Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo had the attention of NFL fans on Sunday when he criticized the officiating during the Denver Broncos win over the Philadelphia Eagles.There were at least two plays that stood out to Romo as he served as the color commentator for the CBS broadcasted game.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COMWith 8:41 left in the game, Broncos quarterback found tight end Evan Engram for a completion short of the first-down marker. A flag was thrown on the play and Engram was called for offensive pass interference."This is going to be a pick that I dont think is correct," Romo said almost immediately after the flag was thrown. "I really dont think this was actually a pick play. This is actually accidental because he runs a hitch route and they random run into each other. I would pick this one up if it was me. But if Im an Eagles fan, I would say its 100% (right)."Even with the penalty, Denver would march down the field and score a touchdown and take the lead with the 2-point conversion.DRAKE MAYE LEADS PATRIOTS TO UPSET VICTORY OVER PREVIOUSLY UNDEFEATED BILLSThe Broncos got the ball back with 3:37 remaining in the game. Nix dropped back to pass and was immediately pressured by the Eagles defense. He threw the ball away with tight end Adam Trautman in the area, which wouldnt have warranted an intentional grounding penalty call or so fans thought.The officiating crew decided to throw a flag for intentional grounding after all. As Romo, Jim Nantz and officiating analyst Gene Steratore debated the call, the officials picked up the flag thanks to replay assist. The call was changed to an incomplete pass."Just dont tell us?" Romo said of the officials silence. "Not that big of a deal just a huge deal."It was those two calls that Romo appeared to be upset about. NFL fans turned their attention to the penultimate play of the game in which it appeared Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert was interfered with while trying to make a catch on a throw from Jalen Hurts.There was no flag thrown and the Broncos escaped with the victory.Follow Fox News Digitalssports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Bari Weiss announced on Monday that she is officially editor-in-chief of CBS News and her outlet, The Free Press, is joining Paramount."Were a news organization, so Ill get right to it: This morning,The Free Pressis joining Paramount," Weiss wrote in an email to readers."This move is a testament to many things:The Free Pressteam; the vision of Paramounts new leaders; the luck of starting an independent media company at the right moment; and the courage of my colleagues to leave behind old worlds to build a new one," she continued. "But, above all, its a testament to you, our subscribers."Weiss, who famously quit The New York Timesin 2020 after detailing bullying by her colleagues, went on to launch the "Common Sense" newsletter in 2021 before rebranding it as The Free Press and expanding it into a full-fledged media company in 2022.Weiss and The Free Press have long been rumored to be coveted by Paramount's new owner David Ellison, and the pact is now official.CBS STAFFERS ABUZZ AS BARI WEISS REPORTEDLY SET TO JOIN NETWORK'S TOP BRASS, 'NOBODY KNOWS' WHAT TO EXPECT"We are thrilled to welcome Bari andThe Free Pressto Paramount and CBS News. Bari is a proven champion of independent, principled journalism, and I am confident her entrepreneurial drive and editorial vision will invigorate CBS News. This move is part of Paramounts bigger vision to modernize content and the way it connects directly and passionately to audiences around the world," Ellison said in a statement."This is an important initiative for our company and Bari will report directly to me leading the work ofThe Free Pressand collaborating with our CBS News team in the pursuit of making it the most trusted name in news," Ellison added. "We believe the majority of the country longs for news that is balanced and fact-based, and we want CBS to be their home."Weiss "will shape editorial priorities, champion core values across platforms, and lead innovation in how the organization reports and delivers the news," according to Paramount. She will partner with CBS News President Tom Cibrowski.The purchase price for The Free Press was $150 million in cash and Paramount stock, according to reports.Weiss noted that The Free Press aimed to "marry the quality of the old world to the freedom of the new," and that her goal is to "seek the truth and tell it plainly" while treating readers "like adults capable of making their own choices.""So many people told us this was no longer possible. That the premise of a media company built on trust rather than partisanship was, at best, a relic from the pastand, at worst, a fantasy that never was. That the internet killed journalism. That there simply werent enough Americans out there in search of media driven by honesty, independence, and integrity," Weiss wrote. "You proved them wrong. You demonstrated that theres a market for honest journalism. And youve given us a mandate to pursue that mission from an even bigger platform."The Free Press