National Border Patrol Council President Paul Perez slammed the Democratic-backed proposed "VISIBLE Act" in Congress that would require federal immigration authorities to present clear identification and prevent them from wearing face coverings in public-facing circumstances."Tone-deaf politics, especially after law enforcement agents have been specifically targeted," Perez told Fox News Digital in an interview."What they'd like to see is our agents get killed because there is absolutely no reason for you to require a policy that forces our agents to identify themselves in public because everybody's got a camera so that they can be doxxed and attacked," he said, adding it poses a risk to officers' families as well.MASSACHUSETTS BILL WOULD FORCE ICE AGENTS TO UNMASK"It's insane to create a policy. You're pandering to people that cannot even vote for you. You know, you're protecting illegal immigrants that have no right to be in this country, and you're sacrificing honorable law enforcement officers," he continued, saying that agents are being tasked to enforce laws that Congress enacted to begin with."Our agents are never gonna be afraid. They know the job that they signed up for. But what they don't appreciate, what we don't want is targeting," he said.ICE agents have seen a 700% increase in assaults from the same time in 2024, and recent protests and riots have drawn serious concerns about the safety of law enforcement as they ramp up deportation and other immigration operations.GUNMAN AMBUSHES BORDER PATROL AGENTS DAYS AFTER HOUSE DEMS REJECT RESOLUTION CONDEMNING ANTI-ICE VIOLENCEA Border Patrol annex facility in McAllen, Texas, faced an ambush on Monday that resulted in a local police officer being injured along with two Border Patrol personnel.Meanwhile, an anti-ICE attack at the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas, last Friday resulted in a local police officer being shot in the neck, and 10 individuals are now facing attempted murder charges.CLICK HERE FOR MORE IMMIGRATION COVERAGEDemocrats have said that the VISIBLE Act, which stands for "Visible Identification Standards for Immigration-Based Law Enforcement," is a necessary degree of accountability for agents amid a major shift in immigration policy under the Trump administration. The bill is co-sponsored by 13 other Democratic senators: Tammy Duckworth, Adam Schiff, Tina Smith, Peter Welch, Andy Kim, Patty Murray, Ron Wyden, Elissa Slotkin, Amy Klobuchar, Chris Van Hollen, Mazie Hirono, Gary Peters, and Richard Blumenthal."When federal immigration agents show up and pull someone off the street in plainclothes with their face obscured and no visible identification, it only escalates tensions and spreads fear while shielding federal agents from basic accountability,"Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., said in a statement in support of the bill, which he is leading with New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker.TRUMP SEETHES THAT DEMS FLOATING BILL REQUIRING THE UNMASKING OF ICE, CBP AGENTS MUST 'HATE' AMERICA"Immigration agents should be required to display their agency and name or badge number just like police and other local law enforcement agencies. TheVISIBLE Acts commonsense requirements will restore transparency and ensure impersonators cant exploit the panic and confusion caused by unidentifiable federal immigration enforcement agents," the Democrat continued.At the state level, the debate over whether agents should mask comes as discussions about how lower-level authorities should coordinate with the federal government, and to what extent.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP"Well, I'll leave that to Congress to decide," Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs told Fox News Digital at a press conference in Phoenix on Thursday when asked her stance on the federal bill."I can tell you I've had conversations, and I understand people's concerns about agents being masked. But I've had conversations with leadership here at [Arizona Department of Public Safety] and there certainly are circumstances where for officer safety, they might have officers masked in a situation. And so I don't think there's a cut and dry yes or no, this should happen or not. I trust our state leadership to make the right decisions in those circumstances," Hobbs added.Other states, like Massachusetts and California, have had lawmakers pitch similar ideas but would likely face constitutional barriers, as it would regulate federal authorities.

