After declaring Donald Trump "missing in action" at last week's Republican presidential primary debate, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis followed up by taking shot after shot at the former president. He challenged Trump to a one-on-one debate, asserted the GOP front-runner's political shortcomings "turned Georgia and Arizona blue" and accused him of hiding from the campaign trail, a criticism akin to one Republicans levied against Joe Biden in 2020.

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During her 2018 campaign, New York Attorney General Letitia James expressed concerns over then-President Donald Trump's business dealings in her state. Former Trump defense lawyer David Schoen joins CNN's Poppy Harlow to react to James' 2018 comments.

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Hunter Biden, the president's son, pleaded not guilty on Tuesday in a Wilmington, Delaware, federal court to three firearms charges brought by special counsel David Weiss.

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Texas Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar was carjacked in Washington, DC, Monday evening, the congressman said. He was physically unharmed.

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Hunter Biden, President Joe Biden's son, pleaded not guilty to three gun charges related to a firearm purchase he made in 2018 while allegedly using illicit drugs.

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Republican presidential candidate Chris Christie said Tuesday that the Republican National Committee had blocked a planned joint appearance with rival Vivek Ramaswamy on Fox News.

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Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX) speaks to reporters after three armed assailants approached the congressman outside his Washington, DC, home and stole his vehicle, phone and other personal belongings Monday night.

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Former President Donald Trump is back in court as the trial in the New York attorney general's civil fraud lawsuit continues against him, his eldest sons and others. Follow for live news updates.

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Former President Donald Trump is at a New York City courthouse Tuesday for the second day of a civil fraud trial against him, his eldest sons, their companies and Trump Organization executives.

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Conservatives aligned with former President Donald Trump are coming out in opposition to the motion by Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., to vacate House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., over the stopgap government funding bill passed late Saturday.

Gaetz threatened over the weekend that he would file the motion this week, which would aim to effectively oust McCarthy from the speakership after he accused McCarthy of making a "side deal" with Democrats to send additional aid to Ukraine. McCarthy, who said he supports arming Ukraine, but not sending additional money to Ukraine, rejected the notion that a side deal took place with Democrats or President Biden.

"For all the crocodile tears about what may happen later this week about a motion to vacate, working with the Democrats is a yellow brick road that has been paved by Speaker McCarthy," Gaetz said during a floor speech Monday afternoon. "Whether it was the debt limit deal, the [continuing resolution], or now the secret deal on Ukraine." 

"This is swampy log-rolling," Gaetz added. "The American people deserve single subject bills. I get that a lot of folks might disagree with my perspectives on the border or on Ukraine – but can we at least agree that no matter how you feel about Ukraine or the southern border, they each deserve the dignity of their own consideration and should not be rolled together where they might pass, where each individually wouldn't. This is what we're trying to get away from."

HOUSE GOP MEMBERS SEEK TO EXPEL GAETZ AMID RENEWED THREAT TO VACATE HOUSE SPEAKER MCCARTHY

On Saturday, the House and Senate passed a stopgap government funding bill which Biden signed later that evening. The bill – which passed the House in a 335-91 vote – helped avoid a government shutdown, which would have resulted in thousands of federal employees being furloughed, and extended funding through mid-November.

Gaetz ultimately filed a motion to vacate on Monday evening, hours after he said in his floor speech to "stay tuned." The House is poised to vote on the motion Tuesday afternoon after a separate effort to kill the motion failed.

His actions garnered pushback from Republicans, including those who have traditionally been aligned with Trump.

GAETZ BLOWS UP AT MCCARTHY IN CLOSED-DOOR HOUSE GOP MEETING: 'FIREWORKS'

"Yes, that is correct," conservative commentator Mark Levin said Monday. "The guy who says McCarthy is the Democrats' speaker is plotting and scheming with the radical Democrats to take out a Republican speaker who is more conservative than he is (McCarthy backed the Freedom Caucus CR and the cuts and border security, which Gaetz and 4 others killed)." 

"There are now numerous reports that Gaetz is doing this not because he insists that McCarthy interfered with an ethics investigation of him, which a speaker cannot do and has never done," Levin continued. "I might add that after two years it's about time the Ethics Committee release its report and either lift the cloud over Gaetz or clear him. Gaetz should demand this as well."

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., added that, while she shared substantive concerns about McCarthy's leadership with Gaetz, she wouldn’t support a motion to vacate.

"What I see is a system of failure and a federal government that serves the world first and America last and my desire for wanting to fix it is why I ran for Congress in the first place," the Georgia Republican said. "So I agree with Matt Gaetz that things must change, but I don’t agree that a motion to vacate will effectively create the changes needed to solve the intentional systemic failure that create the annual never-ending CR’s and Christmas omnibus mega spending packages."

"A [motion to vacate] of our speaker gives the upper hand to the Democrats, during dangerous times while we have been handed over under the presidency of an ailing old man ridden with dementia, whom has spent over 50 years in Washington seats of power corruptly enriching himself and his family by delivering policy deals to foreign investors," she added.

