Elon Musk blames Trump, US military for SpaceX restrictions Ukraine warns could have deadly consequences

October 14, 2026 1:32pm EDT / Updated October 14, 2026 3:44pm EDT / Fox News

By Morgan Phillips Fox News

Elon Musk pointed to the Trump administration Wednesday after Ukraine scrambled to reverse new Starshield restrictions put in place by the trillionaire’s company that disrupted military operations and threatened Kyiv’s ability to intercept Russian attack drones.

While Starshield is built and operated by Musk’s company SpaceX, individual satellites and infrastructure are owned and controlled by the U.S. government — which he made clear in a post to X on Wednesday.

“Any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately POTUS,” the SpaceX, Tesla and X CEO wrote in his post.

A source familiar with the situation told Fox News Digital that Ukraine received no advance warning before the restrictions took effect overnight, despite relying on the service under arrangements contracted through the U.S. government until May 15, 2027.

Ukrainian forces discovered the change after experiencing connectivity problems and contacting SpaceX customer support. They were told Starshield service would be restricted on platforms traveling at speeds of 100 miles per hour or higher, the source said.

Musk did not say whether President Donald Trump, War Secretary Pete Hegseth or another U.S. official personally authorized the new restriction or explain why it was imposed.

The Starlink logo is displayed on a smartphone screen and a computer screen displaying a portrait of Elon Musk, the owner of Starlink.(Dominika Zarzycka/SOPA Images/LightRocket)

RUSSIA MAY BE USING HIDDEN ‘LUNCHBOX-SIZE’ DRONE DEVICES TO COUNTER UKRAINE DEFENSES: EXPERT

He also sought to distinguish the government-controlled Starshield service from SpaceX’s commercial Starlink network, which he said cannot be used for offensive military operations.

The distinction comes amid growing tensions between Washington and Kyiv over Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy infrastructure. Musk criticized Zelenskyy over those attacks days earlier, writing on X that the Ukrainian president had “gone too far.”

Hours after the change was reported, Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said connectivity at speeds below the new threshold was being restored, while making clear that Kyiv was still seeking removal of the speed restriction itself.

“Starlink connectivity at speeds of up to 160 km/h is being restored,” Fedorov wrote on X Wednesday. “Removing Starshield’s speed limit entirely is now critical for Ukraine’s defense.”

“Thank you, @elonmusk,” Fedorov added. “We hope for your continued support.”

An office building burns following a Russian drone attack in central Odesa, Ukraine, on Friday, Sept. 18, 2026.(Michael Shtekel/AP)

Serhii Beskrestnov, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on defense technology,warned that the change could particularly hamper Ukraine’s efforts to intercept Russia’s newer, jet-powered Shahed attack drones, saying it threatened “one of our few chances to defend the country” against them.

Ukrainian forces have also begun documenting effects on the battlefield. Ukraine’s 7th Rapid Response Corps said one unmanned systems unit on the Huliaipole front had already been forced to cancel missions because of connectivity problems. The unit reported interruptions even while drones were traveling below the stated 100 mph threshold.

Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., pressed SpaceX for answers on X. “I’m confident this does not reflect a change in SpaceX policy because if so, intentionally degrading Ukraine’s ability to defend itself might be construed as aiding and abetting a mass murderer. Can you confirm that’s not SpaceX’s intent?”

Starshield is SpaceX’s national security satellite service, based on technology developed for the company’s better-known Starlink network.

The change could affect Ukrainian drones, aircraft and helicopters that rely on Starshield connectivity while moving at high speeds, including drones used to intercept Russian Shahed attacks. Ukrainian units had reported performance problems even at speeds below the stated threshold, according to the source.

UKRAINE SEEKS MORE US PATRIOT INTERCEPTORS AS BOMB SHELTER PROBE DEEPENS

President Donald Trump said he likes Elon Musk “a lot” after the pair faced a rift over the One Big Beautiful Bill earlier this year.(Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

Ukraine has contacted SpaceX seeking an explanation for the restrictions and asking the company to restore its previous service capabilities, the source familiar with the move told Fox News Digital.

They said Ukraine communicated to Musk’s company that the restriction had not previously applied to its terminals and was creating significant operational problems for Ukrainian forces in its continued war with aggressor Russia.

Kyiv also noted that its current service arrangements, contracted through the U.S. government until May 15, 2027, cover land-based mobile and fixed uses, including mobile platforms, according to the source.

SpaceX had not responded to Ukraine’s request as of Wednesday morning, the source said.

PENTAGON CONSOLIDATES DRONE OVERSIGHT AS TRUMP ADMINISTRATION PUSHES RAPID UNMANNED WARFARE EXPANSION

Polish Foreign Minister Radislaw Sikorski tore into Musk over the restrictions.

“Hey @elonmusk, big man, are you playing politics with your products again? As your European customers, wea are watching you,” he wrote on X.

Poland pays for more than 2,900 Starlink terminals operating in Ukraine.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks at a press conference after meetings with the heads of the EU and Ireland following a formal ceremony to mark the launch of Ireland’s eighth EU presidency, at Dublin Castle in Dublin on July 1, 2026.(Paul Faith / AFP via Getty Images)

Sikorski and Musk clashed last year over Ukraine’s dependence on Starlink, with Musk telling Sikorski, “Be quiet, small man.”

Fox News Digital has reached out to the Pentagon, White House and SpaceX for details. There’s been no public confirmation that Musk personally ordered the restrictions.

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The Pentagon, through Space Force, contracts with SpaceX for Starshield services, giving the department a direct role in administering the government’s agreements with the company. But the existence of a Pentagon contract does not establish whether the military or SpaceX has authority over specific operational restrictions, including the new speed limit.

Vance takes aim at soft-on-crime Dems as GOP faces uphill midterm battle: ‘Lost their minds’

2026-10-14 2:27pm EDT / Fox News

The vice president addressed crime, gas prices, healthcare costs and the Iran war in an interview with Fox News Digital

By Peter D’Abrosca, Fox News

Vice President JD Vance told Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview that Democrats have “lost their minds” on the issue of crime.

EXCLUSIVE:TYLER, Texas — Faced with an uphill battle in November’s midterms as costs soar for Americans, Vice President JD Vance is making a pitch that the alternative is not better and argued that Democrats would only make existing problems like street crime worse.