A man charged with tampering with evidence in connection to the ambush on a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center in Texas allegedly tried to conceal anti-government and anti-Trump documents.Authorities were led to Daniel Rolando Sanchez Estrada who ICE said is a green card holder from Mexico and a former DACA recipient following a jailhouse phone call placed by one of the alleged attackers busted on the Fourth of July. A group of between 10 and 12 individuals are believed to have graffitied vehicles and shot fireworks at the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas. Between 20 and 30 rounds were fired at a police officer and DHS correctional officers outside.Upon his arrest, ICE said that law enforcement "found literal insurrectionist propaganda, titled Organizing for Attack! Insurrectionary Anarchy."According to West Point, 'insurrectionary anarchism is regarded as the most serious form of domestic (non-jihadi) terrorist threat,'" ICE posted on X Thursday. "This man was granted legal status through the DACA program and then given a green card under the Biden administration in 2024."Marciela Rueda is one of seven of the alleged attackers whom law enforcement caught wearing "black, military-style clothing, body armor, and covered in mud" while attempting to flee the scene on foot, according to court documents.Rueda placed two phone calls from the Johnson County Jail on July 6 one to her mother, whom she told in Spanish to contact Sanchez, and another to Sanchez directly. She allegedly told Sanchez in English to tow her vehicle from the street of a Dallas address that investigators determined was used as a "staging location" before the group proceeded to the Prairieland Detention Center, which is being used to hold people related to immigration violations or awaiting deportation. ICE AGENTS TARGETED IN 2 AMBUSH ATTACKS IN RECENT DAYSThe vehicle was registered to Rueda's residence in Fort Worth. Rueda told Sanchez, "whatever you need to do, move whatever you need to move at the house," according to an FBI affidavit.Sanchez allegedly said he had already been to the house in Fort Worth, and investigators believe Sanchez thought the house had not yet been searched by police.Sanchez's parents told FBI agents that he splits time between living with them in Dallas and with Rueda in Fort Worth, according to the complaint. ICE sources previously told Fox News that Sanchez is the husband of one of the alleged attackers.An FBI surveillance team went to an address in Garland, in the Dallas area, associated with Sanchez and his parents. They said they had observed Sanchez carrying multiple packages outside and to his pick-up truck.He then fueled up at a nearby gas station and drove to an apartment complex in Denton, unloaded a box from the bed of the truck and left it outside a second-floor apartment, according to court documents.While executing a search warrant on the apartment in Denton, federal law enforcement found what appeared to be the same box Sanchez had been carrying. It contained "a handwritten training, tactics, and planning document for civil unrest with anti-law enforcement, anti-government, and anti-Trump sentiments." The complaint included a photo of the box's contents, including flyers that read, "War in the Streets." "It's Vacant, Take it!," and "Another Critique of Insurrectionalism." Denton police arrested Sanchez during a traffic stop. He is accused of having "knowingly and willfully altered, destroyed, mutilated, or concealed a record, document, or other object, or attempted to do so, with the intent to impair the object's integrity or availability for use in an official proceeding," according to the complaint.FBI SEEKING MILITARY VET SUSPECTED IN ICE AMBUSH AT TEXAS DETENTION FACILITYFederal prosecutors on Monday announced charges, including attempted murder of a federal officer, against Rueda and nine others: Cameron Arnold, also known as Autumn Hill; Savannah Batten; Nathan Baumann; Zachary Evetts; Joy Gibson; Bradford Morris, also known as Meagan Morris; Seth Sikes; Elizabeth Soto; and Ines Soto. All 10 are U.S. citizens, authorities said.Sanchez, a Mexican national, was charged in a separate complaint with conspiracy to tamper with evidence, a felony offense.A twelfth individual, Benjamin Hanil Song, was charged on Wednesday and remains at large. The FBI is offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to Song, a former U.S. Marine Corps reservist wanted in connection with the July 4 ambush.According to court documents, Song purchased four of the guns that were found in connection with the shooting, including an AR-15-style rifle found in the back of a van driven by Morris while fleeing the scene of the attack.A Johnson County Sheriff's Office detective conducted a traffic stop on Morris while he was fleeing the scene alone. Inside the vehicle, law enforcement also found a pistol, two Kevlar ballistic-style vests and a ballistic helmet, according to court documents. Morris also allegedly had a loaded magazine in his pocket that matched the pistol and a handheld radio in his possession.He allegedly told investigators that he had driven himself and three others from Dallas to the ICE detention center and the plan was to "make some noise."Morris said he heard about the event through a Signal group chat he was invited to after attending a protest years ago, court documents say.Song also allegedly purchased the pistol found in Gibson's backpack when she was fleeing the scene on foot, authorities said.An Alvarado police officer was shot in the neck outside the ICE facility during the attack and is expected to survive.Fox News' Brooke Taylor contributed to this report.