REP. BYRON DONALDS SAYS MCCARTHY IS 'IN TROUBLE' AFTER BUDGET DEAL: 'WE DIDN'T GET ANYTHING'

Additionally, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich suggested GOP leadership could expel Gaetz from the House Republican Conference and eliminate his committee assignments.

"Is Gaetz secretly an agent for the Democratic Party? No one else is doing as much to undermine, weaken and cripple the House GOP," Gingrich said in a social media post.

And Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Calif., who was endorsed by Trump during the 2022 election, blasted the effort to file a motion to vacate as counterproductive and self-destructive during a floor speech that preceded Gaetz's on Monday.

"We are faced with the threat that a Republican will move to vacate the Republican speaker of the House. It will only require four other Republican members to join the Democrats to achieve this result," McClintock said. "The immediate effect will be to paralyze the House indefinitely because no other business can be taken up until a replacement is elected."

"Just when we are on the verge of completing the appropriations process, that in turn will finally initiate discussions with the Senate that are vital to change the dangerous path that our country is on – I cannot conceive of a more counterproductive and self-destructive course than that," the California Republican added. "The supreme irony is that this is being initiated by self-described conservatives."

Also on Monday, former senior White House adviser Stephen Miller said McCarthy is "not going to be going anywhere" and called for unity among Republicans to solve border security issues.

"I think at this point in time, it's very clear that Kevin is not going to be going anywhere," Miller said in an interview with FOX Business. "He has the support of 218 members and I understand and I need to – everybody rise above. I understand all the emotions that are playing out right now." 

"But for the love of God, we are losing this country and we are losing it fast," he continued. "Republicans need to unify around the twin mission of stopping the open border invasion and stopping a government that has been weaponized against conservatives and Christians and anyone who does not subscribe to the tenets of the radical left."

Gaetz's office did not respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

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Democrat Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser complained about the nation's capital losing about 400 police officers in the past several years, just days before Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, was carjacked at gunpoint. 

Bowser had pleaded that the district needs more officers at a recent press conference

"We don’t have the officers that we need, and sadly we’ve lost three to four hundred officers in the last four years," she said. "We haven’t had officers in our schools, and we have policies that make it difficult to recruit new officers."

Cueller said he was parking his car in D.C.’s Navy Yard neighborhood, a short distance from the U.S. Capitol Monday evening, when three armed assailants approached and stole his vehicle. 

TEXAS CONGRESSMAN HENRY CUELLAR CARJACKED AT GUNPOINT IN WASHINGTON, DC

Police said Cuellar told them the suspects swarmed his vehicle, pointed firearms in his face and demanded the keys to his car. A witness also spotted the suspects, who are said to have been wearing masks and dressed in black clothing. Police said the suspects were about 5’10" Black males "who may have been around the age of 16 due to their build." 

The congressman was not harmed. U.S. Capitol Police, which took over the investigation, said Tuesday that authorities were still searching for the three carjacking suspects. 

"We have a number of leads," U.S. Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger said in a statement Tuesday. "Our investigators are focused, determined and working around the clock."

The stolen white Toyota Crossover was recovered with the assistance of the Metropolitan Police Department along the 2600 block of Douglas Road, SE, Capitol police said. It had been abandoned. Capitol police Crime Scene Technicians processed the scene, and the FBI is also assisting in the investigation. 

Bowser later issued a statement on the carjacking. 

KENTUCKY SEN. RAND PAUL SAYS STAFF MEMBER WAS ‘BRUTALLY ATTACKED’

"There is no higher priority than the safety of our residents and those who work in and visit D.C.," Bowser said, according to the Washington Post. "We are using every tool available to reduce crime and support those tasked with enforcing the law and holding those accountable who break it. Although we are seeing some positive trends in recent crime statistics, we are troubled when any individual is in a situation that makes them feel unsafe in our city. We are grateful for the work of MPD in its response, and we will continue to identify commonsense solutions necessary to fill any gaps in our public safety ecosystem, including proposing and supporting policies that ensure we are also addressing long-term, complex public safety challenges." 

In June 2020, Bowser had Black Lives Matter painted in bright yellow letters on the street that runs into the White House following George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis, while former President Donald Trump was in office. Protesters soon added the message "defund the police" to the street mural, as was seen in aerial images taken above the nation’s capital at the time. 

Bowser notably changed her tune when she was up for re-election, backing away from the defunding stance promoted by progressive Democrats in the district. 

D.C. has seen 216 homicides as of Oct. 3, marking a 38% increase since last year. 

Instances of robbery increased by 68% compared to 2022, while motor vehicle theft soared by 106%, according to data on the D.C. Metro Police Department's website. 

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House lawmakers are moving toward ousting Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., from power after weeks of disarray within the Republican conference over government spending. 

Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., introduced a measure against McCarthy known as a motion to vacate on Monday night, accusing him of breaking promises he made to win the speaker's gavel in January.