“It sort of drives home how the Democrats have kind of lost their minds,” Vance told Fox News Digital Tuesday when asked about a recent rash of Somali gang violence in Minnesota.

“And if you elect Democrats, you’re fundamentally electing people who will invite criminals into your state, into your communities and make your communities less safe.”

In typically blue Minnesota, Democratic Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan is vying for a seat in the U.S. Senate but is facing a tough challenge from Republican Michele Tafoya.

Vice President JD Vance speaks during a campaign rally at Tyler Pounds Regional Airport Oct. 13, 2026, in Tyler, Texas. Vance is in Texas to campaign for Republican candidates on the November midterm ballot.(Saul Loeb/Pool/Getty Images)

100-SHOT SOMALI GANG GUN BATTLE ROCKS MINNESOTA AS SHERIFF WARNS ‘WE’RE IN TROUBLE’

“If you elect Republicans, you may not agree with us on everything, but we agree on some basic principles,” Vance continued. “Like, for example, everybody should be safe. Everybody should be secure in their communities, and we don’t want let violent criminals come into our country.

“So, I do think that contrast is driven a little bit more starkly given what’s happening in Minnesota.”

Fox News Digital spoke with the vice president after a campaign rally in the town of Tyler, Texas, about 100 miles east of Dallas, Tuesday. There, Vance rallied for Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton who is also in a tight U.S. Senate race with Democrat state Rep. James Talarico.

FOX NEWS POLL: IT’S A LONE STAR SENATE SHOWDOWN BETWEEN TALARICO AND PAXTON

The progressive candidate recently returned from a two-week campaign absence, which Vance described as “odd.”

“How old is he? Thirty-five? Forty?” Vance asked about Talarico. “You’ve got to have the energy to do the job, and taking two weeks off the campaign in October — that’s the meat of the campaign — I just think it’s a very, very bizarre thing.”

The vice president added that he hopes Talarico’s health is OK but that Texans must weigh whether he has the energy to do the job as a U.S. Senator.

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico speaks during a campaign rally at the Cailloux Theater Aug. 31, 2026, in Kerrville, Texas.(Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

TALARICO DISAPPEARANCE HAS DEM VOLUNTEERS WORRYING AND TRUMP ASKING, ‘WHAT IS GOING ON?’

In that race, Talarico has demanded a debate with Paxton, who has yet to oblige. President Donald Trump said the two should debate, posting to Truth Social that Paxton is “ready, willing, and able.” Vance took a softer stance when asked about a potential debate.

“That’s ultimately something Ken Paxton and James Talarico are going to decide,” Vance told Fox News Digital, adding that Paxton will make a “great senator.”

“Obviously, those are some … things the campaigns have to negotiate,” he continued. “But I’ll let Ken Paxton and James Talarico make that decision. Ultimately, they each have to make their case to the people of Texas.”

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton during the Texas GOP convention in the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston June 12, 2026.(Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)

Nationwide, Republicans are underwater when it comes to the economy and cost of living, along with the war in Iran, according to Fox News polling.

REPUBLICANS FACE BRUTAL MIDTERM HEADWINDS. SIX FORCES COULD HELP THEM DEFY HISTORY.

Of those polled in September, 61% say gas prices are a major problem, up from 48% from two years ago, while 52% say the same for healthcare costs, up from 44%. Majorities also view housing costs (54%, down from 60%) and grocery prices (62%, down from 66%) as major problems ahead of the November election.

In a similar poll, 71% of respondents said the Trump administration lacks a concrete strategy for ending the ongoing war in Iran.

Gas prices have ticked up after Houthi-led attacks on a Saudi oil pipeline.(Aaron Schwartz/Reuters)

The two issues are closely related after gas prices spiked sharply from a national average of $2.98 per gallon at the start of the war earlier this year to an average of $4.33 per gallon today.

“Well, we obviously want gas prices to be as low as they possibly can,” Vance said. “And I think voters have to ask themselves, ‘Who has affirmatively taken steps to lower gas prices in the face, of course, of the Iranians terrorizing international shipping?’”

REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS BREAK WITH TRUMP ON DIESEL DEAL WITH RUSSIA

Vance accused Democrats of complaining about the problem without offering solutions.

“We saw the president’s announcement, with Russian diesel being allowed to come into the market,” he said. “We have massive refinery capacity that we’re announcing that we’re going to build upon here. So, we’re doing everything that we can, recognizing that building out energy refining capacity takes some time.

https://www.foxnews.com/video/6406801099112

“I’m very cognizant that a lot of Americans are struggling with high gas prices,” he acknowledged. “We’re doing as much as we can to address as much of the pain as possible.”

The 50th vice president stopped short of providing a definitive end date or marker that would signify an end to the war but said Iran must commit “not to rebuild [uranium enrichment] capacity and to stay off a pathway of nuclear weapons.”

“They’re going to stay off the pathway that’s developing a nuclear weapon, and I think the president’s been quite clear about that. I think the entire administration has been quite clear about that.”

Peter D’Abrosca is a politics reporter at Fox News Digital.

Dem AG targets Trump on voting while his state sends rights letters to dead people

2026-10-14T14:49:00-04:00 / Fox News

Republicans say Jones is ignoring a scandal in which voting rights restoration letters were sent to deceased felons

By Charles Creitz Fox News

Published October 14, 2026 2:49pm EDT

DOJ indicts non-citizens in Minnesota for alleged voter fraud

DOJ indictments target alleged non-citizen voter fraud in Minnesota as Acting Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter joins ‘Saturday in America’ to discuss the charges. McCotter reveals that federal prosecutors have charged 50 individuals with voting crimes over the past month. The DOJ is also appealing a Florida federal judge’s ruling that declared a federal law banning non-citizen voting unconstitutional.

President Donald Trump and his election security efforts were a central target in Virginia Democratic Attorney General Jay Jones’ rollout of a “Voter Protection” unit, but Republican critics say the announcement overlooked voting- rights controversies unfolding in his own backyard.

Jones formed the Voter Protection Section on Tuesday to enforce state voting-rights laws as Virginia faces scrutiny over restoration letters sent to deceased felons amid Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s restoration of voting rights to more than 66,000 Virginians.

