Elon Musks criticism of House Republicans "big, beautiful bill" has left some GOP lawmakers frustrated at the tech billionaire."This is why Mr. Musk has no placein Congress," one House GOP lawmaker, granted anonymity to speak freely, told Fox News Digital. "He wants to codify discretionary cuts. He didn't find enough waste, fraud, and abuse to fund [the Small Business Administration], let alone reduce our debt.""This was a gimmick. He got used. He's now upset. He played the game, he got what he wanted, then he ended up like everyone else who gets too close."House Republicans passed a broad-ranging bill last week advancing President Donald Trump's agenda on tax, immigration, defense, and energy. Congressional Republicans are hoping to pass it via the budget reconciliation process, a mechanism for passing fiscal legislation while waiving the Senates 60-vote threshold and sidelining the minority party.MIKE JOHNSON, DONALD TRUMP GET BIG, 'BEAUTIFUL WIN AS BUDGET PASSES HOUSEMusk told "CBS Sunday Morning" the legislation "undermines the work" done by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).He called it a "massive spending bill" that "increases the budget deficit."However, Republican supporters of the bill have contended that the kind of spending cuts Musk is looking for, and the kind DOGE outlined, cannot be done via the reconciliation process. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., himself pledged in a public statement after Musk's comments that House Republicans would tackle DOGE cuts albeit in a different vehicle than the "big, beautiful bill."Reconciliation primarily deals with mandatory government funding that Congress must change by amending the law itself, like federal safety net programs.The White House is also planning to send a package of proposed spending cuts to Congress next week, including cuts outlined by DOGE, that target discretionary government spending. Discretionary spending refers to the cash flows that Congress controls annually via the budget appropriations process.Other supporters of the bill, like Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., said its focus was on people outside of Musks wealth class."The bill strikes the proper balance between rooting out fraud to achieve savings and not impacting citizens who rely on government programs. The biggest winners for a change are not billionaires like Musk but middle-class families who will see the bulk of savings returned to them in the form of real tax relief," Malliotakis told Fox News Digital."Thats who President Trump and House Republicans set out to help."A second House Republican who requested anonymity to speak freely told Fox News Digital that Musk did "put a lot of work in" with DOGE but argued he was wrong on the facts."I mean, it wouldn't be the first time that he didn't really have a handle on the process," the House Republican said. "So, you know, we really have to bake the DOGE cuts into the budget rather than through reconciliation."Fox News Digital reached out to Musk for comment via Tesla but did not immediately hear back.The White House pointed Fox News Digital to Trump advisor Stephen Miller's public statement about fiscal hawks' concerns about the bill.Miller said, "DOGE cuts are to discretionary spending. (Eg the federal bureaucracy). Under Senate budget rules, you cannot cut discretionary spending (only mandatory) in a reconciliation bill. So DOGE cuts would have to be done through what is known as a rescissions package or an appropriations bill. The Big Beautiful Bill is NOT an annual budget bill and does not fund the departments of government. It does not finance our agencies or federal programs. Instead, it includes the single largest welfare reform in American history."On the other side of the House GOP Conference, fiscal hawks who also had issues with the legislation rallied around Musks comments."I share Mr. Musk's concerns about the short-term adverse effect on the federal deficit of the limited spending reductions in the BBB. Debt markets remain concerned about US total debt and annual deficits," said House Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Harris, R-Md.The Maryland Republican voted "present" on the reconciliation bill last week.SCOOP: HOUSE GOP MEMO HIGHLIGHTS REPUBLICAN WINS IN TRUMP'S 'BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL'"Hopefully the Senate will take those concerns into consideration as the legislative process moves forward," Harris said.Rep. Warren Davidson, R-Ohio, the lone House Republican to vote against the bill, posted on X, "Hopefully, the Senate will succeed where the House missed the moment. Don't hope someone else will cut spending someday, know it has been done this Congress.""Despite pleas to step back and look at the sum of the parts passed by 11 different committees, this bill was rushed to the floor when it should have been fixed," Davidson said.Musk announced late on Wednesday that he was stepping away from his federal government role because his "scheduled time as a Special Government Employee" was coming "to an end."

