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Sen. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and four of his Democrat colleagues arrived in Ukraine Friday morning to meet the country’s military leaders and President Volodomyr Zelenskyy, assuring U.S. support as billions of federal aid dollars remain in limbo.

Schumer’s visit to Ukraine — the country that will mark two years since Russia’s invasion on Saturday — comes amid mounting pressure on House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., to pass the Senate’s $95 billion foreign aid package that would deliver $60 billion in military assistance to help the Eastern European nation defeat Russian forces. 

“When we return from Ukraine: We will make clear to Speaker Johnson—and others in Congress who are obstructing military & economic support—exactly what is at stake here in Ukraine, for the rest of Europe, for the free world Congress must pass the Senate’s national security bill,” Schumer said in a statement.

ZELENSKYY APPEALS TO TRUMP, CONGRESS TO SEE ‘TRAGEDY’ OF RUSSIA INVASION IN EXCLUSIVE BRET BAIER INTERVIEW

Schumer said the trip has four objectives: to demonstrate unwavering support for the Ukrainian people, reaffirm America’s commitment to NATO and European allies, to gain a comprehensive understanding of Ukraine’s armament needs and the potential consequences of failing to meet them, and lastly “we believe we are at an inflection point in history and we must make it clear to our friends and allies around the globe that the US does not back away from our responsibilities and allies.”

The four senators joining Schumer in Lviv are all Democrats: Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Senate Armed Services Chairman Jack Reed of Rhode Island; Sen. Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, chairwoman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, and Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee.

In 2022, Sen. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., led a delegation of Republicans to the Eastern European nation. 

ZELENSKYY TO FACE ‘RECKONING’ WHEN WAR WITH RUSSIA ENDS, EXPERT SAYS

Republicans remain split on additional aid to Ukraine, and the package faces an uphill battle in the GOP-led House when they return from recess, as lawmakers are already paving the way for a backup plan. Zelenskyy has been urging the U.S. to continue its financial support to the war-torn nation for months. 

Last week, the House unveiled a 30-page alternative proposal as Republican lawmakers shot down any chance of the Senate’s $95 billion aid package making it to the floor. Johnson and other Republicans have insisted that the southern border should be secured before approving additional Ukraine aid.

Both Democrats and many Republicans still argue that it is in the best interest for the U.S. to help Kyiv remain independent of Russian President Vladimir Putin and that helping defeat the authoritarian leader is critical to avoiding a wider, more intense conflict.

TRUMP SAID HE COULD END UKRAINE WAR NEARLY A YEAR AGO BUT STILL HASN’T LAID OUT SPECIFICS

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However, Republicans who have been critical of Ukraine argue the military funds lack proper oversight. Lawmakers point to a January Department of Defense (DOD) report, one of the most recent in a series of government watchdog publications highlighting deficiencies in overseeing U.S. aid to Ukraine, that outlines the inadequacies of both the Biden administration and the Ukrainian armed forces in effectively monitoring U.S.-supplied weapons. 

The report from the inspector general specifically delves into enhanced end-use monitoring (EEUM), a classification reserved for weapons that “incorporate sensitive technology,” are “particularly susceptible to diversion or misuse,” or could have “serious consequences” if diverted or misused.

According to the report, a substantial 59%, or $1.005 billion out of the total $1.699 billion value of EEUM-designated weapons sent to Ukraine, were classified as “delinquent.” This means that they were not monitored in accordance with DOD standards.

Fox News’ Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report.

A judge on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, in an extraordinary dissent to a motion related to the Biden administration’s rule limiting asylum, scorched the administration for what he called “collusion” with an immigration activist group to put the rule on ice.

The case involves the Biden administration’s “Circumvention of Lawful Pathways” rule, which the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced last year as Title 42 ended. The rule limits asylum claims, barring those who have crossed illegally and failed to claim asylum in a country through which they have already traveled. 

The administration said it was a key part of its efforts to control the crisis at the border, but it was soon blocked by a lawsuit by a liberal activist group. The administration then appealed that decision. However, both sides filed an appeal to put it into abeyance pending discussions of a settlement. 

7.2M ENTERED THE US UNDER BIDEN ADMIN, AN AMOUNT GREATER THAN POPULATION OF 36 STATES

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal panel agreed, but Judge Lawrence VanDyke, a former President Trump appointee, dissented from the decision and tore into the administration’s decision to seek a settlement.

“For months, the rule was so important that ‘any interruption’ in its implementation, even for a short period of time, would incapacitate the executive’s border response. This panel made decisions based on those representations. Now, the government implies the rule isn’t so important after all. Indeed, the government is now ‘engaged in discussions’ that could result in the rule going away. What?”

He said that the move from the Biden administration makes no sense as a legal move and suspects that politics are at play.

“At the very least it looks like the administration and its frenemies on the other side of this case are colluding to avoid playing their politically fraught game during an election year,” he said.

He said that the administration looks like it is “snatching defeat from the jaws of victory — purposely avoiding an ultimate win that would eventually come later this year, whether from this court or from the Supreme Court.”

He also said that the government had given no indication of when the settlement abeyance would end, guessing that sometime after November might eventually be the plan.

He also suggested that the government may be trying to avoid an immigration loss in the courts amid ongoing concerns across the country about the border crisis.

“Placing these proceedings in abeyance avoids the possibility of a loss before the Ninth Circuit that could potentially exacerbate the issues at the border in the months leading up to the election — a loss made even more damaging given that it would be meted out by a panel comprised primarily of Democratic appointees, no less,” he said. 

BIDEN ADMIN WEIGHS EXECUTIVE ACTION ON BORDER CRISIS, DRAWING FIRE FROM LEFT AND RIGHT 

“The CNN headline practically writes itself: ‘Biden Immigration Enforcement Policy Struck Down by Two Clinton Appointees,’” he quipped.

He also floated the idea that the administration “may be seeking to create policy that resonates with its base while blaming the practical results of that policy on the courts.”

“Up until now, we have been repeatedly assured that the rule is critical to the security of the border. But now, astoundingly, the government seeks to abandon its defense of the rule — or at least put that defense on ice until a more politically convenient time,” he said. “Whatever the parties’ real motivations are for seeking to stay this case, they haven’t provided us with a legally sufficient basis for their sudden change of course.”

The criticisms by Judge VanDyke could resurface in the coming weeks. The Biden administration is believed to be considering additional executive action, including an aggressive use of section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act to stop illegal immigrants coming across the border.

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However, former President Trump attempted to use such a measure in 2018 and was blocked by the courts, a fate that could befall President Biden if he attempts a similar move in 2024. 

Fox News Digital has reached out to DHS, the Justice Department and East Bay, the immigration group, for comment.

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem thinks she knows what former President Donald Trump requires in a running mate.

During an interview with Fox News host Lawrence Jones, Noem offered her perspective on the accomplishments, qualifications, and attitudes a vice president for Trump would need to bring to the office.

“I’m all-in to do what I can to help the team. He needs somebody that actually is not part of the swamp, I think. He needs a business owner,” Noem said. “He needs somebody who’s been a commander-in-chief, somebody who makes decisions when things get tough.” 

TRUMP REVEALS VP  SHORTLIST INCLUDES DESANTIS, SCOTT, RAMASWAMY, NOEM, DONALDS, GABBARD

She added, “Those are his qualifications, and he needs to know he can have somebody around him that trusts him and he trusts and will fight.”

Noem was among at least half a dozen contenders — including three former rivals for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination — revealed to be on Trump’s shortlist for a running mate during a special episode of Fox News’ “The Ingraham Angle.”

“He’s got a lot of jobs to do when you’re President of the United States. He needs to have people on his team that fight for him every single day,” Noem told Jones.

KRISTI NOEM SHARES VISION FOR AMERICA IN NEW BOOK AMID SPECULATION ABOUT RUNNING AS TRUMP’S VP

“So, when he picks whoever it is a vice president, I’ll support whoever he picks, and I’m going to make sure that I’m someone who still continues to defend and fight for his policies,” the governor said.

During the interview with Fox News host Laura Ingraham, Trump was asked about half a dozen potential running mate choices: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, multimillionaire biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida, and former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, a Democrat turned independent.

“Are they all on your shortlist?” host Laura Ingraham asked the former president.