Jones “launched this section to address the continued erosion of the federal Voting Rights Act, Donald Trump’s relentless attacks on our democracy, and his administration’s efforts to impede access to the ballot,” his office said in a statement.

TRUMP SCORES SUPREME COURT WIN ON MAIL-IN VOTING RESTRICTIONS BEFORE MIDTERMS

Video

Jones’ announcement did not identify specific Trump administration actions, but the president signed a March 2025 order seeking stricter proof-of-citizenship requirements for voter registration and changes to mail-ballot rules and backed the SAVE Act to mandate voter ID.

“At a time when the Trump administration has sought to push the federal government further into the administration of state elections, we will work closely with the Department of Elections and the Federal Accountability Unit to protect Virginia’s authority, the integrity of our elections, and every eligible voter’s right to be heard,” said Ajay Saini, the OAG official Jones named to lead the division.

However, critics quickly faulted the unit for overlooking controversies within Virginia’s own government after the felon rights-restoration scandal broke earlier this month.

“‘Two Bullets’ Jay Jones is now worried about ‘misinformation’ after just this year telling Virginians that Democrats’ illegal gerrymandering power grab was about ‘fairness’,” the Republican Party of Virginia (RPV) said in a statement, referencing Jones’ previous reported text messages envisioning shooting a prior GOP House speaker twice instead of former German Chancellor Adolf Hitler or Cambodian dictator Pol Pot.

TRUMP ELECTION INTEGRITY PUSH EXPOSES MASSIVE AMOUNT OF DEAD PEOPLE ON NORTH CAROLINA VOTER ROLLS

Virginia attorney general candidate Jerrauld “Jay” Jones speaks at an event in Norfolk, Virginia, on June 17, 2025.(Trevor Metcalfe/The Virginian-Pilot/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

“The top priority for this new division should be finding out how many dead felons have had their rights restored, and how that happened in the first place,” current Virginia House Minority Leader Terry Kilgore, R-Gate City, told Fox News Digital.

Several Virginians reported receiving restoration notices addressed to deceased relatives. Fredericksburg resident Howard Lambert confirmed to Fox News Digital a letter addressed to his late daughter indicated officials had reviewed her case before restoring her rights.

34,000 DEAD PEOPLE FOUND ON VOTER ROLLS PROMPTS EXPERT TO SLAM DEMS FOR RESISTING ‘COMMONSENSE’ CLEANUP

Video

Kim Taylor, a former Republican delegate from the Petersburg area, told Fox News Digital on Wednesday that Jones’ pledge to protect Virginians’ votes ignores his silence on both the “dead felons” scandal and a Democrat-supported November ballot measure that would take restoration rights away from the governor and automatically empower formerly incarcerated felons to vote.

“Jay Jones can create all the fancy new ‘voter protection’ units he wants to make himself feel better, but it’s nothing more than an empty political gesture when Richmond is mailing voting rights restoration letters to dead felons,” Taylor said.

VIRGINIA SUPREME COURT TOSSES DEM-BACKED REDISTRICTING MAP, UPENDING EXPECTED 10–1 EDGE

Virginia AG Jay Jones, left, embraces Gov. Abigail Spanberger, during 2026 inaugural ceremonies in Richmond.(Al Drago/Getty Images)

“With three critical constitutional amendments on the ballot, including one fundamentally changing felon voting rights, Virginians need real election integrity instead of another taxpayer-funded political stunt.”

When pressed on those issues and on Republicans’ claims that the SAVE Act provides protections itself, a spokesperson for Jones declined to elaborate beyond an initial statement:

“I was raised by people who understood that the right to vote was never simply given. Generations of Americans had to sacrifice, organize, and show extraordinary courage to claim that right,” Jones said. “That history is personal to me, and it reminds us that the work of civil rights and voting rights is never finished.”

“That is why we created a dedicated Voter Protection Section within the Office of the Attorney General. This work now has a permanent home, and a team focused every day on defending voting rights and enforcing Virginia law,” he added, calling protection of voting rights a “year-round” responsibility.

Virginia Beach attorney Tim Anderson, who has focused on Richmond’s legal maneuvers regarding both immigration enforcement and voting rights, said Tuesday that Jones’ plan raises a separate question about enforcement against noncitizens who vote illegally amid Virginia’s restricted cooperation with DHS.

Anderson previously discussed the dead-felons case with Fox News Digital and noted Tuesday that Gov. Abigail Spanberger previously restricted ICE’s use of public property, including through guidance involving encounters at polls.

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President Trump juxtaposed next to Jay Jones, Democratic nominee for Virginia Attorney General.(Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images; Mike Kropf/Richmond Times-Dispatch via AP, Pool)

“Now Attorney General Jay Jones says his office will enforce Virginia’s election laws. Then answer this, Attorney General: Does that include prosecuting noncitizens who knowingly vote illegally—with the same enthusiasm you bring to protecting access to the polls? We know this is a big fat ‘No’. Enforce the whole law,” he said.

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The Democratic Party of Virginia, however, backed Jones’ new unit, arguing that Trump is “attacking voting rights [and] Virginia is not backing down,” as election security remains a prominent issue heading into the midterms.

https://www.foxnews.com/video/6405515366112
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6404040572112

‘Paid for the bullets’: Dem challenger hits senator with stunning ICE accusation during fiery Senate debate

October 14, 2026 1:18pm EDT / Fox News

Jackson accused Collins of paying for ‘the bullets’ through $70B in immigration enforcement funding included in the Secure America Act

By Leo Briceno, Fox News

NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles!

Fierce disagreement broke out on the debate stage on Tuesday evening as Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, defended her record against accusations that she had enabled the death of Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero at the hands of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Troy Jackson, her Democratic opponent, argued Collins had facilitated the deadly encounter on the three-month anniversary of the incident by funding what he described as a “rogue agency.”

“Look, Senator Collins paid for the bullets and at Donald Trump’s command. Now she wants credit for not pulling the trigger,” Jackson said, referring to the roughly $66 billion in funding for immigration enforcement agencies included in the Secure America Act, a party-line bill that extended provisions for the agency through the end of Trump’s term.