Two individuals at the center of recent high-profile murder cases may have the same rare and concerning health condition.Bryan Kohberger, who pleaded guilty to the murder of four University of Idaho students, and Luigi Mangione, accused of stalking and ambushing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, apparently have the same neurological condition known as visual snow syndrome.The rare disorder impairs vision, as if the person is looking through snow or static on an old television.DIABETIC PATIENTS TAKING GLP-1S MAY FACE INCREASED RISK OF EYE DISEASE, STUDY SUGGESTSBoth Kohberger and Mangione have posted publicly about their condition, according to multiple reports.Kohberger reportedly posted in a forum on a platform called TapATalk in 2011 about his struggle with visual snow syndrome (VSS), saying his vision made the world feel like a "video game."In one post, which has resurfaced on Reddit, these words stood out: "As I hug my family, I look into their faces, I see nothing. It is like I am looking at a video game, but less It is like I have severe brain damage. I am stuck in the depths of my mind, where I have to constantly battle my demons."Mangione also reportedly posted about the topic on Reddit in 2018, commenting in forums on VSS as well as on other conditions he apparently suffers from, including brain fog and chronic back pain.Mangione, who faces numerous charges, including terror-related murder, has also allegedly written at length about his disgust with the health insurance industry.YOUNG POLICE OFFICER DIES BY SUICIDE AFTER DEBILITATING LASER EYE SURGERY COMPLICATIONSCleveland Clinic describes visual snow syndrome as "flickering dots throughout your field of vision."Some people describe it as seeing things inside a snow globe thats been shaken up.The "snow" can be colorful, black and white or transparent. And it may flash, according to Cleveland Clinic.Scientists assume the condition may be related to "excitability" or hyperactivity in the occipital lobes of the brain, where images are processed, but theres no definite cause and no standard treatment.Visual snow syndrome is a chronic condition for many, who may also experience migraines and anxiety.FOOD CHOICES THAT CAN BOOST YOUR VISION AND PROTECT AGAINST EYE DISEASEThe uncommon disorder only impacts about 2% to 3% of people globally, said Cleveland Clinic.Symptoms of visual snow syndrome can include:People with visual snow syndrome may also experience the following, according to Cleveland Clinic:In order to get a diagnosis of visual snow syndrome, experts urge visiting a neurologist and an ophthalmologist, or a neuro-ophthalmologist, who can rule out other diseases or conditions.Visual symptoms cannot be the same as migraine aura, Cleveland Clinic reported, and cannot be due to the use of drugs that can cause "snow" to appear in vision.Dr. Ashley Brissette, an ophthalmologist in New York City, told Fox News Digital that she's seen patients with VSS who present with visual complaints but the eye exam, imaging and function test results are "typically normal.""Though it is not harmful to vision, visual snow can be highly distressing," the doctor said (she has not treated either Kohberger or Mangione)."Patients often experience constant visual disturbances that interfere with daily activities like reading, driving or using screens, leading to frustration and sensory overload."CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER"The lack of understanding of the condition, along with normal test results, can cause anxiety, fear of serious illness and feelings of being dismissed by healthcare providers."These "unrelenting symptoms" can lead to depression, sleep disturbances, fatigue and social isolation over time, Brissette said."Because visual snow is invisible to others, many patients feel misunderstood or alone, making emotional support and mental health care an essential part of managing the condition," she said.Although Kohberger and Mangione allegedly share this condition, Brissette commented that "many things could have influenced their mental health" and the full clinical context is unknown."The combination of uncomfortable neurological symptoms and the stress of navigating unexplained health issues likely exacerbated anxiety, lowered quality of life, and added to mentalillness," she said.For more Health articles, visitwww.foxnews.com/healthWhile there is no treatment for the condition, some providers may suggest medication for mental health symptoms, including antidepressants, according to Cleveland Clinic.Some migraine medications have also been suggested and tested. Cleveland Clinic additionally recommended the use of blue-light blockers on devices.Relieving stress and avoiding fatigue can also help with certain symptoms, which activities like enjoyable exercise, yoga, meditation and massage can help with, as well as taking steps to improve sleep.Kohberger's defense team, bound by a gag order on the case, did not respond to questions about the condition. A spokeswoman for Mangione did not immediately respond to a request for comment.Michael Ruiz and Khloe Quill, both of Fox News Digital, contributed reporting.

