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Cuomo gets key endorsement in possible NYC mayoral campaign against Adams

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Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has responded after a prominent ex-official endorsed him to run for mayor of New York City against incumbent first-termer Eric Adams.

Former state comptroller Carl McCall, 89, released an open letter backing Cuomo on Saturday. Cuomo has not formally declared his candidacy in the race, though he is polling as the top potential challenger to Adams in June’s primary.

In response to the letter, Cuomo, who resigned as governor in 2021 amid scandals connected to COVID-19 nursing home deaths and sexual harassment claims, acknowledged the history that he and his family share with McCall.

“Carl and I have a special bond that starts before me. I first had the pleasure of meeting Carl when I was in my early 20s when he worked with my father, the late Mario Cuomo, as the state’s human rights commissioner and together the two fought to make New York a fairer, more just place for all who live here.”

NEW YORK CITY TO SUE TRUMP ADMIN OVER REVOKED $80M IN FEMA MIGRANT SHELTER FUNDING FOR NEW YORK CITY

Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo arrives to testify before the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic in the Rayburn House Office Building at the U.S. Capitol on Sept. 10, 2024, in Washington, D.C. (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)

“In these divisive and troubling times, his voice is needed more than ever – for his is one of moral clarity, experience and guided by what is right for the people above all else,” Cuomo wrote Saturday.

“Today, in these uncertain times, and after more than four decades of friendship and counsel, I thank him for his faith in me and for his advice, trust and confidence,” Cuomo said. “His sentiments are both humbling and deeply meaningful.”

In his letter, McCall did not cite Adams by name, but he appeared to indirectly slam how the Justice Department on Friday asked a court to dismiss corruption charges against Adams that were filed during the Biden administration. Adams met with President Donald Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, last week, agreeing to work together as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) cracks down on criminal illegal immigrants.

JUSTICE DEPARTMENT MOVES TO DROP CASE AGAINST NYC MAYOR ERIC ADAMS

“Donald Trump wants us to fail as a community. For that reason, the leadership of New York City has rarely, if ever, been as vital as it is today,” McCall wrote. “The Mayor of New York must not only have the competence and capacity to manage the City’s real challenges, but the mayor must have the ability to defend our city and demonstrate a powerful counterbalance to President Trump. The people of New York cannot be represented by someone whose loyalty to the city is compromised — we deserve a Mayor of New York to be for New York.”

New York Democratic gubernatorial candidates Carl McCall and Andrew Cuomo at an event supporting the raising of the state minimum wage on May 2, 2002. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

McCall, a Black elder statesman who once ran in a contentious gubernational primary against Cuomo in 2002, turned on Adams, who is New York City’s second Black mayor. McCall endorsed Adams’ 2021 mayoral campaign.

“I have never publicly urged a candidate to run for office. But I have never before felt it so necessary to use my voice,” McCall wrote Saturday. “For these reasons, I urge Governor Andrew Cuomo to run for Mayor of the City of New York and I offer my full support.”

“I’ve known Andrew for over 40 years. Some might be surprised that I am supporting Andrew so strongly and so early,” the letter continued. “But despite how it is sometimes framed in the press, we were never political adversaries: twenty years ago, we were competing candidates who shared then and share now the same core values of what is right and wrong and sought to make New York a better place.”

“More than anyone else, Andrew is the leader we need and the leader we deserve,” McCall wrote.

Despite still not having declared a mayoral bid, Cuomo released a campaign-style video on Valentine’s Day, in which he told senior citizens, “I missed you,” and declaring that “the strongest four-letter word is not hate, it’s love.”

Democratic politician Carl McCall was elected as New York Comptroller in 1994. (Bob Berg/Getty Images)

Albany politicians have questioned Adams’ independence from Trump after the DOJ asked that the corruption charges be dropped, and some prosecutors resigned amid allegations of a quid pro quo agreement.

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In response, Adams said Friday on X, “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.”

February 16, 2025
Washington DC gets ‘Trump Bump’ in luxury home market

The Connor Group founder and managing partner discusses what needs to happen to unleash the housing market and the impact of regulations on rebuilding California following the wildfires.

The Washington, D.C.-area has been enjoying a “Trump Bump” in its luxury home market.

That so-called “Trump Bump” started around November, when the nation’s capital saw a major increase in demand for luxury homes worth at least $5 million, and has continued into the new year, according to The Agency DC managing partner Nurit Coombe.

“Usually, houses above $5 million in November, for example, a year ago, there were eight sales or so,” she told FOX Business in an interview this week. “Between November, December, we had 20 sales above $5 million, a huge jump, and a lot of cash buyers.”

WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 19: The U.S. Capitol is shown at sunrise the day before President-elect Donald Trump’s 2nd term inauguration January 19, 2025 in Washington, DC. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect Sen. JD Vance (R-OH) (Joe Raedle/Getty Images / Getty Images)

“That’s a lot of sales,” Coombe noted, because the D.C. luxury market “doesn’t have that much inventory.”