TRUMP TAKES ICE SHUTDOWNS OFF THE TABLE WITH SIGNATURE ON KEY $70B BILL

Former state Senator Troy Jackson, a Democrat from Maine and gubernatorial candidate, speaks during a Fighting Oligarchy event with Graham Platner.(Sophie Park/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

“That’s the choice on this stage. A senator who helps Donald Trump hurt Maine then tells us how concerned she is, or somebody who will stand up against him before another family in Maine has to pay the price.”

Notably, not all of the funding described by Jackson was set aside for ICE. The package set aside $26 billion for border security operations under Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and $38.5 for ICE. The package also included $5 billion for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) general funds.

Guerrero’s shooting has become a flash point in Trump’s immigration enforcement push, especially in the Maine Senate race where Democrats have used his death to illustrate broader critiques of Collins: that her occasional willingness to break with the majority of the GOP hasn’t meaningfully curbed the administration’s policies. But at the debate on Tuesday evening, the third between Collins and Jackson, Collins pushed back on the narrative, arguing that her power as a Republican senator has been key to implementing a handful of safeguards on an agency that she described as critical to American safety.

“After the Biddeford shooting, I called the Secretary of Homeland Security, [and] met with the acting director and suggested that they prioritize Maine for receipt of these body-worn cameras. And they did. And every ICE agent in the state of Maine and across the country now has the body-worn cameras,” Collins said at the debate on Tuesday.

“I increased by 17% the budget for the independent Office of Inspector General,” Collins added.

Guerrero, a 25-year-old Colombian national, was fatally shot in Biddeford on July 13 when he tried to flee ICE officers in a vehicle during an operation targeting an illegal immigrant with a final order of removal, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

Guerrero was not the target of the operation.

‘SQUAD’ MEMBER CALLS DHS ‘GREATEST THREAT TO OUR SAFETY’ AFTER ICE-INVOLVED SHOOTING

Troy Jackson, the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate in Maine, is pictured alongside Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine.(Spencer Platt/Getty Images; Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc. via Getty Images)

“The vehicle attempted to flee the scene and, fearing for public safety, an officer discharged his weapon. The driver of the vehicle was struck and emergency services were immediately contacted. He passed away from his injuries,” DHS said in a statement at the time.

In Jackson’s estimation, the moment is emblematic of what he described as an agency out of control.

“That is why I believe that this agency is just a rogue agency that’s doing Donald Trump’s bidding,” Jackson said.

“I do believe it’s important to get rid of it and take that money and prioritize it into existing law enforcement that actually people believe in.”

Like many progressives, Jackson has argued that the agency is beyond the scope of reform, sharing the view of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). The group, which backed Jackson in his gubernatorial bid earlier this year before he became a candidate for Senate, calls the agency “a violent and illegitimate agency.”

Jackson has shared almost that exact framing, similarly stating that ICE “is not legitimate law enforcement,” in a debate from last Thursday.

Collins disagrees.

On Tuesday, she argued that the agency, although flawed, serves an important role in American law enforcement, pointing out that its role overlaps with many other forms of law enforcement.

“It investigates child trafficking, human trafficking and general child exploitation: drug smuggling, international cartels, financial scams. It recently helped shut down a child pornography ring in the state of Maine. I don’t think any of us wants to go back to the days of completely open, uncontrolled borders. That is dangerous for us,” Collins argued.

EXCLUSIVE: DHS SECRETARY MULLIN SLAMS SANCTUARY POLITICIANS AS ATTACKS ON ICE OFFICERS SKYROCKET

Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine stands for an interview with Fox News Digital on Feb. 10, 2026 in Washington D.C.(Paul Steinhauser/Fox News)

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“I think what happened is far too many ICE officers were hired and deployed without adequate vetting and training. But let us not forget the important work that ICE does, which is why it should be reformed and not abolished, as Troy has said.”

Having secured their parties’ respective nominations, Collins and Jackson will face off in the state’s Nov. 3 general election.

Elaine Mallon contributed to this report.

Leo Briceno is a politics reporter for the congressional team at Fox News Digital. He was previously a reporter with World Magazine.

https://www.foxnews.com/video/6406853698112

Sleeper GOP candidate puts blue-leaning state in play as fraud scandal shadows Dems

October 14, 2026 3:20pm EDT / Fox News

Fox News shifted its Power Rankings toward Republicans after a new poll showed Tafoya trailing by just 4 points

By Paul Steinhauser, Fox News

Minnesota showdown: Michele Tafoya says Peggy Flanagan deserves a ‘pink slip,’ not a promotion

Republican Senate nominee in Minnesota Michele Tafoya, in a Fox News Digital interview, targets Democratic rival Peggy Flanagan’s record; says voters are ‘angry’ over fraud scandals

Republicans are eyeing a rare Senate pickup opportunity in Minnesota, where GOP nominee Michele Tafoya is narrowing the gap with Democratic Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, prompting Fox News to move the race toward Republicans less than three weeks before Election Day.

It’s been nearly a quarter-century since Republicans last won a Senate election in the blue-leaning state. But Tafoya, a former longtime NFL sideline reporter, is aiming to break that losing streak by flipping the seat held by retiring Democratic Sen. Tina Smith.

A new Minnesota Star Tribune/KARE 11 poll shows Tafoya trailing Flanagan by just four percentage points. On Tuesday, the Fox News Power Rankings shifted the race to the right, from Likely Democrat to Lean Democrat.

GOP SENATE HOPEFUL SOUNDS ALARM AFTER TERROR PLOT THWARTED

Michele Tafoya makes her case as the GOP’s Senate nominee at the Minnesota Republican state convention at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center in Duluth, Minn., on Saturday, May 29, 2026.(Star Tribune via Getty Images)

“The more that Minnesotans learn about me and my opponent and see what my opponent has failed to do over the last eight years alongside Democratic Gov. Tim Walz they’re understanding Minnesota needs change. We need fresh ideas, we need an independent thinker, and they’re jumping on board,” Tafoya said in a Fox News Digital interview.

Fox News Digital reached out to the Flanagan campaign for comment, but didn’t receive a response at the time this story was published.

The race is unfolding against the backdrop of Minnesota’s massive welfare assistance fraud scandal, which has attracted national attention for nearly a year and prompted Democratic Gov. Tim Walz to abandon his 2026 re-election bid. The scandal has also become a central issue in Tafoya’s campaign against Flanagan.