FIRST ON FOX: New State Department reorganization plans will cut or consolidate more than 300 of the agencys offices and bureaus as part of a massive overhaul seeking to streamline the department, according to agency officials.Secretary of State Marco Rubio first announced plans in April to restructure the agency because the department was "bloated, bureaucratic, and unable to perform its essential diplomatic mission."The State Department submitted a notice to Congress Thursday disclosing plans for the overhaul the largest restructuring for the agency since the Cold War, senior State Department officials told Fox News Digital.The agencys overhaul aims to cut red tape so the department can respond to threats more quickly, place greater emphasis on the agencys "primary mission" representing the U.S. abroad and eliminate "bureaucratic overgrowth" in Washington, the congressional notice said."We have too many godd--- offices," a senior State Department official told Fox News Digital. "Were trying to shrink offices rather than create them."RUBIO OVERHAULING 'BLOATED' STATE DEPARTMENT IN SWEEPING REFORMThe State Departments plans will slash or merge 311 existing domestic offices, ultimately eliminating up to roughly 3,400 State Department personnel, who make up between 15% and 20% of the agencys domestic headcount, according to State Department officials.The agency currently boasts roughly 700 offices, meaning the reorganization will cut or join more than 40% of the offices."We are really addressing a significant portion of the department's domestic offices and sort of merging them, combining them, trying to make them more efficient," the senior State Department official said.Staff have not received notifications regarding the reduction in force yet, but they are expected to receive an update on reductions in force by July 1.Whereas three offices overseeing sanctions issues previously existed, the overhaul will merge all of those branches together to make it more clear who to report to, according to the official.However, a few additions are in the works. The plans also include adding approximately nine new offices, the State Department officials said.New positions include a deputy assistant secretary for democracy and Western values, as well as new immigration security offices under the agencys bureau of population, refugees and migration to tackle President Donald Trump's immigration priorities.Likewise, the restructuring adds a new bureau of emerging threats that will address issues pertaining to artificial intelligence, hypersonic weapons and space."So we're not just cutting these things," the senior State Department official said. "We're re-imagining them to advance the administration's agenda."The reorganization structure only affects domestic offices and also seeks to cut down on the layers of bureaucracy in Washington to give more power to the embassies abroad, according to State Department officials.The State Department has domestic offices all across the U.S., ranging from the East Coast in Boston, all the way to San Francisco and Honolulu. The State Department has more than 270 diplomatic posts outside the U.S.WHITE HOUSE PROPOSAL AXES UN, NATO FUNDS AND HALVES STATE DEPARTMENT BUDGETThe status quo hampered the departments ability to push out policy because there were so many channels of approval that needed to be cleared first as part of a "horizontal reporting structure," they said.Under the new structure, regional bureau offices that handle global U.S. bilateral relationships will take on greater responsibility and oversee policy management of nearly all non-security foreign assistance, according to the congressional notice."We're really shifting the focus towards our embassies out in the field, our ambassadors out in the field, giving them the tools so that they can effectively implement the America First diplomacy out there in the field," another senior State Department official told Fox News Digital.The officials said that Rubio has instructed that the new structure be implemented by July 1 and that the agency is so far on track to meet that goal.Rubio told lawmakers on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee overseeing foreign affairs on May 20 that the restructuring "is not designed to either cripple the department or in any way its not even a cost-savings endeavor."Rather, Rubio said the change aims to "empower" regional bureaus and embassies. Specifically, Rubio said that he receives up to 15 cables each morning from embassies around the world and thats where the "best innovations" originate.TRUMP ADMIN TO DIRECT AGENCY HEADS TO PREP FOR 'LARGE-SCALE REDUCTIONS IN FORCE,' REORGANIZATION BY MARCH 13"They are identifying problems and opportunities well in advance of some memo that works its way to me," Rubio told lawmakers. "We want to get back to a situation or we want to get to a situation where we are empowering ideas and action at the embassy level and through our regional bureaus. Those are literally the front lines of American diplomacy. And so we have structured a State Department that can deliver on that."Meanwhile, ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., voiced caution about the reforms in April after Rubios initial announcement and said any changes "must be carefully weighed with the real costs to American security and leadership.""A strong and mission-ready State Department advances American national security interests, opens up new markets for American workers and companies and promotes global peace and stability," Shaheen said in her April statement. "It remains to be seen how the administrations latest proposals will achieve that goal."

Hours after Todd Chrisley was released from federal prison, his daughter Savannah Chrisley shared a sneak peek of her dad's physique as the reunited pair traveled back home to Tennessee.On Wednesday, Savannah - accompanied by her best friend and hair stylist Tyler Bishop - took to Instagram to document the road trip.In one clip, the 27-year-old seemed to be experiencing car sickness, but her dad kept the mood light by dropping a joke.TODD AND JULIE CHRISLEY RELEASED FROM PRISON FOLLOWING TRUMP'S PARDON"I didn't have to deal with this in prison," he said, as Savannah laughed.In another clip, Savannah asked her dad, "What are you trying to get me to do?""Feel that muscle," Todd replied, while holding out his arm."Todd is jacked," Bishop could be heard saying in the background."Just wait," Savannah replied.While Savannah opted out of showing her dad's face, it was the first time fans had heard Todd's voice since before his prison stint.On Wednesday evening, Todd first walked out of a federal prison in Pensacola, Florida, after serving two and a half years in prison on bank fraud and tax evasion charges, according to lawyer Alex Littles office. The release came shortly after President Donald Trump signed pardons for both Todd and his wife Julie, who was also convicted of the same charges in 2022."Todd has been released from prison and is on his way home to Nashville," Little's office told Fox News Digital.Little's office confirmed to Fox News Digital that Julie was released from the Federal Medical Center in Lexington, Kentucky, on Wednesday