FIRST ON FOX: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and several other federal law enforcement agencies worked together to arrest more than 80 illegal migrants, including several with criminal records, during a worksite enforcement operation at a Louisiana racetrack.The joint operation which was carried out on June 17th was conducted after a brief pause on immigration arrests at farms, hotels and restaurants was lifted.Authorities received intelligence that businesses operating out of the stables at the Delta Downs Racetrack in Vinton, Louisiana, were employing unauthorized workers, according to sources at ICE."ICE Homeland Security Investigations is working closely with our federal and state partners to review each case of unauthorized employment at the racetrack to identify any other criminal activities that were taking place in addition to labor exploitation and immigration violations," said ICE HSI New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune.ICE ARRESTS 'WORST OF THE WORST' ILLEGAL ALIENS IN LOS ANGELES WHILE PROTESTERS ADVOCATE FOR CRIMINALS: DHSWhile most of the arrests at the racetrack were related to immigration violations, several criminal migrants were also identified. Among the arrested was Enrique Gonzalez Moreno, 36, who illegally entered the U.S. from Mexico four times. While in the country illegally, Moreno was convicted twice for driving under the influence and once for cocaine possession and illegal reentry, according to ICE.ICE STORMS CARTEL-RUN NIGHTCLUB, ARRESTS 72 MIGRANTS INCLUDING MURDER SUSPECTAuthorities are continuing to process the illegal migrants."Oftentimes, when were conducting these worksite enforcement operations, we uncover other forms of criminal conduct, such as document and benefit fraud, money laundering and human trafficking," DeLaune said. "As a result, were able to bolster public safety in the local community by eliminating that criminal activity and removing any dangerous criminal aliens, transnational gang members or other egregious immigration offenders who illegally entered the country and are working at the business without authorization."ICE CRACKS DOWN ON DC-AREA BUSINESSES, NEARLY 200 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ARRESTEDWorksite enforcement investigations focus on identifying businesses involved in hiring unauthorized workers. They aim to reduce illegal employment and hold employers accountable, according to the ICE website.The joint operation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Border Patrol, Louisiana State Police, the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.The arrests follow a week of anti-ICE protests that have taken place in major cities across the U.S., with some turning into violent riots in areas like LA and Portland.Delta Downs Racetrack, Hotel & Casino did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

Officials recently unveiled the deepest-recorded shipwreck in French waters, complete with a remarkably well-preserved cargo dating back 500 years.The findings were announced by the French Department of Underwater and Submarine Archaeological Research (DRASSM) in a Facebook post on June 11.Officials said the ship was found by a French Navy unit during a military operation on March 4.ARCHAEOLOGIST SHEDS NEW LIGHT ON ASTONISHING DISCOVERY OF WRECKED SLAVE SHIPS: 'STRANDED ON THE COAST'The shipwreck, which has been dubbed Camarat 4, was found off the coast of Ramatuelle, in southeastern France. It was found over one-and-a-half miles underwater."The shipwreck was discovered unexpectedly during an exploratory mission conducted as part of the ministerial strategy for mastering the seabed," said DRASSM's post, which was translated from French to English."This newly found wreck stretches 30 meters long and 7 meters wide, indicating a large navigation unit."Officials believe that the vessel dates back to the 16th century based on its cargo, which has remarkably survived the past five centuries.Underwater pictures show a plethora of handmade ceramics near the wrecked ship. Historians believe the well-crafted artifacts originated from Liguria, Italy.HAUNTING SLAVE SHIPS FOUND OFF COAST OF NATIONAL PARK 300 YEARS LATER: 'VERY CONVINCING'"The quality of the images obtained allows for detailed examination of this merchandise: around 200 visible polychrome faience [glazed ceramic ware] pitchers, with many more seemingly trapped under sediment," DRASSM said.The pitchers also prominently feature the Christogram IHS, which symbolizes Jesus Christ, reflecting the enormous role that Christianity played in early modern Europe."These globular pitchers with pinched spouts and ribbon handles, typical of 16th-century Ligurian production, are adorned with the Christ monogram 'IHS' [and] various vegetal and geometric decorations," DRASSM added. "Several motifs have been identified.""The cargo also includes about 100 plates, probably of Ligurian origin as well. Other items resemble onboard equipment: anchors, cannons and two cauldrons," the government agency continued."Numerous remnants are concealed under the sand and will require further study."For more Lifestyle articles, visit foxnews.com/lifestyleThe statement noted that no other maritime cultural asset has been discovered at such depths in French waters, highlighting the extraordinary nature of the find."The wreck has remained untouched by recovery efforts, and at this depth, it has been preserved from degradation, including plundering," DRASSM added."This presents a unique research opportunity [It's] a remarkable discovery due to its depth, unprecedented nature, and the opportunity it offers to study an almost intact 16th-century ensemble."CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTERMultiple centuries-old shipwrecks have been found in European waters so far this year.Off the coast of Ireland, underwater archaeologists recently found an 18th-century vessel that is believed to be a long-lost treasure ship.In Spain, an early modern shipwreck was recently found in an unlikely place: beneath a former fish market.