Eleven Republicans joined all Democrats in voting against killing that measure on Tuesday afternoon. They are: Gaetz, Reps. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., Matt Rosendale, R-Mont., Victoria Spartz, R-Ind., Nancy Mace, R-S.C., Ken Buck, R-Colo., Warren Davidson, R-Ohio, Eli Crane, R-Ariz., Cory Mills, R-Fla., Bob Good, R-Va., and Tim Burchett, R-Tenn.

Lawmakers are beginning an hour of debate before voting on the actual motion to vacate – and if that succeeds, they must keep voting until a new one is selected via simple majority of the chamber. 

"Chaos is Speaker McCarthy. Chaos is somebody who we cannot trust with their word," Gaetz said as McCarthy looked down at his lap.

McCarthy ally Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., chair of the House Rules Committee, received a standing ovation from most Republicans after speaking in McCarthy's favor.

Democrats signaled early on Tuesday that they would not be inclined to help McCarthy. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said before the vote, "Democrats "are ready to find bipartisan common ground. Our extreme colleagues have shown no willingness to do the same. They must find a way to end the House Republican Civil War."

In January, it took 15 rounds of voting until McCarthy was elected. 

McCarthy angered hardliners over the weekend when he passed a short-term spending bill known as a continuing resolution (CR) to keep the government open for 45 days, in order to avert a government shutdown and give lawmakers more time to cobble together 12 individual spending bills.

Ninety House Republicans voted against the CR on Saturday, arguing that it was a "clean" extension of the previous Democratically-held Congress' policies. But the speaker's previous attempts to put a CR on the table that would cut spending for its short duration were upended by several of those same conservatives who were opposed to any such measure on principle. 

The frustration at the small number of rebels was palpable among House Republicans on Tuesday morning. 

"This is a distraction from what we should be focusing on, which is the appropriations process," Main Street Caucus Vice Chair Stephanie Bice, R-Okla., said. "This is all about Matt Gaetz. It's not about Kevin McCarthy. Matt Gaetz is using the American people as pawns in his narcissistic game of charades."

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Vice President Kamala Harris will swear in Democratic strategist Laphonza Butler, the late-Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s interim replacement, at 3 p.m. ET Tuesday at the Capitol in Washington, D.C.

Butler was previously an adviser to both Hillary Clinton and Harris’ presidential campaigns in 2016 and 2020, respectively.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom tapped Butler, the president of EMILY's List — a Democratic political action committee (PAC) dedicated to electing pro-abortion Democratic women to office — for the vacant interim Senate seat late Sunday evening, just two days after Feinstein’s death.

Butler will be the only Black woman serving in the U.S. Senate and the first openly LGBTQ+ lawmaker to represent the Golden State in the upper chamber.

NEWSOM NAMES LAPHONZA BUTLER, FORMER KAMALA HARRIS ADVISER, TO FILL FEINSTEIN'S VACANT SENATE SEAT

Newsom, facing pressure to appoint someone quickly to keep the Senate’s Democratic majority, previously vowed to select a Black woman. He faced criticism after appointing then-Secretary of State Alex Padilla to replace then-Sen. Kamala Harris’ position before she assumed the vice presidency. There have been no Black women in the Senate since Harris left, Newsom noted.

Butler will finish out the remainder of Feinstein's term in Washington, D.C., ahead of the 2024 election. In a statement, the governor described Butler as an "advocate for women and girls, a second-generation fighter for working people, and a trusted adviser to Vice President Harris."

LONGTIME SEN. DIANNE FEINSTEIN PASSES AT AGE 90

According to polls conducted by UC Berkeley and the Los Angeles Times last month, Rep. Adam Schiff is the leading candidate in the primary for Feinstein's seat with 20%, followed by Rep. Katie Porter with 17% and Rep. Barbara Lee and James Bradley trailing behind at 7%. The poll featured 6,030 California voters.

It's unclear if Butler will run to take on the seat full-time. In her first interview since Newsom's appointment, she told the Los Angeles Times, "I have no idea." 

"I genuinely don’t know," Butler told the outlet. "I want to be focused on honoring the legacy of Sen. Feinstein. I want to devote my time and energy to serving the people of California. And I want to carry her baton with the honor that it deserves, and so I genuinely have no idea."

GOP LAWMAKER ISSA DEMANDS ANSWERS FROM NEWSOM, SENATE LEADERS ON LAPHONZA BUTLER'S MARYLAND RESIDENCY

Since the announcement of Butler's appointment, some GOP lawmakers have raised concerns about her residency status. 

Butler's home address is listed in Silver Spring, Maryland, and Rep. Darrell Issa, D-Calif., questioned the constitutionality of her ability to take office while residing in a different state than the one she will represent in a letter sent to Newsom and other lawmakers on Monday.

