House Republican would ‘100%’ leave the GOP if red state changed primary rules

April 24, 2026 3:39pm EDT / Fox News

Fitzpatrick shared his ‘disdain for ideologues and partisans,’ calling it ‘ignorant to subscribe to a party’

By Elaine Mallon

A congressman in a competitive district in Pennsylvania said he’d leave the Republican Party if his state conducted open primary elections.

Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., a Republican moderate who has bucked party lines on some of President Donald Trump’s key initiatives, including voting against the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act, is seeking re-election in a purple district he has controlled for eight years.

Fitzpatrick shared in an interview with Punchbowl News’ Jake Sherman and Anna Palmer his “disdain for ideologues and partisans” and said it was “ignorant to subscribe to a party.”

“Countless people go to the floor saying I really want to vote for this, but I got to worry about my primary,” Fitzpatrick said. “It’s killing our country. It’s killing good policy, and we got to fix that.”

NEW POLL REVEALS HOW PENNSYLVANIA DEMS FEEL ABOUT FETTERMAN BUCKING HIS PARTY

Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., speaks to reporters outside the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 29, 2023, after the House failed to pass a temporary funding bill to prevent a government shutdown.(Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Sherman asked why he does not just run as an independent. Fitzpatrick said his state has a closed primary, meaning only registered party voters can vote in primaries, which he deemed a disadvantage. If Pennsylvania’s primary system were open, Fitzpatrick said he would “100%” leave the GOP.

“But you can run as an independent,” Sherman asked. “There’s some way to do it, isn’t there?”

Fitzpatrick said it wasn’t possible in Pennsylvania.

FETTERMAN RECEIVES NO SUPPORT FOR RE-ELECTION FROM PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE DEMOCRATS: REPORT

Sen. John Fetterman speaks to reporters at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on March 3, 2026, following a briefing by Trump administration officials on U.S. strikes on Iran.(Nathan Posner/Anadolu)

“Do you want to forfeit your right to vote in 50% of elections?” Fitzpatrick said, referring to what would happen if voters registered as Independent.

Fitzpatrick also mentioned that he was “upset” when people criticized Sen. John Fetterman, D-PA, who has often voted with Republicans on key issues. Fetterman has been vocal about his criticism of his Democratic colleagues such as their strategy to shut the government down to push for health care negotiations last Fall.

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Rep. Kevin Kiley, I-Calif., sharply criticized President Donald Trump’s warning to Iran posted on social media Tuesday.(Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc)

In the 119th Congressional legislative session, there is only one U.S. House of Representative member who identifies as an Independent — Kevin Kiley, I-Calif. However, when Kiley was first elected, he ran as a Republican.

Meanwhile, in the Senate, there are two Independents: Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.., and Sen. Angus Cloud, I-Me,. While they both maintain an Independent status, both senators caucus with the Democratic party.

Elaine Mallon is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business covering national politics.

By Dana Bash, CNN

Published 1:32 PM EDT, Fri April 24, 2026

Trump weighs in on Polymarket Insider trading arrest: ‘The whole world unfortunately has become somewhat of a casino.’

Inside Politics

The Justice Department alleges a special forces soldier who participated in the raid to capture Nicolas Maduro made a series of bets on the prediction market Polymarket that earned him more than $400,000. Trump signaled some sympathy for the soldier when he compared him to former baseball player Pete Rose, who received a lifetime ban from the MLB for betting on his own games. “Now if he bet against his team, that would be no good, but he bet on his own team,” Trump said.

Pentagon chief Hegseth says US blockade on Iran ‘going global’

2026-04-24 12:15:53 UTC / Reuters

节点运行失败

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks during a briefing on the Iran war, amid a ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran, at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 24, 2026. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

[1/2]U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks during a briefing on the Iran war, amid a ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran, at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 24, 2026. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab

WASHINGTON, April 24 (Reuters) – U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Friday that a U.S. blockade on Iran is going global, adding Tehran had a chance to make a “good deal” with Washington.