night, shortly after Todd was released. "Julie has also been released from prison and is now on her way home to Nashville as well," Little's office told Fox News Digital.CHRISLEY CHILDREN CELEBRATE TRUMP'S PLAN TO PARDON REALITY TV PARENTS IN FRAUD, TAX EVASION CASE Savannah got emotional outside the federal prison in Pensacola awaiting her father's release earlier in the day.When speaking to reporters, Savannah said, "Honestly, this process has been absolutely insane, and I am so grateful that I'm going to leave here with my dad."Savannah claimed that prosecutors had her father's head "on a dart board" before his prison sentence. She read Trump's pardon to the reporters, which stated an immediate release, and she said she hopes "the prison is going to do that shortly."LIKE WHAT YOURE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSSavannah said Trump's pardon for her parents "literally came out of nowhere.""I was in such shock and awe that the president himself took the time to tell me my family is coming back together," she said. During her interview, Savannah got emotional while explaining her constant fight to get her parents released from prison wasn't just for them."I'm literally fighting for every man that has been left behind here," she said, referring to the prisoners in the federal prison in Pensacola.On Tuesday, after Trump announced his plan to pardon the couple, Todd and Julie's children were quick to share their excitement.WATCH: TRUMP PARDON CZAR EXPLAINS WHY THE PRESIDENT RELEASED TODD AND JULIE CHRISLEY FROM PRISON"I am grateful to God and extremely grateful to President Trump and his entire administration," the couple's son Chase said in a statement to the New York Post. "Im beyond thankful to finally have my parents back home and my family together again!"CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER"I'm ecstatic," Kyle, whose biological mom is Todd's ex-wife, Teresa Terry, told E! News. "Truly. I just found out a little bit ago, and I still just can't believe it. I know Savannah had been working at this for so long, and she never gave up. So I'm just grateful to her and to President Trump for making this happen for my dad and Julie.""I know they can't wait to get home and just be with family, and I'm going to remain hopeful that another reconciliation is possible," Kyle, who has been estranged from his father for years, added.In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital on Wednesday, the couple's attorney explained how the "incredibly powerful" pardon will wipe the couple's case "entirely," as if it never happened."A pardon like this generally ends the case entirely, and so we'll see the fine print of the pardon explicitly, but generally when you are pardoned, it is wiped away, and so it's wiped clean," Little, a partner at Litson PLLC, said. "It's as if the case hasn't happened, and fortunately Todd and Julie will be able to pick up their lives to the best that they're able and go on forward and focus on the future.""I think that the pardon process is something that hadn't been used by many presidents for many, many terms. This president clearly looks at it differently, looks at, is part of his role to oversee the criminal justice system. And look, however much you may want to criticize that, it's an incredibly powerful tool the president has, and I think it's really important the president began to use it. This was a very deserving case and I hope that he finds more."Fox News Digital's Janelle Ash and Larry Fink contributed to this post.

Were all familiar with the impact of regulations. Sometimes, theyre in your face, like the taxes we pay or how long it takes to navigate the DMV. Other times, theyre pedantic annoyances, like the permits some states require for kids lemonade stands or when hair braider licenses require more training hours than EMTs.And sometimes they even impact how you take out your trash.Thats what were seeing in California, where a combination of state, federal, and county regulationsresulted in the closure of a landfillthat was serving Los Angeles County. Local citizens, the landfill, and elected officials are dealing with a challenging andrare chemical reactiontaking place in an old part of the landfill. It has been a massive undertaking that involves federal and numerous state regulatory bodies.CALIFORNIA'S GREEN NEW SCAM COULD COST YOU $20,000But heres where the progressive rubber meets the reality road: People didnt stop throwing out their trash, so the closure hasnt solved any problems. Its merely increased the cost and complexity of trash removal, because county taxes are now paying for transportto a landfill further away.Too often, government policies are based not on helping people, but on a politicians personal and professional goals. Is there a financial crash? Regulate the banks (after bailing them out)! Is healthcare expensive? Put stringent regulations on them (even though it increases the costs)! Close all the restaurants during COVID (but keep open the ones that serve Hollywood)!These grandstanding policies have real impacts on real people. When the federal government was raising the minimum wage almost two decades ago, Walmart received a lot of praise for supporting the effort. The problem was that Walmart pay wasalreadyabove the minimum wage, so there was no impact on that company. But there were a lot of impacts on its small, local competitors, who went out of business.Thats good for Walmart. For small business owners? Not so much.California is the poster child for policies that generate attention but have little positive impact on those who have the least flexibility and power. One of the highest income taxes (to fund social welfare)?Check. Insane cost of living (caused in cities like San Francisco by housing regulations and across-the-state by high taxes)?Check. Massive environmental bureaucracy that somehow leaves fire hydrants depleted, reservoirs empty, and trash removal more expensive?CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINIONCheck, check, check. And as weve seen, not even landfills or your trash cans are safe.Its no wonder Golden State residents cant flee fast enough. And those who are left behind may not have enough jobs to support them. From 2018 to 2021 alone, 352 companiesmovedtheir headquarters out of California to more business-friendly states because, in part, they dont want to pay the states8.84%corporate tax rate, which is the 8th highest in the nation. Instead, they are heading to states like Texas, which has no corporate tax.With fewer people, there are fewer households to pony up taxes and fund the extravagant programs that elected officials in California have enacted. That means the residents and businesses who decide to stick it out are now faced with even higher taxes, increased costs of living, and higher fees for trash pickup.Regulations have real impacts, especially in states like California that are so over-regulated that even trash collection is affected. Thats a basic municipal service that is essential to the health and well-being of all residents. But maybe they wont be residents for much longer anyway. Maybe those dinner table conversations will be about which state they should pack up and move to.