will maintain its "own independent brand and operations, and continue to do reporting, video and audio podcasts, and events for its fast-growing community of subscribers," according to Paramount.Weiss said she would continue to lead The Free Press as CEO and editor-in-chief but has more on her plate."As of today, I am editor-in-chief of CBS News, working with new colleagues on the programs that have impacted American culture for generations shows like60 MinutesandSunday Morning and shaping how millions of Americans read, listen, watch, and, most importantly, understand the news in the 21st century," Weiss wrote.NEW PARAMOUNT CEO DAVID ELLISON ISSUES ULTIMATUM TO WORKERS: RETURN TO OFFICE FULL-TIME OR LEAVEWeiss joins CBS at a time of severe tumult in the industry and the network itself, which has weathered controversies around "60 Minutes" and the surprising cancellation of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert."Weiss, who built her brand around the notion that legacy outlets suffer from liberal groupthink, is sure to shake things up. Liberals have been incensed at the idea of Weiss being elevated to such a powerful position at CBS News. She has largely been ostracized by the cultural left for The Free Press' reporting that challenges DEI, gender ideology and media narratives against Israel in its ongoing war with Hamas.While conservatives and critics of the legacy media have largely welcomed the idea of Weiss leading a CBS overhaul, liberals and anti-Israel commentators slammed the move on social media.CBS STAFFERS REVOLT OVER PARAMOUNT'S SHAMEFUL TRUMP SETTLEMENT, BETRAYAL TO THE NETWORK'S JOURNALISTSWeiss, who wrote that the move means CBS has a "redoubled commitment to great journalism," conceded in her email to subscribers that they might have questions about the deal."WasntThe Free Pressstarted precisely because the old media institutions had failed? Isnt the whole premise of this publication that we need to build anew? Why fleeThe New York Timesonly to head back into another legacy institution?" Weiss wrote."In 2020, when I quitThe New York Times, I left a job that, on paper, was exactly the one I had always dreamed of having. But it wasntThe New York Timesanymore. It was, by then, a fancy logo and a motto that many had abandoned in exchange for devotion to a set of narrow, partisan ideas," she continued. "I was raised to be a believer in the institutions that built America and that made sense of itthe universities, book publishers, movie studios, and newspaper companies that forged public opinion for the entirety of my grandparents and parents lives. But what I found in 2020 is that the most important public conversations were happening outside of those places. I wanted to be a part of that more than I wanted to cling to the prestige."Weiss wrote that "so much has changed" over the past five years."As the gatekeepers of the mainstream have failed one after another, an explosion took place across the media landscape. Incredible new voices came to the fore. Personalities and influencers have overtaken hundred-year-old journalism brands in only a few years. Its an exciting, fascinating moment. It is also a deeply uncertain one," Weiss wrote."If the illiberalism of our institutions has been the story of the last decade, we now face a different form of illiberalism emanating from our fringes. On the one hand, an America-loathing far left. On the other, a history-erasing far right," she added. "These extremes do not represent the majority of the country, but they have increasing power in our politics, our culture, and our media ecosystem."FCC APPROVES PARAMOUNT-SKYDANCE MERGER FOLLOWING TRUMP SETTLEMENT, COLBERT CANCELLATIONShe continued: "Overlooked by all these so-called interlocutors are the enormous numbers of smart, politically mixed, pragmatic Americans. The people who believe, unapologetically, in the American project. This is the actual mainstream. These people are the overwhelming majority of the country. And they are being ill-served."Weiss said there are 1.5 million Free Press subscribers and the move to Paramount allows them to reach even more Americans."This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity allows us to do that. It givesThe Free Pressa chance to help reshape a storied media organizationto help guide CBS News into a future that honors those great values that underpinThe Free Pressand the best of American journalism. And in doing so, to bring our mission to millions of people," Weiss wrote."We would not be doing this if we did not believe in David Ellison, and the entire leadership team who took over Paramount this summer. They are doubling down because they believe in news. Because they have courage. Because they love this country. And because they understand, as we do, that America cannot thrive without common facts, common truths, and a common reality," she added. "If youre a CBS News reader or viewer hearing our name for the first time: I am eager to earn your trust."The Pree Press will lift its paywall through October 12.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPFox News Digitals Joseph A. Wulfsohn contributed to this report.

