie, I think about this child [on the way], and I genuinely can't imagine doing anything to intentionally cause pain to my child. I can't imagine it. So, it's hard for me to reconcile that."Meghan also said of her sister to the TV host: "I think it'd be very hard to tell all when you don't know me. And I mean, this is a very different situation than my dad, right? When you talk about betrayal, betrayal comes from someone that you have a relationship with, right? I don't feel comfortable talking about people that I really don't know. But I grew up as an only child, which everyone who grew up around me knows."Doug Eldridge, founder of Achilles PR, told Fox News Digital that ongoing legal disputes involving family members cause more harm than good for any public figure."The world of he said/she said familial disputes often seems like a tangled extension cord; no matter how you twist, pull, or loosen, it only seems to get tighter and more convoluted," he explained."You have no idea where the beginning or the end is," he said. "Far be it from me to say someone else should reconcile with a family member, but I will say this: anytime you choose to litigate or publicize your family issues in front of a global jury of your peers, it never leads to a winning outcome. Everyone loses."WATCH: MEGHAN MARKLE WILL NEVER WIN OVER UK PUBLIC AGAIN, AUTHOR CLAIMSEldridge noted that sparring would only play out on the worlds stage."Meghan married into the royal family, and that means a lifetime of media coverage," he said. "She has also, in the past, strategically sought media attention in hopes of garnering viewer and reader sympathy. However, that media spotlight has always been a two-way street. If you consistently use the microphone and stage to denigrate others while positioning yourself as the victim, you have to understand that eventually, you too will be the subject of allegations and even litigation.""The court of law has regulations, standards, and protocol; the court of public opinion does not," he warned.Royal expert Ian Pelham Turner argued to Fox News Digital that Meghan has been unfairly targeted by Samantha."It is open season on Meghan," he claimed. "She obviously has a big target on her back Can she shake off her troubles, build relationships again and keep her brand afloat while looking after Harry and the children? She is capable of doing this. She is immensely strong and determined. I hope she wins the battles and the war."Meghan and Harry are raising their two young children in the wealthy, coastal city of Montecito, Calif. She is preparing to launch a holiday special of her lifestyle series on Netflix.