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NY judge Wednesday hearing for Eric Adams, DOJ officials on dismissal motion

A federal judge in New York City ordered Mayor Eric Adams and Trump administration Department of Justice (DOJ) officials to court over the motion to dismiss corruption charges filed under the Biden administration.

In an order Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Dale Ho directed both parties to appear before the Lower Manhattan court on Wednesday at 2 p.m. ET.

The judge also ordered Adams to file his “consent in writing” to the motion to dismiss to the court docket by 5 p.m. ET Tuesday. Ho said the DOJ motion cited how Adams “consented in writing,” but no such document had been submitted to the court.

The DOJ motion cites one judicial opinion regarding the federal rule for dismissal, stating “the executive branch remains the absolute judge of whether a prosecution should be initiated and the first and presumptively the best judge of whether a pending prosecution should be terminated,” and “the exercise of its discretion with respect to the termination of pending prosecutions should not be judicially disturbed unless clearly contrary to manifest public interest.”

CUOMO RESPONDS AFTER EX-NEW YORK OFFICIAL CALLS FOR HIM TO BE NYC MAYOR

Mayor Eric Adams leaves an event in New York City on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Ho, however, cited legal history, noting that a judge has independent obligations once the government has involved the judiciary by obtaining an indictment or a conviction. Additionally, he quoted from one judicial opinion that said a judge must be “satisfied that the reasons advanced for the proposed dismissal are substantial” before approving a dismissal.

Adams said four of his deputy mayors resigned on Monday in the fallout from the Justice Department’s push to end the corruption case against him and ensure his cooperation with President Donald Trump’s criminal illegal immigration crackdown.

Several top prosecutors in Manhattan and Washington, D.C., also have resigned since the Justice Department filed its motion Friday seeking to drop the case.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said Monday she is weighing removing Adams from office. Her former boss, ex-New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, is among those rumored to be considering a challenge to Adams in June’s Democratic mayoral primary, though he has not officially announced his candidacy. Among the candidates already in the race against the first-term mayor is former City Comptroller Scott Stringer and current City Comptroller Brad Lander.

New York City mayoral candidate, current City Comptroller Brad Lander, speaks during a press conference on Feb. 18, 2025, in New York City. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

Lander, a progressive endorsed by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., threatened to initiate a process of removing Adams without the governor’s approval.

In a letter to Hochul on Tuesday, Stringer implored the governor to remove Adams, arguing the mayor “has lost the confidence of not only a growing number of other elected leaders and ordinary New Yorkers, but those in closest proximity to him – public servants he hired to aid in managing a massive workforce and budget.”

The Justice Department, meanwhile, is investigating alleged “insubordination” among federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York.

Adams has pleaded not guilty to charges that, while in his prior role as Brooklyn borough president, he accepted over $100,000 in illegal campaign contributions and lavish travel perks from a Turkish official and business leaders seeking to buy his influence. The Democratic mayor was indicted at a time when he grew critical of the Biden administration’s response to the worsening immigrant crisis in the Big Apple.

NY GOV. HOCHUL TO MEET WITH ‘KEY LEADERS’ TO DISCUSS ‘PATH FORWARD’ AMID ERIC ADAMS TURMOIL

With Trump back in office, Adams is cooperating with border czar Tom Homan, allowing Immigration and Customs Enforcement to once again continue operations at Riker’s Island jail.

The upcoming mayoral primary comes at a time when a different judge, Jenny Rivera, of the New York Court of Appeals, considers a law that would allow some 800,000 noncitizens to vote in that race and other city-level contests if implemented.

A former Watergate prosecutor on Monday urged the federal judge presiding over Adams’ prosecution to assign a special counsel to help decide how to handle the DOJ motion, while three ex-U.S. attorneys demanded a “searching factual inquiry.”

This undated image provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of New York, shows Danielle R. Sassoon, interim U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York. (U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of New York via AP)

The last week has featured a public fight between Bove, the second-in-command of the Justice Department, and two top New York federal prosecutors: interim Manhattan U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon and Hagan Scotten, an assistant U.S. attorney in Manhattan who led the Adams prosecution. Sassoon and Scotten resigned.