Tafoya highlighted that “there has been historic fraud under this administration, where Peggy Flanagan, my opponent, has been the second-in-charge in this state. And not only was the money stolen, it hollowed out these programs that were supposed to be getting help like kids’ meals or autistic kids or seniors who were supposed to be getting visits, health visits, wellness visits, and so that’s been hollowed out.”

DEMS SEE NEW CHANCES TO FLIP SENATE SEATS BUT GOP’S MASSIVE CASH ADVANTAGE AN OBSTACLE

Democratic Senate nominee Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan speaks during a primary election night party on August 11, 2026 in Minneapolis.(Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)

“Walz understood that he was not going to win another term as governor with these conditions, but my opponent thinks she deserves a promotion. I think people are starting to realize she deserves a pink slip,” Tafoya argued.

Flanagan has said she is “incredibly angry with the fraud,” has acknowledged public frustration over the scandal and that more could have been done sooner to catch and prevent the fraud. The lieutenant governor has noted that she was not in charge of the state agencies at the center of the scandals or steering the daily state response. She has also distanced herself from Walz, who has accepted blame for the fraud.

DEMOCRATS THINK A BLUE WAVE IS FORMER – HERE ARE THREE FACTORS THAT COULD STOP IT

https://www.foxnews.com/video/6406761172112

Republicans see opening in Minnesota Senate race as Democrat faces fallout from state’s fraud scandals

“It’s wall to wall coverage on every nightly news program here for months and months. We’re seeing it in polling,” Minnesota-based veteran national Republican strategist Kirsten Kukowski told Fox News Digital.

Pointing to Flanagan, Kukowski said she has “a lot of fraud baggage…and it’s really made the Senate race really tight here.”

Tafoya is also highlighting a recent spate of gang-related shootings in the Minneapolis-St. Paul suburbs, and on Monday announced a five-point-plan to combat the violence.

“We will do more in our first eight weeks as a US Senator than Peggy Flanagan has done in eight years as the second in charge,” she told Fox News Digital.

WHO’S UP AND WHO’S DOWN IN THE LATEST FOX NEWS MIDTERM POWER RANKINGS

https://www.foxnews.com/video/6406779450112

Tafoya unveils 5-point plan to combat Somali gang violence, accuses Flanagan of ignoring problem

“First of all, we’ve got to name the problem, and even Somali lawmakers and law enforcement have named this problem. We have a Somali gang violence problem. We’ve got to name it. She refuses to name it. You can’t fix it if you don’t name it,” Tafoya emphasized as she referred to Flanagan.

Flanagan, a progressive candidate backed by left-wing champions Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Ro Khanna, topped more moderate Democratic Rep. Angie Craig by roughly 20 points in the August Senate primary.

Tafoya grabbed over 50% of the vote in the GOP Senate primary, as she topped a crowded field of rivals. She was heavily recruited by national Republicans including Sen. Tim Scott, the National Republican Senatorial Committee chair.

“We did a really good job of recruiting the most independent-minded Republican who understands why it’s important to win in Minnesota,” Scott said in an interview on Fox News’ “Hannity.”

Scott said, “Michele Tafoya has a story to tell. She’s doing a really good job. This is a race that will come down to the wire.”

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Fox News Power Rankings Senate forecast.(Remy Numa/Fox News)

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, the top Republican in the chamber, recently teamed up on the campaign trail in Minnesota with Tafoya. But the Thune-aligned Senate Leadership Fund, the top super PAC backing GOP Senate candidates, has yet to make a major investment in the race.

Asked about national Republican support, Tafoya said “we are getting small dollar donations from all over the country. We’re getting donations from every county in this state, and I am a happy warrior, and I will deal with the circumstances I’m given… We’re going to win this campaign on ideas.”

Democrats are hopeful that popular Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who is running for governor this year, may help push Flanagan over the finish line.

“Our latest poll has Flanagan with a strong lead, and we fully expect her to be elected to the U.S. Senate,” Lauren French, communications director for the Senate Democrat-aligned Senate Majority PAC, told Fox News Digital.

French argued that “Republicans are spending in deep red states, and watching the battleground map extend around them. Their desperate last-minute attempt to push Minnesota into play is a political ploy.”

DEMOCRACY ’26: STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE FOX NEWS ELECTION HUB

Michele Tafoya says Peggy Flanagan represents a shift toward “Democrat socialism” in Minnesota.(Fox News Digital ; Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)

Flanagan has repeatedly tied Tafoya to President Donald Trump, whose approval ratings are well underwater in Minnesota.

“Michele Tafoya is all in for Donald Trump — and he’s all in for her,” Flanagan reiterated Monday in a social media post.

Flanagan, who is Native American, also wrote on X, “My Ojibwe name is Gizhiiwewidamookwe, which means ‘Speaks in a Loud and Clear Voice Woman.’ I’m going to be Minnesota’s voice in the U.S. Senate — not Donald Trump’s.”

But Tafoya appears to be putting some daylight between herself and Trump, as she highlights her support for abortion rights.

“I’m a pro-choice Republican not afraid to stand up to my party,” Tafoya says in a new campaign commercial. “When Trump is right, I will work with him. When he is wrong, I will stand up for Minnesota.”

The ad was quickly criticized by leaders on the right.

Among them was Mercedes Schlapp, a senior fellow at the Conservative Political Action Conference, who said on social media, “Pro-life Republicans will stay home after watching this ad.”

But hours later, Trump gave Tafoya a plug, telling the crowd at an Ohio rally he headlined, “You have to vote for Michele Tafoya, who’s a very respected person.”

Paul Steinhauser covers the national campaign trail from coast to coast for Fox News

James Talarico torches Biden border policies in stunning attack ad as progressive tries to flip Texas blue

The Texas Senate hopeful once urged redirecting the state’s entire border security funding toward public education

2026-10-14T12:55:23-04:00 / Fox News

By Hannah Brennan , Peter D’Abrosca, Fox News

Published October 14, 2026 12:55pm EDT

SEE IT: James Talarico slams Biden’s border policies in new campaign ad

Texas Senate candidate James Talarico’s campaign released an ad Monday that claims he scrutinized former President Joe Biden’s border policies as “failing” Americans, despite an unearthed call to slash Texas’ entire border security fund.