An Idaho-based lawyer says the judge overseeing the Bryan Kohberger quadruple murder case could sanction the prosecution or defense team for contempt of court after new information was leaked to a media outlet.A TV episode about the Bryan Kohberger investigation aired on May 9, and featured new search records, surveillance video and cellphone records. Kohberger is accused of killing Xana Kernodle, 20, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Madison Mogen, 21, and Ethan Chapin, 20.Information shared during the "Dateline" episode included surveillance video from a neighboring house, which showed a car similar to Kohberger's in the King Road area several times before the four University of Idaho students were killed.The episode also claimed that FBI cellphone tower data showed that Kohberger's phone pinged nearly a dozen times near a tower that provides coverage to the area within 100 feet of 1122 King Road, where the four University of Idaho students were killed. The phone pinged near the tower starting in July 2022 and continued through mid-August 2022.IDAHO MURDER SUSPECT'S LAWYERS DEMAND TRIAL POSTPONEMENT OVER 'PREJUDICIAL' TV SPECIALIn a May 15 order, Judge Steven Hippler said the gag order was "likely" violated by someone involved in the case, saying it's possible law enforcement was the source of the leak. He ordered anyone who has worked for the defense team or investigation to retain all communications and data relating to the case.Hippler said the following pieces of evidence were revealed during the episode:"Such violations not only undermine the rule of law, potentially by persons charged with upholding it, but also significantly impede the ability to seat an impartial jury and will likely substantially increase the cost to be borne by the taxpayers of Latah County to prosecute this case by extending the time it will take to seat a jury and potentially requiring lengthy period of juror sequestration," Hippler wrote.Tara Jalali Malek, an Idaho-based lawyer and former assistant United States attorney, told Fox News Digital that Hippler could hold the prosecution or defense team accountable if it's found the leak came from them.BRYAN KOHBERGER CASE LEAK COULD LEAD TO EXCLUDED EVIDENCE, IDAHO ATTORNEY WARNS"Violation of a court's order is sanctionable," Malek said. "It could be contempt of court, and contempt can be civil contempt or it could be criminal contempt. That is going to be completely separate from what happens ultimately in the trial, but things that you see with contempt, there could be a fine. There could be a public reprimand, for instance. So there's a variety of things that the court could possibly do or not do if it's found that someone violated that gag order.""Anyone who violated the order, no matter what side, would be held in contempt," she added.However, Malek said she doesn't think the leak will result in the trial being delayed, as Kohberger's defense team has requested."I would be hard-pressed to think that the entire trial would stop as a result of this," she said. "I think what is most likely, in my opinion, to happen is that the trial will move forward. This will be on a separate track as far as the investigation goes and figuring out who leaked the information, which side was it from. And then ultimately, who else, if anybody was involved or had knowledge of it, or like I said, it was just a rogue actor here that, you know, needs to be personally sanctioned in some way."As the trial is scheduled to begin on Aug. 11, another surprise witness has emerged.A woman claiming to be a DoorDash driver says she dropped off food for Xana Kernodle just minutes before Kohberger allegedly killed the college student. The purported driver came to light after a YouTube account, Officer Axon, obtained body camera video that featured the woman."I have to testify in a big murder case here... because I'm the DoorDash driver, so yeah," she says in the video.The officer then asked what case she was going to testify in."The murder case with the college girls," she said. "I'm the DoorDash driver. I saw Bryan there. I parked right next to him."