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In his letter to Ho, attorney Nathaniel Akerman, the one-time Watergate prosecutor, echoed Sassoon’s assertion that the Justice Department had accepted a request by Adams’ lawyers for a “quid pro quo.” Adams denied that claim, writing in an X post on Friday, “I want to be crystal clear with New Yorkers: I never offered — nor did anyone offer on my behalf — any trade of my authority as your mayor for an end to my case. Never.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Danielle Wallace is a breaking news and politics reporter at Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to [email protected] and on X: @danimwallace.

February 18, 2025
Kim Kardashian partners with Nike on new Skims brand

Fashion designer Rebecca Minkoff analyzes the impact of the company’s Super Bowl ad on ‘The Claman Countdown’

Nike is partnering with Skims and introducing a new female-focused brand together with the shapewear company co-founded by Kim Kardashian.

NikeSKIMS will combine Nike’s “world-class approach to advanced innovation, sport science and athlete insights” with Skims’ “signature style and inclusive solutions for every body” to bring an “entirely new look of training and fitness” for women to market, Nike said.

Fans of both brands can expect Nike and Skims to launch the inaugural NikeSKIMS line at select retail locations and online in the U.S. during the spring.

The logo for NikeSKIMS (Nike)

The brand will consist of fitness clothing, footwear and accessories.

NIKE’S NEW CEO: WHAT TO KNOW

“Nike and SKIMS share a deep commitment to innovation, inclusivity and pushing boundaries, driven by an unwavering belief in the power of women. This partnership is the culmination of that shared vision, delivering product that is meticulously designed to sculpt and perform for every body,” Kardashian said in a statement.

Kim Kardashian speaks at the OMR digital and marketing trade fair. (Christian Charisius/picture alliance via Getty Images / Getty Images)

The brand will offer “extended sizing” when it becomes available, Nike said.

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“This partnership brings together the best of both brands and unlocks an incredible opportunity to disrupt the industry with our shared passion and commitment to innovation,” Nike President of Consumer, Product and Brand Heidi O’Neill said. “We will invite even more athletes into sport and movement with product that makes them feel strong and sexy.”

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NKE NIKE INC. 73.04 -0.17 -0.23%

After the initial U.S. roll out, Nike and Skims are targeting a broader, global release for NikeSKIMS next year, according to the companies.

Nike is seeking to expand its women’s business through the partnership with Skims as it continues to work to ensure long-term viability.

The logo of Nike (NKE) is seen in Los Angeles, California, United States, April 12, 2016. (REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File Photo / Reuters Photos)

Kardashian created Skims with co-founder Jens Grede about six years ago. The company has seen major growth since then, reaching a value of $4 billion in 2023, according to reports.

A Skims pop-up shop at the Nordstrom flagship store in New York, on June 9, 2024. (Bing Guan/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)

KIM KARDASHIAN EXPERIENCES TESLA’ ROBOT, CYBERCAB FIRSTHAND

Kardashian herself has a net worth of $1.7 billion thanks to the success of Skims and other ventures, Forbes reported.

February 18, 2025
Former USAID official warns China is already looking to fill void left by paused programs

The Trump administration’s pause of United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funding may leave the door open for China to spread its influence, and Beijing is not wasting time trying to fill in the gaps.

A former USAID official, who spoke with Fox News Digital under the condition of anonymity, said that whereas the U.S. stepped down, China has “immediately” stepped in.

“We’ve just seen news reporting coming out of Nepal, Cambodia, Papua New Guinea, documenting directly that where USAID programs have ended that the People’s Republic of China has told these governments that it will step in and become the partner for these governments to continue that work,” a former USAID official told Fox News Digital.

An illustration of Elon Musk, President Donald Trump and a USAID flag. (Getty Images)

FORMER USAID ADMINISTRATOR SAYS AGENCY SHOULD STAY WITH CONSERVATIVE HEAD

China has already stepped up its funding to Cambodia’s largest demining organization, the Cambodian Mine Action Center (CMAC), in the absence of U.S. funds, according to Reuters. As it seeks increased influence, Beijing pledged $4.4 million to CMAC, more than double the $2 million it received from the U.S. last year, the outlet added.