Newsom's office told Fox News Digital that Butler moved to the suburbs near Washington, D.C., when she became EMILY's List president in 2021, and that she has a house in California. The governor's office added that Butler will re-register to vote in California before she is sworn in.

"The quid pro quo of agreeing to pay your California taxes in return for becoming a senator is not an acceptable bargain," Issa said. "That's a privilege the rest of us don't get."

Fox News' Landon Mion and The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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The Biden administration on Tuesday imposed sanctions on a multimillion-dollar China-based network and more than two dozen individuals and entities involved in the manufacture, distribution and international trafficking of fentanyl and other illicit drugs.

The sanctions target a major Chinese precursor chemicals syndicate with touchpoints in the United States and Canada that supplies dozens of U.S.-based drug traffickers, as well as cartels in Mexico and dark web dealers.

The sanctions, effective immediately, bar the individuals from using the U.S. financial system and stops all U.S. citizens from transacting with them.

The Treasury Department designated 28 individuals and entities involved in the international proliferation of fentanyl, as well as other illicit drugs such as methamphetamine and MDMA precursors.

BORDER PATROL SEIZED ENOUGH FENTANYL TO KILL ENTIRE US POPULATION THIS FISCAL YEAR

U.S. attorneys for the Southern District of Florida and the Middle District of Florida also indicted individuals involved.

"Treasury is taking sweeping action with our colleagues in law enforcement to expose and disrupt a network responsible for manufacturing and distributing illicit drugs, including fentanyl and other substances that take thousands of American lives each year," Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo said in a statement Tuesday. "Today’s action from OFAC and IRS-CI reflects how we will swiftly use all of our tools to counter the global threat posed by the illicit drug trade."

WHITE HOUSE ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL $450 MILLION IN FUNDING TO FIGHT OPIOID EPIDEMIC

The Treasury Department also expanded its scope of designations to target those involved in the trafficking of xylazine, also known as "tranq," a powerful sedative for veterinary use that has been increasingly used by narcotics traffickers who mix the substance with fentanyl, producing a deadly mixture.

An official told Fox News Digital that zylazine has been coined the "zombie drug" because it can cause severe wounds in users, including necrosis – the rotting of human tissue – which may lead to amputation.

The designations target 12 entities and 13 individuals based in China, and two entities and one individual based in Canada.

The syndicate used crypto and virtual currency. While the Biden administration does not have an exact number for how much product the network was selling, an official said crypto transactions alone hit well into the millions of dollars.

The Treasury Department said it has identified and blocked more than a dozen virtual currency wallets associated with these actors. Treasury said the blocked wallets received millions of dollars over hundreds of deposits.

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House Democratic leaders will not save Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., if Republicans move to remove his gavel, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said on Tuesday.

"Given their unwillingness to break from MAGA extremism in an authentic and comprehensive manner, House Democratic leadership will vote yes on the pending Republican Motion to Vacate the Chair," Jeffries said in a letter to colleagues after a lengthy caucus meeting behind closed doors.

Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., a staunch critic of McCarthy, first issued a motion to vacate the Speaker on Monday night over what he says are broken promises in the government spending patch.

McCarthy likely has to rely on Democrats to save his job with at least five Republicans expected to vote in favor of ousting him. House Democratic caucus members might still vote to keep McCarthy in his post, even if Democratic leaders won't save him.

ROSENDALE SAYS HE'LL VOTE FOR MOTION TO OUST MCCARTHY, AS PATH FOR SPEAKER TO KEEP GAVEL NARROWS

"We confront a serious, solemn and sober moment," Jeffries' letter stated. "The vote that the House will cast this week in connection with a Motion to Vacate the Chair is not about any one individual. Our responsibility as Members of Congress relates to the Constitution, the principle of good governance and the people we are privileged to serve. Nothing more, and nothing less."

"In that regard, House Democrats remain willing to find common ground on an enlightened path forward. Unfortunately, our extreme Republican colleagues have shown no willingness to do the same," it continued. "It is now the responsibility of the GOP members to end the House Republican Civil War."

On the House floor Tuesday, a motion to table Gaetz's motion commenced with 15 minutes to cast their votes. The motion was shot down, with several Republicans voting not to table it. 

HOUSE GOP MEMBERS SEEK TO EXPEL GAETZ AMID RENEWED THREAT TO VACATE HOUSE SPEAKER MCCARTHY

McCarthy can only afford to lose a handful of GOP votes, and if Gaetz's motion succeeds, all proceedings on the House floor will freeze and the House will then be required to conduct successive roll call votes until a new speaker is elected.

Five GOP lawmakers – Reps. Matt Rosendale, R-Mont., Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., Bob Good, R-Va., Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., and Eli Crane, R-Ariz. – have said they are voting against keeping McCarthy as speaker. Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., has strongly suggested he would do so as well. 

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FIRST ON FOX: Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., is introducing legislation to allow states to build their own border barriers, as well as prosecute and deport illegal immigrants – just as Texas is battling with the Biden administration over barriers it has set up at the Mexican border.