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“They are,” Trump answered. “Honestly, all of those people are good. They’re all good, they’re all solid.”

Trump has a history of making comments off the cuff, and many in the political world claim some of the individuals listed are a stretch as viable options for vice president.

Fox News Digital’s Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.

Lawyers for Donald Trump have filed multiple motions seeking a Florida judge to toss out the case against the former president charging him with illegally retaining classified documents at Mar-a-Lago, citing “presidential immunity” and the “unlawful” appointment of special counsel Jack Smith. 

Attorneys Christopher Kise and Todd Blanche wrote that the charges “turn on his alleged decision to designate records as personal under the Presidential Records Act (PRA) and to cause the records to be moved from the White House to Mar-a-Lago.”  

Since Trump made this decision while he was still in office, they wrote, it “was an official act, and as such is subject to presidential immunity.” 

Trump faces dozens of felony counts in federal court in Florida accusing him of illegally hoarding classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach and obstructing government efforts to retrieve them. The trial is currently set to begin on May 20. 

TRUMP DEMANDS JUSTICE DEPARTMENT ‘IMMEDIATELY’ DROP CHARGES AGAINST HIM IN CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS CASE AFTER BIDEN DECISION 

Trump’s lawyers also argued that Attorney General Merrick Garland’s appointment of special counsel Jack Smith to investigate the former president was “unlawful” and grounds for dismissal of the documents case, according to The Associated Press. 

In a June 2023 indictment charging Trump, prosecutors allege investigators discovered boxes of sensitive documents stored in spaces in Mar-a-Lago including a bathroom and shower, Trump’s bedroom and a storage room. 

Trump has pleaded not guilty to the charges. 

TRUMP SAID HE COULD END UKRAINE WAR NEARLY A YEAR AGO BUT STILL HASN’T LAID OUT SPECIFICS 

Trump told Fox News Digital earlier this month that “deranged” Special Counsel Smith needs to “immediately” drop all charges against him in the case following the decision not to bring charges against President Biden for his retention of sensitive national security documents. 

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“They should immediately drop the case against me,” Trump said at the time. “I am covered by the Presidential Records Act — he wasn’t. He had many, many times more documents — totally unguarded. Mine were always surrounded by Secret Service and in locked rooms.”  

Fox News’ Brooke Singman and The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

Former President Trump said nearly a year ago while on the campaign trail he would settle the ongoing war in Ukraine in a matter of 24 hours, but he has not yet detailed a plan to do so. 

“If I’m president, I will have that war settled in one day, 24 hours,” Trump said in May on CNN. 

Trump has doubled down on the comment since, including in July to Fox News. Fox News Digital reached out to the Trump campaign repeatedly this week for comment and details on what such a plan would look like but did not receive a response. 

In July, Fox News’ Maria Bartiromo pressed Trump for details on how he would end the war in 24 hours if re-elected. The president said he would lean on his personal relationships with both Zelenskyy and Putin but did not divulge specifics beyond speaking with the two leaders. 

TRUMP ON RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR: I WOULD GET A SETTLEMENT WITHIN 24 HOURS

“I know Zelenskyy very well, and I know Putin very well, even better. And I had a good relationship, very good with both of them. I would tell Zelenskyy, ‘No more. You got to make a deal.’ I would tell Putin, ‘If you don’t make a deal, we’re going to give him a lot. We’re going to [give Ukraine] more than they ever got if we have to.’ I will have the deal done in one day. One day,” Trump responded.

Questions about the former president’s plans on foreign policy have mounted in recent weeks as Trump dominates recent GOP primaries and caucuses. An opinion piece in The Wall Street Journal Wednesday argued, “Trump Owes Americans Some Answers on Foreign Policy.”

“For starters, what did Mr. Trump mean when he said he could end the war between Russia and Ukraine in 24 hours? Does he in fact mean Mr. Putin should be allowed to annex eastern Ukraine? Would he withdraw the U.S. from the roughly 50-nation Ukraine Defense Contact Group?” WSJ columnist Daniel Henninger wrote in the piece. 

ZELENSKYY APPEALS TO TRUMP, CONGRESS TO SEE ‘TRAGEDY’ OF RUSSIA INVASION IN EXCLUSIVE BRET BAIER INTERVIEW

Zelenskyy was asked about Trump’s comments in an exclusive interview with FOX News chief political anchor and executive editor of “Special Report” Bret Baier on Thursday. 

“He can’t solve this problem, this tragedy with me,” Zelenskyy said. He offered to host the former President on the frontlines where he “will explain everything, and he will explain what his thoughts, maybe he has some ideas. I don’t know.” 

When asked if the former president could end the war in Ukraine in a matter of 24 hours or timely fashion if re-elected, Heather Nauert, a former State Department spokesperson in the Trump administration, pointed to Trump’s influence on the world stage.

“President Trump wields great influence,” Nauert said. “He could tell Putin to pound sand and immediately withdraw his forces. This would send a direct message to all of our adversaries — including Russia, China and North Korea. As someone who respects America’s territorial integrity, President Trump should understand Ukraine’s desire and need to protect its own borders.”

Nauert argued there are a handful of options that would help end the war in Ukraine, including leveling greater sanctions on Russia and providing “Ukraine with weapons and training that it has been asking for,” as opposed to President Biden’s “piecemeal approach” that she said has “provided equipment too little, too late, and innocent people are dying as a result.”

ZELENSKYY TURNS TO EUROPE FOR AID AS TRUMP BASHES US FUNDING PACKAGE 

“It’s in the interest of our national security to help Ukraine stop Putin from seizing their country and spreading war throughout Europe. America and its allies can use economic, military and financial tools to rein in Russia,” Nauert said. “Russia is trying to destroy Ukraine’s military, its will and its economy. Russia will not stop at Ukraine’s borders.

The former State Department spokesperson singled out leveraging energy as a top option, arguing American energy independence could “wean Europe” off its oil dependence on Russia. 

“If America becomes energy independent once again, we could help provide our European allies with reliable American oil and gas. Russia, historically, has used energy as a weapon of war throughout Europe by turning off the spigot when they want to cause pain. By supplying our allies and friends with American energy, including liquefied natural gas (LNG), we could help wean Europe from Russia. Additional interventions (including increasing nuclear energy) would also help,” she said. 

Fox News Digital also spoke to another former Trump administration official who, when asked if Trump solving the Ukraine war in 24 hours is realistic, said “anything’s possible” and also pointed to energy as a potential top tool to end the war. 

TRUMP TAKES FAMILIAR DIG AT JUSTICE SYSTEM AFTER BIDEN DOCUMENTS REPORT: ‘SICK’

“President Trump, with his history in deal-making, we’d envision a situation where he would be able to convene some discussion or negotiation in which he would have leverage over both parties,” the former Trump administration official told Fox News Digital on background. 

“There could be much greater economic leverage against the Russians if you had a president who wasn’t committed to keeping Russian energy on the market because they feared price spikes here at home, and we’re not willing to do what would be necessary to replace that product with American products,” the former official said. 

To leverage energy over Russia, the U.S. would need to work in conjunction with European nations that were confident the U.S. could meet their energy needs. A conservative president who is not tethered to liberal climate policies at home opens the door to that option, the former Trump official said. 

FOX NEWS POLL: VOTERS DIVIDED OVER WHAT US SHOULD DO IN FOREIGN CONFLICTS

Peter Doran, an adjunct senior fellow for nonpartisan think tank the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, argued in comments to Fox Digital that there is a “major gap between” the Biden administration’s rhetoric on Russia and its actual policies, which has ultimately led to Russia’s economy growing despite claims of “severe sanctions” put in place by the 46th president. 

“Right now, there is a major gap between the Biden administration’s rhetoric on sanctions — what it’s saying it is doing to Russia and what its actual policies are. Russia’s economy grew by 2.2% last year, and it’s expected to grow by 2.6% this year under the quote, unquote swift and severe sanctions of the Biden administration,” he said. “The reason is because we’re allowing the Russians to sell too much oil and make too much money to fund their war.

“The best option for Trump would be to use the Iran sanctions model, apply it to Russia and deny Russia the money it needs to sustain this war. And that’s ultimately how the war could end.” 