Additionally, China is also watching the funding freeze’s impact on Nepal, the Annapurna Express reports. While China is already sending funds to Nepal, it is reportedly increasing its financial support in various areas.

The former USAID official emphasized that “by removing these [USAID] programs it adds one more reason for many of these partners to now not see the United States as a partner who shares their priorities of investing in the people of their countries.”

President Donald Trump displays a signed National Security Presidential Memorandum in the Oval Office in 2019 in Washington, D.C. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

TOP FEDERAL AGENCY EXPOSED FOR SPENDING BILLIONS ON MIGRANTS IN A SINGLE YEAR

While there are several populations around the globe feeling the impact of the Trump administration’s funding freeze, the situation is particularly treacherous for women.

During President Donald Trump’s first term in office, his daughter, Ivanka, played a key role in launching the Women’s Global Development and Prosperity Initiative (W-GDP). At the time, the White House said the program was aimed at advancing women’s economic empowerment.

Lilian Achom, who is based in Uganda, participated in USAID W-GDP Fund programming and was present when Trump launched the W-GDP. Now, she fears that women grappling with HIV/AIDS, many of whom are widows trying to raise children.

When speaking to Fox News Digital, Achom said Trump needs to “think about the underprivileged deep down in northern Uganda. The underprivileged, the children, the women who are currently suffering.”

Achom recalled meeting Ivanka Trump and spoke highly of the president’s daughter, saying that she was “inspired” by her.

“I saw in her someone who was really, really interested in women’s empowerment, economic development and digital inclusion for women around the world,” Achom said of Ivanka.

Ivanka Trump speaks while next to Lilian Achom in the White House, Feb. 7, 2019. (BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images)

The former USAID official who spoke with Fox News Digital said that the funding freeze is “impacting potentially every aspect of the lives of women and girls who were benefiting from USAID programs.” The official added that while China is already trying to fill certain voids left by the U.S., it’s unclear whether they will fund programs focused on women.

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The White House has accused USAID of funding “the ridiculous — and, in many cases, malicious — pet projects of entrenched bureaucrats.”

Among the areas of “waste and abuse” highlighted by the White House are $2.5 million for electric vehicles for Vietnam, $1.5 million to “advance diversity, equity and inclusion in Serbia’s workplaces and business communities,” and $6 million to fund tourism in Egypt.

The State Department did not respond to a Fox News request for comment.

Rachel Wolf is a breaking news writer for Fox News Digital and FOX Business.

February 18, 2025
MAGA loyalists take aim at GOP senator as key Trump defense post sparks controversy: ‘Why the opposition?’

A key Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee is reportedly on the fence about one of President Donald Trump’s Defense nominees over his stance on a nuclear Iran – a potential roadblock to his confirmation given the GOP’s slim Senate majority.

Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., is reportedly hesitant about the nomination of former Defense official Elbridge Colby to serve as the under secretary of defense for policy, a key Defense post that remains unmanned amid the ongoing confirmation process.

“Senator Cotton is focused on ensuring all defense nominees commit to supporting President Trump’s position that Iran must not have a nuclear weapon, and Cotton will be addressing this in meetings and hearings with the nominees,” a source familiar with the matter told Fox News Digital.

Colby has previously suggested that the U.S. living with a nuclear Iran is more plausible than countering the country’s nuclear assets, a position that reportedly is causing concern from the key Senator whose support could determine his confirmation.

MCCONNELL’S MENTAL ACUITY TARGETED BY TRUMP AFTER EX-SENATE LEADER JOINS DEMS AGAINST CABINET NOMINEES

Sen. Tom Cotton serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc)

Cotton’s potential opposition to the Trump nominee sparked debate among prominent MAGA figures on social media.

RUMP’S KEY TO CABINET CONFIRMATIONS: SENATE-TURNED-VP VANCE’S GIFT OF GAB

“Why the opposition to Bridge? What does he think Bridge will do?” Elon Musk wrote in a post on X of reports that Cotton was not on board with the nomination.