Facing criticism from all sides, Frances new prime minister, Sbastien Lecornu, resigned less than 24 hours after naming his government and after less than a month in office, plunging the country into a deep political crisis.The French presidency said in a statement Monday that President Emmanuel Macron has accepted his resignation. Lecornu had replaced his predecessor, Franois Bayrou, to become Frances fourth prime minister in barely a year.A faithful ally of Macron, Lecornu said conditions were no longer met to remain in office after failing to build a consensus."It would take little for it to work," Lecornu said in his resignation speech. "By being more selfless for many, by knowing how to show humility. One must always put ones country before ones party."MACRON STAKES ANTI-TRUMP GLOBAL ROLE WITH GAZA INITIATIVE AT UN SUMMITMacron's opponents immediately tried to capitalize on the shocking resignation, with the far-right National Rally calling on him to either call for new snap elections or resign."This raises a question for the president of the republic: can he continue to resist the legislature dissolution? We have reached the end of the road," far-right leader Marine Le Pen said. "There is no other solution. The only wise course of action in these circumstances is to return to the polls."On the far left, France Unbowed also asked for Macrons departure, while voices on the left called for the revival of a coalition made up of leftists, socialists, greens and communists.FRANCE ARRESTS HUNDREDS AS 'BLOCK EVERYTHING' PROTESTS ERUPT ACROSS COUNTRYThe resignation rattled investors, sending the CAC-40 index of leading French companies plunging. The index was down by nearly 2% on its Friday close.Ministers appointed just the previous night found themselves in the bizarre situation of becoming caretaker ministers kept in place only to manage day-to-day affairs until a new government is formed before some of them had even been formally installed in office.Agns Pannier-Runacher, the newly reappointed minister for ecology, posted on X: "I despair of this circus."Lecornu's choice of ministers has been criticized across the political spectrum, particularly his decision to bring back former Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire to serve at the defense ministry, with critics saying that under his watch Frances public deficit soared.NEPAL'S PRIME MINISTER RESIGNS AS RIOTERS BURN LEADERS' HOMESLecornus main task would have been to pass a budget as France is faced with a massive debt crisis. At the end of the first quarter of 2025, Frances public debt stood at 3.346 trillion euros ($3.9 trillion), or 114% of GDP. Debt servicing remains a major budget item, accounting for around 7% of state spending.Other key positions remained largely unchanged from the previous Cabinet, with conservative Bruno Retailleau staying on as interior minister in charge of policing and internal security, Jean-Nol Barrot remaining as foreign minister and Grald Darmanin keeping the justice ministry.French politics have been in disarray since Macron called snap elections last year that produced a deeply fragmented legislature. Far-right and left-wing lawmakers hold over 320 seats at the National Assembly, while the centrists and allied conservatives hold 210.Seeking consensus at the National Assembly, Lecornu consulted with all political forces and trade unions before forming his Cabinet. He also vowed that he would not employ a special constitutional power his predecessors had used to force budgets through Parliament without a vote and would instead seek compromise with lawmakers from the left and the right.

