An undercover sting by James O’Keefe’s Citizen Journalism Foundation ended with Fox News Media cutting loose a senior FOX Weather executive after he was caught on hidden camera boasting about expense-account spending.

Jason Hermes, FOX Weather’s vice president of content sales and partnerships, was recorded claiming he could run up a massive tab at a strip club using a corporate card and get the company to reimburse it.

“You could take this (Fox corporate credit card), walk into a strip club, literally, and spend $4,000, go into your corporate manager and they would sign it and pay it off,” Hermes told the undercover investigator. “And we’d be like, ‘Well, that’s what the client wanted.’”

Hermes also described the perks of his role in unusually blunt terms, according to the video.

“It’s the best job, because I’m a celebrity around all of it, but no one knows me,” Hermes later added. “It’s like winning the lottery.”

CAUGHT ON HIDDEN CAMERA: Fox News Media VP Jason Hermes Brags About Charging ‘$4,000 Strip Club Bills’ to Fox Corporate Cards, Admits to a Stranger, “We Would Just…Lie on the [Fox] Expense Reports—No One’s Gonna F***ing Say a Word to Me,” in Direct Violation of Fox Corporate’s… pic.twitter.com/NwKIzO6pnX

— James O’Keefe (@JamesOKeefeIII) April 28, 2026

The footage spread quickly online and racked up millions of views, prompting Fox News to respond publicly and move to terminate Hermes.

“Jason Hermes has been terminated,” a company statement said. “The comments he made during a personal outing grossly misrepresented his position at FOX Weather and within the larger company.

“Expense reports are subject to a sophisticated review and auditing process, and his wildly bizarre claims were immediately investigated, which we are in the process of finishing,” the statement continues. “We have found no evidence whatsoever that they are true.”

The episode is the latest example of an O’Keefe-style undercover operation setting off a corporate firestorm, with Fox insisting the executive’s talk did not match reality and that internal controls would have prevented the behavior he described.

Barrett Media, which covers the media industry, reported the firing and noted it publishes daily content focused on music, news and sports media.

Download the FREE Trending Politics App to get the latest news FIRST >>

Tennessee Republican leaders are discussing the possibility of redrawing the state’s congressional districts following a U.S. Supreme Court decision that limited key provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The latest ruling pertained case involving Louisiana’s congressional map and has prompted several Republican-led states to review their own redistricting plans.

Earlier this week, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that Louisiana’s 2024 congressional map, which included a second majority-Black district, constituted an unconstitutional racial gerrymander. Justice Samuel Alito wrote the majority opinion, in which he stated that compliance with Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act could not justify the state’s use of race-based redistricting in this instance.

The decision effectively narrowed the circumstances under which states must consider race when drawing maps to prevent vote dilution for racial minorities, a standard that had previously supported the creation of majority-minority districts in some areas.

Tennessee’s current congressional map, which was drawn after the 2020 census, consists of nine districts. Eight are held by Republicans, while the Ninth District, centered in Memphis and covering a majority-Black population, is represented by Democrat Steve Cohen.

Under prior interpretations of the Voting Rights Act, the state had maintained this configuration to comply with requirements aimed at ensuring one district drawn along racial lines.

On Wednesday, U.S. Senator and Tennessee gubernatorial candidate Marsha Blackburn, publicly called for the Tennessee General Assembly to convene a special session to redraw the maps. “I urge our state legislature to reconvene to redistrict another Republican seat in Memphis. It’s essential to cement [President Trump’s] agenda and the Golden Age of America. I’ve vowed to keep Tennessee a red state, and as Governor, I’ll do everything I can to make this map a reality.”

House Speaker Cameron Sexton later indicated that lawmakers were examining the Supreme Court opinion, while President Trump also addressed the matter directly in a social media post. “I had a very good conversation with Governor Bill Lee, of Tennessee, this morning, wherein he stated that he would work hard to correct the unconstitutional flaw in the Congressional Maps of the Great State of Tennessee,” the president posted on Truth Social.

The Tennessee developments follow similar moves in other Republican-led states. Louisiana postponed its May congressional primaries on April 30 after the ruling left the state enjoined from using its current map. At the same time, in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, and South Carolina have also called for special legislative sessions to review and potentially redraw districts, with the aim of adjusting majority-minority configurations that had been maintained under earlier Voting Rights Act standards

These states have indicated that the Supreme Court decision removes previous constraints on race-conscious map drawing, allowing for maps that could produce additional Republican-leaning seats ahead of the November midterm elections.