“Our blockade is growing and going global,” Hegseth told reporters.

The Reuters Iran Briefing newsletter keeps you informed with the latest developments and analysis of the Iran war. Sign up here.

“No one sails from the Strait of Hormuz to anywhere in the world without the permission of the United States Navy,” he said.

Peace talks between Iran and the United States could resume soon in Pakistan, three Pakistani sources told Reuters on Friday, after the last round of talks expected earlier this week fell through.

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Standing next to top U.S. General Dan Caine, Hegseth said the U.S. was “not anxious” for a deal with Iran, and repeated Trump’s previous comments of having “all the time in the world.”

“Iran knows that they still have an open window to choose wisely … at the negotiating table. All they have to do is abandon a nuclear weapon in meaningful and verifiable ways,” he said.

Caine said the U.S. Central Command continues to maintain a strict blockade on all ports in Iran. Thirty-four ships had been turned around as of Friday morning, he said. The U.S. military would continue to interdict Iranian vessels in the Pacific and Indian oceans, Caine added.

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“We’re enforcing the blockade across the board against any ship of any nationality that is transiting to or from an Iranian port or territory,” Caine said.

“We’re closely tracking vessels of interest headed towards Iran and those moving away from Iran that were outside the blockade area when this blockade was ordered and … we’re prepared and postured to intercept them,” he said.

The U.S. naval blockade on Iran began on April 13.

Hegseth also warned that any attempts by Iran to lay mines in the Strait of Hormuz would be a violation of the ceasefire.

“Transit (of the Strait of Hormuz) is occurring, much more limited than anybody would like to see and with more risk than people would like to see, but that’s because Iran is doing irresponsible things with small, fast boats … with weapons on them,” Hegseth said.

Reporting by Phil Stewart, writing by Bhargav Acharya Editing by Tomasz Janowski and Michelle Nichols

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Trump grants 90-day Jones Act waiver extension to curb energy costs

2026-04-24T12:00:46.35Z / Reuters

By Jarrett Renshaw

April 24, 2026 12:00 PM UTC Updated 3 hours ago

节点运行失败

The Rishiri Galaxy, an oil and chemical tanker sailing under the flag of Panama, at left, is docked at the Texas City docks next to the Marathon Galveston Bay Refinery shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 60-day waiver of the Jones Act shipping law, in Texas City, Texas, U.S. March 18, 2026. REUTERS/Antranik… Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tabRead more

• Summary

• Extends time for foreign vessels to move key US commodities
• Highlights ongoing split over Jones Act shipping rules and costs
• Comes amid continued volatility in global energy markets tied to the Iran conflict

April 24 (Reuters) – President Donald Trump granted a 90-day extension to ‌a shipping waiver that makes it easier to move oil, fuel and fertilizer around the United States, the White House said on Friday, the latest effort to curb rising energy costs linked to the war with Iran.

The move reflects a broader push by the White House ​to dampen politically sensitive fuel price spikes ahead of November’s midterm elections, where affordability is expected to ​be a defining issue for voters. Recent polling shows Trump and Republicans losing ground on the economy — ⁠once a core political strength — with approval of his economic handling falling sharply and rising gasoline prices weighing ​heavily on public sentiment.

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The decision adds roughly three months to the existing waiver that was set to expire on May ​17, enabling foreign-flagged vessels to move commodities between U.S. ports through mid-August.

White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers confirmed on Friday that Trump had issued the extension.

“This waiver extension provides both certainty and stability for the U.S. and global economies,” Rogers said.

The administration is taking the step of ​extending the waiver three weeks before its expiration to allow ample time for the maritime industry to ensure sufficient ​vessels are available to keep moving applicable goods to where they are needed, a White House official said.

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The Jones Act has long ‌been ⁠a flashpoint between competing economic and national security priorities. Supporters, including U.S. shipbuilders, maritime unions and some lawmakers, argue the law is critical to maintaining a domestic shipping industry and merchant marine that can support military logistics and national security.