“The effort to undermine President Trump continues in the US Senate @SenTomCotton is working behind the scenes to stop Trump’s pick, Elbridge Colby, from getting confirmed at DOD,” Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, said on X. “Colby is one of the most important pieces to stop the Bush/Cheney cabal at DOD. Why is Tom Cotton doing this?”

“Is Tom Cotton’s resistance to Bridge Colby more about IRI than anything else? As in maybe Cotton’s blocking Colby ain’t that principled. . .” American Majority CEO Ned Ryun posted on X.

Elbridge Colby speaks at the National Conservative Conference in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, July 9, 2024. (Dominic Gwinn)

“Cotton has other problems that he doesn’t want exposed. He’ll support Colby,” former Trump National Security Advisor Michael Flynn claimed on X.

Vice President JD Vance expressed support for the Trump nominee, writing that “Bridge has consistently been correct about the big foreign policy debates of the last 20 years.”

“He was critical of the Iraq War, which made him unemployable in the 2000s era conservative movement. He built a relationship with CNAS when it was one of the few institutions that would even hire a foreign policy realist,” Vance said.

Vice President JD Vance delivers a speech during the plenary session of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Summit at the Grand Palais in Paris on Feb. 11, 2025. (Reuters)

Colby, who worked in the Pentagon during Trump’s first term, has also received endorsements from other members of the Senate.

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“.@ElbridgeColby is a fighter who will execute President Trump’s mandate to end decades of DC foreign policy failures and stop forever wars abroad—The reason the establishment fears him is because he’s 100% aligned with Trump’s agenda,” Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, wrote on X. “Senate Republicans should confirm him ASAP!”

Colby’s Senate confirmation hearing remains unscheduled as the chamber works to confirm more of Trump’s cabinet nominees.

Fox News Digital reached out to Colby for comment.

Aubrie Spady is a Writer for Fox News Digital.

February 18, 2025
How is a political appointee different from a career federal employee?

Trump administration offers buyouts to federal employees

Fox News’ Peter Doocy reports the latest on the offer from the White House. Doocy and the ‘Fox & Friends’ co-hosts also discuss the decision to pull Gen. Mark Milley’s security detail and Karoline Leavitt’s first White House press conference.

Under President Donald Trump’s second administration so far, significant restructuring of the federal workforce has led to widespread layoffs and policy shifts designed to align with his agenda to eliminate bureaucracy. As these changes unfold, the divide between political appointees and career employees has become more apparent.

Political appointees, chosen by the president, serve at his discretion and include both Cabinet-level department heads and other senior-level officials. They are tasked with carrying out the administration’s agenda.

By contrast, career employees have permanent positions with civil service protections and are tasked with executing policies set by the political appointees above them.

“We moved away from the spoils system, which is where the current administration gets to hire everybody in the government, towards a career civil service, in the 1880s,” explained former Bush administration Cabinet member Tevi Troy in an interview with Fox News Digital.

TRUMP SIGNS ORDER INSTRUCTING DOGE TO MASSIVELY CUT FEDERAL WORKFORCE

Elon Musk heads up the Department of Government Efficiency, a watchdog President Donald Trump set up to look for waste in federal spending. (Alex Brandon/AP Images)

“And the idea is that you have a permanent government or permanent bureaucracy that carries out the work of the federal government, whether it’s administering checks or doing the census, whatever it is the government does that is managed by this career bureaucracy,” Troy, also a presidential historian and a senior fellow at the Ronald Reagan Institute, said. “They have civil service protection, they are not supposed to set policy. They follow policy that is laid out by the president’s administration.”

Troy said there are about 2 million people in the federal workforce, and “at some point there’s a line.”

He described the line as “between who is setting policy” and who is “carrying out what the mission of the federal government is supposed to be.”

“And this argument is about the Trump administration feeling that at the most senior levels, there are certain career officials that were trying to set policy rather than carry out policy, and that’s where the disagreement is,” he said.