The State Border Defense Act would allow California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas to construct barriers on federal lands or water along the southern border. The bill also allows states to prosecute and remove illegal immigrants from the country. The bill expands on legislation introduced last year and empowers the states by allowing them to enforce federal immigration law, effectively nullifying a 2012 Supreme Court case that significantly limited the ability of states to be involved in enforcement.

The legislation comes as Texas is battling with the Biden administration over its efforts to build a buoy barrier in the Rio Grande. The Department of Justice said the barrier violated federal law, raised humanitarian concerns, and presented "serious risks" to public safety and the environment.

MIGRANT NUMBERS HIT HIGHEST EVER RECORDED IN ONE MONTH: SOURCES

A federal judge initially ordered the barrier to be removed, but that order has been put on hold by an appeals court. However, it is not the only challenge Texas is facing. Images last month showed Border Patrol agents cutting through barbed wire – set up by Texas – in order to allow migrants to be processed. Arizona last year had set up shipping containers as a makeshift border barrier but removed them amid a legal challenge from the administration.

The Biden administration, meanwhile, has largely ended border wall construction, which increased dramatically under the Trump administration.

As those challenges continue, numbers at the border are skyrocketing. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) sources told Fox News last week that total migrant encounters for September have exceeded 260,000, which is the highest monthly total ever recorded. That is after multiple days of more than 11,000 encounters a day – which exceeds records set during the days leading up to the expiration of Title 42 in May.

"Our southern border is overrun," Hawley told Fox News Digital. "Joe Biden’s dangerous open-border policies are making it worse every single day, leaving states like Missouri to deal with the consequences. Since the federal government refuses to enforce our immigration laws, states must be able to."

JUSTICE DEPARTMENT FILES INJUNCTION AGAINST TEXAS OVER FLOATING BORDER BARRIER IN RIO GRANDE

State involvement in the migrant crisis is growing as an issue. While Texas and Arizona have been directly impacted, there have been growing noises from other states – including Democrat-run states and cities like New York and Chicago, which have called for more action from the federal government.

While those calls have largely been limited to calling for more funding and work authorizations for migrants, some have started to call for additional border security efforts to stop them from coming into the U.S. in the first place.

NEW YORK GOV. HOCHUL WANTS TO ‘LIMIT’ WHO CROSSES BORDER, SAYS IT'S ‘TOO OPEN RIGHT NOW’ 

"Well, we want them to have a limit on who can come across the border. It is too open right now," New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said on Sunday. "People coming from all over the world are finding their way through simply saying they need asylum."

"We are always so proud of the fact that New York has the Statue of Liberty in our harbor. We are one of the most diverse places on Earth because of our welcoming nature, and it's in our DNA to welcome immigrants. But there has to be some limits in place," she said.

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FIRST ON FOX: Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Mont., will vote for a motion to vacate against House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., on Tuesday, he said in a statement to Fox News. 

Rosendale told Fox News in a statement that among the reasons for his vote are the fact that McCarthy worked with Democrats on the debt limit deal earlier this year, McCarthy not negotiating with the Senate over the NDAA, and McCarthy pushing a continuing resolution to avert a government shutdown over the weekend. 

"Instead of putting pressure on the Senate, Kevin McCarthy sold every American short when he brought forward a clean continuing resolution and suspended the rules of the House to pass a bill to continue Nancy Pelosi’s budget and Joe Biden’s policies," Rosendale said. "Which is why every single Democrat in the House, but one, supported the measure. Now, we are told that Speaker McCarthy has negotiated, in secret, with President Biden to provide additional funding for Ukraine, violating the trust and wishes of the Conference and most Americans. "

Rosendale added, "Unfortunately, Kevin McCarthy violated his promise to the American people and the Republican Conference by working against them repeatedly and supporting ploys to aid the Left. This demonstration of failed leadership is exactly why I plan on supporting the motion to vacate this afternoon."

HOUSE GOP MEMBERS SEEK TO EXPEL GAETZ AMID RENEWED THREAT TO VACATE HOUSE SPEAKER MCCARTHY

MCCARTHY SAYS ONLY FIVE GOP VOTES NEEDED TO FIRE HIM, DOESN'T EXPECT MUCH HELP FROM DEMS

Rosendale had not previously announced his position on a motion to vacate, though in comments to reporters he made clear he was entertaining the idea of ousting the speaker. 

Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., brought a "motion to vacate" against McCarthy to the House floor Monday. That forces the House to vote on whether to keep the speaker, and House GOP leadership teed up the issue for Tuesday afternoon. 

The vote on the motion to vacate is expected to be preempted by a "motion to table," brought by one of McCarthy's allies. If the motion to table succeeds, McCarthy would be safe, but if it fails, it would set up a live vote on whether to boot McCarthy from the speakership. 

McCarthy allies, meanwhile, argue that ousting McCarthy will put a pause on Republicans' efforts to pass appropriations bills and hand leverage to Democrats. 