It has been just over four months since President Donald Trump returned to power in the White House, and the very early moves in the 2028 presidential race are already underway by some Democrats with likely national ambitions.This upcoming weekend, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who was the Democrats' 2024 vice presidential nominee, and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, who says he is not laying the groundwork for a 2028 presidential run, will make separate appearances in South Carolina, the state the Democratic National Committee anointed to hold the lead-off primary in their 2024 nominating calendar.Two weeks later, Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, who ran for the White House in 2020, will headline a major Democratic state party dinner in New Hampshire, which for a century has held the first presidential primary.Two weeks ago, 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg, who later served as Transportation secretary in former President Joe Biden's administration, headlined a town hall with veterans and military families in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.SUCCEEDING TRUMP IN 2028: SIX REPUBLICANS TO KEEP YOUR EYES ONIowa's caucuses for half a century kicked off both major political parties' presidential nominating calendars until the DNC demoted the Hawkeye State on their 2024 schedule.Another potential contender, two-term Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, late last month, gave the keynote address at a major state party fundraising gala in New Hampshire.Also making noise is two-term Democratic Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, who said recently he would consider running for president if he felt he could successfully unite the country.WHAT BERNIE SANDERS SAID IN A FOX NEWS DIGITAL INTERVIEWAdditionally, progressive firebrand Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York grabbed plenty of attention the past couple of months, co-headlining a slew of large rallies across the country with longtime progressive champion Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, which sparked plenty of 2028 speculation.The Democratic Party has been in the political wilderness since last November's election setbacks, when Republicans won back control of the White House and the Senate and defended their fragile House majority. Republicans additionally made gains among Black and Hispanic voters as well as younger voters, all traditional members of the Democratic Party's base.Since Trump's return to power, an increasingly angry and energized base of Democrats has been pushing for party leaders to take a stronger stand in pushing back against the president's sweeping and controversial agenda during the opening months of his second administration.EFFORT BY DEMOCRATS TO STOP THE SLIDE RIDICULEDDemocrats are not only looking ahead to next year's midterms, when they hope to make ballot box gains, but also to the next presidential race."There was a sense of hopelessness earlier this year among Democrats, as Trump came in with his wrecking ball, and it seemed like there was nothing but futile opposition to him," longtime Democratic strategist Chris Moyer told Fox News. "So thinking about a presidential race with potential candidates is a way to get some hope back and look towards a future that doesn't include Trump."Moyer, a veteran of a handful of Democratic presidential campaigns, said the race is "wide open, and it wont be long before we see clear maneuvering from a litany of candidates."The results of the 2026 midterm elections will have a major impact on the shape of the next White House race.For now, however, here are 20 Democrats considered potential presidential contenders to watch on the road to 2028.After lying low when the Biden administration came to a close, former Vice President Kamala Harris has picked up the political pace of late, including headlining a recent major DNC fundraiser in New York City, with another in San Francisco next week.Among her campaign options that she is weighing is a 2026 run for the open governor's seat in her home state of California and another bid in 2028 for the White House.A source in the former vice president's political orbit confirmed to Fox News Digital two months ago that Harris had told allies she would decide by the end of summer on whether to launch a 2026 gubernatorial campaign.Harris served as San Francisco district attorney, California attorney general and represented the Golden State in the U.S. Senate before joining Biden's 2020 ticket and winning that election as vice president.Additionally, Harris would be considered the clear frontrunner for governor in heavily blue California in the race to succeed term-limited Democrat Gov. Gavin Newsom.However, early polling in the 2028 Democratic nomination race indicates that Harris would be the frontrunner, thanks in part to her name recognition within her party.While there are plenty of voices within the party who would like to move on from the Biden/Harris era following Trump's sweeping victory, and there is little history of Democrats yearning for past defeated presidential nominees, Trump has re-written the rules when it comes to defeated White House contenders making another run.Potential buyers' remorse of a second Trump administration could boost the 60-year-old Harris in the years to come.The progressive "rock star" and best-known lawmaker among the so-called "Squad" of diverse House Democrats in October turned 35, the minimum age to run for president.Some Democrats argue that a riveting messenger with star power is needed as the party's next nominee, and Ocasio-Cortez is guaranteed to grab plenty of attention if she ultimately decides to run.There is also speculation the four-term federal lawmaker from New York City may primary challenge Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York when he is up for re-election in 2028.California Gov. Gavin Newsom was a top surrogate for Biden during the president's re-election bid. With the blessing of the White House, the two-term California governor debated then-Republican presidential candidate and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis last year on Fox News.Newsom's travels on behalf of Biden brought him to New Hampshire and South Carolina, two crucial early voting states on the Democratic Party's nominating calendar.After Harris, his friend and fellow Californian, replaced Biden atop the Democrats' 2024 ticket, the governor, after a pause, continued his efforts to keep Trump from returning to the White House.While Newsom and California's Democrat-dominated legislature took action to "Trump-proof" the Golden State, the governor has also worked with Trump on key matters, including January's wildfires that devastated parts of metropolitan Los Angeles.Newsom also appears to have moderated on some issues and invited well-known Trump allies Charlie Kirk and Steve Bannon on his weekly podcast.The 57-year-old Newsom, who is term-limited, completes his duties in Sacramento at the end of next year, right around the time the 2028 presidential election will start to heat up.Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker has become a leading voice in the Democrats' opposition to Trump and has taken steps to Trump-proof his solidly blue state."You come for my people, you come through me," Pritzker told reporters of his efforts to protect Illinois.Pritzker was also a high-profile surrogate on behalf of Biden and then Harris during the 2024 cycle. Those efforts brought Pritzker to Nevada, a general election battleground state and an early-voting Democratic presidential primary state, and New Hampshire.Additionally, the governor's recent trip to New Hampshire sparked more 2028 buzz.However, before he makes any decision about 2028, the 60-year-old governor must decide whether he will run in 2026 for a third term steering Illinois.Two-term Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer grabbed plenty of attention and became a Democratic Party rising star in 2020 when she feuded with Trump over COVID-19 federal assistance and survived a foiled kidnapping attempt.Trump, at the time, called her "that woman from Michigan."Along with Newsom and Pritzker, Whitmer's name was floated as a possible replacement for Biden following his disastrous debate performance against Trump in late June, before the president endorsed Harris, and the party instantly coalesced around the vice president.Whitmer was a leading surrogate for Biden and then for Harris and made a big impression on Democratic activists during a stop this summer in New Hampshire on behalf of Harris.However, Whitmer was criticized by some in her party for appearing to cozy up to Trump during a White House visit earlier this spring.The 53-year-old governor is term-limited and will leave office after the end of next year.Gov. Josh Shapiro, the 51-year-old first-term governor of Pennsylvania, was on Harris' short-list for vice presidential nominee.Even though the vice president named Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate, Shapiro remained a top surrogate on behalf of his party's 2024 national ticket.However, his two-day swing in New Hampshire during the final full week ahead of Election Day did raise some eyebrows and 2028 speculation.After Harris lost battleground Pennsylvania to Trump, there was plenty of talk within the party that Harris had made the wrong choice for her running mate.Shapiro, who has a track record of taking on the first Trump administration as Pennsylvania attorney general, is expected to play a similar role with Trump back in the White House.The governor will be up for re-election in 2026.Maryland Gov. Wes Moore is considered by many to be another Democratic Party rising star.The 46-year-old Army veteran, who is also a Rhodes Scholar and CEO of the charitable organization the Robin Hood Foundation during the coronavirus pandemic, was elected two years ago.Even though Moore said in a recent interview on "The View" that he is "not running" in 2028, speculation persists, fueled in part because of his upcoming stop in South Carolina.Moore will be up for re-election in 2026.Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who surpassed expectations during his 2020 Democratic presidential nomination run, was a very active surrogate on behalf of Biden and later Harris, during the 2024 cycle.He helped raise a lot of money for the Democratic Party ticket, including heading a top-dollar fundraiser in New Hampshire.The 43-year-old former South Bend, Indiana, mayor and former naval officer who served in the war in Afghanistan, is considered one of the party's biggest and brightest stars. He was known as a top communicator for the administration, including making frequent appearances on Fox News.Fueling buzz about a potential 2028 presidential run, Buttigieg passed on a 2026 Senate bid in his adopted home state of Michigan and made a high-profile stop in Iowa earlier this month.Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, 47, who was elected governor in 2019 and then re-elected in 2023 in red-state Kentucky, was on Harris' longer list for potential running mates.Beshear made plenty of new friends and contacts as he ventured to New Hampshire last year to headline the state Democratic Party's annual fall fundraising gala.He served as Kentucky's attorney general before running for governor.Beshear said in a recent interview with local station WDRB that "if you'd asked me a couple years ago if this is something I'd consider, I probably wouldn't have. But I don't want to leave a broken country to my kids. And so, if I'm somebody that can bring this nation together, hopefully find some common ground, it's something I'll consider."Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock, 55, is a major player in Washington as the Democratic minority in the Senate fights back against the second Trump administration.Warnock, who won Senate elections in 2020 and 2022 in battleground Georgia, served as senior pastor at the famed Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, where Martin Luther King Jr. once preached.He is up for re-election to the Senate in 2028.Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey, who ran for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, is considered one of the party's most talented orators.Thanks to his 2020 run, Booker made plenty of friends and allies in such early states as New Hampshire and South Carolina.Booker made headlines earlier this year by delivering a record-breaking 25-hour and 5-minute marathon speech from the floor of the Senate. The speech protested the sweeping and controversial moves so far by Trump during his second administration, as well as the operations of Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency.The 56-year-old senator is up for re-election in 2026.Since the November election, Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut has been very vocal about the steps Democrats need to take to win back working-class voters.First elected to the House in 2006 and later to the Senate in 2012, the 51-year-old Murphy cruised to re-election this year by nearly 20 points, which means he would not have to decide between a re-election bid and a White House run in 2028.Minnesota Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar, 65, who once served as county attorney in Minnesota's most populous county, is now in her fourth term in the Senate.Klobuchar ran for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination and came in a strong third in New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary.The senator has not ruled out making another run for the White House in 2028.Rep. Ro Khanna, 48, was a tireless surrogate on behalf of Biden and then Harris.He has been a regular visitor to New Hampshire in the past couple of years, including a high-profile debate last year against