ZELENSKYY EXTENDS TRUMP AN OFFER TO VISIT UKRAINE’S FRONT LINES: ‘IF MR. TRUMP WILL COME I AM READY’

The former president did speak with Fox News’ Laura Ingraham this week and doubled down on previous comments that the war in Ukraine “would have never happened” if he were in the White House. But he did not detail how he would go about ending the war if re-elected. He did focus on how European nations need to “pay up,” arguing the U.S. has spent $150 billion more to bolster Ukraine than what has been offered by Europe. 

“We’ve got to get them to pay up because there’s a $150 billion difference. I feel very bad. Remember this: You’re really up against a war machine in Russia,” he told Ingraham. ” Russia, what’d they do? They defeated Hitler. They defeated Napoleon. They’re a war machine.” 

The Biden administration and Congress have directed at least $75 billion to Ukraine, and another $60 billion package is working its way through Congress. 

TRUMP, GOP SKEPTICS OF UKRAINE AID BALK AT POTENTIAL MCCONNELL-SCHUMER BORDER DEAL

The war in Ukraine will have raged for two years by Saturday, and a recent Fox News survey found voters are largely divided on the nation’s role in the war. Thirty-one percent of registered voters believe the U.S. should be doing more to help in the war with Russia and 30% say the U.S. should be doing less. Thirty-five percent believe the current level of support is adequate, according to the Fox poll published in December. 

Doran argued that foreign policy issues typically take a backseat for voters during elections but noted the 2024 election is unique with the world “in a state of dangerous chaos.”

TRUMP DESCRIBES HOW HE COULD SOLVE RUSSIA-UKRAINE CONFLICT IN 24 HOURS  

“As with all elections, it’s the domestic economy and domestic politics which get voters out into the polls. Foreign policy is always in the back of their mind, not in the front. What’s unique about this election cycle is that the world is in a state of dangerous chaos, and voters remember that it was not like this when Trump was in office. And that’s going to be a powerful motivator in Trump’s favor in 2024,” he said. 

Earlier this month, Zelenskyy re-upped his invitation to Trump to visit Ukraine after previously inviting him in November, when he noted Trump’s comment that he could end the war “in 24 hours.” 

“Former President Trump said that about 24 hours, that he can manage it and finish the war,” Zelenskyy said during an interview last year. “For me, what can I say? So he’s very welcome as well.”

Trump has so far not taken Zelenskyy up on the offers. 

Nauert added that before Americans head to the polls later this year, candidates should release “their strategy for addressing the interconnected threats posed by Russia, China, Iran and North Korea.”

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“The entire world will be watching the outcome of our presidential election. When America is in chaos, adversaries take advantage of the vacuum, and that’s never good for America’s national security,” she said. 

CHARLESTON, S.C. – Lara Trump is working double-time cementing her front-runner status to be the next co-chair of the Republican National Committee (RNC), including laying out her priorities to turbocharge the organization struggling to keep up with its Democrat counterpart’s massive fundraising numbers.

Trump described those priorities during a campaign stop in North Charleston, South Carolina on Wednesday while firing up voters for her father-in-law — former President Donald Trump — ahead of Saturday’s Republican primary election.

“We have to legally ballot harvest everywhere we possibly can,” she told the riled up crowd of roughly 150 supporters gathered in the Trump campaign headquarters, stressing the need to follow the law, unlike Democrats, who she accused of trying to steal elections through various means.

LARA TRUMP UNLEASHES ON NIKKI HALEY AMID RNC FEUD, REFUSAL TO DROP OUT OF GOP PRIMARY RACE

Trump added that in addition to ballot harvesting, “on day one” as RNC co-chair she would launch initiatives to register more Republican voters, as well as recruit and train poll watchers to help crack down on any potential illegal activity.

“I’m here to do whatever I can to make sure we get this country back on track,” she said.

In an interview with Fox News Digital ahead of her speech, Trump also addressed the fundraising challenges facing the RNC as it began the election year dwarfed by the Democratic National Committee (DNC) — combined with the rest of President Biden’s joint fundraising entities — in terms of cash-on-hand.

BIDEN CAMPAIGN TROLLS TRUMP’S ‘WEAKEST OPERATION IN RECENT HISTORY’ AMID LAGGING CAMPAIGN CASH

“That’s exactly why we have no time to waste. I was honored by the endorsement of my father-in-law for co-chair of the RNC. They do still have to vote, ultimately. We’ll see what happens with that. But I think that is goal number one on day number one is we need to start fundraising on the Republican side of the aisle because the Democrats have a war chest,” she said. 

“We all know that Joe Biden, despite him being a horrific candidate and having just really awful polling that you see right now across the board for him, he does have a lot behind him,” she added. “He’s got a lot of money behind him. He’s got the mainstream media behind him. He’s got the Democrat political machine behind him. And so we have a lot of ground to cover between now and November 5th.”

Trump repeated an argument she made last week that “every single penny” the RNC receives should go toward ensuring former President Trump is elected in November, as well as expanding the Republican majority in the House of Representatives and flipping the Senate from Democrat control.

WATCH: TRUMP CONDEMNS ALEXEI NAVALNY’S DEATH AS ‘HORRIBLE THING’ AFTER FACING SHARP BACKLASH FROM HALEY

She also addressed the controversy surrounding conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who founded Turning Point USA, a non-profit that advocates conservative policies on college campuses, and reporting that he played a part in current RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel’s plan to step down from the role she’s held for over seven years.

A NBC report published over the weekend detailed Kirk’s role in McDaniel’s pending ouster, as well as the criticism he’s received from Republicans since concerning past controversial comments on his podcast, as well as for steering money away from the RNC.

However, none of that deterred Trump from praising Kirk, who she hopes will play a larger role in Republican politics in the future.

“I think he’s actually been amazing in the way that he’s engaged young voters. We need to be doing that as a party,” she said. “The reality is the Democrats really have a leg up on us. They have Hollywood. They have the music industry. They have all the social media out there possible in their field and in their corner. And it is a struggle for us to engage with a younger audience.” 

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“I think something that Charlie Kirk has been masterful at doing is just that — reaching out to the youth of this country, reaching out to kids on college campuses. I think he already has played a huge role in the future of this party, and I hope he plays a role from now until we get back on top and we win the White House and there and beyond,” she added.

No date has been set for when McDaniel will step down from her role as chairwoman, but RNC committee members are reportedly expected to elect her successor early next month.

Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.

Donald Trump continues to dominate in the Republican primary.

The former president notched support from an average of 75% of national GOP voters in polls released by NBC News, CNN and Quinnipiac University over the last four weeks.

His opponent, Nikki Haley, received support from an average of 20% of Republican voters in the same polls.

Still, this race isn’t over until a candidate wins 1,215 or more delegates.

Haley reminded voters this week that she is “not going anywhere,” pledging to stay in until at least Super Tuesday. It could be longer.

The former South Carolina governor faces an extremely steep climb to make this race competitive. She would need a much-stronger-than-expected showing in her home state this weekend and then use the momentum to win several more states between now and late March.

That’s because late March is likely the earliest time when Trump could clinch the majority of delegates and, therefore, become the presumptive nominee.

The state of play

Trump currently has 63 delegates, Haley has 17.

That’s after the former president’s wins in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and the Virgin Islands – the four primaries or caucuses that have taken place so far.

While Haley has not won a contest, the former governor put up a fight in New Hampshire and won nearly as many delegates in Iowa.

Both those states allocate delegates proportionally, meaning that the number of delegates a candidate receives aligns with their relative vote share.

HOW PRESIDENTIAL BATTLEGROUND STATES HAVE CHANGED OVER THE YEARS

The road to Super Tuesday

There are several contests before Super Tuesday with a total of 185 delegates on the line:

• South Carolina, Feb. 24: There are 50 delegates at stake this Saturday night. The statewide winner will take all of the 29 at-large delegates available. The winner in each congressional district receives another three delegates per district won (up to 21 delegates). Haley has campaigned heavily in her home state, making this the next major contest to watch. Special coverage begins at 7 p.m. ET on Fox News Channel.
• Michigan, Feb. 27 and March 2: 16 delegates are on the line in Michigan’s primary, part one of a two-part nominating contest there. They will be awarded to the candidates proportionally (if they get 12.5%+ of the vote). On March 2, another 39 delegates will be awarded at district conventions.
• Idaho, March 2: 32 delegates are at stake, and the candidate with a majority of the statewide vote will take all of them.
• Missouri, March 2: Missouri is holding precinct caucuses on March 2, but delegates won’t be awarded until later in the process.
• D.C., March 1-3: There are 19 delegates on the line in the nation’s capital; the candidate who wins the majority will take them all.
• North Dakota, March 4: The day before Super Tuesday, 29 more delegates will be awarded. If a candidate gets 60% of the vote, they win all of those delegates; otherwise, delegates will be awarded proportionally to candidates with at least 20% of the vote.