The White House ridiculed Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, D-Ill., on Monday for rejecting President Donald Trumps deployment of national guardsmen to Illinois to combat crime."Chicago is descending into lawlessness and chaos because this slob cares more about boosting his anti-Trump creds on X than he does about making his city safe," White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson told Fox News Digital."Pritzker should be ashamed of himself," she said.Pritzker, long considered a potential 2028 presidential candidate, said he refused to comply with the Trump administration's "ultimatum" to deploy Illinois National Guard troops, calling it "absolutely outrageous and un-American.""We must now start calling this what it is: Trumps Invasion," Pritzker said.PRITZKER SAYS TRUMP ORDERING 400 MEMBERS OF THE TEXAS NATIONAL GUARD TO ILLINOIS, OREGON AND OTHER LOCATIONSTRUMP ESCALATES FIGHT WITH PRITZKER AS BLOODY CHICAGO WEEKEND SPARKS TROOP WARNINGAfter Pritzker refused to deploy his own troops, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott authorized Trump to send 400 Texas National Guard members to Illinois and Oregon.Abbott said he deployed Texas troops to "ensure safety for federal officials" in the blue states where protesters have rejected the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) deportation efforts. "You can either fully enforce protection for federal employees or get out of the way and let Texas Guard do it," Abbott said.Pritzker said the Trump administration never contacted him directly about the Texas deployment but that on Sunday, the Department of War warned him to "call up your troops, or we will.""For Donald Trump, this has never been about safety," Pritzker said. "This is about control."Pritzker has become a leading voice rejecting Trump's sweeping second-term agenda, particularly over the past few months as the president threatened to deploy national guardsmen to Chicago."It started with federal agents, it will soon include deploying federalized members of the Illinois National Guard against our wishes, and it will now involve sending in another states military troops," Pritzker said, while urging Abbott, a Trump loyalist, to refuse to coordinate.Pritzker criticized the Trump administration for using the National Guard as "political props" and urged Americans to "speak up and help stop this madness.""I want to be clear: there is no need for military troops on the ground in the State of Illinois," Pritzker said. "State, county and local law enforcement have been working together and coordinating to ensure public safety around the Broadview ICE facility, and to protect peoples ability to peacefully exercise their constitutional rights."Anti-ICE protesters have gathered for weeks at the Broadview ICE facility, demanding transparency about the conditions inside the holding center and rejecting the Trump administration's deportation rollout in Chicago."I will not call up our National Guard to further Trumps acts of aggression against our people," Pritzker said. "In Illinois, we will do everything within our power to look out for our neighbors, uphold the Constitution and defend the rule of law."Illinois Democrats, including Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, have railed against Trump since he told his Cabinet in August that he's "willing to go to Chicago, which is in big trouble."Pritzker and his fellow Democrats responded by labeling Trump a "wannabe dictator" as the White House for months considered deploying the U.S. National Guard to Chicago.The move is part of the Trump administration's attempt to crack down on crime nationwide and protect federal officers who are leading deportation efforts in major U.S. cities.A federal judge blocked Trumps efforts to deploy the U.S. National Guard troops to Oregon on Sunday.Trump deployed the U.S. National Guard to Washington, D.C., in early August to thwart crime in the nation's capital. Prior to that deployment, Trump deployed the national guardsmen to Los Angeles during anti-ICE protests that devolved into riots in June.