The Secret Service has ushered in a series of changes to beef up its security measures in the aftermath of the July 2024 assassination attempt against President Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania including suspending six of its agents due to their response to the crisis.Secret Service Deputy Director Matt Quinn disclosed the suspensions Wednesday in an interview with CBS News, and said the consequences ranged from 10 days to 42 days of unpaid leave. Additionally, he said the agents would return to restricted roles following the suspension, and said the agency was "laser focused on fixing the root cause of the problem.""Secret Service is totally accountable for Butler," Quinn told CBS. "Butler was an operational failure and we are focused today on ensuring that it never happens again."SECRET SERVICE SUSPENDS 6 AGENTS TASKED WITH PROTECTING TRUMP DURING JULY 2024 ASSASSINATION ATTEMPTThe Secret Service confirmed to Fox News that the suspensions went into effect in February and that no agents had been fired.The agency faced harsh scrutiny in the aftermath of the ambush, where 20-year-old gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks fired eight bullets at Trump from a rooftop during a campaign rally on July 13, 2024. A bullet grazed Trumps ear, and the gunman killed Corey Comperatore, a 50-year-old firefighter, father and husband attending the rally. A Secret Service sniper killed Crooks.The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.Bill Gage, who served as a Secret Service special agent for former Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, told Fox News Digital that the attempted assassination served as a wake-up call for the agency bringing about overdue changes to the Secret Service.Specifically, Gage said the incident prompted the Secret Service to "create new divisions, new units to counter modern threats, and gave the agency a real focus."TRUMP DIRECTS SECRET SERVICE TO GIVE HIM EVERY BIT OF INFORMATION ABOUT HIS ATTEMPTED ASSASSINS: REPORTFormer Secret Service Acting Director Ronald Rowe told lawmakers on a bipartisan House task force investigating the assassination attempt in December 2024 that the immediate changes to the agency included expanding the use of drones for surveillance purposes, and also incorporating greater counter-drone technology to mitigate kinetic attacks from other drones.Likewise, the agency also overhauled its radio communications networks and interoperability of those networks with Secret Service personnel, and state and local law enforcement officers. Streamlining these radio communications is a major change, according to Gage, who said he sometimes was outfitted with up to five radios because an integrated system didnt exist.Rowe also told lawmakers that the agency is seeking to beef up its staffing, and had assigned more special agents to Trumps security detail. Rowe said the agency was planning to use some of the additional $231 million in funding that Congress approved for the Secret Service in a stopgap spending bill in September 2024 to hire 1,000 new agents and officers in 2025.PHOTOGRAPHER WINS PULITZER FOR ICONIC PHOTO OF BULLET SPEEDING BY TRUMP'S HEAD DURING ASSASSINATION ATTEMPTOther potential changes in the works include constructing a precise replica of the White House, instead of using Tyler Perrys White House replica at his Atlanta film studio as agents historically have done.Secret Service Director Sean Curran said in an April interview with Fox News "My View with Lara Trump" that the agency is coordinating with the White House to build the replica at the James J. Rowley Training Center in Laurel, Maryland.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPGage called it "inexcusable" that a replica of the White House didnt already exist and said even more value should be placed on training."The service should really focus on training," Gage said. "There needs to be an increased mindset for training, where training is viewed as just as important as your assigned shift."Fox News Elizabeth Pritchett and Alexis McAdams contributed to this report.