Super Tuesday

Super Tuesday gets its name from the large number of states – and, therefore, the large number of delegates – on offer in one night. The total is 874.

TRUMP CAMPAIGN PREDICTS ‘A**-KICKING’ FOR HALEY IN HER HOME STATE, BUT SHE SAYS ‘I REFUSE TO QUIT’

Here are those states and a summary of the key rules (in many cases, this is not an exhaustive list of all the rules for each state). The total possible delegates for each category of delegates are listed in brackets.

• Alabama: 50 delegates. Statewide (29): majority-take-all, otherwise proportional for candidates with 20%+ of the vote. Congressional districts (21): majority-take-all or winner-take-most.
• Alaska: 29 delegates, proportional (13%+).
• American Samoa: 9 delegates nominated by a delegate resolution.
• Arkansas: 40 delegates. Statewide (28): majority-take-most or proportional (15%+). Congressional districts (12): majority-take-all or winner-take-most.
• California: 169 delegates, majority-take-all or proportional.
• Colorado: 37 delegates, proportional (20%+).
• Maine: 20 delegates, majority-take-all or proportional (20%+).
• Massachusetts: 40 delegates, majority-take-all or proportional.
• Minnesota: 39 delegates. Statewide (15): 80%-take-all or proportional (20%+). Congressional districts (24): proportional (20%+). A candidate who receives 80%+ statewide wins all congressional district delegates as well.
• North Carolina: 74 delegates. Statewide (32): proportional (20%+). Congressional districts (42): ⅔-take-all or winner-take-most.
• Oklahoma: 43 delegates. Statewide (28): majority-take-all or proportional (15%+). Congressional districts (15): majority-take-all or proportional (15%+).
• Tennessee: 58 delegates. Statewide (31): ⅔-take-all or proportional (20%+). Congressional districts (27): ⅔-take-all or winner-take-most.
• Texas: 161 delegates. Statewide (48): proportional (20%+). Congressional districts (114): majority-take-all or proportional (20%+).
• Utah: 40 delegates. Majority-take-all or proportional (15%+).
• Vermont: 17 delegates. Majority-take-all or proportional (20%+).
• Virginia: 48 delegates. Statewide (12): majority-take-all or proportional (15%+). Congressional districts (33): majority-take-all or proportional (15%+).

Most of the Super Tuesday states have majority-take-all rules. In a race with two major candidates left, this means the candidate who wins is very likely to take all of those delegates.

If Trump won every single delegate on offer between today and Super Tuesday, which is highly unlikely if Haley remains in the race, he would take a total of 1,122 delegates. That is still about a hundred delegates short of the 1,215 needed to win.

Later in March

There are two more “mini Super Tuesday” events as March rolls on, along with other contests. In summary:

• Wyoming, ending March 10: 12 delegates through county conventions.

Then it’s on to Super Tuesday II on March 12 with 161 delegates total:

• Georgia: 59 delegates. Statewide (17): proportional (20%+). Congressional districts (42): majority-take-all or winner-take-most.
• Hawaii: 19 delegates. Statewide (13): proportional. Congressional districts (6): proportional.
• Mississippi: 40 delegates. Statewide (28): majority-take-all or proportional (20%). Congressional districts (12): winner-take-most. A candidate who receives a majority statewide wins all congressional district delegates as well.
• Washington: 43 delegates. Statewide (13): majority-take-all or proportional (20%+). Congressional districts (30): majority-take-all or proportional (20%+).

These states have a mix of delegate rules that make it difficult for one candidate in a competitive race to win them all. 

FACING LONG ODDS AGAINST TRUMP, HALEY REMAINS DEFIANT

If Trump were to sweep the March 12 contests, he would become the presumptive nominee with a total of 1,295 delegates by the end of March 12.

March 12 is the earliest possible date of a Trump victory

A win on March 12 is very unlikely, though, given that Haley has made investments in several upcoming states.

It’s more likely to take until at least March 19, when several more states with large delegate hauls have their primaries.

The total number of delegates awarded ticks up again starting March 15:

• Northern Marianas, March 15: 9 delegates, winner-take-all.
• Guam, March 16: 9 unbound delegates (so we’ll exclude these for now).

Then comes Super Tuesday III, on March 19, with 350 total delegates in one night:

• Arizona: 43 delegates, winner-take-all.
• Florida: 125 delegates, winner-take-all.
• Illinois: 64 delegates. Statewide (13): winner-take-all. Congressional districts (51): delegate election.
• Kansas: 39 delegates, winner-take-all.
• Ohio: 79 delegates, winner-take-all.

If Trump remains the leader of this race, then it is possible that he could win all 350 delegates on this night. That would hypothetically give him as many as 1,654 delegates by this point of the race.

March 19 is a possible Trump victory date

There is only one more contest in late March:

• Louisiana, March 23: 47 delegates, winner-take-all.

If Haley is much more competitive by this point in the race, then Trump would have to wait until at least April 2 to reach 1,215 delegates.

WHO’S ON TRUMP’S RUNNING MATE SHORT LIST

And of course, in that scenario, Haley would have amassed a significant number of delegates of her own, making it possible for her to become the presumptive nominee late in the primary season.

If the race continues into April, it will become competitive

There are still many delegates on the table in April. In summary:

• April 2: Connecticut, Delaware, New York, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin. 195 delegates total.
• April 6: Missouri (district conventions). 40 delegates.
• Ending April 20: Wyoming (state convention). 17 delegates.
• April 21: Puerto Rico. 23 delegates.
• April 23: Pennsylvania. 67 delegates, but only 16 are bound delegates.

These are all possible dates for Trump or Haley to prevail. The remaining states are split between May and June:

• May 4: Missouri (state convention). 11 bound delegates, 3 unbound delegates.
• May 7: Indiana. 58 delegates.
• May 14: Maryland, Nebraska, and West Virginia. 105 delegates.
• May 21: Kentucky and Oregon. 77 delegates.
• June 4: Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, and South Dakota. 63 bound delegates, 31 unbound delegates.

No matter what, we will have a presumptive winner before June 5.

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Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., is scorching President Biden for considering executive action to address the migrant crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border.

The outspoken lawmaker compared Biden to former President Trump, whose stricter immigration policies were universally panned by progressives. 

“Doing Trump impressions isn’t how we beat Trump,” she wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “Seeking asylum is a legal right of all people. In the face of authoritarian threat, we should not buckle on our principles – we should commit to them.

“The mere suggestion is outrageous and the President should refuse to sign it.”

7.2M ILLEGALS ENTERED THE US UNDER BIDEN ADMIN, AN AMOUNT GREATER THAN POPULATION OF 36 STATES

GOP SENATORS RALLY AGAINST BIPARTISAN BORDER DEAL, CITING BIDEN’S POWER TO SUSPEND ‘EMERGENCY’ BILL

A White House spokesperson did not directly address Ocasio-Cortez’s comments when asked by Fox News Digital. Instead, the spokesperson reiterated calls for House Republicans to act on the Senate’s bipartisan border security and foreign aid bill, which did not even pass the Senate after a flood of GOP opposition.

“The administration spent months negotiating in good faith to deliver the toughest and fairest bipartisan border security bill in decades because we need Congress to make significant policy reforms and to provide additional funding to secure our border and fix our broken immigration system,” the spokesperson said. 

“Congressional Republicans chose to put partisan politics ahead of our national security, rejected what border agents have said they need, and then gave themselves a two-week vacation. No executive action, no matter how aggressive, can deliver the significant policy reforms and additional resources Congress can provide and that Republicans rejected.”

‘SHAMEFUL’: AOC BLASTS BIDEN ADMIN FOR BLOCKING UN GAZA CEASE-FIRE RESOLUTION 

Democrats have demonstrated they are increasingly annoyed at Biden’s new willingness to crack down and take the pressure off the nation’s overwhelmed asylum system. 