With Republicans' extremely thin majority — and Democrats appearing united to vote to oust McCarthy — every vote will be key for McCarthy. 

It is possible some moderate Democrats would vote "present" or even vote to save McCarthy, helping the speaker overcome the defections from his own party. But House Democratic Caucus Vice Chair Ted Lieu, D-Calif., told Fox News flatly, "no" when asked if he expects any Democrats to vote to save McCarthy. 

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Rep. Anthony D'Esposito, R-N.Y., an ally to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, did not mince words when it comes to Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., ahead of a vote over whether to vacate the speakership.

"I prefer, you know, common sense over chaos. I think that we should be focused on governance rather than grandstanding, and the fact that we have one a--hole that is holding us up and holding America up is a real problem," D'Esposito said in an interview with Fox News Digital on Tuesday. 

Asked if he felt Gaetz introduced a motion to vacate as part of a personal vendetta against McCarthy, D'Esposito said, "With Matt Gaetz, absolutely. It's definitely personal."

"He's more focused on raising money, also going after the speaker of the House, than focused on putting good policy in place and moving this country forward," D'Esposito said. "We have 45 days to put appropriation bills on the floor and pass them and that's what we should be doing." 

MCCARTHY VOWS HE WON’T MAKE ANY DEALS WITH DEMOCRATS TO SAVE HIS SPEAKERSHIP

Gaetz's office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

Addressing the issue of McCarthy's speakership, Fox News Digital asked D'Esposito whether House Republicans had enough votes to table a motion to vacate. 

"It's a work in progress, and we'll see how it goes," D'Esposito told Fox News Digital, "I think that anybody, anybody who has been around Speaker McCarthy before knows that he's a fighter and that you never give up on him, and he never gives up." 

House Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., reportedly told the House Democratic Caucus to vote to remove McCarthy, and said Democrats should vote against any attempt to delay a motion to vacate. Gaetz has claimed McCarthy will be forced to work with Democrats to save his speakership, as the GOP maintains a majority by a razor-thin margin. 

The initial vote on McCarthy, which is to table the Gaetz’s vacate proposal, not to actually vacate, is expected at about 2 p.m. Tuesday.

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FIRST ON FOX: A bipartisan group of lawmakers penned a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai urging her to engage with European leaders to prevent environmental regulations from harming U.S. industry.

The coalition of 28 House lawmakers — led by Rep. Michelle Steel, R-Calif., and joined by GOP Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., Ways and Means Chair Jason Smith, R-Mo., and six Democrats including Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif. — expressed concern that the European Union's (EU) so-called "Deforestation-free Regulation" (EUDR) will create burdensome and costly requirements, limiting U.S. exporters' market access.

"The United States does not have a deforestation problem," the lawmakers wrote in the letter sent Friday and obtained by Fox News Digital. "The industry needs your engagement with the EC and EU member states to insist upon EUDR implementation that focuses on countries in which illegal deforestation is occurring, and more accurately aligns regulatory and documentation requirements with the U.S. supply chain and production practices."

"The United States has a strong foundation in sustainable forest management and supports international efforts to address deforestation," they continued. "However, without recognition of different regional factors that drive deforestation, the EU’s regulation imposes impractical requirements that would unnecessarily restrict trade for products from low-risk countries that have responsibly managed supply chains, such as the United States."

BIDEN ADMIN'S ECO REGULATIONS WILL DEVASTATE ECONOMY: MANUFACTURERS, BUSINESS GROUPS

Earlier this year, the EU approved the EUDR in an effort to protect forests around the world and combat climate change. The regulations, which went into effect in late June and which companies must be in compliance with by late 2024, force companies to confirm that their products crossing into the EU have been produced on land that has not been subject to "deforestation or forest degradation" after 2020.

Under the rules, companies that export a wide variety of products — including palm oil, cattle, soy, coffee, cocoa, timber, rubber, beef, furniture and chocolate — will be forced to conduct "strict due diligence" on their supply chains.

BIDEN ADMIN BACKS DOWN ON KEY ECO REGULATIONS AFTER SUPREME COURT RULING

According to the letter last week, the U.S. paper and pulp industry, which produces everything from baby diapers and feminine hygiene products to boxes and packaging, would be greatly impacted by the rules. They noted the industry creates $350 billion in manufacturing output, is among the top 10 manufacturing employers in 43 states and employs more than 925,000 people directly while supporting more than 2 million indirect jobs.

At the same time, America's forests are growing in size, they wrote. The U.S. Forest Service data shows more than a billion trees are planted on an annual basis in the U.S., and the total national forest area has grown by 18 million acres over the last 30 years.

"It is imperative that you engage with the EC and EU member states to ensure that paper and pulp producers and their thousands of workers throughout the United States will not be harmed by these EU regulations," they concluded in their letter to Tai.