But critics — including energy producers, refiners and agricultural groups — say the requirement to use U.S.-built and -crewed vessels sharply raises shipping costs ​and limits capacity, particularly during ​disruptions, driving up prices ⁠for fuel and other goods.

“This extension of an already historically long and ineffective Jones Act waiver is not only an affront to hundreds of thousands of hardworking Americans who put ​this country first every single day, it sabotages President Trump’s agenda to restore American ​maritime dominance,” said ⁠Jennifer Carpenter, president of the American Maritime Partnership.

The action is one of several steps Trump has taken to blunt elevated fuel prices and address growing supply concerns, as the U.S.- and Israeli-led war against Iran has triggered a global energy shock.

Trump ⁠has said ​crude and gasoline prices are likely to fall once the Iran ​conflict subsides, but analysts caution that costs could remain elevated even after hostilities end, as supply disruptions, higher shipping costs and a lingering geopolitical risk ​premium continue to ripple through global energy markets.

Reporting by Jarrett Renshaw, Editing by William Maclean, Tomasz Janowski and Andrea Ricci

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

墨士廉夺赛季第二冠 以良好状态迎接下月世锦赛

2026年4月24日 23:19 / 联合早报

墨士廉（中）夺得法国奥林匹克周帆船赛的男子水翼风筝板冠军。这是他本赛季获得的第二冠。 （取自国际风筝板总会脸书）

我国奥运铜牌得主墨士廉在新加坡时间星期五（4月24日）晚，夺下法国奥林匹克周（French Olympic Week）帆船赛的男子水翼风筝板冠军。这是他本赛季获得的第二冠，以良好状态迎接下个月的水翼风筝板世锦赛。

今年的水翼风筝板世锦赛将于5月9日至5月16日在葡萄牙的维亚纳堡举行，去年不敌意大利好手皮亚诺西（Pianosi），被终止两连冠的墨士廉势必全力争取重返巅峰。

墨士廉的本季第一冠来自本月初在西班牙举行的索菲亚公主杯（Trofeo Princesa Sofia）。

第三天后反超皮亚诺西

法国奥林匹克周是一项拥有超过50年历史的帆船赛，每年都在法国东南部城市耶尔举行。 男子水翼风筝板的比赛从星期一（20日）进行至星期五（24日），19岁的墨士廉在前两天的角逐后，仍稍稍落后皮亚诺西，排名第二，但第三天后实现反超，第四天更是进一步扩大优势，在15轮的资格系列赛后，以14个净胜分（分数越低越好）第一名的姿态，直接进入决赛。

21岁的皮亚诺西在后几天的表现虽有些波动，在15轮资格系列赛后的净胜分达到27分，但还是保住第二名的位置，同样直接进入决赛。

根据新的决赛规则，直接晋级决赛的两名选手都只会拥有一个胜场的优势，和以往第一名会有多一个胜场优势不同。尽管如此，墨士廉还是不负众望赢下决赛第一轮直接击败皮亚诺西，以两个胜场完成夺冠任务。

皮亚诺西虽在这一轮排名第三，但由于手握一个胜场，因此最终还是获得亚军。从半决赛晋级的19岁中国选手黄齐滨则力压与墨士廉师出同门，在资格系列赛中一直排名第三的18岁瑞士选手斯特拉乔蒂 （Stragiotti），拿下季军。

墨士廉弟弟代表瑞士参与赛事

值得一提的是，代表瑞士的墨士廉弟弟凯尔·梅德（Karl Maeder，华文名为“老子”） 也参与这项赛事，他在44名参赛选手中排名第15。

新加坡还有其他选手参加法国奥林匹克周帆船赛，玛莎和周蕊在女子水翼帆板iQFoil级的41名选手中，分别排名第37位和第38位；汪祉怡则在ILCA 6级帆船赛中的84名选手中名列第66位。