BOZEMAN, MONTANA HOME TO A BOOMING REAL ESTATE MARKET

There are less than 30 single-family homes above $5 million – and even less in the ultra-luxury category – on the market in the D.C. area, according to The Agency DC managing partner. She said several luxury homes that had been up for sale for a long time quickly went under contract in November.

More than 60 luxury homes, generally considered those above the $5 million-mark, have sold in the D.C. market since the November election, according to The Agency DC.

“The market right now in DC is very, very strong, very hot, especially in the luxury market, for sure, because as you go up to the top of the price, you don’t have as many buyers, but we actually have more than usual, much more than usual,” Coombe told FOX Business.

Trump’s administration has been a big contributor to the D.C.-area luxury market’s recent surge.

“The administration is a very wealthy administration, and they’re all going to be moving to the area to work from here. You’ve seen in the prior administration, it was not as wealthy, much less wealthy administration people who moved in, and some did not move in really full-time … So here you see a complete shift where we move in the whole family, we’re going to be here full-time, and very wealthy people are moving into the area, so there’s a lot of demand,” she said.

However, they aren’t the only ones providing fuel.

“It’s also the big companies, the attorneys, they’re moving as well. There are people that are more aligned with the new administration, so a lot of that is happening,” Coombe added. “CEOs of companies, their support staff, the attorneys, a lot of consultants for big companies.”

The skyline of Washington, DC, including the US Capitol building, Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial and National Mall, is seen from the air, January 29, 2010. AFP PHOTO / Saul LOEB (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images) (SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images / Getty Images)

Kalorama, Foxhall, Georgetown and Kent are among some of the neighborhoods in the nation’s capital benefiting from the “Trump Bump.”

Some recent sales include a $25 million transaction in Foxhall and a $10.5 million deal in Georgetown, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Demand in the D.C. luxury market has gone up 18% year-over year, according to Coombe.

She also said parts of the broader D.C., Maryland and Virginia area, known as the DMV, have “definitely” seen more luxury demand in recent months as well, such as neighborhoods in Bethesda, North Bethesda and McLean.

Aside from luxury homes, townhouses and condos have been in high-demand.

THESE WERE THE MOST EXPENSIVE HOMES SOLD IN 2024, ACCORDING TO REDFIN

The “government employee situation” is also making the D.C.-area real estate market more dynamic, according to Coombe.

Trump issued an order to bring federal workers back into the office full-time in late January. His administration has offered buyouts to many federal workers to leave their jobs or start doing in-person work, Fox News Digital reported.

DETROIT, MICHIGAN – AUGUST 26: Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump during the National Guard Association of the United States’ 146th General Conference & Exhibition at Huntington Place Convention Center on Augu (Emily Elconin/Getty Images / Getty Images)

“This is an interesting shift to watch, because when you’re looking at government employees, it’s not necessarily the upper echelon, it’s not necessarily the high luxury, it’s the more mid,” Coombe said. “There’s a lot of people who took the incentive the government offered to leave the government and when you see that, a lot of them are not staying in the area.”

Meanwhile, others are moving back to the area because they have to work in the office full-time again, she said.

It “depends on the policies” whether the D.C. market’s “Trump Bump” will continue, according to Coombe.

“Everybody’s watching what’s going to happen with the government employees, what’s going to happen with the international tax that we have, what’s going to happen in the stock market and obviously the mortgage,” she posited. “I think the lenders are sitting tight and watching.”

The nationwide 30-year fixed mortgage rate was 6.87% on average the week of Feb. 13, according to Freddie Mac. That marked a 0.02 percentage-point decline from the prior week.

BENTONVILLE, AR IS GROWING RAPIDLY, WHICH HAS FUELED A HOT REAL ESTATE MARKET

She said that homebuyers in the D.C. area have become accustomed to the current level of rates and that the rates have not really affected D.C.’s luxury market in particular, noting more than 60% of buyers in that category since November have paid “all cash” or “heavy cash.”

D.C. had 5 sales of ultra-luxury homes worth at least $10 million in 2024, according to a recent Compass report. Those sales amounted to $67.85 million combined.

In January, homes in the D.C. and Montgomery County real estate market sold for a median of $552,500, according to the Greater Capital Area Association of Realtors.

February 16, 2025
HUD Secretary creates DOGE Task Force

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner announced a new Department of Government Efficiency task force on Thursday to “eliminate waste, fraud and abuse” at his federal agency.

DOGE revealed that $1.9 billion in HUD money had been recovered as of Friday, saying the funds were misplaced during the Biden administration and were “earmarked for the administration of financial services, but were no longer needed.”

DOGE said it worked with Turner to release the funds, and they are now available for use by the U.S. Department of Treasury.