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Texas Democrat candidate for U.S. Senate James Talarico appears to be further moderating his previous left-wing stances as he slammed former President Joe Biden for ‘failing us’ on border security in a new campaign advertisement released Monday.

Despite spewing a seemingly hawkish and downright right-leaning border stance in the recent ad, Talarico previously called to slash Texas’ entire border-security budget in an unearthed interview.

“I called out Joe Biden for failing us on the border,” Talarico says in the opening of the ad released this week.

But Talarico’s campaign couldn’t give Fox News Digital an example of him ever publicly criticizing Biden during his presidency. And the Texas Democrat explicitly made a call to put Texas’ entire $800 million two-year border security budget toward public education in a 2019 interview with The Austin Chronicle.

JAMES TALARICO ADMITS DEMOCRATS TOOK ‘BORDER FOR GRANTED’ UNDER BIDEN

Texas Senate candidate James Talarico slams former President Joe Biden in new campaign advertisement released on Monday, October 12. Texas Senate candidate James Talarico slams former President Joe Biden in new campaign advertisement released on Monday, October 12.(Brandon Bell/Getty Images; ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)

“We’re also sending about $800 million per biennium to the border with Mexico for ‘increased border security,’” Talarico said in the more than seven-year-old interview.

The two-year deal allocating $400 million per year toward border security in the state of Texas was the state’s entire budget toward warding off illegal immigration at the time Talarico made the call to replace that funding.

“I’d rather take that money and put it back into public education and help increase the basic allotment, for instance,” he said in the interview.

Talarico has ramped up his efforts to come off more moderate amid claims that he is too progressive to win a Senate seat in notoriously red Texas. His move to a more moderate stance on immigration only started during his Senate bid in the state with the highest rates of illegal immigration.

“Putting a bunch of boats, planes and border patrol agents on the physical border is expensive and also does not solve the problem,” he said in the interview.

His 2019 criticism of border enforcement comes to the surface as border crossings under the Trump administration fell to a new record low level in 55 years in 2025, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The decline in illegal immigration followed a series of immigration enforcement measures implemented by the administration.

“Everyone will admit it’s just political grandstanding,” Talarico said in the interview. “Certain lawmakers want to appease extreme parts of their base. And they do it by pumping money we don’t have down to the border.”

EXCLUSIVE: TALARICO CAUGHT ON TAPE GIGGLING ABOUT HIS CHURCH HOUSING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS SET FOR DEPORTATION

U.S. President Donald Trump arrives to speak during a campaign rally at F&M Bank Arena in Clarksville, Tennessee on October 10, 2026. Trump is campaigning for Republican candidates ahead of the November 3 midterm election.(Mandel NGAN / AFP via Getty Images)

In his run for Senate, Talarico has now labeled himself a “border security” Democrat, despite an extensive history of pushing back on border security reform and authorities.

A former member of the Texas legislature and a former school teacher, Talarico has been in the spotlight repeatedly for many of his far-left controversies, particularly comments regarding immigration enforcement. He has called to dismantle Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), claiming it was “time to tear down this secret police force.”

Talarico also referred to illegal aliens as his “constituents.”

He labeled Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s border security policies as “atrocities” and accused him of “hunting” illegal immigrants. The Senate candidate also said he “taught a lot of undocumented students,” and that those illegal aliens were more patriotic than Americans.

“James is proud to be the only candidate in this race who has unveiled a border security agenda endorsed by Republican and Democratic border county sheriffs,” Talarico’s campaign spokesperson JT Ennis told Fox News Digital when asked about the flip-flop.

TALARICO DISAPPEARANCE HAS DEM VOLUNTEERS WORRYING AND TRUMP ASKING, ‘WHAT IS GOING ON?’

https://www.foxnews.com/video/6404841281112

He continued, “James supports stronger border security and immigration enforcement — it’s why he’s called for more border patrol agents and has said we should be arresting and deporting violent criminals and human traffickers — not moms and babies.”

The Texas Senate hopeful went briefly missing from the campaign trail this month, prompting viral rumors online to swirl that he was at a behavioral health center. Talarico debunked these claims after clearing the air on his whereabouts when he reappeared Friday, reassuring voters that he was recovering from the flu.

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Talarico is running against GOP rival Ken Paxton for the Senate seat in Texas. The race has remained close as November’s midterms approach.

Hannah is a Production Assistant for the Politics team at Fox News Digital.

WATCH: Georgia Senate debate erupts over white supremacy allegations, Epstein ties in fiery exchange

2026-10-14 3:34pm EDT / Fox News

Mike Collins and Jon Ossoff clashed over alleged neo-Nazi activity, Epstein ties

By Alec Schemmel Fox News

Published October 14, 2026 3:34pm EDT

WATCH: Georgia Senate candidates clash over neo-Nazi allegations, Epstein-linked donor

Sen. Jon Ossoff and Rep. Mike Collins trade accusations over alleged neo-Nazi activity linked to Collins’ family and campaign donations from Jeffrey Epstein associate Reid Hoffman.

Georgia’s contentious U.S. Senate race erupted into a heated confrontation Tuesday night as Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., accused GOP challenger Rep. Mike Collins, R-Ga., of allowing the dissemination of “neo-Nazi propaganda” inside his own home, prompting Collins to fire back over Ossoff’s financial support from a billionaire with ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The exchange unfolded during the candidates’ second and final debate ahead of the Nov. 3 general election, which was hosted by the Atlanta Press Club and broadcast by Georgia Public Broadcasting network.

During the debate, Ossoff sought to tie his GOP opponent to White nationalism and repeatedly demanded that Collins commit to stopping the dissemination of hateful rhetoric involving his campaign staff, in particular Collins’ son-in-law, which Ossoff alleged has continued despite blowback. Meanwhile, Collins accused his Democrat opponent of fueling threats against his family, refusing to return campaign support connected to LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman and questioned Ossoff over his support for candidates linked to controversial streamer Hasan Piker.