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin doubled down Monday on his call for Democrat Jay Jones to exit the Virginia attorney general race, telling Fox News the resurfaced 2022 texts where Jones wished death on a rival and his children are "beyond belief.""This is beyond disqualifying," Youngkin said on "Fox & Friends.""And that's why the Democrats have to come together and figure out where their moral compass is, because they don't have one right now this is a ticket that, in fact, is allowing someone to stay on the ticket who wants children to die, and I can't believe Virginians for a second will allow this to happen."Jones, running against Republican incumbent Jason Miyares in the bellwether race, made violent remarks in a 2022 text exchange with GOP House Delegate Carrie Coyner about shooting former Virginia House Speaker Todd Gilbert.CONSUMED WITH HATE': WINSOME SEARS, JASON MIYARES UNLOAD ON DEMOCRAT JAY JONES OVER VIOLENT TEXTS"Three people, two bullets. Gilbert, Hitler and Pol Pot. Gilbert gets two bullets to the head," Jones wrote in part."Spoiler: put Gilbert in the crew with the two worst people you know and he receives both bullets every time," he added.Jones eventually made remarks suggesting violence toward Gilbert's young children, which Coyner called out in their exchange."You were talking about hopping [sic] Jennifer Gilbert's children would die," she said.Jones replied, "Yes. I've told you this before. Only when people feel pain personally do they move on policy."WINSOME EARLE-SEARS RELEASES AD LINKING ABIGAIL SPANBERGER TO JAY JONES AFTER VIOLENT TEXTS RESURFACEThe development drew bipartisan condemnation, including from Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger, who is vying to fill Youngkin's seat after his term expires."I spoke frankly with Jay about my disgust with what he said and texted," Spanberger said in a statement. "I made clear to Jay that he must take full responsibility for his words I will always condemn violent language in our politics."Youngkin, however, argued Spanberger didn't go far enough, urging Democrats to call on Jones to "step down" from the race "in disgrace."When reached by Fox News Digital, Jones also did not deny the messages were his and blamed his opponent for allegedly planting stories."Like all people, I've sent text messages that I regret, and I believe that violent rhetoric has no place in our politics," he said."Lets be clear about what is happening in the attorney general race right now: Jason Miyares is dropping smears through Trump-controlled media organizations to assault my character and rescue his desperate campaign."This is a strategy that ensures Jason Miyares will continue to be accountable to Donald Trump, not the people of Virginia. This race is about whether Trump can control Virginia or Virginians control Virginia."Jones has since apologized, saying he is "embarrassed" and "ashamed" of the remarks. He also said he had reached out personally to Gilbert and his family.Fox News' Amanda Macias, Charles Creitz and Jasmine Baehr contributed to this report.

Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon was seen on the sideline tearing into running back Emari Demercado after a major blunder cost the team points late in their loss against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.The third-year running back thought he had broken free for a 76-yard touchdown run that would have given Arizona a 21-point lead late in the fourth quarter. It may have been insurmountable, and the touchdown could have thwarted any chance of a Titans comeback.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COMInstead, Demercado dropped the ball before he reached the goal line. The ball bounced out of the back of the end zone, resulting in a touchback and a turnover.An animated Gannon was later spotted getting into Demercados face while offensive lineman Paris Johnson Jr. tried to console his teammate.Gannon called the sloppiness on offense "unacceptable" after the game and was asked about what he told Demercado after the fumble."Its never about one play. We have coaching points that I'm not going to tell you guys now," he said.Arizonas second blunder occurred when they were up nine points with 4:55 to go. It appeared the Cardinals got the game-sealing interception when Dadrion Taylor-Demerson hauled in a tipped Cam Ward pass while Tennessee was in the red zone. But Taylor-Demerson tumbled to the ground and lost the ball.EX-NFL STAR TONY ROMO NEEDLES REFS DURING BRONCOS' WIN OVER EAGLESFrom there, it was pinball as multiple Cardinals players tried to recover the fumble, but the ball managed to ricochet its way into the end zone where Titans receiver Tyler Lockett secured it. It was ruled a touchdown because the ball remained live even with the boots from the Cardinals playersThe score was now 21-19 and the Cardinals had the opportunity to still salvage a victory despite the horrible mistakes. But after the Titans defense forced a punt, Ward had time to get downfield and perhaps allow kicker Joey Slye the chance for the win.Thats exactly what he did when he found Calvin Ridley on a 38-yard strike to put the Titans at the Cardinals 15-yard line. An 11-yard run from running back Tony Pollard secured a chip-shot field goal chance and Slye buried the 29-yarder at the buzzer for the improbable victory."Obviously, very disappointing. (It) felt like we had multiple chances to put away the game in all three phases, and we did not do that, so collectively we have to do a better job," Gannon said. "It feels like that's now three games in a row that I'm saying the same thing, but until we do a better job, we're going to keep losing."