then-GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.Khanna has grabbed plenty of attention so far this year as he has held town halls in Republican-controlled congressional districts and targeted Vice President JD Vance with events in the vice president's home state of Ohio and at Yale Law School, where both politicians earned their legal degrees.The 57-year-old sports TV personality, sports radio host, sports journalist, and actor has generated a ton of buzz this year as he has mulled a White House run and has even grabbed Trump's attention.Another potential contender with plenty of star power is Mark Cuban.The 66-year-old billionaire business mogul and part-owner of the NBA's Dallas Mavericks was a high-profile surrogate for Harris during her presidential election campaign.Former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, 67, who in January finished up his eighth and final year as governor, took his name out of the Harris running mate speculation early in the process last summer.Cooper served 16 years as North Carolina's attorney general before winning election as governor.The former governor is being heavily recruited by Democrats to try and flip a GOP-held Senate seat in North Carolina in next year's midterms.New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, 65, is halfway through her second term steering New Mexico.The governor, a former member of Congress, was a high-profile and busy surrogate on behalf of Harris during the final weeks of the 2024 campaign.The 61-year-old Minnesota governor, who served as Harris' running mate, has two years remaining in his second term in office.While the vice presidential nominee's energy and enthusiasm on the campaign trail this year impressed plenty of Democratic strategists, the final results of the election will make any potential future national run for Tim Walz difficult.Walz has said he is not thinking of 2028, but he has been very busy so far this year heading events across the country, and an upcoming stop in South Carolina is fueling more White House buzz.The 65-year-old Rahm Emanuel, who served the past four years as ambassador to Japan during the Biden administration, has a jam-packed resume.Emanuel, a veteran of former President Bill Clintons administration in the 1990s, went on to serve in Congress and steered the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee during its very successful 2006 cycle. He later served as Obamas chief of staff before winning the 2011 election and 2015 re-election as Chicago mayor.Emanuel, who late last year mulled making a bid for Democratic National Committee chair, has seen his name floated in recent months as a potential 2028 Democratic presidential contender.The 54-year-old Gina Raimondo, a former two-term Rhode Island governor, made history as the first woman to steer the nation's smallest state.Raimondo, who served as Commerce secretary in Biden's cabinet, said "yes" when recently asked by veteran Democratic strategist David Axelrod if she was considering a 2028 White House run.Honorable Mentions: Two other names that also keep coming up in the Democrats 2028 conversation are Gov. Phil Murphy of New Jersey and Sen. Ruben Gallego of battleground Arizona.

All modern Windows PCs come with Microsoft Defender built in. For the unaware, this tool is Windows native antivirus.Over time, it has matured into a reliable security tool capable of blocking a wide range of threats. However, a tool called Defendnot can shut down Microsoft Defender completely, without exploiting a bug or using malware. It simply convinces Windows that another antivirus is already running.The implications are serious. This tool does not break into the system or use advanced code injection. It uses Windows features the way they were designed to be used. And that makes the problem harder to detect and harder to fix.Join the FREE "CyberGuy Report": Get my expert tech tips, critical security alerts and exclusive deals, plus instant access to myfree "Ultimate Scam Survival Guide" when you sign up!Windows is built to avoid running multiple antivirus products at once. When a third-party antivirus registers itself, Windows disables Microsoft Defender to prevent conflicts. Defendnotexploits this system using an undocumented API that security software uses to communicate with the Windows Security Center.The tool registers a fake antivirus that appears legitimate to the system. It uses a dummy DLL and injects it into Task Manager, a trusted Windows process. By operating inside this signed process, Defendnot avoids signature checks and permission blocks. Once the fake antivirus is registered, Windows disables Microsoft Defender without warning or confirmation.WINDOWS 10 SECURITY FLAWS LEAVE MILLIONS VULNERABLENo security alert is shown to the user. No visible changes are made to indicate that the system is unprotected. Unless someone checks manually, the machine remains open to attacks with no real-time protection running.The tool also includes options to set a custom antivirus name, enable logging and configure automatic startup. It achieves persistence by creating a scheduled task that runs whenever the user logs in.WINDOWS DEFENDER VS ANTIVIRUS SOFTWARE: FREE PROTECTION FALLS SHORTDefendnot is based on an earlier project called No-Defender. That project used code from an actual antivirus product to fake registration. It gained attention quickly and was removed after a copyright complaint from the vendor whose code had been reused. The developer took the project down and walked away from it.With Defendnot, the creator rebuilt the core features using original code. This version avoids copyright issues and uses a new method to achieve the same effect. It does not rely on another antivirus or third-party binaries. It was written from scratch to demonstrate how simple it is to manipulate Windows security from inside the system.Microsoft Defender currently flags the tool as a threat. It detects and quarantines it under the name Win32/Sabsik.FL.!ml. However, the fact that it works at all points to a weakness in how Windows handles antivirus registration and trust.WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)?DOUBLECLICKJACKING HACK TURNS DOUBLE-CLICKS INTO ACCOUNT TAKEOVERSWhile Defendnot is a research project, theres a chance that similar tools are already out there and could be used to compromise your PC. Here are a few tips to help you stay safe:1. Use strong antivirus software:Even with regular updates, Windows systems can be left exposed by tools like Defendnot that silently disable built-in defenses. A strong third-party antivirus with real-time protection and frequent updates provides essential backup security. Look for solutions with real-time protection and frequent updates to tackle emerging threats.Get my picks for the best 2025 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices.2. Limit exposure:Many exploits rely on user interaction, such as clicking a shady link, downloading a compromised file or mounting an untrusted