DEM ‘EPSTEIN CLASS’ ATTACK BACKFIRES AS TOP CANDIDATES FUNDED BY EPSTEIN-TIED BILLIONAIRE

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Rep. Mike Collins of Georgia speaks to supporters at a primary night event on May 19, 2026 in Jackson, Georgia.(Jason Allen/Getty Images)

“How weak a person do you have to be to be unable to stop someone under your own roof from disseminating neo-Nazi propaganda while you run for the Senate?” Ossoff asked, referencing reporting about his opponent’s son-in-law, David Alan Scheer II, who was the subject of a CNN investigation about sharing Nazi propaganda imagery, promoting antisemitic conspiracy theories and polling his online followers about whether he should produce a video titled “Why Gen-Z Doesn’t Hate Hitler.”

“How about this, Mike? We can shake hands on it,” Ossoff continued to press. “Will you commit tonight that for the remainder of this campaign, it’s just three weeks, Mike, you won’t allow any more neo-Nazi propaganda to be produced from your house? Can you make that commitment?”

Collins responded by accusing Ossoff of inflaming hostility toward his family, pointing to threats he said he and his son-in-law had received.

“I’m a little tired of this, Jon,” Collins said. “There’s a crazy person in jail right now because of your rhetoric,” he alleged, before saying he had received another threat just the previous day.

JON OSSOFF SILENT ON SPLC INDICTMENT AFTER TAKING MORE THAN $700K FROM AFFILIATE OF INDICTED GROUP

“You have not denounced, you’ve not condemned Reid Hoffman, one of your largest donors out there, one that’s been supporting you with over $1 million,” Collins shot back. “Why don’t you denounce that? Why don’t you return that money?”

Collins was referring to Reid Hoffman, the billionaire LinkedIn co-founder and major Democratic donor whose past relationship with Epstein has drawn scrutiny. Hoffman has acknowledged meeting with Epstein after the financier’s 2008 conviction for sex offenses and visiting his private island. Hoffman also contributed $7,000 directly to Ossoff’s campaign and $1 million to a political action committee supporting the Georgia Democrat, according to previously reported campaign finance records.

Billionaire Reid Hoffman (left), a known former associate of Jeffrey Epstein, made contributions to the campaign for Sen. Jon Ossoff (right), D-Ga., and to a PAC opposing Ossoff’s challenger, Rep. Mike Collins, R-Ga.(David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images; Ben Hendren/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Earlier in the debate, Collins went further, accusing Hoffman of sending Epstein ice cream with a message referencing girls, while again pressing Ossoff to reject his financial support.

“Jon Ossoff, his number one donor, one of his largest donors, is Reid Hoffman, the same guy that’s in the same files, the same guy that sent ice cream, ice cream to Jeffrey Epstein on his birthday and said, ‘This is for the girls,’” Collins said during an earlier exchange in the debate.

THUNE-ALIGNED GROUPS UNLEASH HISTORIC WAR CHEST TO DEFEND SENATE MAJORITY: ‘WINNING MESSAGE’

The Wall Street Journal previously reported that Hoffman sent Epstein ice cream in 2014 with a message indicating it was intended for him or “for the girls.” Hoffman has apologized for his association with Epstein, which he said stemmed from fundraising activities involving the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and has not been accused of wrongdoing in connection with Epstein’s crimes.

Ossoff rejected the Hoffman comparison, however, arguing that the allegations against Collins involved someone living in the congressman’s home rather than a political donor.

“Mike, if any of these folks were based in my house, then I’d understand you to ask me to take responsibility for them,” Ossoff said. “What I asked you, Mike, was, can you commit for just three weeks to stop the production of neo-Nazi propaganda from your home?”

Earlier in the debate, Collins was directly questioned about concerns from Black Georgians over allegations of White-nationalist ties involving members of his political operation.

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“I condemn any sort of hate speech, antisemitism, hate of any kind. It’s abhorrent,” Collins responded, adding that he had fired staffers when controversies arose.

Collins also sought to turn the accusations back on Ossoff by criticizing his support for Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed and invoking left-wing streamer Hasan Piker, who Collins blasted for saying the U.S. deserved 9/11, and promoting anti-Semitism.

Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., condemned Hasan Piker’s latest remarks about antisemitism and American Jews’ support for Israel.(Ben Hendren/Bloomberg via Getty Images; Noushad Thekkayil/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

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“He hangs his hat on this Abdul El-Sayed, you know, the guy that hates Israel — best friends with Hasan Piker, who said that America deserves 9/11,” Collins said Tuesday night.

Ossoff has previously condemned Piker’s rhetoric, telling The Atlanta Journal-Constitution through a spokesperson that he “unreservedly rejects reckless and dangerous rhetoric” suggesting political advocacy justifies violence against Jewish Americans or any other community.

Alec Schemmel is a Politics Reporter for Fox News Digital who is originally from Charlotte, North Carolina but now resides in the Washington D.C.-Baltimore Metro Area.

受厄尔尼诺现象影响 巴西亚马逊林火激增

2026年10月15日 00:00 / 联合早报

10月9日，消防人员在巴西北部亚马逊州奥塔泽斯（Autazes）乡村地区扑救森林火灾。 （法新社档案照片）

在强厄尔尼诺现象、气候变化及人类活动的共同推波助澜下，巴西亚马逊雨林林火数量在过去两周内激增两倍多。尽管消防人员正加紧扑救，但滚滚浓烟已笼罩附近城镇，导致多项活动取消，居民出现呼吸困难情况。

路透社星期三（10月14日）报道，巴西亚马逊监控系统的数据显示，10月前两周，亚马逊州共记录1679起火灾，与去年同期相比剧增253%。

官方怀疑这些火灾系人为蓄意纵火所致。火灾带来的漫天浓烟，已导致亚马逊州至少36个自治市进入紧急状态，许多居民出现呼吸系统疾病。巴西联邦政府与民防部门已从周末起向亚马逊州派遣飞机和消防梯队参与灭火。

林火引发的恶劣空气质量也严重影响了亚马逊州首府、拥有200多万人口的马瑙斯（Manaus）。当地已取消多项户外活动，公立学校也在星期三停课。

通常情况下，8月和9月是亚马逊雨林干旱高峰期，到了10月的雨季，火情一般会得到缓解，然而今年雨水迟迟未至。

科学家与官员指出，被预测为有记录以来最强劲的厄尔尼诺现象以及气候变化，可能是导致今年火灾激增的主因。

亚马逊环境研究所（IPAM）地理学家兼研究员杜里根（Carlos Durigan）指出：“干旱与高温冲击极其剧烈，造成了潜在的危险局面。再加上人类活动的叠加，不仅威胁到生物多样性和公众健康，也破坏了这片土地的生产力。”