Steel and the other lawmakers added that the European Commission, the EU's executive arm, should identify the U.S. as a "low risk" origin of deforestation. If not, they said the requirements could lead to "higher prices" for consumers and lead to job losses.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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The House will vote on a Rep. Matt Gaetz motion to try to oust Kevin McCarthy as speaker Tuesday as the Republican leader remains defiant.

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Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, spoke on the House floor to defend Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., as they debate a motion to remove him from the speakership.

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Butler was the president of EMILY's List and is the third Black woman to ever serve in the U.S. Senate.

NBC News Politics

The House of Representatives has failed a vote to table the motion that would remove Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., from the speakership. NBC News' Garrett Haake reports from Capitol Hill on what comes next and who may replace McCarthy.

NBC News Politics

Here are the next steps if the House votes in favor of ousting Kevin McCarthy as speaker. It would be the first time the House has voted a speaker out of office.

NBC News Politics

Hunter Biden pleaded not guilty to federal gun charges in a Delaware court. His attorneys have filed a motion to dismiss the charges, arguing a previous plea deal should be honored.

NBC News Politics

A case involving the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is one of several conservative-backed efforts before the justices aimed at weakening federal agencies.

NBC News Politics

Hunter Biden is expected to plead not guilty to three firearms charges during his arraignment in a federal court in Delaware on Tuesday/

NBC News Politics

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker fired off a letter to President Joe Biden about an “untenable” migrant crisis in the state.

NBC News Politics

Hunter Biden is in a Delaware court for his arraignment on gun charges, which his attorneys argue are politically motivated. Biden is expected to plead not guilty.

NBC News Politics

A judge has imposed a limited gag order on President Donald Trump after he disparaged a key court staffer during his civil business fraud trial

ABC News: Politics

Former union leader and Democratic insider Laphonza Butler has been sworn in as the newest member of the U.S. Senate, replacing California Sen. Dianne Feinstein after her death and becoming only the third Black female senator in history

ABC News: Politics

Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s ability to remain in leadership is now seriously at risk after the House voted to move ahead with an effort by hard-right Republican critics to oust him

ABC News: Politics

Judge in New York fraud case bars Trump from making personal attacks on court staff after he disparages his law clerk

ABC News: Politics

Laphonza Butler sworn in to replace late California Sen. Feinstein, becomes third Black female senator in US history

ABC News: Politics

Donald Trump’s court appearances are no longer distractions from his campaign to return to the White House

ABC News: Politics

Republicans in two states will be using caucuses to make their presidential picks next year after GOP-led legislatures canceled presidential primary elections

ABC News: Politics

Utah U.S. Rep. John Curtis says he will not run to succeed Mitt Romney in the Senate

ABC News: Politics

Most Pennsylvania lawmakers want to move their state’s presidential primary election up from late April

ABC News: Politics

A new report says the U.S. Census Bureau’s career staffers valiantly conducted the 2020 census under unprecedented challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic

ABC News: Politics

House Republicans failed to table to table Rep. Matt Gaetz's resolution to remove House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

Politics - CBSNews.com

Rep. Matt Gaetz introduced a motion to vacate the chair Monday, two days after Speaker Kevin McCarthy relied on Democrats to pass a short-term spending bill and avert a shutdown.

Politics - CBSNews.com

The Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday in a case involving the CFPB and how it is funded.

Politics - CBSNews.com

The Pentagon's chief financial officer warned Congress last week that "nearly all available security assistance funding for Ukraine" has been "exhausted."

Politics - CBSNews.com

Hard-right Republicans are making good on a threat to remove House Speaker Kevin McCarthy as Rep. Matt Gaetz moved to oust him Monday. Now, both McCarthy and Gaetz need to woo Democrats to vote in their favor. CBS News' Nikole Killion reports from Washington.

Politics - CBSNews.com

"Three guys came out of nowhere and they pointed guns at me," Rep. Henry Cuellar said.

Politics - CBSNews.com

Former President Donald Trump is back in a Manhattan courtroom for the second day of his trial on civil charges.

Politics - CBSNews.com

"The federal government's lack of intervention and coordination at the border has created an untenable situation for Illinois," Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker wrote.

Politics - CBSNews.com

Hunter Biden, President Joe Biden's son, will appear in person in a Delaware court Tuesday morning to be arraigned on three felony charges related to his possession of a firearm. He is expected to plead not guilty. CBS News' Catherine Herridge reports from the courthouse.

Politics - CBSNews.com

The civil fraud trial against former President Donald Trump and the Trump Organization started Monday in a Manhattan courtroom. Outside the courtroom, Trump continued to criticize both the New York attorney general and the presiding judge overseeing the case. CBS News' Robert Costa reports from New York

Politics - CBSNews.com

The House voted down a motion to table a resolution that would remove House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) from his leadership position.

Politics

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) on Monday introduced the resolution to remove Kevin McCarthy from his job as House speaker after weeks of threatening to do so.

Politics

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) on Monday introduced a resolution to remove McCarthy from his leadership position, after weeks of threatening to do so.