JUDGE RESTORES TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S BUYOUT OFFER TO FEDERAL WORKERS

Trump signed an executive order Tuesday seeking departments to make “large-scale reductions in force.” As such, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by tech billionaire Elon Musk, has been instrumental in executing mass layoffs across various federal agencies, including the Federal Aviation Authority and the Departments of Education, Veterans Affairs and Energy, among others.

“Although career employees enjoy significant employment protections, that does not mean that the president, who is the head of the executive branch, cannot eliminate jobs, as long as individuals are not politically targeted,” Rachel Greszler, senior researcher at the Heritage Foundation’s economic Roe Institute, told Fox News Digital. “President Clinton issued an executive order in 1993, instructing agencies to eliminate 100,000 federal positions. While the initial order called for a 4% reduction in workforce, a 10% reduction instead ensued.”

TRUMP ADMIN ORDERS AGENCIES TO LAY OFF PROBATIONARY WORKERS IN LATEST PUSH TO SHRINK GOVERNMENT

President Trump has used executive orders to enact sweeping changes within the federal bureaucracy in his first few weeks in office. (Reuters)

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Trump also instructed federal agencies last week to lay off most probationary workers who have not secured civil service protection.

An Office of Personnel Management spokesperson told Fox News Digital previously, “the probationary period is a continuation of the job application process, not an entitlement for permanent employment. Agencies are taking independent action in light of the recent hiring freeze and in support of the president’s broader efforts to restructure and streamline the federal government to better serve the American people at the highest possible standard.”

This isn’t the first time a president has sought to shrink the federal government. Ronald Reagan also had the same goal, and particularly cut down the workforce in regulatory agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy. Bill Clinton also set out to reduce the size of the federal government, famously declaring in his 1996 State of the Union that the “era of big government is over.”

Jamie Joseph is a writer who covers politics. She leads Fox News Digital coverage of the Senate.

February 18, 2025
Vice President Vance likely to highlight Trump administration agenda at CPAC

Vice President JD Vance is no stranger to the crowd at the Conservative Political Action Conference, better known by its acronym CPAC.

But on Thursday, at the opening session at National Harbor, Maryland, just outside the nation’s capital, Vance will address CPAC for the first time since his inauguration last month as vice president of the United States.

Vance has been a regular at the conference in recent years, dating back to his successful 2022 campaign for the Senate in Ohio. And last October, as he crisscrossed the national campaign trail as Donald Trump’s 2024 running mate, Vance also spoke at a CPAC-hosted townhall in battleground Arizona.

WATCH: JD VANCE SITS DOWN WITH FOX BUSINESS’ MARIA BARTIROMO

JD Vance speaks on stage during CPAC (Conservative Political Action Conference) Texas, on Aug. 18, 2022, in Dallas. (Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)

CPAC, which dates back to 1974, is the nation’s oldest and largest annual gathering of conservative leaders and activists. In the years since Trump first won the White House in 2016, it has been dominated by legions of MAGA loyalists and America First disciples who hold immense sway over the GOP.

The vice president is expected to use his address to highlight and promote the avalanche of activity – both domestically and overseas – by the Trump-Vance administration during its first month in office.

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Vance, who served two years in the Senate before being elected vice president, has been considered a key player in helping the GOP-controlled chamber confirm Trump’s Cabinet nominees at a brisk pace.

And Vance made major headlines earlier this month at the Munich Security Conference in Germany, when he used his first major speech as vice president to deliver a blistering address directed at Europe’s political class.

Vice President JD Vance gives a speech at the Munich Security Conference in Germany, Feb. 14, 2025. (Reuters/Leah Millis)

Trump’s naming last summer of Vance – a former venture capitalist and the author of the bestselling memoir, “Hillbilly Elegy,” before running for elective office – as his running was seen as a sign that the now 40-year-old politician was the heir apparent to Trump and his movement.

Trump praised Vance in a recent interview with Fox News’ Bret Baier on “Special Report” for “doing a fantastic job,”

WATCH: VICE PRESIDENT JD VANCE SITS DOWN WITH FOX NEWS’ BRET BAIER ON “SPECIAL REPORT”

But asked by Baier if he viewed Vance as his successor and the Republican nominee in 2028, the term-limited Trump said, “No, but he’s very capable.”