When Biden said he would close the border earlier this month if Congress granted him the ability through legislation, Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Nanette Barragán, D-Calif., said she was “disappointed” in the president, adding, “Efforts to shut down the border do not work. It did not work under Trump with the use of Title 42, and it will not fix the problem now.”

An administration official told Fox News Digital on Thursday that no final decision has been made regarding what, and if, executive action could be taken. The official added Biden is exploring multiple policy options.

It comes after Fox News was told Wednesday evening that Biden is considering executive action to restrict the ability of migrants who cross the U.S. border illegally to claim asylum.

The president’s critics on the right have long accused him of making the crisis worse by rolling back Trump administration policies like “Remain In Mexico.”

But the border is rapidly emerging as a top issue for 2024 voters. 

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U.S. Rep.-elect Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y., won a recent special election in New York’s 3rd Congressional District, handing Democrats a critical victory after running on a pledge to take on the border crisis.

A recent Fox News poll found nearly eight in 10 voters think the border is a significant issue, while 34% said it was an emergency and 45% said it was a major problem.

Fox News’ Edward Lawrence contributed to this report.         

Welcome to Fox News’ Politics newsletter with the latest political news from Washington D.C. and updates from the 2024 campaign trail. 

What’s Happening? 

– GOP senator makes a startling comparison between AT&T outage and cyberthreats

– Biden lashes out at Russian President Putin during California fundraiser

– Nikki Haley remains defiant against Trump as South Carolina primary approaches

‘It’s Going to be Worse’

GOP Sen. Marco Rubio warned on social media that the AT&T outage affecting tens of thousands of Americans pales in comparison to what a potential China cyberattack would look like.

“I don’t know the cause of the AT&T outage,” the Florida Republican posted on X on Thursday. “But I do know it will be 100 times worse when #China launches a cyber attack on America on the eve of a #Taiwan invasion.

“And it won’t be just cell service they hit, it will be your power, your water and your bank.”

Rubio’s warning came as tens of thousands of AT&T customers reported outages on Thursday morning for their home phone, internet and mobile phone services, according to Downdetector.

Earlier this month, FBI director Christopher Wray warned that China’s cyberattacks against the U.S. and its allies are reaching a “fever pitch.”

White House

OUTPACING MEXICO: Chinese encounters in key border sector exceeding neighbor …Read more

‘NAGGING AND COMPLAINING’: Some reporters privately annoyed by White House influence efforts …Read more

LIFE IMITATING ART? Second gentleman Doug Emhoff says he and VP are ‘living’ HBO’s ‘Veep’ in real life …Read more

COPYCAT: AOC mocks Biden for doing ‘Trump impressions’ on the border crisis …Read more

‘CRAZY SOB’: Biden lashes out at Putin during California fundraiser …Read more

AI IN THE DOJ: Justice Department announces former Kamala Harris adviser as first artificial intelligence officer …Read more

Capitol Hill

PARTY CRASHERS: John Fetterman slams fellow Democrats who are critical of Biden: Wear a ‘MAGA hat’ …Read more

HEATED DEBATE: Rep Ro Khanna, Bishop Barron clash on abortion, finds common ground on religious liberty and immigration …Read more

CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN: House GOP leaders back away from key government spending promise …Read more

SPEAKING OUT: Speaker Johnson slams ‘desperate’ Biden after calling GOP ‘worse’ than segregationists at fundraiser …Read more

‘SHEER POWER GRAB’: Sen Bill Hagerty explains why Dems tolerating border ‘carnage’ …Read more

TOUCH DOWN IN TAIWAN: Bipartisan group of House members make unannounced trip …Read more

KICKING THE CAN: Congress likely to punt government shutdown deadlines again: sources …Read more

Tales from the Campaign Trail

HALEY REMAINS DEFIANT: Haley remains defiant against Trump but changes goalposts …Read more

‘EMBARRASSING’: Lara Trump unleashes on Nikki Haley amid RNC feud, refusal to drop out of GOP race …Read more

Across America

PLANNED PARENTHOOD PETITIONS: Planned Parenthood petitions Wisconsin Supreme Court to make 1849 abortion law unconstitutional …Read more

NORTH CAROLINA SCHOOLS: A 30-year-old North Carolina education funding argument is back in the state Supreme Court …Read more

BIG ACCUSATIONS: Atlanta reparations task force calls Fulton County ‘complicit’ in stealing land from Black residents …Read more

‘I FEEL SLIGHTED’: Civil rights leader slams Biden’s menthol cigarette ban, says his group excluded from talks …Read more

TENNESSEE MARRIAGE BILL: Gov signs law allowing public officials to decline to perform weddings they disagree with …Read more

CAPITAL CRIME: Teen charged in break-in of Secret Service SUV outside Biden’s granddaughter’s home …Read more

PIVOTAL RULING AHEAD: Judge in Trump Georgia case in ‘unenviable’ position …Read more

Subscribe now to get Fox News Politics newsletter in your inbox.

Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. – Sen. Tim Scott, talked up former President Trump as he spoke with reporters after early voting on Thursday in South Carolina’s Republican presidential primary.

Scott, the positive conservative champion who ended his own White House run in November and endorsed Trump last month, said Americans want “someone who was more forceful, more provocative and a little bit more rambunctious” as he pointed towards Trump.

Trump, the commanding front-runner for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, indicated at a Fox News town hall in South Carolina this week that at least a half a dozen contenders — including three former rivals for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination — are on his short list for running mate.

During the program, which ran on Fox News’ “The Ingraham Angle,” Trump was asked about Scott, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, multimillionaire biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida and former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, a Democrat turned independent.

WHO’S ON TRUMP’S RUNNING MATE SHORT LIST

“Are they all on your short list?” host Laura Ingraham asked the former president.

“They are,” Trump answered. “Honestly, all of those people are good. They’re all good, they’re all solid.”

Scott received a warm welcome from the large crowd of mostly Trump supporters when he arrived at the Greenville, South Carolina, convention center where the town hall was held.

FACING LONG ODDS AGAINST TRUMP, HALEY REMAINS DEFIANT

“A lot of people are talking about that gentleman right over there,” Trump said as he pointed to Scott, who was sitting in the front row of the audience.

Asked about Trump’s praise, Scott said on Thursday that the former president “certainly was very generous and kind with his words. But more important than who his running mate is is making sure that he’s our next president.”

Scott, the only Black Republican in the Senate, enthusiastically joined Trump in New Hampshire last month and endorsed the former president. He has also teamed up with Trump on the campaign trail in Scott’s home state of South Carolina a couple of times over the past two weeks, and he will join the former president again on Friday.

TRUMP CAMPAIGN PREDICTS ‘A**-KICKING’ FOR HALEY IN HER HOME STATE, BUT SHE SAYS ‘I REFUSE TO QUIT’

The senator told Fox Digital he’ll continue to hit the campaign trail with Trump after the nomination race moves past the Palmetto State this weekend.

“I look forward to continuing to campaign with the president everywhere we go. If there’s an election, I look forward to being there, whether in person or through the phone or through the TV screens,” Scott said.

And a source in Scott’s political orbit told Fox News to “expect the senator to be a vocal voice in the media and on the campaign trail. Voters should expect to see him traveling to events in other states once South Carolina wraps up this weekend.”

Speaking with reporters after voting, Scott took aim at former U.N. Ambassador and former two-term South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who is the last remaining major rival to Trump in the nomination race. Haley has vowed to continue campaigning at least until Super Tuesday, when 15 states hold Republican nominating contests on March 5.

Pointing to the latest polls that show Trump maintaining a large double-digit lead in the Palmetto State, Scott said Haley should step aside after Saturday’s primary “for the good of the country.”

“I think a win would be sufficient, but I expect a 20-plus point win in the home state where she was the governor and a state representative. If that doesn’t send a clear message, I don’t know what does,” the senator said.

TRUMP CHALLENGES BOTH BIDEN AND HALEY AT FOX NEWS TOWN HALL IN SOUTH CAROLINA

Scott isn’t the only former Trump rival stumping for the former president in South Carolina.