Politics

A lawsuit against “2000 Mules” moves forward — and threatens to expose the fundamental dishonesty behind the movie.

Politics

Trump returned to court Tuesday for the second day of a civil trial in a $250 million lawsuit filed against him and his company by New York’s attorney general.

Politics

One party has proved objectively more chaotic and has struggled mightily to govern. Yet Americans don’t seem particularly bothered.

Politics

One party has proved objectively more chaotic and has struggled mightily to govern. Yet Americans don’t seem particularly bothered.

Politics

Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer will travel to China, Japan and South Korea with two other Democratic senators and three Republicans to advance U.S. interests.

Politics

A guide to five ways the process to oust McCarthy could play out

Politics

It has become much harder to lead the party against leadership over the decades.

Politics

The justices heard a challenge to the way Congress funded the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau but seemed persuaded that it was constitutional.

NYT > U.S. > Politics

Recent incendiary statements by the former president come at a time when his supporters are already angry over his indictments.

NYT > U.S. > Politics

The Republican push to use military force in Mexico against drug cartels started in the Trump White House. He has plans to make the idea a reality in 2025.

NYT > U.S. > Politics

After the speaker publicly blamed the shutdown on House Democrats, minority leader Hakeem Jeffries advised his party to vote against him.

NYT > U.S. > Politics

Firestorms over Chinese investments, like a battery factory in Green Charter Township, are erupting as officials weigh the risks of taking money from an adversary.

NYT > U.S. > Politics

The police recovered Representative Henry Cuellar’s vehicle after it was stolen from the Navy Yard in Washington. He was unharmed.

NYT > U.S. > Politics

The number will depend on how many House members show up to vote.

NYT > U.S. > Politics

Republicans focused on ousting Speaker Kevin McCarthy aren’t in agreement about who they want to replace him.

NYT > U.S. > Politics

Representative Matt Gaetz is facing a House Committee inquiry into allegations of sexual misconduct and misuse of funds. Speaker Kevin McCarthy has argued Mr. Gaetz’s attempt to oust him is payback.

NYT > U.S. > Politics

James Craig, who ran for governor last year but was disqualified, will compete against former Representative Mike Rogers in the Republican primary race for an open Senate seat.

NYT > U.S. > Politics

The 44-year-old former Kamala Harris adviser says she is undecided on whether she will run for a full term next year.

Politics - U.S. Political News, Opinion and Analysis

The House of Representatives will vote Tuesday on the California Republican's hold on the gavel.

Politics - U.S. Political News, Opinion and Analysis

The House will vote Tuesday on a resolution from Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) to declare the speaker’s office “vacant.”

Politics - U.S. Political News, Opinion and Analysis

The GOP leader is apparently counting on his own party to keep him in charge as his far-right flank prepares to try to oust him.

Politics - U.S. Political News, Opinion and Analysis

The co-host of MSNBC's "Morning Joe" couldn't believe the former president's courthouse antics.

Politics - U.S. Political News, Opinion and Analysis

“Legally, it’s irrelevant,” Andrew Weissmann said of the argument presented by Trump and his attorneys.

Politics - U.S. Political News, Opinion and Analysis

The former New Jersey governor made what could be one of his most definitive statements yet on the former president.

Politics - U.S. Political News, Opinion and Analysis

The Fox News host had a laugh at the ex-president's appeal to Black voters.

Politics - U.S. Political News, Opinion and Analysis

Trump's 2016 Democratic rival used one of the late senator's most iconic quotes to call out the former president.

Politics - U.S. Political News, Opinion and Analysis

"This is a very dangerous period we're about to enter into here," the former Trump adviser said.

Politics - U.S. Political News, Opinion and Analysis

Disney is pure evil.

Breitbart News

Several high-profile leftists have been victimized by the violent crime wave that they either helped to unleash or downplayed.

Breitbart News

Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) has won over many of those who opposed his speakership in January, despite a motion from Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) to oust him.

Breitbart News

Most Americans believe homelessness is a severe problem, and they feel it has gotten worse over the past two years, according to a survey.

Breitbart News

Over 25,000 illegals have landed on British shores since the start of the year as Rishi Sunak continues to fail to solve the crisis.

Breitbart News

A massive emergency alert test is set to sound alarms on every cellphone, radio, and TV in the United States on Wednesday at 2:20 p.m. EDT, 11:20 a.m. PDT.

Breitbart News

The Chinese military published a video on Monday in which an anime-style elf appears to symbolically "reunite" communist China and Taiwan.

Breitbart News

Hunter Biden pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to three gun charges after undergoing random drug testing since his July 2023 court hearing.

Breitbart News

Five prominent cardinals have challenged Pope Francis to clarify apparent ambiguities in his teaching regarding topics such as blessings for gay couples, the ordination of women, and the authority of the synod of bishops.

Breitbart News

The majority of Freedom Caucus members oppose Rep. Matt Gaetz's (R-FL) motion to oust Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA).

Breitbart News