美媒：司法部将停止对美联储主席鲍威尔的调查

2026年4月24日 22:56 / 联合早报

知情人士说，美国司法部预计最早于星期五（4月24日）停止对鲍威尔的调查。 （路透社）

据美国广播公司（ABC）报道，美国司法部预计将停止对美国联邦储备局主席鲍威尔的调查。

ABC引述知情人士消息称，司法部预计最早于星期五（4月24日）停止对鲍威尔的调查。

彭博社此前报道，美国总统特朗普说，如果鲍威尔“不及时”卸任，就会解除他的职务。特朗普还坚称，司法部对这名央行领导人的调查将会继续。

特朗普4月15日接受福克斯商业频道采访时说：“如果他不按时离开，我就只好解雇他。我一直忍着没有解除他的职务。我一直想解雇他，但我不想引起争议。”

特朗普的盟友一直希望，鲍威尔在今年春季结束美联储主席职务时，也一并辞去理事会席位。但鲍威尔说，在特朗普政府通过司法部就一项楼宇翻修工程展开的调查“彻底结束之前”，他“无意”辞去理事会职务。

中国大陆海警金门常态执法巡查 台海巡署：强力驱离

2026年4月24日 23:32 / 联合早报

中国大陆海警局星期五（4月24日）通报，在金门附近海域开展常态执法巡查。台湾海巡署同日发文称，派出四艘巡防艇强力驱离四艘大陆海警船。 （中国海警微博账号）

中国大陆海警局星期五（4月24日）通报，在金门附近海域开展常态执法巡查。台湾海巡署同日发文称，派出四艘巡防艇强力驱离四艘大陆海警船。

据中国海警局官网消息，中国海警局东海分局新闻发言人朱安庆说，福建海警星期五位金门附近海域依法开展常态执法巡查。

朱安庆指出，4月以来，福建海警组织舰艇编队持续加强金门附近海域执法巡查，进一步强化有关海域管控力度，切实维护包括台湾在内的中国渔民合法正当权益和生命财产安全，有力保障厦金海域正常航行和作业秩序。

根据台湾海巡署星期五在官网发布的新闻稿，近日受锋面过境影响，金门地区天候海象转趋恶劣，阵风达八至九级，海巡署金马澎分署第十二巡防区及辖属各队仍坚守岗位，落实海面目标监控，并侦获中国大陆海警船再度袭扰金门海域，立即调动巡防艇能量，前推至限制水域线上部署对应。

金马澎分署第十二巡防区当天上午8时许发现中国海警14609、14531、14604及14530等四艘船，同时自金门外海靠近南方海域，编队并在9时自料罗东方及南方两处同时侵扰金门水域。

海巡署四艘预置的巡防艇，立即前往并航监控，同时以无线电中、英文广播，要求海警船转向航离，全程搜证并航驱离；中国大陆海警船遭台方驱离后，于星期五上午11时零3分航出金门限制水域。

金马澎分署表示，中国大陆海警船在海象不佳状况下仍执意编队侵扰，罔顾航行安全，已对过往船舶航行造成危安风险，实属不专业、不理性的行为。

Justice Dept drops investigation into Fed Chair Powell, removing obstacle to Warsh

2026-04-24T14:26:44.882Z / Reuters

By Andrew Goudsward, Howard Schneider and Ann Saphir

April 24, 2026 2:26 PM UTC Updated 1 min ago

节点运行失败

Item 1 of 2 U.S. President Donald Trump and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell speak during a tour of the Federal Reserve Board building, which is currently undergoing renovations, in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 24, 2025. REUTERS/Kent Nishimura/File Photo

[1/2]U.S. President Donald Trump and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell speak during a tour of the Federal Reserve Board building, which is currently undergoing renovations, in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 24, 2025. REUTERS/Kent Nishimura/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab

• Summary

• Pirro asks Fed watchdog to take over investigation
• Probe had stalled confirmation of Trump’s central bank pick
• Judge found no evidence of a crime

WASHINGTON, April 24 (Reuters) – The Justice Department is closing its investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome ​Powell, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said on Friday, removing an obstacle to the confirmation of Kevin Warsh, President Donald Trump’s ‌pick to lead the central bank.