Chicago resident Cata Truss is none too happy with Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker's defense of Illinois' sanctuary policies, criticizing a pledge he made on Capitol Hill last week to stand in the way of Trump border czar Tom Homan by protecting illegal immigrants who, in his words, "don't deserve to be frightened in their communities.""We are livid," she told "Fox & Friends First" on Tuesday."And let me tell you something, we are not insensitive to undocumented persons here. We know that it is a struggle."ILLINOIS GOV. PRITZKER ACCUSED OF 'INSULTING' ICE WITH SANCTUARY POLICIES AS NOEM, ANGEL FAMILIES PROTEST"I get people asking me all the time, 'Do you think it's wrong for people to want to live the American dream?' No, it's not wrong for people to want to live the American dream, but what is wrong is for Americans here in America to not be able to realize the American Dream because we have elected officials who want to do things with our money that does not benefit the people who are paying into the tax bracket," she added.Truss has been an outspoken critic of her city and state's Democratic leadership in light of the migrant crisis that exploded under the Biden administration.Even as a Democrat, she sued the city of Chicago over housing for illegal immigrants, calling on the city to remove its sanctuary status in January 2024 due to the squeeze on community resources.PROTESTERS GATHER OUTSIDE PRITZKER MANSION TO DISRUPT NOEM PRESSER, ONLY TO FIND SHE WAS NEVER ACTUALLY THEREPritzker pledged to stand in Homan's way and defend people who don't deserve to feel "threatened" or "terrorized" during last week's immigration hearing with blue state governors on Capitol Hill."I would rather that he came and arrested me than do that to the people of my state," he said.Truss has previously insisted that Chicago residents are unhappy with the migrant crisis and that those who did not show up to vote in the 2024 election were protesting democratic policies."In spite of what you may hear our mayor and Gov. Pritzker say about how Chicagoans feel and where we stand, we are not happy about what is happening here," she said earlier this year."So, we're excited that President Trump is in office. We are excited that Tom Homan and his team is coming here to help us out of this mess that our mayor and governor seem to be content on keeping us in."Fox News' Maria Lencki contributed to this report.

Interest in chicken coops is up among Americans in search of a more affordable way to consume eggs.More people are searching for do-it-yourself chicken coops and purchasing from retailers frequently, according to recent reports and search trends.Research conducted by Australia-based real estate company Eden Emerald Buyers Agent found that searches for "easy DIY chicken coop plans" on Pinterest skyrocketed by 212% in the U.S. within the first three months of 2025.KEEP THE EGGS BUT REPLACE 5 BAD-FOR-YOU BREAKFAST FOODS, SAYS NUTRITIONISTSearches for "backyard chicken coop plans" during this same time on Pinterest surged by 81%, while searches for "chicken coop run" and "chicken coop dcor" also increased by 163% and 108%, research showed.Josh Roth, chief buyers agent at Eden Emerald, spoke to Fox News Digital about the growing trend."As the study suggests, we can expect that chicken coops will appear in many Americans' backyards," he said.A Tractor Supply Co. spokesperson confirmed to Fox News Digital the uptick in chicken coop sales and chicks.DOES THE COLOR OF AN EGG'S YOLK MEAN ANYTHING?"Tractor Supply is the largest retailer of live poultry in the country," the spokesperson said. "We have consistently sold more than 10 million baby chicks each year, and we expect that number to rise this year.""Additionally, the number of poultry shoppers in our stores has increased by more than 50% over the past five years."Kate Murphy, animal preserve caretaker at Hoyt Farm Town Park in Long Island, New York, shared advice for Americans who are interested in raising their own chickens.Having fresh eggs in the backyard avoids the need to pay inflated egg prices. It also offers nutritious eggs without added steroids, Murphy told Fox News Digital.In addition, it can encourage the whole family to participate in a rewarding, outdoor activity.But the animal care expert of more than 20 years noted there are "a lot of factors" to consider before making the switch.WANT TO KEEP RAW EGGS FRESH LONGER? FOOD SCIENTISTS SAY THEY'VE FOUND A WAY"Owning any animal is a lot of work, but chickens are a huge responsibility," she said.Murphy first prompted people to consider their ability to commit, since chickens can live up to 10 years or more if cared for properly."You must take into consideration that your feathered friends may be around a while," she said."If you are like most Americans and looking to raise chickens for fresh eggs, hens can lay eggs for two to three years at the most and then enter retirement, which they most definitely deserve, because egg laying is brutal on the hen's body."DOES THE COLOR OF AN EGG'S YOLK MEAN ANYTHING?Murphy said chickens "need love" once they're done laying eggs."The most frequent call I get on the