Turner said HUD launched its own DOGE Task Force to review how the agency is spending taxpayer money. HUD employees will lead the task force with a mission to maximize their budget and efficiency, reporting their findings directly to Turner.

EXPERT REVEALS MASSIVE LEVELS OF WASTE DOGE CAN SLASH FROM ENTITLEMENTS, PET PROJECTS: ‘A LOT OF FAT’

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner was confirmed Feb. 5, 2024. (Getty Images)

“HUD will be detailed and deliberate about every dollar spent to serve rural, tribal and urban communities. Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, we are no longer in a business-as-usual posture, and the DOGE task force will play a critical role in helping to identify and eliminate waste, fraud and abuse and ultimately better serve the American people,” Turner said.

TRUMP TEAM DIGS IN, FINDS MILLIONS OF WASTED DOLLARS AT EPA, HUD WITH DOGE HELP

Turner said he established the task force to comply with President Donald Trump’s executive order to “maximize governmental efficiency and productivity.”

The HUD DOGE Task Force will work to “ensure all programs, processes and personnel are working together to advance the purpose of the department.”

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner launched a Department of Government Efficiency Task Force to review how HUD is spending taxpayer dollars. (Getty/AP)

HUD is responsible for national housing policy and urban development, and its programs include affordable housing programs, community development, homeowner support, fair housing and anti-discrimination enforcement, homelessness services, and affordable housing programs.

Turner said during his announcement Thursday that the DOGE Task Force had already identified over $260 million in savings.

“We have already identified over $260 million in savings, and we have more to accomplish,” Turner said.

As Elon Musk and DOGE comb their way through the federal bureaucracy, some agencies are conducting their own investigations to meet DOGE halfway.

Administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency Lee Zeldin announced on Thursday he had canceled a $50 million environmental justice grant.

Elon Musk listens as President Donald Trump speaks with reporters in the Oval Office at the White House Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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“I canceled a $50 million grant to an organization called the Climate Justice Alliance. They say that climate justice runs through a free Palestine. I think that the American taxpayer wouldn’t want $50 million going to this left-wing advocacy group. It’s canceled,” Zeldin said.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has also committed to cooperating with DOGE to cut wasteful spending at the Department of Defense.

“We will partner with them. It’s long overdue. The Defense Department’s got a huge budget, but it needs to be responsible,” Hegseth told Fox News.

Deirdre Heavey is a politics writer for Fox News Digital.

February 16, 2025
Lori Loughlin lists LA mansion for $16.5 million

Lori Loughlin was sentenced to two months in prison.

Lori Loughlin and her husband Mossimo Giannulli have re-listed their Los Angeles mansion for $16.5 million, a million less than the home’s asking price when it first hit the market last year.

The 60-year-old actress and the 61-year-old fashion designer bought the contemporary farmhouse-style house for $9.5 million in August 2020, the same month when both received prison sentences for their roles in the infamous Varsity Blues college admissions scandal.

The 11,808-square-foot property, which sits on 1.57 acres, is tucked away in the ritzy Ashley Hills neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley’s exclusive gated Hidden Hills community.

Lori Loughlin and husband Mossimo Giannulli have re-listed their Hidden Hills mansion for $16.5 million. (Wayne Ford Photography/Getty/Fox News)

Hidden Hills is home to a number of celebrities, including Kim Kardashian, Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, Lil Wayne and Kevin Durant. Past residents include Madonna, Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne, Jennifer Lopez and Marc Antony and Miley Cyrus, among others.

BILL MURRAY’S FORMER NEW YORK HOME IN SWANKY STAR-STUDDED ENCLAVE HITS THE MARKET FOR $3.69 MILLION

The listing is held by Tomer Fridman of Christie’s International Real Estate and Marc Shevin of Douglas Elliman.

The house was originally built in 2018, but it underwent renovations during Loughlin and Giannulli’s time living there. The two-story home boasts six bedrooms and nine bathrooms.

The couple bought the home in August 2020, the same month that they were sentenced for their participation in the infamous Varsity Blues college admissions scandal. (Wayne Ford Photography / Fox News)

The home features high ceilings and maple wood flooring. (Wayne Ford Photography / Fox News)

One highlight is a striking gray marble fireplace in the living room. (Wayne Ford Photography / Fox News)

The residence is entered through a set of black-painted double French doors that open to a spacious foyer. The neutral-toned interior of the house features an open-concept design with high ceilings and maple wood floors.

The living room offers a striking gray marble fireplace that extends to the ceiling, which includes a number of skylights.

Another highlight is the chef’s kitchen, which includes custom white oak cabinets, marble countertops and high-end appliances, per the listing.