(Its) never about one play. (Its) never about one phase. All of us collectively have to do a better job, so that's what we'll work on tomorrow. Our sense of urgency and our connectedness is always there. It obviously needs to increase because time's ticking."Fox News Scott Thompson contributed to this report.Follow Fox News Digitalssports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

The same defense attorney representing the suspect in Charlie Kirks assassination is involved in the Utah murder case against Kouri Richins, where the case just suffered a major blow: the star witness is now recanting key testimony.On Sept. 24, Utah County officials contracted Kathryn Nester to represent Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old suspect charged in the fatal shooting of Kirk during a Utah Valley University appearance.Nester, through a prior appointment, is also working on Richins' case, in which prosecutors allege she poisoned her husband, 39-year-old Eric Richins, with fentanyl in March 2022.The shared defense connection comes amid a new development in Richins' trial as the states main witness, Robert Crozier, has walked back his statement that he supplied the fentanyl prosecutors claim was used to kill Eric Richins.PROSECUTION'S WEAK SPOT IN CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSINATION CASE EMERGES: EXPERTThe original case against Richins hinges on Croziers statement that he sold fentanyl to a housekeeper, who allegedly delivered it to Richins.Now, Crozier claims he never sold fentanyl,only OxyContin, and says he does not recall ever making the previous claim. If the State cannot reliably place fentanyl in Richins hands, Nester argues, the prosecutions case unravels."If the state cannot place fentanyl in the hands of (Richins), the state has no case," she wrote in her motion for bail reconsideration, which was obtained by PEOPLE."Mr. Crozier's statement doesn't just poke holes in their case, it throws a grenade into the middle of it, leaving them nothing but speculation and conjecture, getting them nowhere near the realm of (proving their case) beyond a reasonable doubt."Authorities in 2023 charged Richins, now 35, with her husband's poisoning death as a means to collect millions in life insurance funds.The night Eric died on March 3, 2022, authorities say the couple was celebrating Kouri's recent closure of a $2 million mansion under construction that she wanted to flip and sell for a profit as part of her real-estate business, a warrant states. She then allegedly spiked Eric's cocktail with fentanyl, killing him in their bed.FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE-CRIME TEAM ON XRichins is facing numerous charges, which include attempted aggravated murder, aggravated murder, distribution of a controlled substance, mortgage fraud, fraudulent insurance claim and forgery.Previous court filings allege Kouri purchased four different lifeinsurance policies on Eric's life totaling more than $1.9 million between 2015 and 2017.On Jan. 1, 2022, months before Eric's death, Kouri "surreptitiously and without authorization changed the beneficiary for his$2 million life insurance policy to herself," documents state. Eric received a notification about the change and switched the beneficiary back to his business partner.GET REAL-TIME UPDATES DIRECTLY ON THE TRUE CRIME HUBCLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPRichins has pleaded not guilty to all charges and continues to deny her involvement in her husband's death.Her trial is currently set to start in February 2026.Fox News Digital has reached out to Nester for comment.Fox News Digital's Audrey Conklin contributed to this report.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., dismissed the top House Democrat's demand for a primetime debate on the government shutdown.Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., wrote to Johnson on Monday morning challenging him to a debate on the House floor "any day this week," to be broadcast live "to the American people."Johnson suggested he would not entertain that, however, calling the move a "publicity stunt" to reporters that same morning.DEMOCRATS REFUSE TO BUDGE OVER OBAMACARE FIGHT AS SHUTDOWN DRAGS ON"When the poll says that about 13% of the people approve of your messaging, then you make desperate pleas for attention, and that's what Hakeem Jeffries has done," Johnson said."We debated all this on the House floor. As you know, before we passed our bill, he spoke for seven or eight minutes. He had all of his colleagues lined up. They gave it their best shot, and they argued, and they stomped their feet and screamed at us and all that. And still we passed the bill in bipartisan fashion and sent it over to the Senate."The House speaker was referring to a short-term federal funding bill aimed at keeping the government running through Nov. 21, in order to give congressional negotiators more time to pass fiscal year (FY) 2026 spending priorities.That bill passed the House largely along party lines with two Republicans opposed and one Democrat in support but has stalled in the Senate."The House has done its job. I'm not going to let Hakeem try to pretend for theatrics. I mean, this is a [Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.] decision. The ball is in the Senate's court now," Johnson said."We don't need to waste time on that nonsense. Those debates have been had. I mean, Hakeem is a friend and a colleague. I respect him, but we all know what he's trying to do there."The government is in its sixth day of the current shutdown, with Senate Democrats having rejected the GOP-led funding plan four times.FIRST BIPARTISAN SHUTDOWN NEGOTIATIONS SURFACE ON CAPITOL HILL AFTER FUNDING BILL BLOCKED AGAINDemocrats in the House and Senate, infuriated by being sidelined in federal funding talks, have been pushing for an extension of Obamacare subsidies enhanced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Those enhancements would expire by the end of 2025 without congressional action."Democrats have been clear and consistent in our position. The country needs immediate, bipartisan negotiations between the White House and congressional leadership in order to reach an enlightened spending agreement that reopens the government, improves the lives of hardworking American taxpayers and addresses the Republican healthcare crisis," Jeffries wrote to Johnson on Monday.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP"Unfortunately, Donald Trump and your party decided to shut down the government, because the GOP refuses to provide healthcare to everyday Americans. Further, you have kept House Republicans on vacation instead of working with Democrats to reopen the government."

President Donald Trump criticized MSNBC host Rev. Al Sharpton by sharing an old, unflattering photo of Sharpton in a Truth Social post on Sunday and calling for his show to face federal scrutiny.Trump attacked Sharptons career, accused him of once being a Trump fan, urged the Federal Communications Commission to review Comcast and NBC for hosting Sharptons show and mocked its ratings."Then he got to know Brian Roberts, Chairman of Fake News NBC, who gave him what would become one of the Lowest Rated Shows in Television History," Trump wrote.MSNBC FIRES ANALYST MATTHEW DOWD FOR 'UNACCEPTABLE' COMMENTS ABOUT CHARLIE KIRKAlong with the comment, Trump shared a photo of Sharpton from the 1980s, when he was considerably heavier. The image shows Sharpton wearing a bright red shirt, suspenders and a gold medallion.Sharpton, the longtime civil rights activist and former presidential candidate, has undergone a dramatic weight loss over the years from 305 pounds to 129 pounds, People Magazine reported in 2022.Sharpton hosts MSNBC's "PoliticsNation" on weekends and frequently appears as a guest on "Morning Joe" and "Deadline: White House."Trump also claimed Sharpton, now a fierce Trump critic, was once a "major" fan of his. The two New York City natives have known each other for decades."I knew Al Sharpton for many years, not that it matters, but he was a major TRUMP fan. Hed ask me to go to his fake Rallies all the time, because I brought BIG Crowds, and he couldnt get anybody to come without me," Trump wrote.MSNBC APOLOGIZES FOR ANALYST'S UNACCEPTABLE COMMENTS AFTER CHARLIE KIRK SHOOTINGTrump then mocked Sharptons career, referencing his role in the Tawana Brawley case, calling it "one of the worst low-level scams in history."Brawley was a New York teenager who falsely accused five White men of kidnapping and raping her in 1987. At the time, Sharpton served as an advisor to Brawleys family and amplified her claims in the media.Despite a grand jury deciding not to indict the men, Sharpton later told NPR in 2013 that he had no regrets for supporting her, saying, "What do I have to apologize for? I believed her."CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST MEDIA AND CULTURE NEWSTrump continued, accusing Roberts, CEO of NBC News parent company, Comcast, of refusing to fire Sharpton because "it wouldnt be Politically Correct.""This is just one of the many reasons that the Federal Communications Commission should look into the license of NBC, which shows almost exclusively positive Democrat content," Trump said.Comcast and NBC are currently completing the process of spinning MSNBC off to a new company, named Versant. Versant will be the new home for MSNBC, CNBC, USA Network, Oxygen, E!, SYFY and the Golf Channel, among other assets, while NBCUniversal maintains NBC News, the NBC News Now streaming network, Telemundo and Bravo.MSNBC did not immediately reply to Fox News Digital's request for comment.Fox News Digitals Brian Flood and Joseph Wulfsohn contributed to this report.