A New York rabbi was found dismembered and stuffed inside a bloodstained wardrobe after he was attacked and killed in Colombia, local media reported.

Nachum Israel Eber’s remains were discovered inside the abandoned closet after it was dumped on a street in Bogota on Sunday, just days after his family reported him missing, according to local reports.

Eber, 51, was a father and a member of the Belz Hasidic community in Brooklyn’s Boro Park. He had traveled to Colombia earlier this month to advise a congregation of Catholics who had converted to Judaism, the reports said.

Authorities began searching after relatives in New York reported that Eber had abruptly gone silent and stopped answering calls.

Surveillance video captured Eber leaving his Airbnb just after 9 p.m. April 21 before he vanished, according to reports.

Days later, residents reported spotting a blue wardrobe with bloodstains around it on a street on the opposite side of the city, local media said.

Authorities have since confirmed the remains were those of the missing rabbi, according to the reports.

Investigators have not announced a motive. Local reports said authorities believe he may have been targeted by a gang that focuses on tourists.

Officials believe he was likely killed during a robbery in which attackers stole his belongings and identification documents, local media reported.

Eber’s family is working to have his remains transported to Israel for burial.

They are also coordinating with Colombian authorities and attempting to prevent an autopsy as part of the investigation, local media reported.

Download the FREE Trending Politics App to get the latest news FIRST >>

U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-TX) dismissed concerns over racial quotas in Congress following a recent Supreme Court ruling pertaining to the Voting Rights Act (VRA), which projects to have wide-ranging impacts on several congressional districts, particularly in the South.

Hunt, who will be retiring at the end of his term after launching an unsuccessful Senate bid, was asked about the current state of the Republican conference by a reporter with Meidas Touch, a far-left media outlet. In addition to Hunt, a number of longtime black Republicans have either announced their respective retirements or will not be seeking re-election due to bids for higher office.

“There’s been a lot of talk how there won’t be any Black Republican members in the new term. What do you make of that?” Hunt was asked.

“Nothing. I don’t understand how that’s relevant. I don’t care how many Black people are here,” the congressman replied. That clip was selectively edited and posted by the outlet’s main X page, omitting Hunt’s longer response.

“I don’t understand how that’s relevant,” Hunt said.

“I’m not here because I’m black. I am here because I am a qualified representative for Congressional District 38. And one thing I don’t want to get into is this game of race bait all day every day. If there’s four, if there’s 10, if there’s none. We’re talking about who is the best person that is best qualified to fill a seat regardless of the way that they look,” the congressman continued.

“And I tell people this all the time till I’m blue in the face. I represent a white majority district that President Trump would have won by over 20 points and I won by over 25 points last time. I ran being judged not by the color of my skin but the content of my character. Don’t care how many black people are here. I want the most qualified people that are here. And thank you.”

REP. WESLEY HUNT (R-TX) just gave the PERFECT response:

Q: There won’t be any black Republicans left in the House?

HUNT: “It’s not relevant.”

“I’m not here because I’m black.”

“I am here because I am a qualified representative for Congressional District 38.”

“The American… pic.twitter.com/gsEXMWvViy

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) April 30, 2026

Barry Christian, a Republican candidate for Oklahoma State Senate District 38, was reported missing after failing to appear for a scheduled meeting on Tuesday, April 28. Police soon recovered Christian’s vehicle and confirmed that he was tragically found dead.

Christian, 54, of Sayre, Oklahoma, had last known contact that day and was believed to be driving a charcoal gray 2024 Ram pickup truck. Authorities from the Harmon County Sheriff’s Office and Beckham County Sheriff’s Office issued a public appeal late Wednesday night and issued a physical description, which described him as approximately 6 feet tall, 230 pounds, with blue eyes and gray hair.

The public was asked to contact the Sayre Police Department with any available information.

On Thursday, April 30, a vehicle matching the description of Christian’s truck was located on the side of the road in a rural area south of Erick in Beckham County, near Highway 30 in the Sandy Sanders Wildlife Management Area, according to a report from local outlet KOCO. Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) crime scene technicians responded to the scene to process the vehicle.

Later that day, Christian was found dead inside the truck. No cause of death has been determined, and the circumstances remain under investigation as of this report.

“At this time, the circumstances surrounding Mr. Christian’s death remain under investigation. Authorities have not yet released additional details pending notification of all family members and further examination,” a spokesperson for Christian’s campaign said in a statement Thursday.