The house boasts a chef’s kitchen with marble counter tops, white oak cabinets and high-end appliances. (Wayne Ford Photography / Fox News)

The home offers six bedrooms and nine bathrooms. (Wayne Ford Photography / Fox News)

The outdoor space features ample seating for entertaining. (Wayne Ford Photography / Fox News)

The primary suite boasts a fireplace, dual bathrooms and views of the nearby Santa Monica Mountains. Other amenities include a movie theater, a home gym and a climate-controlled wine cellar. Sliding doors throughout the home’s first level open to manicured grounds with olive trees, a swimming pool, spa, fire pit, bocce ball court, barbecue and several seating areas.

Loughlin and Giannulli first listed the house in April 2024 but took it off the market last October. Fridman told Mansion Global, “The sellers were uncertain that they wanted to make the move. They are now committed to their next chapter.”

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Other amenities include a pool, spa, fire pit and barbecue. (Wayne Ford Photography / Fox News)

In 2019, the Federal Bureau of Investigations charged Loughlin and Giannulli along with 51 other individuals with paying scam mastermind William Rick Singer to have their children admitted to prestigious colleges through inflated entrance test scores, bribes and other fraudulent claims.

Loughlin and Giannulli initially pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from $500,000 payments to scam-mastermind Singer with the goal of getting their daughters, Isabella and Olivia Jade, recruited onto University of Southern California’s crew team though the two had never participated in the sport.

In May 2020, the couple agreed to plead guilty, like a fellow celebrity in the scandal, Felicity Huffman. The “Desperate Housewives” actress served 11 days of a planned two-week sentence for similar crimes.

Actress Lori Loughlin and husband Mossimo Giannulli, wearing green tie at left, leave the John Joseph Moakley United States Courthouse in Boston on April 3, 2019. (Pat Greenhouse/Boston Globe via Getty Images)

“The Full House” alum and the Mossimo founder were both sentenced on Aug. 21, 2020. Loughlin served two months in prison and paid a $150,000 fine, while Giannulli was sentenced to five months in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Both were placed on supervisory release for two years. Loughlin was ordered to perform 100 hours of community service and Giannulli was sentenced to complete 250 hours of community service.

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Loughlin is currently starring as a police officer in the Amazon Prime show “On Call,” which marks her first major acting role since the scandal.

February 16, 2025
Rubio, Netanyahu affirm ‘common strategy’ for Gaza, set sights on Iran in join statement

Secretary of State Marco Rubio advanced President Donald Trump’s “bold” plan for Gaza during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday.

Rubio and Netanyahu both highlighted that Iran is the single largest obstacle to peace in the region during a Sunday joint statement. While Netanyahu did not comment on Trump’s specific plans for Gaza, Rubio emphasized that the U.S. and Israel cannot return to “tired” strategies that have failed to produce peace in the past.

“The president has also been very bold about his view of what the future for Gaza should be. Not the same tired ideas of the past, but something that’s bold and something that, frankly, took courage and vision in order to outline. And it may have shocked and surprised many, but what cannot continue is the same cycle we’ll repeat over and over again and wind up in the exact same place,” Rubio said.

Netanyahu affirmed that he and Trump share a “common strategy” for Gaza that includes the complete destruction of Hamas as a political and military force. He did not comment specifically on Trump’s stated plans to develop Gaza.

TRUMP’S GAZA RELOCATION PROPOSAL SPARKS HEATED DEBATE AMONG PALESTINIANS: ‘NO LIFE LEFT HERE’

Secretary of State Marco Rubio meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. (Courtesy GPO)

Netanyahu vowed to “open the gates of hell” on Hamas if it did not follow through with releasing every remaining hostage in Gaza.

Rubio and Netanyahu discussed various other threats in the Middle East, including the collapse of Syria’s government and the presence of Hezbollah in Lebanon, among other things.

SAUDI ARABIA CONTRADICTS TRUMP, VOWS NO TIES WITH ISRAEL WITHOUT CREATION OF PALESTINIAN STATE

“The common theme in all these challenges is Iran. It is the single greatest source of instability in the region, behind every terrorist group, behind every act of violence, behind every destabilizing activity, behind everything that threatens peace and stability for the millions of people who call this region home, is Iran,” Rubio said.

President Trump has put forward a “bold” plan to develop Gaza. (Getty Images / Fox News Digital)

“There can never be a nuclear Iran, a nuclear Iran that could then hold itself immune from pressure and from action. That can never happen,” he added.

‘LEVEL IT’: TRUMP SAYS US WILL ‘TAKE OVER’ GAZA STRIP, REBUILD IT TO STABILIZE MIDDLE EAST

The meeting comes more than a week after Trump raised eyebrows with a call to remove Palestinians from Gaza and develop the area under U.S. ownership. Trump said he remains committed to the plan despite heavy pushback.

Palestinians continue to return back to their homes after a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, amid destruction in Gaza City, Gaza on Feb. 2, 2025. (Ali Jadallah/Anadolu via Getty Images)

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“I’m committed to buying and owning Gaza,” Trump said. “As far as us rebuilding it, we may give it to other states in the Middle East to build sections of it, other people may do it, through our auspices. But we’re committed to owning it, taking it, and making sure that Hamas doesn’t move back.”