A pair of Democratic senators urged the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to hold a "full Commission vote" on the proposed Paramount-Skydance merger because the formers recent eight-figure settlement with PresidentDonald Trump "raises serious questions" about the editorial independence of CBS News.CBS and parent company Paramount agreed to settle Trumps "election interference" lawsuit last week, setting the stage for a long-planned merger of Paramount and Skydance to become official once the FCC approves the deal. But Trump critics have blasted the settlement and Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., and Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M., sent a letter addressing concerns on Thursday to FCC Commissioner Olivia Trusty, who was nominated earlier this year by Trump."We write today regarding the proposed merger between Paramount Global and Skydance Media now pending before the FCC. Paramounts recent agreement to settle for $16 million a frivolous lawsuit brought by President Donald Trump against CBS a Paramount subsidiary over its editorial decision-making raises serious questions about Paramounts rationale for the settlement and its implications for media independence," Markey and Lujan wrote.PARAMOUNT, CBS FORCED TO PAY EIGHT FIGURES, CHANGE EDITORIAL POLICY IN SETTLEMENT WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP"For that reason, we urge you to insist that the FCC conduct its merger review with the utmost transparency, including holding a full Commission vote on any order to approve the merger," they continued. "The Paramount-Skydance merger is unique in the FCCs storied history, with the sitting President actively litigating against a news organization whose parent is seeking FCC approval of a major media merger."Trump was seeking $20 billion in his lawsuit against CBS over its handling of a "60 Minutes" interview last year with then-Vice President Kamala Harris, accusing the network of election interference through unethical editing to make her appear more articulate leading up to the 2024 contest.The Democratic lawmakers blasted the lawsuit as "baseless," but said "Paramount has nevertheless agreed to settle that lawsuit for $16 million." Paramount's controllingshareholder Shari Redstonereportedly pushed for the settlement in hopes of paving the way for Trumps FCC to approve the lucrative merger.LONGTIME '60 MINUTES' CORRESPONDENT STEVE KROFT, JON STEWART BASH CBS TRUMP SETTLEMENT AS SHAKEDOWN"This settlement casts a shadow over the proposed Paramount-Skydance merger and raises serious questions about the editorial independence of one of the nations largest media organizations. The Commission cannot turn a blind eye to this context," Markey and Lujan wrote."For that reason, in our May letter, we urged Chairman Carr to hold a vote on the merger by the full Commission, instead of unilaterally directing the Media Bureau to approve it on its delegated authority," they added."The FCC owes the public a transparent, deliberative process on such a high-profile and controversial issue," they added.The FCC did not immediately respond to a request for comment.TOP '60 MINUTES' PRODUCER RESIGNS FROM SHOW, CITES LACK OF INDEPENDENCEFox News Digitalhas learned that the sum being paid to Trump could reach north of $30 million, with $16 million being paid upfront for his future presidential library, in addition to another eight-figure allocation set aside for advertisements, public service announcements or other similar transmissions, in support of conservative causes paid for by the networks incoming ownership in the future.Paramount has defended the settlement."Companies often settle litigation to avoid the high and somewhat unpredictable costs of legal defense, the risk of an adverse judgment that could result in significant financial or reputational damage, and the disruption to business operations that prolonged legal battles can cause. Settlement offers a negotiated resolution that allows companies to focus on their core objectives rather than being mired in uncertainty and distraction," a Paramount spokesperson told Fox News Digital.