Christian’s daughter, Brooklyn, also issued a statement after her father was found dead. “Our world is upside down right now. We are still not sure of everything that happened, so please act with grace and treat my dad’s legacy with dignity. We are extremely grateful to everyone who assisted in the search efforts, and all of the media outlets that shared his information. I know there will be lots of people devastated by his passing,” she said.

Christian had been active in his campaign in the days leading up to his disappearance. He appeared at the Mangum Rattlesnake Derby on Saturday, April 26 and had recently posted on campaign social media accounts.

A longtime veteran of the petroleum industry, Christian had announced his candidacy last year after incumbent Senator Brent Howard announced that he would not be seeking a third term in the state’s 38th Senate District. Christian’s announcement video featured an endorsement from pro-Trump musician Kid Rock, with whom he enjoyed a personal friendship.

Christian is survived by his three children and three grandchildren.

Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen has filed a motion with the U.S. Supreme Court requesting expedited review of the state’s ongoing congressional redistricting litigation. The filing occurred one day after the Supreme Court issued its decision in Louisiana v. Callais, which determined that Louisiana’s congressional map constituted an unconstitutional racial gerrymander due to the creation of a second majority-black district.

“As the appellant in Alabama’s redistricting case, I have taken the legal measures necessary, in cooperation with Alabama’s Attorney General Steve Marshall to ask the US Supreme Court to take quick and decisive action which will allow Alabama to pursue congressional maps that reflect the will of the people,” Allen wrote.

“It is my hope that our right as Alabamians to draw districts will be swiftly restored and that the days of court appointed mapmakers will be behind us.”

Attorney General Steve Marshall filed accompanying emergency motions asking the Supreme Court to lift existing injunctions that prevent Alabama from using its 2023 congressional map. The motions seek to allow the state to proceed with maps drawn by the legislature rather than those imposed through prior court proceedings.

Governor Kay Ivey issued a statement supporting the actions. “I applaud Attorney General Steve Marshall and Secretary of State Wes Allen for quickly filing emergency motions at the Supreme Court regarding Alabama’s redistricting case. As I have said time and again, Alabama knows our state, our people and our districts better than the federal courts or activist groups. I remain hopeful that Alabama receives a favorable ruling from the Supreme Court,” she said.

Press Release: Secretary of State Wes Allen Files Motion with US Supreme Court on Alabama Redistricting

Read more here: https://t.co/MQXQ1r290T#alpolitics pic.twitter.com/Zh7rhKYoTy

— Wes Allen Alabama Secretary of State (@alasecofstate) April 30, 2026

Thursday’s developments follow the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in Allen v. Milligan, which held that Alabama’s 2021 congressional map violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act by diluting the voting strength of black residents. That ruling required the creation of a second district in which Black voters would have an opportunity to elect candidates of their choice.

A subsequent 2023 map enacted by the Alabama Legislature was later enjoined by a federal district court for failing to fully remedy the violation. A court-appointed special master’s plan was used for the 2024 elections, and an injunction currently prohibits the use of new congressional districts until after the 2030 census.

Governor Ivey had previously refused to call a special session for redistricting and instead asked the high court for additional guidance on the law.

In the wake of the Louisiana v. Callais decision, Ivey reiterated this position regarding congressional maps. She stated that Alabama is “not in position to have a special session at this time” but expressed hope that the new precedent would lead to a favorable outcome for the state in its pending Supreme Court matter.

Louisiana and Tennessee have also taken steps to address their congressional maps in response to the Supreme Court’s recent ruling narrowing the application of the Voting Rights Act in redistricting. Louisiana, whose map was directly invalidated as an unconstitutional racial gerrymander, is required to redraw its congressional districts following an appellate court ruling handed down on Thursday.

Tennessee officials, including gubernatorial candidates and members of Congress, have called for the legislature to redraw the state’s map to eliminate its single majority-minority district centered in Memphis, with Governor Bill Lee indicating that he would work to address what he described as an unconstitutional flaw in the current plan.

U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro on Thursday released highly detailed, never before seen footage of the assassination attempt that occurred at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in the nation’s capital this past weekend.

The footage, which had already been provided to U.S. District Court, shows accused gunman Cole Allen interacting with the hotel environment the day before the attack and the moment he shot a U.S. Secret Service officer.