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 16, 2025
US Iron Dome needs ‘something completely different’ to deal with distant threats, expert suggests

Rocket scientist Ari Sacher explains the capabilities of the Iron Dome missile defense system, why the U.S. needs something more complex and comments on the arms sale to Israel.

President Donald Trump is seeking to bolster the defense of the American homeland with a U.S.-style Iron Dome missile system. However, one expert believes that a system similar to Israel’s is “not needed.”

“So let me tell you at the outset, the president is using the term ‘Iron Dome’ as a metaphor,” rocket scientist Ari Sacher said during an interview on FOX Business’ “Mornings with Maria” Monday. “It’s perfect for defending Israel from Gaza, Lebanon, it is not something that the United States needs very much.”

In President Trump’s first few weeks in office, he signed a slew of executive orders, with one focused on the construction of an American Iron Dome. The order addressed the need for the implementation of a next-generation missile defense shield to protect the homeland “against ballistic, hypersonic, advanced cruise missiles, and other next-generation aerial attacks,” as well as to “further the goals of peace through strength.”

5 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP’S ‘IRON DOME’ PLAN FOR AMERICA

Sacher explained that when it comes to missile defense, the U.S. needs a more extensive system than Israel’s to grapple with distant adversaries.

Rocket scientist Ari Sacher says an American Iron Dome should be different from Israel’s system. (Getty Images)

“To defend the U.S. homeland, as the president wants to do, you need something completely different,” he said. “You’re defending against rockets not launched from Canada or Mexico… you’re defending against rockets that are launched from North Korea, from China, from Russia, potentially, and you need something far more complex than [an] Iron Dome to shoot it down.”

The rocket scientist, who has expertise in missile defense, further detailed how the system could look under President Trump.

“What the president is looking at is something that probably would be called space-based intercept. You bring up a whole bunch of interceptors into outer space, and the whole intercept will take place in outer space. So if you want to call it ‘Iron Dome’ or you want to call it ‘Fred,’ doesn’t make a difference, it’s not [an] Iron Dome.”

‘Varney & Co.’ host Stuart Varney discusses President Donald Trump’s plan for an American ‘Iron Dome.’

However achieved, Sacher believes that the American Iron Dome’s chances of success are “excellent,” and that “the U.S. has a tremendous amount of engineers and gumption.” The expert also pointed out the threats that U.S. missile defense could address with the more complex shield compared to that of the Israeli system.

“We’re talking about Korea and points west, China’s even farther. That’s the threats America has to look at, our near-peer threats.”

He continued, comparing those threats to those of the Middle East.

“Things like Gaza and Hezbollah, that’s just too small,” he said. “That’s a minor league United States of America.”

Sacher also revealed the key challenge when it comes to missile defense systems.

8VC managing partner Joe Lonsdale joins ‘Mornings with Maria’ to provide analysis of President Donald Trump’s eye-opening plan to build an American ‘Iron Dome.’

“There’s a whole new slew of technologies that are needed to do this sort of thing. [The] most difficult one is, believe it or not, not the interceptor, it’s not the launcher. The most difficult thing is [not even] getting it into outer space. The most difficult thing is controlling everything,” he stressed.

He broke down the different elements one needs to be aware of while operating the Iron Dome.

“It’s understanding what we call sky picture,” Sacher stressed. “You got to know when you’re shooting an Iron Dome. You got to know who’s firing on you, how many, which is a good guy, which is a bad guy. ‘What’s that 777 landing at the airport? Can’t shoot that down.’ Imagine doing all of that in outer space. And there’s so much more to take care of and there’s so much more that could go wrong, and you have to take account of all these things.”

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Former Israel finance minister Yuval Steinitz discusses the technology behind the Iron Dome system as Hamas missile attacks continue on ‘Cavuto: Coast to Coast.’

Emphasizing the importance of control, Sacher said that once the situation is resolved in space, the system can be applied for use on Earth.

“If you can solve that problem in outer space, then you can use it on the ground for a whole bunch of other control problems; controlling fires, controlling electric grids, controlling everything… That’s the secret: control.”

READ MORE FROM FOX BUSINESS

February 16, 2025
Perfume Day 2025 Wishes: Send Messages, Fragrance Quotes, HD Images, Greetings and Wallpapers To Celebrate Anti-Valentine’s Week

Anti-Valentine’s Week is here once again, and it brings with it a refreshing break from the typical Valentine’s Day celebrations. Observed annually in the week following Valentine’s Day, Anti-Valentine’s Week is all about those who are single, recently out of relationships, or just looking to detox from all the heart-shaped tokens and public displays of affection that seem to dominate the month of February. Perfume Day is celebrated on the third day of Anti-Valentine’s Week. To celebrate Perfume Day 2025 on February 17, we bring you Perfume Day 2025 wishes, messages, fragrance quotes, HD images, greetings and wallpapers that you can send and celebrate Anti-Valentine Week.