Ramaswamy has made a handful of stops in South Carolina, including Aiken on Wednesday. Ramaswamy, who tangled with Haley multiple times before dropping out of the race last month, told reporters that “she should step down before the South Carolina primary.”

Asked about potentially serving as Trump’s running mate, Ramaswamy also demurred.

“Donald Trump has got to win this election. That’s my sole focus and making sure he wins by a decisive victory,” he said. “And I’m going to do whatever I can to make sure that his presidency is as successful as it possibly can be.”

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While the potential running mate contenders are playing coy, seasoned Republican strategist David Kochel told Fox News the appearances on the campaign trail “of course, are screen tests. I think CPAC is going to play that role as well this weekend – obviously big with the MAGA folks.”

“Trump likes to talk about people that he hires coming out of central casting, so to use the word audition is apropos,” added Kochel, a veteran of numerous GOP presidential campaigns.

Alex Castellanos, another longtime Republican consultant who worked on multiple White House campaigns, agreed that “of course these guys are auditioning.”

“In a way they have to. They already failed the taste test for occupying a position in the White House,” Castellanos said as he pointed to Scott and Ramaswamy’s failed presidential campaigns.

Fox News’ Brandon Gillespie and Kirill Clark contributed to this report.

Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.

There is a major difference between what we want – and what we need.

This is a staple of the human condition.

But especially politics. 

Lawmakers and politicians often make various demands of the president, Congressional leaders, the public and even the press corps. 

REPUBLICANS BLOCK THEIR OWN BILLS FROM THE FLOOR

But in politics – much like life – there is a big difference between what political figures want and what they need. 

Take for instance the recent process to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. 

House conservatives frankly needed to impeach Mayorkas for political purposes. This may be especially important now for the GOP since their efforts to impeach President Biden were long sliding sideways. The arrest of FBI informant Alexander Smirnov further undercut the Republicans’ inquiry into the President, Hunter Biden and his family.  

House Republicans promised their base a political scalp during the 2022 midterm elections. Even last summer, Republicans couldn’t agree on who they wanted to impeach – be it the president, Mayorkas, FBI Director Christopher Wray, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Washington, DC U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves, Attorney General Merrick Garland or Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra.

“All of ‘em,” replied Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., when I asked last summer who House Republicans endeavored to impeach.

The encompassing group have been who some Republicans wanted to impeach. But, politically, the GOP needed to impeach someone because of campaign promises. 

So, Mayorkas emerged as the “winner” of the GOP’s impeachment sweepstakes. Mayorkas is the surrogate Republicans are targeting for what they perceive as the myriad of administration’s ills, starting with the border crisis. A Senate trial for Mayorkas hits next week.

And we’re back to wants and needs.

REP MIKE TURNER FACES ‘BLOWBACK’ FOR SOUNDING THE ALARM OVER RUSSIA THREAT

Most Senate Republicans want a robust trial. A lengthy, bona fide trial presents GOPers with a stage to highlight what they believe are misdeeds by the White House and its handling of the border. Some conservatives have warned Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., about short-circuiting an impeachment trial. They wrote to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., demanding that the Senate “fully engage our Constitutional duty to hold a trial.” They’ve also wanted U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts to preside over an impeachment tribunal. However, the Senate’s impeachment rules do not require the participation of the chief justice for anyone besides the president and vice president. And notably, former Senate President Pro Tempore Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., even presided over the second impeachment trial of former President Trump in 2021. 

Do Republicans need a full-fledged Senate trial? Probably not. Did they need to place demands on Schumer and McConnell? Yes. But what Senate conservatives need the most is for their base to see them giving Schumer and McConnell the business about not conducting a lengthy Senate trial. In fact, the politics of the right might even dictate that conservative senators show outrage and disdain for an abbreviated trial. Such dismissiveness from the left plays into the conservative narrative that Democrats aren’t taking the trial seriously, and, vis-à-vis, the border.

Conservatives will also deploy this as what they say is another example of McConnell losing touch with the right.  

So, conservatives might achieve what they need – even if they fall short of what they want. 

There is another set of wants and needs emerging as the government barrels toward a potential set of government shutdowns in early March.

Some conservatives genuinely pine for a government shutdown. You can imagine why. Many would like to use that as a wedge. They argue “no government funding until the border is secure.” Although no one can quite agree on what constitutes a “secure” border, let alone support a legislative plan to seal it. This is why conservatives detonated the bipartisan border package proposed a few weeks ago. Certainly many Republicans truly desire a secure border. But the politics dictate something else in conservative circles. They won’t admit it. But what conservatives may strangely need is an insecure border for political purposes. That’s how they can point to the Biden administration and portray this as a national security problem. So here, a need outweighs the want.  

But back to government funding.

Conservatives were genuinely securing some discretionary spending cuts on other spending bills. That may be what they want. But raising cane with the GOP leadership about cuts not being deep enough works better in some political circles. That’s a political need. And frankly, since Republicans have yet to force a government shutdown since they won control of the House last year, this may frankly be a GOP “need.”

SENATE VOTED IN FAVOR OF $95 BILLION INTERNATIONAL SPENDING BILL, THERE MAY BE ANOTHER AROUND THE CORNER

Wants and needs are not exclusive to the Republican side of the aisle.

Democrats may not want a government shutdown. A shutdown is definitely not a Democratic “need.” However, some on the left will privately tell you that a government shutdown might benefit them. Thus, this could be, in some diabolical quarters, a mild political “want.”

The impeachment of Mayorkas is certainly not a Democratic “want” or “need.” But Democrats guffawed when Republicans failed to impeach Mayorkas on their first try. A failed impeachment vote was definitely not a Democratic need. But Democrats basked in the schadenfreude and curated the narrative that the GOP can’t run the House. The failed impeachment vote was a Democratic “relish.”

And Democrats definitely believe that Republicans overplayed their hand on impeachment. This is augmented by continued impeachment talk about President Biden – despite recent developments. Again, not a want nor need. But news like the Smirnov arrest is something Democrats welcome in small doses. 

But there are other wants and needs for Democrats, too.

Some liberals want and need to make a stand against funding for Israel because of concerns for human rights in Gaza. Again, enter politics. Progressives need to show they are standing up for Palestinians – because of political pressures emanating from the liberal base. That’s a big need for some on the left. However, the true “need” part is a little more vague for some Democrats when it comes to the complicated politics of progressives. It certainly helps some left-wing politicians to even challenge President Biden over the Middle East. That too is a need.

So do we want a pizza or need a pizza?

Do we want a Coach bag or need a Coach bag?

Air? Water? A place to sleep? Three squares a day? 

We all have wants and needs. But the things that get the most attention on Capitol Hill often land in the want category more than the need category. 

That’s why this essay will now come to an end. 

For those of you reading this, I don’t want any smart answers that you “need” me to end. 

I could go on and on. I want to. But I don’t need to. 

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After all, it’s dinnertime.

I want a pizza.

An expert Georgia prosecutor Fani Willis retained to help prosecute former President Trump donated $4,300 to her campaign for public office, records show. 

John Floyd, a prominent Atlanta attorney and partner at Bondurant Mixson & Elmore, was retained by Willis in 2021 to help her prosecute the former president. Floyd is one of the leading experts in Georgia’s intricate and complex racketeering statutes at play in the sweeping case against the former president. 

One expert told Fox News Digital that while Floyd’s donations present no ethical, legal or conflict-of-interest problems, the previous campaign donations could add to the mounting “optics” problems for Willis. 

According to public records, Floyd donated to Willis’ campaign for district attorney twice — $2,800 on March 20, and $1,500 on June 25, 2020, for a total of $4,300.

BIGGEST TAKEAWAYS AFTER WILD 2-DAY HEARING ON FANI WILLIS AFFAIR: ‘WHAT’S DONE IS DONE’

“John Floyd’s donating to Willis’ campaign and then subsequently serving as her special RICO prosecutor present no ethical, legal or conflict-of-interest problems, regardless of his political leanings or affiliations,” said John Shu, a constitutional law expert who served in both the George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush administrations.  

5 EXPLOSIVE MOMENTS FROM FANI WILLIS’ HEATED TESTIMONY IN TRUMP FULTON COUNTY CASE: ‘IF THIS HAPPENS AGAIN …’

“Floyd is a well-known and well-respected litigator and RICO expert, and others from his law firm also donated to Willis’ campaign. Besides, there’s no way that any of them could have known in the spring and summer of 2020 that a Trump RICO case even would exist,” Shu added.