“It’s too early. We’re just starting,” Trump added.

Vice President JD Vance, on Jan. 25, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (AP )

Questions about 2028 may be hanging over Vance at CPAC, which has long held a closely watched GOP presidential nomination straw poll.

Vance, in an interview earlier this month with FOX Business’ Maria Bartiromo on “Sunday Morning Futures,” was asked about the next White House race.

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“We’ll see what happens come 2028, but the way I think about this is the best thing for my future is actually the best thing for the American people, which is that we do a really good job over the next three and a half years,” the vice president said.

Vance noted that “we’ll cross that political bridge when we come to it. I’m not thinking about running for president. I’m thinking about doing a good job for the American people and I think the best way to do that is to make sure that President Trump is a success.”

Paul Steinhauser is a politics reporter based in New Hampshire.

February 18, 2025
MAGA loyalists take aim at GOP senator as key Trump defense post goes unmanned: ‘Why the opposition?’

A key Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee is reportedly on the fence about one of President Donald Trump’s Defense nominees over his stance on a nuclear Iran – a potential roadblock to his confirmation given the GOP’s slim Senate majority.

Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., is reportedly hesitant about the nomination of former Defense official Elbridge Colby to serve as the under secretary of defense for policy, a key Defense post that remains unmanned amid the ongoing confirmation process.

“Senator Cotton is focused on ensuring all defense nominees commit to supporting President Trump’s position that Iran must not have a nuclear weapon, and Cotton will be addressing this in meetings and hearings with the nominees,” a source familiar with the matter told Fox News Digital.

Colby has previously suggested that the U.S. living with a nuclear Iran is more plausible than countering the country’s nuclear assets, a position that reportedly is causing concern from the key Senator whose support could determine his confirmation.

MCCONNELL’S MENTAL ACUITY TARGETED BY TRUMP AFTER EX-SENATE LEADER JOINS DEMS AGAINST CABINET NOMINEES

Sen. Tom Cotton serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc)

Cotton’s potential opposition to the Trump nominee sparked debate among prominent MAGA figures on social media.

RUMP’S KEY TO CABINET CONFIRMATIONS: SENATE-TURNED-VP VANCE’S GIFT OF GAB

“Why the opposition to Bridge? What does he think Bridge will do?” Elon Musk wrote in a post on X of reports that Cotton was not on board with the nomination.

“The effort to undermine President Trump continues in the US Senate @SenTomCotton is working behind the scenes to stop Trump’s pick, Elbridge Colby, from getting confirmed at DOD,” Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, said on X. “Colby is one of the most important pieces to stop the Bush/Cheney cabal at DOD. Why is Tom Cotton doing this?”

“Is Tom Cotton’s resistance to Bridge Colby more about IRI than anything else? As in maybe Cotton’s blocking Colby ain’t that principled. . .” American Majority CEO Ned Ryun posted on X.

Elbridge Colby speaks at the National Conservative Conference in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, July 9, 2024. (Dominic Gwinn)

“Cotton has other problems that he doesn’t want exposed. He’ll support Colby,” former Trump National Security Advisor Michael Flynn claimed on X.

Vice President JD Vance expressed support for the Trump nominee, writing that “Bridge has consistently been correct about the big foreign policy debates of the last 20 years.”

“He was critical of the Iraq War, which made him unemployable in the 2000s era conservative movement. He built a relationship with CNAS when it was one of the few institutions that would even hire a foreign policy realist,” Vance said.

Vice President JD Vance delivers a speech during the plenary session of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Summit at the Grand Palais in Paris on Feb. 11, 2025. (Reuters)

Colby, who worked in the Pentagon during Trump’s first term, has also received endorsements from other members of the Senate.

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“.@ElbridgeColby is a fighter who will execute President Trump’s mandate to end decades of DC foreign policy failures and stop forever wars abroad—The reason the establishment fears him is because he’s 100% aligned with Trump’s agenda,” Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, wrote on X. “Senate Republicans should confirm him ASAP!”