The government shutdown entered its sixth day on Monday, and Senate Democrats are so firmly planted in their position that unless there is a deal on expiring ObamaCare tax credits, they will not reopen the government.Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and his caucus have largely remained unflinching in their demand that Republicans and President Donald Trump agree to a deal on the tax credits, which are set to expire by the end of the year.Its one of several demands they made in their counter-proposal to the GOPs continuing resolution (CR), and appears to be the one that they believe to be the most attainable. Their other demands, repealing the healthcare section of the "big, beautiful bill" and putting guardrails on the rescissions, are a nonstarter for Republicans and the White House.GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN DRAGS INTO WEEKEND AS SENATE DEMOCRATS BLOCK GOP PLANStill, no party that has introduced unrelated demands into a government shutdown fight has walked away with a victory. The last government shutdown in early 2019 saw Trump demand that Democrats provide funding for his border wall, and he walked away empty-handed.Throughout last week, Senate Democrats maintained a posture that they wanted Republicans to come to the negotiating table on the subsidies, which are set to sunset at the end of this year. Conversations among members are ongoing, which both Schumer and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., have encouraged."We want Democrats to talk with Republicans," Schumer said. "And so it's a good thing."ERNST DEMANDS $2T IN FEDERAL CUTS, URGES TRUMP TEAM TO 'MAKE DC SQUEAL' AMID SHUTDOWN FIGHTBut, he countered that Republicans hadnt offered "anything really new just the same old stuff.""And so, nothing new on [ObamaCare], nothing on rescissions," he said. "And so, look, Democrats want to go back and negotiate again, but they got to negotiate with something, get something in return."Democrats initial push was to make the subsidies created during the COVID-19 pandemic to ease the cost of healthcare premiums available through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) permanent. The subsidies were later enhanced through the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022 when Democrats last had a trifecta in Washington. That change removed the income cap on the subsidies.Republicans have said that they are interested in working out something on the tax credits, but that there should be reforms to the program.GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN SPARKS GOP PLAN TO PENALIZE LAWMAKERS WITH NEW SALARY TAX"The ObamaCare enhanced, or COVID subsidies, are inflationary, and rates have been going up because that program is fundamentally flawed in ways designed," Thune said. "That doesn't mean it can't be reformed and fixed. It can, but we can't get to that conversation until we get the government back open."Lawmakers are set to again vote on Republicans CR, and it is again expected to fail for a fifth time Monday, given that no deal was struck over the weekend. Both sides agree that a deal wont come from the top level, but will have to be borne from negotiations among rank-and-file members.Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., has been directly involved in the member-level negotiations and said that Republicans did want to tackle the ObamaCare issue. But, Democrats have to agree to reopen the government first."It would be nice if Sen. Schumer could say his shutdown is complete, but we suspect that it will take members of his conference to make that decision on his behalf," Rounds said.