farm is from someone looking to re-home their chickens," she revealed."They either want to donate their retired hens to me after they have served their purpose, or they thought hatching eggs would be fun and now they have several loud, crowing roosters in their home."Only hens lay eggs, not roosters but there's no way to tell the gender of an egg or even a baby chick until several weeks old, Murphy said."If you really want hens for egg production purposes for your homestead, I recommend doing your research and finding a reputable backyard breeder someone who specializes in egg-laying breeds and can provide you with healthy, happy chickens who have been sexed as hens."CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTERMurphy also instructed homeowners to make sure the hens they purchase are an egg-laying breed, since not all chickens lay eggs the same.But perhaps the biggest commitment is financial, according to Murphy who noted that avian veterinarians are "not cheap.""Avian vets are a specialty, so they can cost a pretty penny when needed, especially in an emergency," she said.Chicken feed also comes at a price, since the birds require a balanced diet to remain "healthy and productive."For more Lifestyle articles, visit www.foxnews.com/lifestyleRoth agreed that expenses related to raising chickens can add up, such as keeping the coop clean and refurbishing the space to preserve its appearance."If you're prepared, once you have installed your chicken coop, you will need to keep up with wood care to maintain a polished look and check for damage, such as dampness, to prevent rotting," he said.For those with free-range chickens, Murphy warned that they could be prey and recommended setting up a predator-proof enclosure.An enclosure with a covered hard top and fencing will also protect your flock from exposure to bird flu, which has hit record highs across the country this year.Murphy stressed the importance of making sure it's legal to own a chicken coop where you live."You have to put in the effort," she said."Like owning any animal, chickens require a tremendous amount of care. It takes a special person to care for chickens."

Johnny Depp and Amber Heards relationship seemed doomed from the start, but insiders believed there was "genuine love" before it all exploded.The actor, 62, and actress, 39, are being examined in a new book written by Kelly Loudenberg and Makiko Wholey, "Hollywood Vampires: Johnny Depp, Amber Heard, and the Celebrity Exploitation Machine." It features never-before-told stories from the pairs inner circle.Fox News Digital reached out representatives for Depp and Heard for comment.JOHNNY DEPP AND AMBER HEARD CHART NEW LIVES THREE YEARS AFTER COURTROOM DRAMALoudenberg told Fox News Digital that while the relationship quickly disintegrated, the love Heard and Depp initially had for each other was the real deal."The people, the friends we talked to on both sides, said there was genuine love between them and that it was authentic," she explained. "We tried to write that into the story. We feel that there was a love they had for each other. There was a special connection to each other, which makes it all the more tragic and sad.""Its probably why it exploded so much," Wholey shared. "It did seem like they really were in love with each other for a time. But we brought it back to this idea of Hollywood, the machinations of Hollywood, making everything distorted for people."Its hard to find love in a hopeless place."Depp and Heard first met on the set of the 2011 film "The Rum Diary," which was filmed in Puerto Rico. The book shared that when Depp first met Heard in his office, he took one look at her and thought, "Yep Thats the one she could definitely kill me."CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTERWhile Heard already had a girlfriend, Hawaiian artist and model Tasya van Ree, Depp would later remark to director Bruce Robinson, "Dont worry, no leading lady of mine stays gay for very long."When van Ree returned to Los Angeles, one crew member on set claimed Depp and Heard became "locked into that death dance." A "mutual infatuation" quickly unfolded. A passionate kissing scene appeared to blur lines."It didnt feel like a normal scene," Heard later admitted. "It felt real.""The Rum Diary" opened to mixed reviews and was a flop at the box office. In 2012, Depp and long-term partner Vanessa Paradis announced their separation. The book shared that while theyd never married, Depp reportedly gave the French singer and model $100 million in the separation.That same month, Depp gave Heard a $6,500 Palomino horse named Peaches and Creme. She renamed it Arrow. For his 49th birthday, she gave him a foot-long turquoise-handled knife.As a romance blossomed, Heard didnt appear fazed by the 22-year age difference.LIKE WHAT YOURE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS"All the guys I date are older than me," Heard told a reporter a year before she met Depp, as quoted in the book. "Its actually a sickness, like an addiction."According to the book, Depps childhood friend, Bruce Witkin, said he was stunned Depp jumped straight into another relationship. He encouraged him to remain