“Today, we are releasing video already provided to U.S. District Court showing Cole Allen shoot a U.S. Secret Service officer during his attempt to assassinate the President at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. There is no evidence the shooting was the result of friendly fire,” Pirro wrote in a social media post. “The video also shows Allen casing the area in the Hilton Hotel the day before the attack. My office along with the [FBI] will continue this extensive investigation to bring Cole Allen to justice.”

The approximately 5-minute-and-42-second compilation consists of synchronized, high-definition surveillance feeds from multiple cameras at the Washington Hilton hotel. The first segment, captured by Camera 16 in a hotel fitness area on April 24, shows Allen walking through the gym space.

Footage from April 25 — the day of the attack — transitions to the security checkpoint area recorded by Camera 01. This wide-angle view shows law enforcement personnel, including officers in Secret Service vests, positioned near metal detectors and equipment cases in the lobby. Allen, dressed in a dark overcoat, can then be seen entering the frame from the left before proceeding through the checkpoint zone.

The gunman then charged forward and can be seen firing at a Secret Service officer positioned to his right. The sequence continued with immediate reactions from nearby officers, who drew weapons and moved toward Allen as he was being subdued by other officers.

Allen was armed with a 12-gauge pump-action Mossberg shotgun, a .38 semi-automatic pistol, and at least three knives during the attempt to reach the event where President Donald Trump was present.The video does not include audio but relies on timestamped visuals and camera identifiers to document the sequence.

It aligns with earlier investigative details and less detailed footage showing Allen rushed past the security checkpoint in the hotel lobby, where the shooting of the federal officer occurred. The officer managed to escape serious injury thanks to an officer-worn bulletproof vest.

Cole Allen, who has been identified as the gunman, is facing multiple federal felonies in connection with the attack. Charges include attempted assassination of the President, using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer.

He also left behind a manifesto in which he expressed support for a number of left-wing causes and laid out his intent to assassinate President Trump and senior cabinet officials.

Kamala Harris brought the fire to a packed awards dinner this week, but one musician nearby looked like he brought a sleep timer.

During Wednesday’s Public Counsel Awards Dinner at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, the former vice president was mid-speech in a serious onstage conversation when a saxophonist seated close by appeared to nod off.

In video from the room, the musician’s eyes are closed and his head is down as Harris continues speaking just a few feet away.

The moment landed with extra irony. Harris was in the middle of a point about “No Kings” rallies and long-term political strategy when the saxophonist seemed to drift into dreamland.

To be fair, it was a long night of speeches, awards and performances. Even seasoned pros can hit a wall at a formal dinner, and smooth jazz does not exactly scream adrenaline.

Kamala Harris delivers a speech as a Saxophonist sleeps onstage at awards dinner. https://t.co/0glK4hZkCJ pic.twitter.com/GcqKctmBJb

— TMZ (@TMZ) April 30, 2026

Harris accepted the William O. Douglas Award from Uzo Aduba before the onstage chat. During her remarks, she praised Gen Z, reaffirmed her oath to the Constitution and declared “we need to be ruthless” in confronting the current political climate.

The room was filled with recognizable faces, including Vin Diesel, Rita Moreno and Amanda Gorman.

The saxophonist eventually snapped back to the job and later played Harris offstage, adding an unexpected comedic beat to an otherwise heavy, high-profile evening.

Download the FREE Trending Politics App to get the latest news FIRST >>

A California-based immigrant advocacy group pulled in millions in taxpayer cash the same year protests tied to its organizing efforts spiraled into violence in Los Angeles — and so far, it has faced little apparent fallout from Washington.

The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, known as CHIRLA, reported receiving $8,726,683 in government grants in its most recent tax filing covering July 2024 through June 2025. That funding accounted for roughly 35% of the group’s total revenue, according to the filing.

The funding period coincided with unrest that erupted in June 2025, when anti-deportation demonstrations in Los Angeles turned destructive. The protests followed organizing efforts tied to an anti-ICE rapid response network that CHIRLA helped establish earlier that year. Demonstrations at a federal building escalated, with protesters clashing with police, blocking streets, and damaging property after what began as a rally.

Authorities later estimated the damage from the broader unrest across parts of California ranged widely, from tens of millions to as much as $1 billion.

The fallout drew attention on Capitol Hill. Lawmakers in both chambers launched inquiries into CHIRLA’s finances and activities, including requests for internal records and communications. The House Judiciary Committee and Sen. Josh Hawley pressed the group for answers in June.