A week dedicated to celebrating independence, self-love, and a little bit of fun, Anti-Valentine’s Week is a time when people embrace their freedom and let go of any negativity left over from past relationships. While some might think of this week as a time for revenge or bitterness, it’s really about letting go of toxic emotions and celebrating personal empowerment. One of the key days in this week is Perfume Day, which falls right after Slap Day and Kick Day. Anti-Valentine Week 2025 Calendar With Full Dates: What Are the 7 Days of Anti-Romance?

Perfume Day is a day to freshen up, both literally and metaphorically. While Valentine’s Day is typically filled with romantic gestures, Perfume Day gives you the perfect opportunity to focus on yourself, embrace the good things in your life, and refresh your spirit with a beautiful scent. It’s a day for singles, those recovering from past relationships, or anyone who simply wants to celebrate the positive aspects of their lives. The idea behind Perfume Day is to remove any lingering bad vibes from the past and embrace the fragrance of new beginnings. February 2025 Holidays and Festivals Calendar: Get Full List of Major Events in the Second Month of the Year.

In the age of digital communication, Perfume Day isn’t just about the scent; it’s also a time for sharing love for oneself on social media. 0n Perfume Day 2025, share these Perfume Day 2025 wishes, messages, fragrance quotes, HD images, greetings and wallpapers.

Perfume Day (Photo Credits: File Image)

WhatsApp Message Reads: Wishing You a Perfume Day Filled With Love, Laughter, and the Sweetest Aromas!

WhatsApp Message Reads: May Your Perfume Day Be As Magical and Enchanting as a Beautiful Fragrance!

WhatsApp Message Reads: Sending You Wishes for a Perfume Day That’s As Refreshing and Invigorating as a Burst of Perfume!

Perfume Day Images (Photo Credits: File Image)

WhatsApp Message Reads: Wishing You a Day Filled With the Essence of Happiness and the Aroma of Joy! Happy Perfume Day!

WhatsApp Message Reads: May Your Perfume Day Be As Delightful and Captivating As the Most Captivating Scent!

Here’s to a Day Filled With Wonderful Fragrances and Unforgettable Moments! Happy Perfume Day!

Anti-Valentine’s Perfume Day is not just about refreshing your scent; it’s about refreshing your soul. It’s a day for self-love, positivity, and empowerment, especially for those who want to leave behind the negativity of past relationships and embrace the fragrance of new possibilities. With social media playing a big role in how we share our thoughts, Perfume Day becomes a chance to spread uplifting messages, engage with friends, and remind ourselves and others that self-love is the best kind of love.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 16, 2025 05:00 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).

February 16, 2025
Inflatable tiny house with space for six is blowing up

We’ve reported on many tiny houses, but none quite like this before. This housing concept is called the Esch 22 Space Station, also nicknamed E22SS PIU!

This mobile living space resembles a space station with its inflatable dome, which can inflate to triple its size. The brains behind this futuristic pad is an architectural firm called 2001, and it was developed for Esch-Alzette in Luxembourg, which is the country’s second-largest city.

Now, I’m not talking about just another cramped mobile tiny home here. This thing can not only grow in size but is transportable, and it’s even eco-friendly. Let’s dive in and see how this space-age dwelling actually works.

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Exterior of the Esch 22 Space Station (2001)

A mobile tiny house with a twist

At its core, E22SS PIU! is a 6-person mobile tiny house that can be easily transported to various locations. In its compact form, it resembles a stainless steel trailer, containing essential amenities such as a bathroom, kitchen and dining space. However, the real magic happens when it reaches its destination.

Interior of the Esch 22 Space Station (2001)

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Unfolding and inflating

Once parked, the E22SS PIU! undergoes a remarkable transformation. Two wings unfold from the trailer, creating a circular platform with a 29.53-foot diameter. This platform is then covered with cork, providing a stable and eco-friendly base. The final step in this metamorphosis is the inflation of a double-shell pneumatic dome on top of the platform.

A model of the exterior of the Esch 22 Space Station (2001)

This inflation process, which can be completed in as little as 15 minutes, turns the compact trailer into generous sleeping quarters capable of accommodating up to six people comfortably.

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Sleeping quarters of the Esch 22 Space Station (2001)

UNSTOPPABLE OFF-ROAD TINY HOUSE CONQUERS ANY TERRAIN, ANYWHERE

Innovative features and sustainability

The E22SS PIU! incorporates several innovative features. A water recycling system ensures that wastewater from sinks and showers is repurposed for toilet flushing, promoting efficient water use. Accessibility has been carefully considered, with an elevator system ensuring the upper level is accessible to people with reduced mobility.

The use of cork for flooring adds an eco-friendly touch to the design, further emphasizing the project’s commitment to sustainability.