巴西环境部长卡波比安科（João Paulo Capobianco）星期天（10月11日）乘机视察亚马逊州时，发现保护区内存在火情。环境部称，这表明有人蓄意纵火，意图毁林开荒，当局已展开调查。

在亚马逊雨林，自然引发的火灾极为罕见，绝大多数林火都是为了开垦农田或牧场而人为点燃的。

Benson sidesteps question on how to convince Michiganders to vote for both her and fellow Dem El-Sayed

1:26 PM EDT, Wed October 14, 2026 / CNN

By Dana Bash, CNN

https://www.cnn.com/2026/10/14/politics/video/michigan-gov-candidate-jocelyn-benson-midterms-ip

Benson sidesteps question on how to convince Michiganders to vote for both her and fellow Dem El-Sayed

Inside Politics

Democrat Jocelyn Benson joins Dana Bash on “Inside Politics” to talk about her campaign for Michigan governor. Polls show her with a wide lead, but the same can’t be said for fellow Democrat Abdul El-Sayed, who’s in a close race for Senate with Republican Mike Rogers. Dana Bash pressed her to make the case to voters who like her but aren’t sure about him.

2:15 • Source: CNN

Mamdani accuses Blakeman of ‘bigotry and racism’ in breakout debate that mayor didn’t watch

NYC mayor admits he only saw a clip of Hochul-Blakeman gubernatorial debate before making the claim

October 14, 2026 2:41pm EDT / Fox News

https://www.foxnews.com/video/6406861145112

Mamdani accuses Blakeman of ‘bigotry and racism’ in breakout debate that mayor didn’t watch live

NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani accused Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman of spreading ‘bigotry and racism’ in a debate against Gov. Kathy Hochul.

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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani accused Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman of “bigotry and racism” Tuesday night despite admitting he didn’t watch Blakeman’s debate with Gov. Kathy Hochul live.

Mamdani made the statement in comments to reporters Wednesday after Blakeman and Hochul squared off Tuesday night. A reporter asked Mamdani whether he was bothered that Hochul hadn’t responded to Blakeman’s claims that the NYC mayor is an antisemite.

“So, I think, you know, it is hard for anyone to keep up with all of the bigotry and racism that Bruce Blakeman exhibits on a regular basis. So, I think that the governor did a good job. And I’ll never fault someone for not being able to catch all of it because that is a fool’s errand when it comes to Bruce Blakeman,” Mamdani said.

SHOCK POLL: POWERFUL BLUE STATE GOV’S LEAD SHRINKS TO SINGLE DIGITS WEEKS BEFORE ELECTION

Gov. Kathy Hochul and Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman face off in the only scheduled debate ahead of the November New York gubernatorial election Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, in New York.(Anna Connors/Pool The New York Times)

“And I think the governor also made clear, you know, I’ve said that I, I didn’t watch the debate beyond the clip, but I think the governor has made clear time and time again what her vision is. It’s a vision of a more affordable New York,” he continued.

“And when it comes to Bruce Blakeman, his vision seems to be making life harder for working people. When the governor and I announced putting our city on a pathway to universal childcare, Bruce Blakeman went on television and said this was rewarding lazy parents who would sit at home and watch ‘The View.’ When we were speaking about concerns about what HR1 was going to do with regards to healthcare access across the state, Bruce Blakeman went on television and said that he would cut Medicaid in half.”

The debate opened with the candidates being asked about the conduct of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which last week drew outrage in New York City after the shooting of a 28-year-old Dominican national whom the Department of Homeland Security said refused to comply with lawful orders during a targeted operation in the Bronx. A 5-year-old boy inside Oscar Bergal’s vehicle was unharmed.

New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman(Getty Images; Fox News composite)

“Kathy Hochul appealed to ICE to let this criminal out. The question that New Yorkers have to ask is what was this guy doing in New York in the first place? It’s because Kathy Hochul has made us a sanctuary state,” Blakeman said.

MAMDANI CALLS ICE A ‘ROGUE’ AGENCY AFTER NYC SHOOTING, CLAIMS AGENTS VIEW LAW AS ‘MERELY A SUGGESTION’

“Think about it. This guy came into the country illegally. He’s been convicted of a crime. He’s got pending charges for dealing drugs, poison to our children. And he’s a gang banger. This is who Kathy Hochul is defending?” Blakeman continued.

“I have a cooperative agreement with ICE until Kathy Hochul said we could no longer cooperate with ICE. We got over 2,000 illegal migrants out of my county with criminal records ranging from rape, attempted murder, robbery, burglary, drug dealing, carjacking, gang activity.

“And that’s because we cooperated with ICE, and we didn’t raid one school, one hospital, one daycare center or one church. If you cooperate with federal law enforcement, it makes for a safer community. That’s what I did. Kathy Hochul is taking that ability away from us. That’s why things like this happen.”

Hochul called Blakeman’s response a “non-answer” because “he refused to condemn what ICE did.”

MULLIN CALLS MAMDANI’S ANTI-ICE RHETORIC ‘DANGEROUS’ FOLLOWING NEW YORK SHOOTING

“So, he basically says in the state of New York, he’d be fine if ICE agents shoot into cars, shoot guns into vehicles, not knowing who’s inside and could have killed a 5-year-old child. If that doesn’t shock the conscience of everybody — and it should shock his conscience as well — that he says, ‘That’s OK, that’s how ICE is supposed to do it,’” Hochul added.

“I’ll tell you what. I oversee over 500 policing agencies in the state of New York. Over half a million arrests every year. That’s not how you conduct yourself. ICE is out of control. It’s out of control in Nassau County.”

New York Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman and New York Governor Kathy Hochul(Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images; Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)

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Blakeman pushed back, saying, “It never would have happened” but for Hochul’s “sanctuary policy.”

Fox News’ Greg Norman contributed to this report.

Anders Hagstrom is a reporter with Fox News Digital covering national politics and major breaking news events.