a bachelor or "go Clooney it up.""We were also surprised to hear from people that there were red flags," Loudenberg told Fox News Digital. "I guess hindsight is 20/20. But if you have your best friend marrying someone that you have reservations about, but theyre really happy, are you going to go and raise any major concerns unless youve seen something that really should tell you to sway them in a different direction?"I think it was just small enough that nobody wanted to say anything," Loudenberg added. "And, also, from Ambers side, her friends and family, we dont know exactly what kind of red flags they maybe saw because we didnt get to talk to her about that. But Im sure that both sides can look back on it and see the writing on the wall."While Depp and Heard reportedly dated on and off throughout 2012, Depp vowed not to let someone like Heard "slip through his fingers." According to the book, as the pairs relationship grew more serious, Depp "drifted further away from his small and trusted network of family, friends and staff."In 2014, Heard was spotted wearing an engagement ring. By then, bitter fights were already occurring within the relationship, the book claimed.WATCH: JOHNNY DEPP PERFORMS AT THE ANTHEM IN DC"Members of Johnnys inner circle pleaded with Johnny to get a prenup," the book says. "They said he initially agreed to do so but then dropped it and announced he was getting married anyway."Leading up to the wedding, Witkin spent time with Depp in the recording studio. Thats when Depp said Heard wanted to get married quickly. She pointed out that Depp was starting to film the next "Pirates of the Caribbean film," which required a six-month shoot in Australia. He would have to live there full-time while filming, and she wanted stability in their relationship."She wanted to get it over with," Witkin recalled. "[His sister] Christi [Dembrowski] was there, and we both told him, So what? You dont have to do it. Dont do it. Were trying to tell him, Dont do this until you get a prenup.' And Johnny kind of says to Christie, Well you tell her. Christi cried and tried to convince Johnny not to go ahead with it. I tried to convince him too.""The next thing I know its going along," he said. "And, at first, Im like, Is this really happening? It was rushed to me. I was freaked out, but what am I gonna do, not go? I gotta try to be there to support him, you know."The book noted that, in 2015, there were two weddings in rapid succession a small civil ceremony in Los Angeles and a larger celebration on Depps private island in the Bahamas within the week. The LA wedding was "hastily arranged."And by the time the couple said I do, the relationship was "severely troubled.""Most of the people in Johnnys life were aware of the red flags in the relationship," the book states. "In the early days, Jerry Judge, Johnnys late chief of security, would tell [Depps assistant] Stephen [Deuters] and [his wife Gina] about having to separate Johnny and Amber so theyd stop arguing. Whenever Amber traveled with Johnny, his team always rented out an extra hotel room in case a fight broke out, and they needed to be sent to their own corners.""It was hard to see because we knew him in his prior relationships, and it was never like that," said Gina, as quoted in the book. "Voices werent raised. It was such a stark difference with Amber. But if thats what they want, then youre going to support them, and youre going to hope that it works out, and hope they find peace and happiness."The couple separated in 2016, but it was only the beginning of a very public breakdown of their relationship. Less than a week after filing for divorce, Heard filed a domestic restraining order against her husband on grounds of domestic abuse charges, People magazine reported.Just one day ahead of their scheduled restraining order hearing, they reached a $7 million settlement in their divorce, the outlet reported. Their divorce was finalized in 2017.Depp said he was libeled by Heard when she wrote a 2018 op-ed piece describing herself as a "public figure representing domestic abuse." His lawyers said he was defamed by the article even though it never mentioned his name because, they argued, it referenced abuse allegations Heard had made against Depp during divorce proceedings.Heard said she was defamed by Depp when one of his lawyers called her abuse allegations a "hoax."BRAD PITT BREAKS SILENCE ON 8-YEAR DIVORCE BATTLE WITH ANGELINA JOLIEA high-profile trial ensued in 2022 in which the exes accused each other of physical and verbal abuse. The jury awarded Depp $10 million in damages but also awarded $2 million to Heard. Depps camp said the deal includes a $1 million payment from her to him to settle all financial claims."They both moved on and want to put this behind them and dont want to be tied their entire lives to this trial," Loudenberg told Fox News Digital."Sadly, they might not be able to escape that fate," Wholey added. "This was such a huge thing. Anytime one of their names is printed, or theres some mention of the trial or something like that, theyre together. Both largely dont live here anymore in the U.S. I think theyre just trying to move on."