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Diagram of the Esch 22 Space Station (2001)

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More than just a tiny home

While the E22SS PIU! may not be a practical solution for everyday tiny living, it serves a greater purpose. Created as part of Esch’s Capital of Culture program, this project is designed to explore various contexts and environments within the city of Esch. It challenges our perceptions of resource usage in architecture and society, stimulating discussions about innovative housing solutions.

Phillippe Nathan, Founder of 2001, an architecture firm developing territories, buildings, spaces and ideas, tells CyberGuy, “E22SSPIU is not a solution, nor does it seek resolution. It is a provocation — an experimental construct that redefines collective living by destabilizing conventional relationships to resources: soil, water and energy. It resists fixity, embedding itself within shifting landscapes, absorbing and reflecting their logic. Less an answer, more a system in flux.”

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Exterior of the Esch 22 Space at night Station (2001)

How to stay in the inflatable house in Luxembourg’s nature reserve

What’s cool is that you can now stay in this unique inflatable house situated at the Ellergronn Nature Reserve. The spacious, inflatable structure is now available to rent. So, it’s your chance to explore the surrounding trails and immerse yourself in a blend of innovative design and natural beauty.

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Kurt’s key takeaways

The Esch 22 Space Station is a bold experiment in mobile architecture. By combining portability with expandability and sustainable features, it pushes the boundaries of what we consider possible in temporary living spaces. While it may not be a practical solution for everyday use, the E22SS PIU! serves as an important conversation starter about the future of housing, resource management and urban development.

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Would you feel comfortable staying in an inflatable tiny home like the E22SS PIU!? Why or why not? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact

For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter

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Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on “FOX & Friends.” Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

February 16, 2025
Trump targets McConnell’s mental acuity as former leader joins Dems against key nominees

President Donald Trump derided former Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., as “not equipped mentally” after he went from being the face of the GOP in the upper chamber to opposing his entire conference and voting with the Democrats on Trump’s key Cabinet nominations in just a matter of months.

“He wasn’t equipped ten years ago, mentally, in my opinion,” Trump told reporters at the White House after McConnell refused to vote in favor of confirming his controversial Health and Human Services (HHS) pick, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

“He’s a, you know, very bitter guy,” Trump added of McConnell, with whom he has had a strained relationship with over the years, including during his previous presidency.

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The GOP’s recent and longest-serving Senate party leader has stood in opposition to his conference multiple times, demonstrating the party’s significant transformation in the age of Trump. (Reuters)

While such a shift from GOP leader to defiant Republican might be optically jarring, the move was unsurprising to Jim Manley, former senior communications advisor and spokesman for former Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and the Senate Democratic Caucus.

“He was living on borrowed time the last couple of years,” he told Fox News Digital of McConnell. Manley speculated that if he hadn’t decided to step down from leadership voluntarily before the 119th Congress, he would have had significant trouble being re-elected. “[I]t’s evident just how exactly out of step he is with the caucus,” he said, noting that it has become “much more conservative.”

In three pivotal Senate votes on Trump’s most vulnerable Cabinet nominees in the last few weeks, McConnell bucked his party. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s nomination was confirmed by a razor-thin margin, 51-50, after Vice President JD Vance was called in to break the tie.

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McConnell and Trump have had a thorny relationship. (Reuters)

Moderate GOP Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, joined him in voting against the controversial defense pick.

However, McConnell was the only Republican to vote against the similarly controversial Director of National Intelligence (DNI) nominee Tulsi Gabbard and HHS pick Kennedy. Even Collins, Murkowski, and several other senators with reputations for being somewhat hesitant got behind them.

“If Senator McConnell was looking to accelerate the deterioration of his legacy as the former Republican Senate leader, he’s succeeded,” a Senate GOP source remarked. They described the Kentucky Republican’s actions as “an attempt to embarrass the president and the Republican Party” and evidence “of why he was no longer fit to lead our conference.”

McConnell released lengthy statements following each vote, explaining his reasoning. He also wished each of them well and committed to working with them.

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Hegseth was confirmed after JD Vance cast a tie-breaking vote. (Omar Marques/Getty Images)

A defense hawk and chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, McConnell was unconvinced that Hegseth or Gabbard were the best national security selections.

As for Kennedy, McConnell recalled his childhood experience with polio and touted the effectiveness of vaccines, of which the now-HHS secretary has been consistently critical.

McConnell did vote in favor of Trump’s other, less-controversial and lesser-known Cabinet nominees.

Republican strategist Matt Dole called the former leader “an enigma.”

“[H]e sought to rule the Republican Caucus with an iron fist when he was leader,” he pointed out.

“That makes his own, lonely, votes stand out as all the more egregious.”

McConnell’s successor, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., reacted to the “no” votes in an interview with Fox News Digital. “I think he knows better than anybody how hard it is to lead a place like the United States Senate, where it takes 60 votes to get most things done, and that you got to have everybody, sort of functioning as a team,” he said.