Wall Street Journal investigative reporter Josh Dawsey claimed that there was a "fierce" effort by some of former President Joe Biden's top aides to insulate the president from pollsters and even his campaign staff during his 2024 election bid.Dawsey told Democratic strategist James Carville and journalist Al Hunt on the "Politics War Room" podcast on Thursday that while some of Biden's aides had serious concerns about the president's viability as a candidate, other senior aides who "really bought in for a second term" fought to keep the president in the race "no matter what."The investigative reporter's new book, "How Trump Retook the White House and Democrats Lost America," was cited by Hunt, who noted the "myopic selfishness of Biden and his advisers" detailed in the book.JOHN KERRY ADMITS TRUMP WAS 'RIGHT' ON BORDER, SAYS HE TOLD BIDEN THAT DEMOCRATS MISSED ON IMMIGRATION"The folks who were around Biden, his sort of core group of aides, really kept a lot of information from him, kept a lot of people from him, particularly after, you know, that debate in June, sort of the disastrous infamous debate in June. And what we sort of found here was that there were lots of warning signs throughout the years 2023 and even early 2024, even before the debate," Dawsey told Hunt.According to Dawsey, both the Democratic Party and voters were done with Biden and "wanted to move on," but some of the president's closest aides worked tirelessly to ensure he stayed on the ticket."They sort of, like, pushed him through, pushed him through. And then after the debate, even as there was a clamoring by senators, members of Congress, you know, everyone sort of under the sun, that it was time to go, there was a fierce effort by some of Biden's top aides, Steve Ricchetti, Michael Donilon and others, to keep the pollsters from meeting with him, to keep campaign staff from meeting with him, to keep a lot of the data information that they were getting from him," he said."It was, it was a pretty aggressive insularity there that's sort of hard to describe," Dawsey added.DEMOCRATS WERE WILLING TO GO ALONG WITH BIDENS COVER-UP, CLAIMS GOP LAWMAKERHunt questioned Dawsey about a section of his book where he describes that in the fall of 2023, some of Biden's closest aides were unable to meet with the president to discuss "the peril of his candidacy.""Well, a lot of what happened there was that in that period of time, that was when the attack with Hamas happened, right? And there was talk in 2023 after his interview with [Special Counsel] Robert Hur that obviously did not go well," he noted. "They were under some delusions that it wasn't that awful, but it did not go well."Dawsey added that the Biden campaign was struggling to get donors and fundraisers on board, and that "the numbers were really bad.""There was a conversation about whether or not they should ask the president, Do you really want to do this? Do you really want to spend four more years doing this? And then the attack with Hamas happens, and they sort of never bring that conversation up to him," he stated.BIDEN DOCTOR PLEADS THE FIFTH IN SPEEDY HOUSE CLOSED-DOOR INTERVIEWWhen asked who specifically was trying to meet with the president but couldn't, Dawsey told Hunt that there was a "core group" of people who had concerns but couldn't voice them directly to Biden, including his former senior advisor Anita Dunn."There were other aides on the campaign side that were really concerned. I think Donilon and Ricchetti were the only ones, to the best of our knowledge, of senior folks who were really bought in on a second term and wanted to keep it going no matter what," he detailed. "And probably Anthony Bernal, I would also put in that category, and obviously the first lady."Representatives for Joe Biden, Steve Ricchetti, Anita Dunn and Anthony Bernal did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

An effort to advance a blistering sanctions package against Russia and its trade partners is again gaining steam in the Senate, and this time it appears that President Donald Trump is on board.A sanctions bill advanced by Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., was largely sidelined as the Senate sprinted to hit its July 4 deadline to pass Trumps "big, beautiful bill," but has come roaring back into the limelight now that the grueling reconciliation process has been put to bed.The duos bill would slap up to 500% tariffs on countries buying energy products from Moscow, effectively placing Russias war machine in a chokehold by imposing duties on oil, gas, uranium and other exports, largely purchased by China and India, which account for nearly three-quarters of Moscows energy business.MASSIVE RUSSIA SANCTIONS PACKAGE STALLS AS TRUMP PUSHES FOR UKRAINE PEACE TALKSBut the bill hit a snag at the White House, where Trump maintained that he wanted to continue peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, and also wanted more flexibility on the proposed penalties in the bill.However, theres been a tonal shift in Trumps opinion of Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Graham believes that Trump is now on board with the plan.WHITE HOUSE TAKES INTEREST IN PROPOSED RUSSIAN SANCTIONS AS UKRAINE WAR PEACE TALKS DRAG ON"My goal is to get them on the presidents desk before the August break. We got 85 co-sponsors," he said. "Theres a waiver in the bill to give the president leverage. I told the president last week about it. He thinks the bill will be helpful. So we'll get it to him."Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment.On the changes that are coming to the bill, Blumenthal said the waiver authority making its way into the legislation was working out "technical issues" on how the stringent sanctions would affect the worlds financial system, how Americas allies could be impacted, and providing Trump more flexibility over how the sanctions are levied against Russias trade partners."Trump is seeing what we've all recognized, which is that Putin is playing the United States for free," he said of the presidents change in tone toward Putin."He's stalling and stonewalling, continuing his aerial reign of terror on Ukrainian civilians and his atrocities against kidnapped children," Blumenthal continued. "The president is simply reflecting the fact that Putin has no interest in peace. He wants domination."SENATE REPUBLICAN MOVES TO GIVE US AN EDGE ON CHINA IN HARVESTING MINERALS FOR WEAPONS SYSTEMSSenate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., wants to get the bill on the floor by the end of the month, and noted that the upper chamber was working in conjunction with the House and the White House to "get it in a form where it's ready."Still, he said it was an "open question" as to when Graham and Blumenthals bill could get a vote."I think it's an important message to send, especially now, and I think it's leverage that we need," Thune said.While the bill does have broad bipartisan support within the Senate, and the backing of House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., not every Senate Republican is on board with the plan.Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., charged that the measure was "not a Russian sanctions bill. It's a worldwide embargo tariff bill."He argued that the bill would institute "500% tariffs" to any country that does business with Russia, and noted that there are a handful of European Union countries that are dependent on Russian oil and gas.Paul also charged that slapping China with such a hefty sanction would lead to no more trade with the country."It's the worst, most economically illiterate bill ever to be presented in modern history," he said.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday said he and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov had exchanged "new" and "different" approaches to ending the nearly three-and-half-year-long war in Ukraine as President Donald Trumps frustration mounts."I think its a new and a different approach," Rubio told reporters following his nearly hour-long meeting with Lavrov at the sideline of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) conference in Malaysia. "I wouldnt characterize it as something that guarantees a peace, but its a concept that Ill take back to the president."Rubio did not share any details of what this new approach entails, but comes as Trump mulls "biting" sanctions against Russia and upping military aid to Ukraine, also claiming this week that he did not sign off on the Pentagon's limited arms pause to Kyiv pushed through earlier this month.TRUMP CAUTIONED PUTIN HE WOULD BOMB THE S---' OUT OF MOSCOW IF RUSSIA INVADED UKRAINE, NEW BOOK CLAIMSThe secretary said he also communicated to Lavrov that Trump is "disappointed and frustrated that theres not been more flexibility on the Russian side" to pursue a legitimate end to its war in Ukraine.Rubio was questioned about Trumps multiple calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin and the minimal impact it has had on the Kremlin chiefs war as Russian attacks have only escalated and become more intense.TRUMP SHIFTS TONE ON PUTIN, CALLING OUT 'BULL----'"There's been some humanitarian exchanges made, obviouslyour goal here is to end this war," he said, adding that he believes Trump "deserves tremendous credit" for holding calls with Putin when his predecessor and other world leaders opted not to.Rubio said he wouldnt characterize the discussion or Lavrovs response to it, but said, "We need to see a roadmap moving forward about how this conflict can conclude. And then we shared some ideas about what that might look like.""Were going to continue to stay involved where we see opportunities to make a difference," he added.The meeting was the second time Rubio and Lavrov had encountered each other since the secretary took up the top job.