A new report showed that declining enrollment in Chicago leaves about 150 of its schools half-empty.The report, authored by ChalkBeat and ProPublica, found that 47 schools are operating "at less than one-third capacity, leading to high costs and limited course offerings."Chicago Public Schools had roughly 325,000 students enrolled this year after losing 70,000 students from a decade ago, according to the report."District officials project that three school years from now, there could be as few as 300,000 or, in a best-case scenario, as many as 334,000 students. Those estimates are based in part on the citys sharply falling birth rates. Citywide, from 2011 to 2021, the number of births dropped by more than 43%," the authors of the report wrote.ILLINOIS PROJECTED TO SPEND $2.5B ON MIGRANTS BY END OF 2025, REPORT CLAIMSWhile the city faces enrollment struggles, the city spends about $18,700 per student. Some schools are "double or triple" that number the report stated. One school that enrolled 28 students costs $93,000 students.DuSable High School, which had declining enrollment, costs almost $50,000 per student, according to the report. DuSable is among 47 schools operating at less than one-third capacity.Frederick Douglass Academy High School, which has 28 students this year, reportedly costs $93,000 per student.Per the report, "Many of those schools are in historic buildings that need millions of dollars in repairs."A ProPublica and Chalkbeat analysis found that "students in the citys smallest schools have fewer courses to choose from and often miss out on clubs, extracurricular activities and sports. Chicagos underenrolled high schools are more likely to have lower graduation and college enrollment rates. They tend to struggle with chronic truancy and higher dropout rates."Chicago Teachers Union leaders reportedly look to Chicagos progressive agenda to lure families into the city to fill in classroom seats.CHICAGO PRINCIPAL WARNS LENIENT SCHOOL GRADING WON'T MATCH 'REAL WORLD' EXPECTATIONS"CTU leaders insist that the city is actually poised for a population turnaround. During President Donald Trumps second administration, Chicago under Johnson can bill itself as a progressive refuge a place that protects immigrants, abortion care, LGBTQ+ rights and access to gender-affirming care for transgender youth and adults, said Jackson Potter, vice president of the CTU," the report stated.The report explains further that the city has avoided school closures for several years due to pressure from the Chicago Teachers Union and a closure moratorium mandated in 2013.CEO Pedro Martinez, who is leaving his position soon, told Chalkbeat and ProPublica that there are too many schools serving a few students and cited backlash for pushing to close or merge schools.CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ON FOX NEWSFox News Digital reached out to Chicago Public Schools, Mayor Brandon Johnson, and Frederick Douglass Academy High School for comment but did not immediately hear back.

Senate Republicans are gearing up for the first full-scale congressional hearing into the alleged cover-up of former President Joe Bidens cognitive decline.Senators John Cornyn, R-Texas., and Eric Schmitt, R-Mo. will co-chair a Senate Judiciary Hearing Wednesday that delves into "what exactly went on" during Bidens term and why the constitutional power to remove him from office wasnt triggered.Cornyn said on the Senate floor that one of the main goals of the hearing was to shine a light on what happened behind the scenes during landmark moments of Bidens presidency, "from the Biden border crisis to the disastrous results from the withdrawal in Afghanistan.EX-WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS TO TESTIFY ON WHO 'REALLY RAN THE COUNTRY' DURING BIDEN ERA"And it's now clear that for many months no one knows exactly how long the president was simply not up to the task," he said. "Whoever happened to be making those decisions and carrying out the duties of the Office of President was not somebody who was authorized by the Constitution or by a vote of the American people."Cornyn and Schmitts hearing, first announced late last month, will be held after the release of the book "Original Sin" by CNN host Jake Tapper and Axios reporter Alex Thompson, which alleges the Biden White House was trying to control the narrative about the former presidents health and that his allies worked to cover up his decline.SENATE REPUBLICANS PLAN HEARING ON BIDEN'S ALLEGED COGNITIVE DECLINE COVER-UPThe hearing, "Unfit to Serve: How the Biden Cover-Up Endangered America and Undermined the Constitution," features a trio of witnesses called by the Senate Republican duo who served during President Donald Trumps first term and during the Reagan and Bush years.Among the Republicans witnesses are Theodore Wold, who formerly served as acting assistant attorney general in the Office of Legal Policy at the Justice Department and deputy assistant to the president for domestic policy during the Trump administration; Sean Spicer, former White House press secretary and communications director; and John Harrison, a legal scholar from the University of Virginia School of Law who previously served during former the Reagan and Bush administrations.Wold and Harrison told Fox News Digital their testimony would focus on Bidens alleged usage of an autopen, a device that is used to automatically mimic a persons signature, typically used signing of numerous documents, and how the usage of the device may have acted as a smokescreen to prevent the triggering of the 25th Amendment.SCOOP: GOP PUSH FOR NEW HOUSE COMMITTEE TO PROBE BIDEN DECLINE 'COVER-UP' GAINS STEAMBiden has rejected assertions by lawmakers and Trump that he habitually used an autopen. Trump recently ordered Attorney General Pam Bondi to open an investigation into whether the former presidents aides "abused the power of Presidential signatures through the use of an autopen to conceal Biden's cognitive decline."Spicers testimony will focus on the medias treatment of Trump compared to Biden during their respective first terms and how some media outlets were allegedly "silent" when it came to signs of the ex-presidents decline.Democrats on the panel did not call any witnesses.The top-ranking Democrat on the committee, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., contended that Cornyn and Schmitt were wasting the panels time with their endeavor."We have so many important topics to consider, and this is a totally political undertaking by several of my colleagues," he said. "It is a waste of the Senate Judiciary Committees time."

"[W]e do not take a trip; a trip takes us."- Travels with Charley: In Search of America by John SteinbeckIn 1960, American novelist John Steinbeck set out with his dog Charley in a camper on a journey to rediscover the heart of the nation. Though he had spent his career writing about our country, he understood that to truly know and love America, he needed to see America. "I had not heard the speech of America, smelled the grass and treesseen its hills and water, its color and quality of light," he wrote at the time.Steinbeck and Charley traveled 10,000 miles across the United States, encountering farmers, drifters, Southern segregationists, and Northern suburbanites. He documented what he learned and saw in the famous book "Travels with Charley: In Search of America." His reflections full of awe, sorrow, and empathy become a portrait of our country and a call to see it firsthand.Youll never know America by listening to the nightly news or scrolling through TikTok or Instagram. Like Steinbeck before his journey, few of us have traced the spine of Route 66, watched the sun set behind the majestic Grand Canyon (one of the seven natural wonders of the world), stood beneath a 2,000-year-old, 300-foot-tall California redwood, or hiked the Smoky Mountains at dawn.PRESIDENT TRUMP IS MAKING SUMMER VACATIONS GREAT AGAINAs your secretary of transportation, Im inviting you to rediscover Americanot through a screen or a headline, but mile by mile, window down, heart open. In celebration of our nations 250th anniversary, I am launching The Great American Road Tripa yearlong invitation to travel, reflect, and reconnect with the people and places that define us.Transportation should be a pathway to opportunity, and road trips have always offered just that: freedom, flexibility, and a front-row seat to the American story. At the Department of Transportation, were working to ensure that every Americanno matter where they live or what they earncan afford to get behind the wheel and explore this country on their own terms.Families are now better equipped to hit the road, thanks to lower gas prices, reduced inflation, and a renewed sense of American optimism under President Donald Trumps leadership. At the Department of Transportation, were also eliminating burdensome regulations, such as Biden-era mileage standards, to make car ownership more affordable. No family should be priced out of owning a vehicle or exploring our beautiful country.Ive taken road trips with my own family cooler packed with snacks, long playlists, windows streaked with bug splatter, kids pointing out shapes in the clouds. Away from our routines, we reconnected and bondedto each other, to the places we passed, and to the people we met. We learned things we hadnt expected, not just about the country, but about ourselves.Together with America250 and Brand USA, weve curated250 destinationssome iconic, others unknown to most. We hope youll stand in the dazzling lights of Times Square, but also take the turn that leads you to The Troll Hole Museum in Ohio, a crab meat and lobster stop in Maine, a castle hidden in the Michigan woods, and a lighthouse on a rocky New England coastline. We hope youll visit Hemingways home in Key West and find yourself deep inside Kentuckys Mammoth Cave. Americas story lives in landmarks like the Statue of Liberty, South Dakotas Mount Rushmore and the Spanish missions of California, yesbut it also thrives in the family-owned roadside diners, the bait shop in northern Wisconsin, and the giant Paul Bunyan statue in Minnesota (a conversation starter with the kids about the tough lumberjacks who built America).CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINIONWe also celebrate the American-made vehicles that carry usnot just machines, but symbols of movement, freedom, and grit. President Trumps commitment to fair trade is revitalizing our auto industry, keeping factories open and producing bigger, better cars by hands that know the value of hard work and craftsmanship.In the years ahead, the world will turn its eyes to America, as we host the World Cup and the Olympics. As the spotlight turns to us, lets use this year leading up to our 250th anniversary as a nation to explore our homelandto travel not as tourists, but as citizens eager to understand, to celebrate our freedom, and to rediscover this place we call home. As the song says, "from the mountains to the prairies, to the oceans, white with foam."This year, hit the road. Go far, go near, go somewhere youve never thought to go. And like Steinbeck, let the journey take you.