According to Thune, McConnell “is still active up here and still a strong voice on issues he’s passionate about, including national security, and so when it comes to those issues, he has outsized influence and a voice that we all pay attention to.”

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Thune succeeded McConnell as Senate GOP leader. (Reuters)

He explained that while the conference doesn’t necessarily agree with him, “we respect his positions on these, some of these [nominations], and I know that a lot of big stuff ahead of us, he’s going to be with us. He’s a team player.”

One former top Senate Republican strategist explained the former leader has “nothing to lose” at this point. In fact, they said, the feelings he is expressing about Trump’s most controversial selections actually reflects those of a number of other senators. But they can’t oppose the picks themselves “for fear of retribution by Trump or primary voters that will make a difference on whether or not they remain in power.”

“Not being in leadership can be quite liberating,” GOP strategist John Feehery added.

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According to Grant Reeher, a political science professor at Syracuse University, “I think he wants to make a symbolic statement in favor of an older Reagan-era type of conservatism and a more traditional Republican Party—this is the way he wants to be remembered.”

McConnell’s office declined to comment to Fox News Digital.

Julia Johnson is a politics writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business, leading coverage of the U.S. Senate. She was previously a politics reporter at the Washington Examiner.

Follow Julia’s reporting on X at @JuliaaJohnson_ and send tips to [email protected].

February 16, 2025
President Donald Trump unified the Republican Party, Rep. Marlin Stutzman says

Rep. Marlin Stutzman, R-Ind., has spent the better part of the last decade in Indiana, running various businesses and coaching his sons’ baseball team.

Before that, he had a front-row seat for most of the Obama administration, followed by the meteoric and unprecedented rise of now-President Donald Trump. Stutzman was a part of political history himself, having been one of the original members of the House Freedom Caucus — a group that has grown to be known as a bastion of ideological conservatism and, at times, a thorn in the side of House GOP leaders.

Now he’s back as one of several first-term House Republicans, succeeding Sen. Jim Banks, R-Ind., as a member of a perilously thin House GOP majority.

But according to Stutzman, who previously served in Congress from 2010 to 2017, he sees Republicans as more aligned with each other than before.

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Rep. Marlin Stutzman of Indiana served in Congress from 2010 to 2017 and is back for another term. (Getty Images)

“I feel like it’s different. I don’t think the GOP conference is as far apart — you know, moderates to conservatives — as it was back in 2010,” he told Fox News Digital in an interview.

“I was looking at the membership in 2010, and there were true moderates. I think we’re actually much closer together now than what we were back then. And, of course, we had large majorities. So that creates other challenges. So having a tight majority is not a bad thing at all. It actually makes you unify.”

He credited that re-alignment in large part to Trump, pointing out that he and other Republicans were first elected in 2010 as a backlash against former President Barack Obama rather than in support of the leading party’s agenda.

“We won the 2010 election because it was a reaction to Obama. And in 2020 — I mean, you could say every election is a reaction to the incumbent party, but I think in this case, after the Biden years, the American people elected Trump because they believed he could move the country forward,” Stutzman said.

Stutzman with former House speakers Paul Ryan and Kevin McCarthy in 2012. (Getty Images)

“And so we have a leader that is casting a vision and is clear in his messaging, and it gives us the chance to, you know, coalesce behind his leadership. So that’s a huge help, compared to 2010.”

He also disputed the notion that the Freedom Caucus was founded to be “obstructionist” to House GOP leaders, despite members of the group leading well-known coups against senior Republicans in the past.

“There’s a lot of smart people that wanted to just be part of a group that looked at things from every angle and was really being productive. And so that’s why I wanted to join it, because I wanted to be at a place that I could learn, I could really dive deep and learn from other people and staff that were part of the caucus to really understand the policy, but also talk through the strategy,” he said.

“It was never designed to be an obstructionist caucus. There have been times that it’s definitely been labeled that and accused of that . . . any obstruction was to stop bad things from happening. Not to obstruct the good things from moving forward.”

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Stutzman credits President Trump with unifying Republicans. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

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Stutzman said that being a private citizen running businesses for eight years gave him perspective on the value of consensus-building, allowing him to return to Congress with an emphasis on the “big picture.”

“You’re never going to get everything you want. You know, find a way to support the team and find a way to support us to a yes,” Stutzman reflected.

“Now, look, there’s going to be times when you just say no, And that’s just part of negotiating. But I think the main thing is just fight hard, offer everything you have. But then at the end of the day, let’s take a win and then move on to the next fight.”

Elizabeth Elkind is a politics reporter for Fox News Digital leading coverage of the House of Representatives. Previous digital bylines seen at Daily Mail and CBS News.

Follow on Twitter at @liz_elkind and send tips to [email protected]

February 16, 2025