But months later, there has been little visible movement. There have been no public reports indicating CHIRLA complied with the document requests, and lawmakers have not announced additional steps. The Judiciary Committee did not issue a subpoena, while Hawley warned at the time of a “potential referral for criminal investigation.”

Federal agencies have also remained largely quiet. The IRS and the office of First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli did not provide updates on a previously announced probe tied to the riots. The FBI’s Los Angeles field office declined to comment.

CHIRLA has been a major player in immigration services for years. The group was authorized by the federal government in 2011 to provide certain immigration-related assistance. Since then, it has handled large volumes of applications under programs like Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, along with services tied to visas, deportation defense, and temporary protected status.

Tax filings show the organization has received more than $80.6 million in government grants since 2021.

At the same time, CHIRLA has been active in legal challenges against federal immigration policy. The group joined lawsuits earlier this year opposing the halt of certain federal grants tied to naturalization programs. Courts have so far upheld the funding pause.

Another congressional panel, the House Homeland Security Committee, also sought information from the group about its activities. That effort has likewise produced no public results.

CHIRLA pushed back against the scrutiny, framing the inquiries as political pressure.

“We will not be intimidated for standing with immigrant communities and documenting the inhumane manner that our community is being targeted with the assault by the raids, the unconstitutional and illegal arrests, detentions, and the assault on our First Amendment rights,” the group said in response to Hawley’s letter.

The June 6 protest that set off the unrest was tied to the arrest of Service Employees International Union leader David Huerta, who was accused of obstructing federal immigration agents during an enforcement operation earlier that day. Demonstrators gathered outside a federal building, and while the event began peacefully, authorities declared an unlawful assembly after clashes broke out.

CHIRLA had partnered with labor groups and other organizations earlier in 2025 to form the Los Angeles Rapid Response Network, which mobilizes activists to monitor immigration enforcement activity. The network was activated the day of the protest as reports of increased ICE operations in the area spread.

Federal data later showed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested 1,618 people in Los Angeles in June.

Despite criticism over the violence, CHIRLA has maintained that its mission is “non-violent.” The group has emphasized the right to protest and criticized the federal response, including the deployment of National Guard troops ordered by President Donald Trump.

For now, the investigations launched in the wake of the unrest appear to have stalled, even as questions linger over how taxpayer funding intersects with politically active nonprofit groups.

Download the FREE Trending Politics App to get the latest news FIRST >>

Karoline Leavitt ripped into late-night host Jimmy Kimmel at a White House briefing, accusing him of crossing a line with a joke aimed at first lady Melania Trump as the country is still reeling from the shooting scare at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

Leavitt pointed to Kimmel’s remark calling Melania “an expectant widow,” arguing the crack was not just tasteless, but reckless in a moment when political violence has become a real threat.

She said it was absurd to suggest any spouse would “glow” at the possibility of her husband being killed.

“Who, in their right mind, says a wife would be glowing over the potential murder of her beloved husband?!” Leavitt said.

The press secretary said the broader issue is how easily hostile rhetoric has become a normal part of the media ecosystem, even as authorities investigate a would-be assassin who targeted Trump administration officials.

Leavitt drew a direct connection between the language that dominates politics and the mindset that fuels violence.

“Much of the manifesto of the would-be assassin is indistinguishable from the words that we hear daily from so many,” she said.

Leavitt also spoke from firsthand experience, noting she was with the first lady the night of the WHCA incident. She said Melania Trump was shaken, not smug, and dismissed the idea that she would react the way Kimmel joked.

“Having experienced what I did with the First Lady on Saturday night, I can tell you that she was anything but that,” Leavitt said.

Leavitt framed the blowup as a bigger indictment of what she called a media culture that rewards cruelty, turns political opponents into targets and treats the first family like a punchline.

“This kind of rhetoric about the President, the First Lady, and his supporters is completely deranged,” she said.

President Donald Trump also weighed in online, blasting Kimmel’s remarks and calling on the network to take action. Trump argued the comment should be treated as more than a cheap joke given the violence that erupted at the Correspondents’ Dinner.

The fight is the latest flashpoint in a cycle where comedy, commentary and outright hatred blur together, and the consequences are no longer theoretical. Leavitt said public figures who profit from the spotlight have a responsibility to recognize how quickly words can spill into real-world danger.

Download the FREE Trending Politics App to get the latest news FIRST >>