Just over five years ago, our nation faced a moment that felt more like fiction than realitya global pandemic and a national emergency, brought on by a virus we had never seen before. Faced with fear and uncertainty, Americans turned to our frontline healthcare workers, public health leaders, and scientists to help guide us through. And we trusted thembecause historically, weve had good reason to.But as the weeks turned into months, something began to shift. Decisions that lacked consistency and transparency started to erode that trust. Schools were closed to protect childrenyet we later learned how deeply it harmed them. Mask mandates changed repeatedly. Beaches were shut down, while large political gatherings were permitted. These contradictions did more than confuse peoplethey undermined confidence in those charged with guiding us through the crisis.Many Americans endured great sacrificesmissing weddings, funerals, and final goodbyes with loved oneswhile some officials appeared to operate by a different set of rules. The phrase "trust the science" was too often wielded as a shield against legitimate questions and concerns.RFK JR SCRAPS VACCINE COMMITTEE MEMBERS IN EFFORT TO RESTORE 'PUBLIC TRUST'As a member of President Trumps White House Coronavirus Task Force, I witnessed firsthand the difference of opinion among health experts. But rather than welcome those scientific debates, some dismissed them outrightlabeling thoughtful disagreement as "anti-science." That kind of dismissiveness damages the very credibility that public institutions depend upon.Today, we are seeing the consequences of that breakdown in trust. Perhaps nowhere is it more evident than in the growing skepticism around vaccinations. For decades, immunizations have been one of modern medicines greatest achievementseliminating diseases and saving millions of lives. But now, after years of mixed messaging and politicized public health decisions, were watching long-held confidence in vaccines waver.This isnt hypothetical. We are now facing the largest measles outbreak in the U.S. in a generationspanning 31 states, resulting in over a thousand infections and the tragic loss of life. In several of the hardest-hit areas, vaccination rates are dangerously low. This mistrust has even begun to shape legislation, with several states considering laws that would further weaken immunization efforts.We must not allow the missteps of recent years to unravel the decades of progress made through sound immunization practices. The established guidelines for routine vaccinations have long provided a foundation of safe and effective protection against serious diseases. While that trust must be restored, it must go hand in hand with a renewed respect for parental choice and individual responsibility. Confidence in vaccines grows when people are engaged and provided with clear information and empowered to make informed decisions in consultation with trusted providers. Trust is not built through mandatesits earned through transparency, consistency, and respect for personal responsibility.It is time for a reset. We need to move past the confusion and division of the COVID era. We must acknowledge what went wrongnot to assign blame, but to rebuild whats been lost: trust.CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINIONPresident Donald Trumps team at the Department of Health and Human Services and the Food and Drug Administration now has the opportunity to lead with clarity, competence, and a renewed focus on serving the American people. We recently saw very significant personnel changes at ACIP a panel central to vaccine policy. This committee plays a vital role in protecting families and guiding national readiness. Its important in our quest for change that we pursue reform thats thoughtful, apolitical and fair. Safeguarding credibility is key to advancing the Presidents broader mission.Let us remember that public health is not just about dataits about people. Its about protecting families, preserving life, and earning trust through honesty and integrity.Weve all learned important lessons from a difficult time. Lets carry those lessons forwardand finally close the chapter on the COVID era.