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson reflected on her role on the Supreme Court during an event in Louisiana over the weekend, saying she enjoyed making her opinion known through court cases."I just feel that I have a wonderful opportunity to tell people in my opinions how I feel about the issues, and that's what I try to do," Jackson said.Jackson, an appointee of former President Joe Biden, made the remarks during a sit-down with ABC News on stage during the Essence Festival of Culture in New Orleans as part of a tour for her book, "Lovely One."WHY JUSTICE JACKSON IS A FISH OUT OF WATER ON THE SUPREME COURTDespite being the most junior justice, Jackson has made her voice heard in the high court by going out of her way to write her own dissents in high-profile cases, even if she is not the principal dissenter, as she did in a recent major decision in which the Supreme Court found universal injunctions from judges were unlawful."I write separately to emphasize a key conceptual point: The Courts decision to permit the Executive to violate the Constitution with respect to anyone who has not yet sued is an existential threat to the rule of law," Jackson wrote in defense of universal injunctions.In a biting rebuke, Justice Amy Coney Barrett responded in her majority opinion that Jacksons remarks were "at odds" with more than 200 years of court precedent and the Constitution and that they were not worth dwelling on.Recently, Justice Sonia Sotomayor, a liberal justice who often sides with Jackson in prominent cases, went out of her way to disagree with Jackson in an emergency order that permitted President Donald Trump's sweeping federal job cuts.SOTOMAYOR BREAKS WITH JACKSON IN DECISION OVER TRUMP CUTS TO FEDERAL WORKFORCEJackson indicated during the interview that the justices have good relationships with one another. She noted that they have a ritual by which they shake each other's hands before walking out into the courtroom and that some also have lunch together weekly."The rule at lunch is that you don't talk about cases, so you learn about people's families and sports and books and movies and that kind of thing, and you get to know them outside of work," Jackson said.Jackson, a Harvard Law School graduate and former federal judge, has also attracted attention for how frequently she chimes in during oral arguments. Analyses by the Empirical SCOTUS blog found Jackson spoke more than any of her colleagues during arguments in the 2022 and 2023 court terms."Its funny to me how people focus on how much I talk at oral argument," Jackson said during the interview."I was always this person on the bench," Jackson said. "And so its been a bit of an adjustment, because, as a trial court judge, you have your own courtroom, so you can go on as long as you want. And, so, trying to make sure that my colleagues get to ask some questions has been a challenge for me, but Ive enjoyed it. I really have."

LiAngelo Ball and his pregnant wife are reportedly calling it quits after just over three months of marriage.Ball, according to TMZ, cited "irreconcilable differences" in divorce papers from influencer Rashida Nicole.The news of the filing, which came on July 3, comes just days after Nicole revealed she was pregnant. Documents, TMZ said, read that their date of marriage was March 24, and they separated on June 15.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM"Wish I had all the right words to describe this journey, but I guess if I had to define it, all I can truly say is: Im grateful, terrified, anxious, nauseous,HANGRY, all of [the] above," Rashida wrote in her post revealing her pregnancy."As a teen mom, I was always hesitant about going thru pregnancy and parenthood again. (Iykyk) I want to thank my daughter for being here for me during this process, always demonstrating unconditional LOVE & reassuring me that, "Everything is alright!" And for nowI choose to protect my peace and this beautiful energy."Ball commented on the post with heart and keylock emojis.RAMS' DAVANTE ADAMS SAYS LEBRON JAMES WOULD HAVE BEEN ONE OF THE BEST WIDE RECEIVERS IN NFL HISTORYBall has two children from another relationship with Nikki Mudarris, who claimed that the former basketball player turned rapper left them shortly after their second child was born."We spent 3 1/2 years together, and last week he decided to walk out on his kids and tell me he got someone else pregnant (allegedly) and now is creating a new life with her," Mudarris once said on Instagram.Ball played college basketball at UCLA but went undrafted, unlike his brothers Lonzo and LaMelo, who were drafted second in 2017 and third in 2020, respectively. He played for his LaMelo's Charlotte Hornets' G-League affiliate from 2021-2023 but never appeared in an NBA game.Earlier this year, Ball released his hit song, "Tweaker," which Lil Wayne eventually remixed.Follow Fox News Digitalssports coverage on X,and subscribe tothe Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.