virtual disk. Stick to reputable websites, avoid opening unsolicited email attachments and use a browser with built-in security features (like Microsoft Edge or Chrome with Safe Browsing enabled).3. Avoid running unexpected commands: Never paste or run commands (like PowerShell scripts) you dont understand or that were copied from random websites. Attackers often trick users into unknowingly running malware this way.4. Keep your software updated: Regularlyupdate your operating system, browsers and all software applications. Updates often include patches for security vulnerabilities that malware can exploit.5. Use two-factor authentication (2FA): Enable2FA on all your accounts. This adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second form of verification, making it harder for attackers to gain access even if they have your password.6. Invest in personal data removal services: Even with strong device security, your personal information may still be exposed online through data brokers and people-finder sites. These services collect and publish details like your name, address and phone number, making you an easier target for identity theft or phishing. Automated data removal services track down these sites and submit removal requests on your behalf, helping to reduce your digital footprint and increase your online anonymity. While they can't erase every trace of your information, they make it significantly harder for attackers to find and exploit your personal data, which saves you time and reduces unwanted spam in the process.While no service promises to remove all your data from the internet, having a removal service is great if you want to constantly monitor and automate the process of removing your information from hundreds of sites continuously over a longer period of time.Check out my top picks for data removal services here.Get afree scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web.RELENTLESS HACKERS ABANDON WINDOWS TO TARGET YOUR APPLE IDDefendnot points to a bigger issue with how Windows handles security. It takes a feature meant to prevent software conflicts and turns it into a way to completely disable protection. The system assumes any registered antivirus is legitimate, so if attackers can fake that, they get in without much resistance.We often think of security as blocking the bad and trusting the good. But this case shows what happens when that trust is misplaced. Defendnot doesnt sneak past Windows defenses. It walks right in using valid credentials. The solution isnt just more patches or stronger malware signatures. What we need is a smarter way for systems to tell what is actually safe.Do you think companies like Microsoft need to rethink how Windows handles antivirus registration and trust, given that tools like Defendnot can so easily disable built-in protections without using malware or exploiting a bug? Let us know by writing us atCyberguy.com/Contact.For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading toCyberguy.com/Newsletter.Ask Kurt a question or let us know what stories you'd like us to cover.Follow Kurt on his social channels:Answers to the most-asked CyberGuy questions:New from Kurt:Copyright 2025 CyberGuy.com.All rights reserved.

Golf balls are going further than ever before, resulting in the pros man-handling some of the world's best courses.Players are stronger and faster, as is the technology - and Jake Knapp, whose swing might be the smoothest since Fred Couples, is near the top of the driving distance list.Knapp ranks 31st in average driving distance, averaging 298.9 yards. In 666 drives this season, his golf balls have traveled over 113 miles.Knapp used that money driver, buttery swing and a hot putter to join the 59 Club earlier this year at the Cognizant Classic.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COMHowever, because it is easier to make the ball go farther, rather than lengthening courses, the USGA has decided to begin rolling back technology in the ball in an effort to preserve the nature of the game.It is safe to say the 31-year-old is "not really a fan of the rollback stuff.""I think if we were going to change golf in any way, I think you could do a lot of different things that don't change a player's deal in depth perception and things like that. I've been playing with basically a golf ball that goes probably about the same distance ever since I was a kid. So it's like, you have all this feel developed over time, and then if you were to change it to go shorter. I mean, there's also things you can do in your equipment to make up for most of that anyway, so I don't think it's going to be as big of a deal as they think," Knapp said in a recent interview with Fox News Digital.Knapp is doubling down on that stance after collaborating with both PXG and Pennzoil to give away a brand-new driver.CHARLIE WOODS ADDS TO FAMILY LEGACY WITH FIRST MAJOR JUNIOR GOLF WINFrom May 29 to June 25, consumers who purchase a Pennzoil Platinum Full Synthetic bundle at a participating Advance Auto Parts or Carquest retail location, in-store or online, can enter to win a limited-edition Pennzoil PXG driver."I think having two companies are both just kind of at the top end of the spectrum in each of their crafts. When the opportunity came about, it just seemed like a no-brainer for me, and then when I heard about it, I thought it was something that I really wanted to be a part of," Knapp said of the partnership.If given the choice, Knapp would rather roll back the technology, rather than the ball itself."I think if, personally, if there was a way that they were going to change it that I think could make it more difficult or kind of get what they want out of it, they could just make more regulations on clubs for professionals or Tour events and things like that, where they're maybe harder to hit, they're smaller, not as forgiving," he said. "There's things like that that I think would be better than rolling back the ball in my personal opinion."However, the Pennzoil PXG driver is not rolled back one bit."It's one of the fastest drivers on the market right now. And then, not to mention, you know, the forgiveness on it is really second to none. You have a lot of weight in the back, nice big face that sets up square, gives you high ball speed, low spin, and hitting more fairways."Follow Fox News Digitalssports coverage on X,and subscribe tothe Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk bid farewell to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in a Wednesday night X post, ending his tenure as the face of the agency as it shifts to a new phase in President Donald Trump's second term."As my scheduled time as a Special Government Employee comes to an end, I would like to thank President @realDonaldTrump for the opportunity to reduce wasteful spending," Musk said on X. "The @DOGE mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government."Musk has been the public face of DOGE since Trump signed an executive