But, Shu said, “Willis created huge optics and conflict-of-interest problems for herself when she hired Nathan Wade, with whom she admitted to having a romantic relationship, regardless of when the relationship started,” Shu said. 

“Wade apparently has no felony or RICO [Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations] experience, and Willis is paying him $100/hour more than she is paying Floyd,” Shu said. 

“She wasn’t required to disclose Floyd’s donations, and they’re a matter of public record anyway, but now they exacerbate the already-bad Wade situation. She would have been better off being as transparent as possible and disclosing everything from the beginning,” Shu noted.

Both Willis and Wade confirmed they had a relationship but denied allegations of wrongdoing. Both testified in court last week that Wills always paid Wade back for her share of their travel in cash and said no receipts exist for those reimbursements.

Their testimony about the start of their relationship contradicted one witness who said she had “no doubt” that Wills and Wade’s “romantic” involvement started in 2019, before Wade was hired in 2021. 

Floyd told Fox News Digital in an email his campaign contributions “were made long before the election and could not have been related to events that had not occurred and could not have been anticipated at that time.

FULTON COUNTY DA FANI WILLIS ACCUSED OF LYING ABOUT TIMING OF AFFAIR WITH TRUMP PROSECUTOR

 “I contributed to Ms. Willis’ campaign because I knew from personal experience, including a seven-month trial as her co-counsel in 2014-15, that she would make a good district attorney. The voters reached the same conclusion, voting out a four-term incumbent,” Floyd said. 

Floyd added that he had previously served as a special assistant district attorney under DAs affiliated with both political parties and under an attorney general who was elected as a Democrat but subsequently changed his affiliation to Republican. 

He then served under his successor, a Democrat. As a special assistant district attorney, Floyd said he helped prosecute a sheriff who was elected as a Democrat. 

“No one has questioned my objectivity in any of those matters. There is no reason to be concerned about it now,” Floyd said. 

Public records also show that Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee, who is presiding over the Trump case and will determine if Willis’ should be disqualified from prosecuting Trump and his co-defendants, also donated to her campaign. 

In 2020 — prior to his judicial appointment while he was an assistant U.S. attorney at the Justice Department — McAfee donated $150 to Willis’ campaign.

McAfee held a two-day hearing last week to review evidence for a motion to disqualify Willis from the case. 

A bombshell admission by the defense’s key witness, Terrence Bradley, the former law firm partner and divorce attorney for Wade, came after he avoided answering certain questions, citing attorney-client privilege. Judge McAfee said he would hold an “in-camera” meeting with Bradley to determine if his privilege assertions are accurate.

McAfee said Bradley’s admission reopens questions about what Bradley refused to answer about what he knew about Wade and Fani Willis’ romantic relationship and when he knew. Bradley refused to answer, citing attorney-client privilege.

“Mr. Bradley previously testified that the reason he left the firm was totally and completely covered by privilege. When asked by the state, he went into a factual scenario that, to my mind, I don’t see how it relates to privilege at all. And so now I’m left wondering if Mr. Bradley has been properly interpreting privilege this entire time,” Judge McAfee said.

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McAfee is expected to determine whether Bradley should take the witness stand again further evidentiary review.

Neither Willis nor McAfee returned Fox News Digital’s request for comment. 

The Washington state Senate voted overwhelmingly Thursday to make harassing election workers a felony, three months after four county election offices received envelopes containing suspicious powder — including three testing positive for fentanyl — and had to be evacuated.

“This cannot be something we take as normal,” Democratic Sen. Manka Dhingra said during the vote. “We have to make sure that our election workers are protected, that people who participate and engage in our democracy have faith that the system works well and that we don’t have bad actors that can actually disrupt vote counts.”

COAST GUARD LAUNCHES WHALE SIGHTING ALERTS IN SEATTLE SO BOATS WILL STEER CLEAR

The bill is among a wave of legislation across the U.S. seeking to boost protections for these workers in the lead-up to the 2024 election amid an increasing number of threats some attribute to false claims by former President Donald Trump and his allies that the 2020 election was stolen.

Twenty-three states are considering bills addressing protections, according to the nonprofit advocacy group Public Citizen. In Maryland, for example, lawmakers are considering legislation to enable authorities to prosecute people who threaten to harm election officials or their immediate family members.

The bill in Washington would increase the possible penalty for harassing an election worker in person or by mail from up to one year in jail to up to five years in prison. It would also give targeted workers the opportunity to join a program run by the secretary of state’s office designed to keep their address confidential.

The measure has already been approved by the House but will need to go back to that body for verification before heading to Gov. Jay Inslee’s desk. Mike Faulk, spokesperson for the Democratic governor, said in an email that they haven’t reviewed the bill in detail but that Inslee is “generally supportive of efforts to protect our democratic process and the people who carry it out.”

Some Republican lawmakers pushed for the bill to include protections for election observers and people gathering initiative signatures.

“They are physically, I would say, unprotected,” Republican Sen. Keith Wagoner said during a vote on an amendment to protect people collecting signatures. “They’re not inside impressive looking buildings like some of our elected election folks are. They don’t have access to security, but they are vulnerable.”

The amendments were voted down, with Dhingra explaining that individuals collecting signatures are already protected under a harassment statute.

The legislation comes two years after the state made online harassment of an election worker a felony. Democratic Rep. Mari Leavitt, sponsor of the latest bill, said it will better align the punishment for in-person and virtual threats.

“Our election workers are unsung heroes,” she told The Associated Press. “They’re workers of democracy and we need to demonstrate to them that we value them and we want them to show up to work and feel safe, and this is one method to be able to do that.”

In November, four county elections offices in Washington were evacuated the day after election day after receiving envelopes with powder and a message that said, “End elections now.” Three tested positive for fentanyl, according to a spokesperson for the Washington secretary of state.

Linda Farmer, auditor for Pierce County, where one of the elections offices was evacuated, said she remembers over 100 workers being evacuated that morning and hazmat teams along with the FBI and fire department swarming the area, while paramedics made sure the staff member who opened the letter was safe.

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“It was terrifying,” she said. “I was nauseous and really scared for the staffer who had opened the letter, but I put on a brave face for the staff.”

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters’ political action committee infused $45,000 into the Republican National Committee’s (RNC) convention fund last month in a stark departure from the union’s history of giving primarily to Democrats.

The Teamsters PAC — known formally as Democrat, Republican, Independent Voter Education — earmarked the donation on Jan. 25, according to federal elections filings reviewed by Fox News Digital. The contribution was made weeks after former President Trump, the clear front-runner to secure the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, met with Teamsters President Sean O’Brien and days before a second meeting between the two.

In a statement, Teamsters spokesperson Kara Deniz said the contribution was approved in December before the union’s two meetings with Trump. She added that it represented the first time the Teamsters would participate in both the Republican and Democrat conventions in more than two decades.

“The Teamsters contributed $45,000 to both the Democratic and Republican convention funds. It’s not since 2000 that our union has participated in both conventions,” Deniz told Fox News Digital in an email. “In the Teamsters, all our members’ voices will be heard, regardless of party.”

BIDEN ADMIN SCRUBS WEBPAGE SHOWING HOW TAXPAYERS FUND UNION ACTIVITIES

“Rank-and-file members will be on the ground and active in both conventions this year to make sure elected officials know the Teamsters’ issues and are hearing the challenges that working people face in this country,” she continued.

The donation is likely to raise eyebrows as Trump continues to vie for the Teamsters’ endorsement. After his most recent meeting with O’Brien on Jan. 31, Trump told reporters the conversation was productive and that while the union typically supports Democrats, “stranger things have happened,” adding that rank-and-file union members largely support him.

REPUBLICANS WARN BIDEN ADMIN’S FOREIGN FARMWORKER RULE IS ‘GIVEAWAY TO BIG LABOR’

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, which endorsed now-President Biden in 2020, is among the largest labor unions in the nation. While its overall membership has declined slightly in recent years, it still reports having just shy of 1.3 million members, according to its most recent filings with the Department of Labor.

“Our members want to hear from all candidates of all parties about what they plan to do for working people as President,” O’Brien said in a statement last month. “Teamsters are essential to every trade industry in this country. Our members are working in all 50 states and represent every political background, including no affiliation.”