Colby’s Senate confirmation hearing remains unscheduled as the chamber works to confirm more of Trump’s cabinet nominees.

Fox News Digital reached out to Colby for comment.

Aubrie Spady is a Writer for Fox News Digital.

February 18, 2025
Circuit court puts final nail in the coffin for Biden’s $500M student loan forgiveness plan

The U.S. 8th Circuit Court of Appeals put a final end to former President Joe Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan on Tuesday.

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey originally sued the Biden administration over its $500 million effort to wipe away student loans, known as the SAVE plan. The court’s Tuesday ruling found that Biden’s secretary of education had “gone well beyond this authority by designing a plan where loans are largely forgiven rather than repaid.”

Bailey noted in a statement that the ruling has no active impact beyond blocking future presidents from attempting Biden’s maneuver.

“Though Joe Biden is out of office, this precedent is imperative to ensuring a President cannot force working Americans to foot the bill for someone else’s Ivy League debt,” Bailey said in a statement.

SENATE DEM IN KEY BATTLEGROUND RACE FLIP-FLOPPED ON STUDENT DEBT UNDER BIDEN: NO ‘MAGIC WAND’

Former President Joe Biden’s $500 million student loan forgiveness plan was smacked down for a final time in court on Tuesday. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The Supreme Court of the United States denied the Biden administration’s request to lift a block on the SAVE plan last year. A federal appeals court in Missouri had earlier blocked the entire SAVE program from being enforced while litigation over the merits continues in the lower courts. The Department of Justice, which is part of the Biden administration, most recently asked the high court for emergency relief.

DEM STAFFER BLASTED FOR SPENDING HABITS AFTER GOING VIRAL FOR THANKING BIDEN FOR ERASING $8K STUDENT DEBT

The Biden administration argued the court went too far when it issued a nationwide injunction, which effectively put a temporary freeze on the SAVE plan.

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey filed numerous successful lawsuits against Biden’s student loan forgiveness efforts. (Getty Images)

FEDERAL COURT BACKS MISSOURI AG MOTION TO BLOCK BIDEN’S ‘ILLEGAL’ STUDENT LOAN HANDOUT PLAN

“Our Administration will continue to aggressively defend the SAVE Plan – which has helped over 8 million borrowers access lower monthly payments, including 4.5 million borrowers who have had a zero dollar payment each month,” a White House spokesperson told Fox News Digital at the time. “And, we won’t stop fighting against Republican elected officials’ efforts to raise costs on millions of their own constituents’ student loan payments.”

The U.S. Supreme Court blocked multiple efforts by President Biden to forgive student loans nationwide. (AP Photo)

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Biden introduced SAVE after the Supreme Court struck down his initial student loan forgiveness plan. The White House said that the SAVE plan could lower borrowers’ monthly payments to zero dollars, reduce monthly costs in half and save those who make payments at least $1,000 yearly. Additionally, borrowers with an original balance of $12,000 or less will receive forgiveness of any remaining balance after making 10 years of payments.

Fox News’ Greg Wehner contributed to this report.

Read the full 8th Circuit ruling here:

Anders Hagstrom is a reporter with Fox News Digital covering national politics and major breaking news events. Send tips to [email protected], or on Twitter: @Hagstrom_Anders.

February 18, 2025
Meta touts plans for ‘world’s longest subsea cable project’

Evercore ISI senior managing director Mark Mahaney reacts to January’s jobs report and reveals his top tech stocks on ‘Varney & Co.’

Meta, the company that owns the popular social media apps Facebook and Instagram, announced plans for “Project Waterworth” a massive subsea cable project.

The project will cover more than 50,000 kilometers, which is more than 31,000 miles, a figure even longer than the circumference of the globe, the company noted.

“Once complete, the project will reach five major continents and span over 50,000 km (longer than the Earth’s circumference), making it the world’s longest subsea cable project using the highest-capacity technology available,” Meta’s announcement, by Gaya Nagarajan and Alex-Handrah Aimé, declares.