The move by Pirro, a Trump ally and the top federal prosecutor in Washington, D.C., for now ends an inquiry that had been rebuked by a federal judge and prompted a key Republican senator to block Trump’s nominees to the central bank.

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Pirro said she had instead asked the Fed’s internal ​watchdog, the Office of Inspector General, to examine cost overruns in renovations of the central bank’s Washington headquarters. The inspector general has already ​been examining the project after Powell requested a review last year.

“The IG has the authority to hold the ⁠Federal Reserve accountable to American taxpayers,” Pirro said in a social media post. “I expect a comprehensive report in short order and am confident ​the outcome will assist in resolving, once and for all, the questions that led this office to issue subpoenas.”

The Powell probe, which had been examining ​the renovation and Powell’s statements to Congress last year about the project, became the latest flashpoint in the Justice Department’s pursuit of adversaries and critics of Trump.

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A federal judge last month blocked subpoenas to the Fed’s Board of Governors, finding they were issued for the improper purpose of pressuring Powell to cave to Trump’s demands to rapidly ​lower interest rates or resign. Chief U.S. District Judge James Boasberg found prosecutors had shown “essentially zero evidence” Powell committed a crime.

As recently as this week, Pirro ​had vowed to appeal the ruling and continue the investigation.

Republican Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina, a member of the Senate Banking Committee, has vowed not ‌to support ⁠Warsh until the DOJ ends what he has called a baseless investigation into Powell. Tillis’ blockade had effectively stalled Warsh’s confirmation.

A spokesperson for Tillis had no immediate comment on Friday.

A spokesperson for the Fed declined to comment. A White House spokesperson said the inspector general was best positioned “to get to the bottom of the matter” and said it was confident the Senate would confirm Warsh.

The decision to end the probe may clear the ​way for Warsh’s Senate confirmation as ​Fed chair, potentially by May 15 ⁠when Powell’s leadership term ends. It’s less clear if the move meets Powell’s own bar for stepping down as governor.

“I have no intention of leaving the Board until the investigation is well and truly over, with ​transparency and finality,” Powell said last month. Pirro said on Friday that she may resume her investigation ​depending on the ⁠inspector general’s findings.

Powell revealed the existence of the investigation in January, calling it a pretext for Trump to gain influence over monetary policy in a blunt video statement. Powell pledged last month to keep his seat on the Fed’s Board of Governors after his term as chair expires on May 15 ⁠until the ​investigation is complete.

Trump has for months hectored Powell for resisting his pressure to rapidly lower ​interest rates, and publicly supported an investigation into the renovation project. Trump has called Powell a numbskull, a “major loser” and “very incompetent,” comments Boasberg cited in quashing subpoenas.

Reporting by Andrew Goudsward, ​Howard Schneider, Ann Saphir, Ryan Patrick Jones and Doina Chiacu; Additional reporting by Bo Erickson and Michael Derby; Editing by Katharine Jackson and Andrea Ricci

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消息人士：伊朗将与巴基斯坦讨论美伊谈判先决条件

2026年4月24日 23:40 / 联合早报

伊朗外长阿拉格齐预计将于星期五（4月24日）晚间或次日凌晨抵达伊斯兰堡（图），与巴基斯坦就伊朗和美国谈判的先决条件进行讨论。 （路透社）

伊朗外长阿拉格齐说，他访问巴基斯坦、阿曼和俄罗斯是为了就双边事务密切协调，并就地区形势发展进行磋商。

阿拉格齐星期五（4月24日）在社交媒体上说：“我们的邻国是我们的优先事项。”