“Our union wants every candidate to know that there are 1.3 million Teamsters nationwide whose votes will not be taken for granted. Workers’ voices must be heard.”

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According to the FEC, the largest contribution a multicandidate PAC can make to national party committee accounts is $45,000, meaning the Teamsters PAC maxed out with its RNC convention fund donation.

In recent months, it has given donations of $45,000 to various Democratic National Committee, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee funds.

The Biden administration is considering executive action to tackle the ongoing border crisis after a bipartisan Senate bill failed to gather support, and reports of what moves are being considered are already drawing fire from both immigration activists and Republicans.

Multiple outlets reported that, in the wake of the failure of the bipartisan Senate border legislation this month, the White House is eyeing potential executive action to tackle the migrant crisis. An administration source told Fox News that the president is considering executive action to restrict the ability of migrants to claim asylum, but that it’s one of “several” plans being looked at.

Asked about reports of the plans, the White House told Fox News Digital that the administration “spent months negotiating in good faith to deliver the toughest and fairest bipartisan border security bill in decades because we need Congress to make significant policy reforms and to provide additional funding to secure our border and fix our broken immigration system.”

7.2M ENTERED THE US UNDER BIDEN ADMIN, AN AMOUNT GREATER THAN POPULATION OF 36 STATES

AOC MOCKS BIDEN FOR DOING ‘TRUMP IMPRESSIONS’ ON THE BORDER CRISIS

“Congressional Republicans chose to put partisan politics ahead of our national security, rejected what border agents have said they need, and then gave themselves a two-week vacation,” spokesperson Angelo Fernandez Hernandez said. “No executive action, no matter how aggressive, can deliver the significant policy reforms and additional resources Congress can provide and that Republicans rejected. We continue to call on Speaker [Mike] Johnson and House Republicans to pass the bipartisan deal to secure the border. “

An administration official stressed that there have been no final decisions on what actions, if any, could be taken and that exploring policy options does not mean they will come to pass.

SEN BILL HAGERTY SAYS DEMS ENGAGING IN ‘SHEER POWER GRAB’ BY TOLERATING BORDER ‘CARNAGE’ 

One option reportedly on the table is the use of 212(f) of the 1952 Immigration and Nationality Act. That allows the president to restrict certain categories of foreigners who are deemed “detrimental to the interests of the United States.”

It was used during prior administrations, including by former President Donald Trump, but he was blocked by a federal court from using it specifically to stop illegal immigrants at the southern border. The ruling was later upheld by the Supreme Court.

As a consequence, a similar move by Biden may face a similar judicial roadblock. Another reported option includes raising the bar for initial asylum screenings in which migrants are required to show “credible fear” of persecution if returned home. However, most migrants currently do not go through a credible fear screening, so without additional expansion of the “expedited removal” process, which the administration sought as part of the supplemental spending bill, it would not affect the majority of migrants.

The Biden administration last year moved to limit the asylum process by imposing a restriction on those who enter illegally and who have crossed through other countries before entering the U.S. That rule, however, still does not prevent the release of migrants into the interior and only affects their asylum claim at a later court hearing, and it is also currently blocked by a court order.

However, the reports of some sort of action being mulled drew immediate fire from both the left and the right. Speaker Johnson, R-La., said the reports appeared to contradict prior administration claims that Biden had done everything to stop the crisis.

“Americans have lost faith in this president and won’t be fooled by election year gimmicks that don’t actually secure the border,” he said. “Nor will they forget that the president created this catastrophe and, until now, has refused to use his executive authority to fix it.”

RJ Hauman, president of the National Immigration Center for Enforcement (NICE) and a visiting adviser at The Heritage Foundation, said Johnson’s assessment was “spot on” about it being a gimmick.

“The Biden administration could have used it on day one. Instead, they revoked countless effective Trump policies, issued a 100-day deportation ban, and rolled out a mass amnesty bill. The end result? A historic border crisis that they suddenly want to pretend to end, not actually do so,” he told Fox News Digital.

Some Democrats and immigration activists were unimpressed with the reports, accusing Biden of going back to the Trump-era.

“Democrats CANNOT solve immigration problems by adopting Trump-like policies,” Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., said on X, formerly known as Twitter.

“Seeking asylum is a human right. President Biden should not, under any circumstances, restrict that right,” she said.

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“What is needed now more than ever from the Biden administration is to ensure that any border security executive actions protect due process for asylum seekers and provide resources for a fair, efficient and humane asylum system,” Murad Awawdeh, executive director of the New York Immigration Coalition, said in a statement. “The cruel measures being proposed collectively create a government mandated asylum ban, which even border officials contend will only create more chaos at the southern border, while failing to address the real issue at hand.”

FOX Business Network’s Edward Lawrence contributed to this report.

A New York judge presiding over former President Donald Trump’s civil fraud case has denied his legal team’s request to avoid paying a $355 million penalty in the case. 

Trump lawyers had asked Judge Arthur Engoron to delay enforcement of the payment by 30 days to allow time for an “orderly post-judgement process.”

In an email to the defendants posted Thursday to the court docket, Engoron said they had “failed to explain, much less justify, any basis for a stay.”

“I am confident that the Appellate Division will protect your appellate rights,” he wrote. 

HAYLEY ON WHETHER TRUMP WILL CLINCH REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION NEXT MONTH: ‘LET’S SEE IF IT HAPPENS’

Last week, Trump was barred from operating his business in New York for three years and was found liable for $355 million in damages in the civil fraud case brought against him, his family, and the Trump Organization by New York Attorney General Letitia James. 

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James said Monday she was prepared to seize former President Donald Trump’s assets if he is unable to pay the massive judgment handed down in his civil fraud case.

CHARLESTON, S.C. – FIRST ON FOX: Lara Trump, the daughter-in-law of former President Trump and candidate for Republican National Committee (RNC) co-chair, went off on presidential candidate Nikki Haley, blasting her vow to remain in the race no matter the outcome of Saturday’s South Carolina primary.

In an interview with Fox News Digital at a campaign stop in North Charleston on Wednesday, Trump said Haley’s stubbornness “doesn’t make a lot of sense,” and that donors were the ones “obviously keeping her campaign alive.”

Trump’s comments come just days after she received criticism from Haley for saying “every single penny” of RNC funds should go toward former President Trump’s re-election. “We don’t anoint kings in America,” Haley said.

TRUMP CAMPAIGN PREDICTS ‘A– KICKING’ FOR HALEY IN SOUTH CAROLINA PRIMARY, BUT SHE SAYS ‘I REFUSE TO QUIT’

“At a certain point, you have to ask yourself when it’s obvious that Nikki Haley will not be the Republican nominee — there really is no path to that for her at this point — then why stay in a race? Why fight against the Republican nominee, the person who is leading the party?” Trump told Fox.

She suggested the only plausible explanation was that Haley is banking on former President Trump’s legal woes hindering his presidential run, something she said would be the “least Democratic, least American thing” that could ultimately happen.

“I will say that any person who is not standing up and fighting back in the face of that, calling it out for exactly what it is — election interference — should not be running for President of the United States,” Trump said. 

BIDEN CAMPAIGN TROLLS TRUMP’S ‘WEAKEST OPERATION IN RECENT HISTORY’ AMID LAGGING CAMPAIGN CASH

“So why she is still in this race I think is unknown to a lot of people. It’s time for Nikki to suspend her campaign and come on Team Trump and let’s head towards November collected and facing Joe Biden so that we can win the White House,” she added.

When pressed on how former President Trump would handle a protracted primary race with Haley, Trump dismissed the notion her father-in-law “has anything to worry about.”

“She’s about to likely lose in a very embarrassing way, her own home state of South Carolina,” she said. “I think Donald Trump has turned his focus to the actual person we should all be focusing on, which is Joe Biden. That is who we need to beat in November.” 

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“If she wants to stay in this race and drain people’s money and fight against him, that’s her own prerogative. But I think the American people are focused on what we need to do to take this country back in November,” she added.

Fox News Digital has reached out to Haley’s campaign for comment.

According to a Suffolk University/USA Today survey of South Carolina voters released Tuesday, Trump holds a commanding 63% support compared to Haley’s 35%.

Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.