order establishing the office on Jan. 20. DOGE has since ripped through federal government agencies in a quest to identify and end government overspending, corruption and fraud.After Musks departure, a senior White House official told Fox News Digital that DOGE will operate as it has always operated and that the agency is "part of the DNA of this federal government."OBAMA-NOMINATED JUDGE ALLOWS LAWSUIT TARGETING MUSK'S ROLE WITH DOGE TO PROCEED, DROPS CLAIMS AGAINST TRUMPThe official added that DOGE now operates in "nearly every federal government agency department" with the "sole job" of cutting waste, fraud and abuse with the goal of efficiency."The DOGE employees at their respective agency or department will be reporting to and executing the agenda of the president through the leadership of each agency or department head," the official said.In a post on X, White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller said, "The work DOGE has done to eliminate government waste and corruption the rot embedded deep within Washington is among the most valuable services ever rendered to government. And the work has only just begun."While Musk has been the public face of DOGE for months, he was not an employee of the United States DOGE Service and did not report to the acting DOGE administrator, Amy Gleason, according to acourt filing in March that shed additional light on the internal workings of the office.'BUREAUCRATIC AND WASTEFUL': DOGE SNIFFS OUT EYE-POPPING SPENDING ON BIDEN DEI EFFORTS IN KEY AGENCYGleason, who has beendescribed by her peers as a "world-class talent," previously worked for the United States Digital Service, which was founded in 2014 by former President Barack Obama as a technology office within the Executive Office of the President.DOGE is a temporary cross-departmental organization that was established to slim down and streamline the federal government. The group itself will be dissolved on July 4, 2026, according to Trump's executive order.Musks tenure with DOGE resulted in an estimated $175 billion in savings through a combination of asset sales, contract cancellations, fraud payment deletion and other cost-cutting measures, according to the agencys website, which was last updated on May 26.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPThe savings amount to $1,086.96 per taxpayer, according to the website.Amid Musk's work with DOGE, Democrats and activists have staged protests against the tech billionaire and his companies, including working to tank Tesla stocks.Fox News Digitals Emma Colton and Elizabeth Pritchard contributed to this report.

The Virginia Democrat running to replace Gov. Glenn Youngkinreleased her first TV ad Thursday slamming what she described as "political nonsense" in public service."Too many politicians talk when they should listen. And divide instead of unite. Enough is enough. Im Abigail Spanberger. I believe that public service is too important for political nonsense," the former U.S. House representative said."When I was in law enforcement and then working counterterrorism at CIA, we didnt do politics. We did our jobs. I broke down some of the divides, stood up to both parties and was named the most bipartisan member of Congress from Virginia," she added. "As governor, Ill work to lower costs, let people keep more of their money and make Virginia schools the best in the nation."Spanberger is running against Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, a Republican, in this Novembers gubernatorial race. Representatives for both Youngkin and Earle-Sears did not immediately respond Thursday to requests for comment from Fox News Digital.DEMOCRAT GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE BLASTED FOR MELTDOWN OVER SHOCKING ICE ARREST OF 2 CRIMINAL ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTSSpanberger has faced pushback from both Earle-Sears and the Department of Homeland Security after condemning the "shocking" execution of an ICE raid at a Virginia courthouse in April that netted two criminal illegal immigrants."I think what weve seen most shocking, including here in Charlottesville, has been cases where people havent provided identification and have been in some cases masked and in plain clothes," Spanberger told the Daily Progress earlier this month, after an ICE raid at Albemarle County Courthouse led to the arrest of two illegal immigrants. FORMER CONGRESSWOMAN TURNED VA GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE ACCUSED OF ETHICS VIOLATIONEarle-Sears press secretary Peyton Vogel later told Fox News Digital that "Abigail Spanbergers outrage over criminal illegal immigrants being taken off our streets is everything Virginians need to know about what kind of governor shed be -- criminals first, victims last."The Earle-Sears campaign has also accused Spanberger of failing to include her role as a trustee in financial disclosure reports while she was a member of Congress.The campaign for Earle-Sears called the incomplete disclosures "a calculated lie," not an "accident." But, according to Spanberger's campaign, the only asset contained in the trust is Spanberger's personal residence, which is not required to be disclosed.Fox News Digitals Andrew Mark Miller and Alec Schemmel contributed to this report.

Today is the deadline for President Joe Bidens former White House physician and four aides to respond to House Oversight Committee interview requests.Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., is demanding the high-ranking staffers in former President Joe Bidens White House appear for transcribed interviews on their suspected roles, working "behind the scenes" to "cover up"the former presidents mental decline during his term.Comer sent interview requests to four key Biden White House aides former director of the Domestic Policy Council Neera Tanden, former assistant to the President and Deputy Chief of Staff Annie Tomasini, former senior adviser to the first lady Anthony Bernal and former deputy director of Oval Office operations Ashley Williams.KEY BIDEN STAFFERS ASKED TO TESTIFY ON ALLEGED ROLE IN MENTAL DECLINE COVER-UPFOX is told lawyers for Neera Tanden, Anthony Bernal, Annie Tomasini and Ashley Williams have contacted the committee, but no interviews are confirmed or scheduled.So far, theres been no contact with physician Dr. Kevin OConnor. While the Bidens have stayed silent on the latest congressional probe, Jill Bidens former press secretary is pushing back.GOP PUSH FOR NEW HOUSE COMMITTEE TO PROBE BIDEN DECLINE COVER-UP GAINS STEAMWith regards to Chairman Comer...he spent two years trying to take on the Biden family and came up with nothing. He went fishing in a dry lake," said Michael LaRosa.If they dont commit by days end, the committee said it is ready to issue subpoenas immediately."We believe these are the staffers that were responsible for using the autopen... We want to ask them, Who gave you the authority to use Joe Bidens signature?" Comer said on "Hannity."