阿拉格齐预计将于星期五晚间或次日凌晨抵达巴首都伊斯兰堡，并与巴方就伊朗和美国谈判的先决条件进行讨论。

新华社引述巴基斯坦军方消息人士说，相关议题包括解除对伊朗封锁、释放被扣押船只及船员、确保解除对伊朗制裁以及解冻伊朗被冻结资产等。伊朗方面希望美国先采取建立互信的举措，特别是在放松封锁和释放部分资产方面有所行动。

消息人士说，如果取得进展，伊方预计将进一步同美方代表进行直接谈判。

但是另据美国有线电视新闻网（CNN）引述美国消息人士的话说，伊朗代表团前往伊斯兰堡不会会见美国代表。CNN引述两名政府官员的话报道，美国总统特朗普将派遣威特科夫和库什纳前往巴基斯坦与伊朗外长举行会谈。

在巴基斯坦官员预计美伊会谈将会举行之后，原油期货价格下跌，抹去了早前的涨幅。

伦敦市场布伦特期货一度下跌1.6%，至每桶103.41美元（132.26新元）。WTI原油也出现下跌。

小米集团创始人雷军星期五（4月24日）在北京国际汽车展览会为旗下首款超跑概念车——小米Vision GT国内首秀揭幕。 （路透社）

中国汽车市场竞争激烈且内卷严重，本土汽车品牌在星期五（4月24日）开幕的北京国际汽车展览会，展示了更具创新性的概念车和前沿的飞行汽车，实现差异化竞争。

北京车展每隔两年举办一次，今年是第19届，总展出面积达38万平方米，超过50个足球场。根据主办方介绍，此次规模跃居全球车展首位，展车总数1451台，其中包括首发车181台、概念车71台。

小米集团在创始人雷军2021年3月正式宣布造车后，连续参展两届。他星期五为旗下首款超跑概念车——小米Vision GT国内首秀揭幕，成为车展焦点。小米暂时没有计划量产这款概念车。

雷军在会上称，小米过去两年交付超过65万5000辆汽车，其中小米YU7自上市10个月内已累计交付23万1000辆。他还预告新车款YU7 GT将在今年5月底上市，并计划明年进军国际市场，首站选择德国。

除了小米，另一家中国造车新势力小鹏汽车也在北京车展展示最新车款——全球唯一搭载三排电动三折叠大六座SUV小鹏GX，以及计划明年大规模生产的飞行汽车。

小鹏汽车创始人何小鹏在新闻发布会上回应记者提问时说，飞行汽车研发非常具有挑战性，这款飞行汽车是第七代产品，已研发了13年，“很少有一家商业公司13年做一个商品，还没有开始卖”。但他透露，飞行汽车目前收到超过7000张订单，也计划出海，正与中东、印度尼西亚和马来西亚等国家接洽。

作为全球最大的汽车销售市场、生产国和出口国，中国国内汽车销售竞争异常激烈，车企内卷现象严重。中国汽车工业协会4月10日公布的数据显示，中国国内汽车今年首季销量同比大跌20.3%至482万3000辆；同期出口222万6000辆，同比激增56.7%，凸显汽车销售“外热内冷”情况。

据自媒体“汽车工业视界”微信公众号发文分析，在北京车展开幕前夕，30余场新车发布会4月20日至23日相继举办。无论是自主、合资还是豪华品牌，无论是传统车企还是新势力，都在4月用密集的新品、激进的定价、前沿的技术，争夺市场话语权，这背后是整个汽车行业面临的多重压力与生存焦虑。

文章进一步指出，车企之所以选择在车展前密集发布新车，核心在于“北京车展的信息洪流足以稀释任何一款新车的热度，因为参展品牌和车型过多，各类新品发布、技术解读密集叠加，即便自带流量的车企高管、重磅车型，也难以在海量信息中脱颖而出，企业的核心诉求和产品亮点也同样很容易被淹没”。

小鹏汽车在北京国际汽车展览会展示飞行汽车，明年计划大规模生产。（法新社）