META ENDS FACT-CHECKING PROGRAM AS ZUCKERBERG VOWS TO RESTORE FREE EXPRESSION ON FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM

Mark Zuckerberg is seen in attendance during the UFC 298 event at Honda Center on Feb. 17, 2024 in Anaheim, Calif. (Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

The internet infrastructure undertaking “will bring industry-leading connectivity to the U.S., India, Brazil, South Africa, and other key regions,” the company noted.

The endeavor will cost billions of dollars.

“Project Waterworth will be a multi-billion dollar, multi-year investment to strengthen the scale and reliability of the world’s digital highways by opening three new oceanic corridors with the abundant, high speed connectivity needed to drive AI innovation around the world,” the announcement says.

FACEBOOK OWNER INVESTING UP TO $65 BILLION TOWARD AI IN 2025

Rob Luna Enterprise CEO Rob Luna gives his take on Meta’s market success and gives investment advice on ‘Making Money.’

“We’ve driven infrastructure innovation with various partners over the past decade, developing more than 20 subsea cables. This includes multiple deployments of industry-leading subsea cables of 24 fiber pairs – compared to the typical 8 to 16 fiber pairs of other new systems,” the announcement reads.

“With Project Waterworth, we continue to advance engineering design to maintain cable resilience, enabling us to build the longest 24 fiber pair cable project in the world and enhance overall speed of deployment,” it also notes.

META CEO MARK ZUCKERBERG SAYS ‘EVERYTHING I SAY LEAKS’ FROM INTERNAL MEETINGS: ‘IT SUCKS’

Mark Zuckerberg, chief executive officer of Meta Platforms Inc., center, arrives for the 60th presidential inauguration in the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (Shawn Thew/EPA/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

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Meta founder, chairman and CEO Mark Zuckerberg attended President Donald Trump’s inauguration in January.

February 18, 2025
Shiv Jayanti 2025 Wishes in Marathi Text: Share Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti Banners, Images and HD Wallpapers on February 19

Shiv Jayanti, also known as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti, is celebrated on February 19 to mark the birth anniversary of the great Maratha ruler, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Shiv Jayanti 2025, or Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti 2025, falls on Wednesday. Shiv Jayanti is enthusiastically observed, especially in Maharashtra, with processions, cultural programmes, and tributes to his legacy. His ideals of bravery, justice, and good governance continue to inspire generations. As we mark Shiv Jayanti 2025, here’s a collection of Shiv Jayanti wishes in Marathi text, Happy Shiv Jayanti 2025 greetings in Marathi, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti 2025 images in Marathi, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti wishes images in Marathi, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti banners in Marathi, Shiv Jayanti 2025 WhatsApp status messages in Marathi and so on. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti 2025 Date: All About Shiv Jayanti That Marks The Birth Anniversary of the Founder of the Maratha Empire.

On Shiv Jayanti, it is a tradition to share heartfelt wishes and messages honouring Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s legacy. People exchange greetings through social media, messages, and personalised cards, expressing admiration for his bravery, leadership, and vision. Many use this occasion to inspire others with his ideals of justice, self-rule, and unity.

Shiv Jayanti Wishes in Marathi Text

Shiv Jayanti Wishes in Marathi Text (File Image)

Shiv Jayanti Wishes in Marathi Images

Shiv Jayanti Wishes in Marathi Text (File Image)

Shiv Jayanti Wishes in Marathi Quotes

Shiv Jayanti Wishes in Marathi Text (File Image)

19 Feb 2025 Shiv Jayanti Wishes in Marathi

Shiv Jayanti Wishes in Marathi Text (File Image)

Shiv Jayanti Wishes in Marathi Wishes

Shiv Jayanti Wishes in Marathi Text (File Image)

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was a visionary leader, skilled warrior, and the founder of the Maratha Empire, known for his military tactics, administrative reforms, and promotion of Swarajya (self-rule). Quotes, poems, and historical anecdotes about his life are widely shared, fostering a sense of pride and cultural heritage. This tradition strengthens the bond among followers of his legacy and keeps his teachings alive across generations.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 18, 2025 11:04 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).

February 18, 2025