作者： root

US FAA proposes fining American, Southwest over alleged drug, alcohol violations

2026-04-08 20:39:04 UTC / Reuters

By David Shepardson

April 8, 2026 8:39 PM UTC Updated 1 hour ago

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An American Airlines Airbus A321-200 plane takes off from Los Angeles International airport (LAX) in Los Angeles, California, U.S. March 28, 2018. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab

WASHINGTON, April 8 (Reuters) – The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration on Wednesday proposed a $255,000 ​civil fine against American Airlines, alleging that the carrier violated employee ‌drug- and alcohol-testing regulations.

On Friday, the FAA proposed a similar fine against Southwest Airlines.

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On Wednesday, the FAA said that between May 2019 and December 2023, American ​allowed 12 flight attendants who had tested positive on drug ​and alcohol tests to resume performing safety-sensitive duties without ⁠completing all the required follow-up testing.

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American said it was ​reviewing the FAA notice. “The safety of our customers and team ​members is paramount. We take drug and alcohol testing seriously and collaborate with the FAA to address any issues,” the airline said in ​a statement.

On Friday, the FAA proposed a $304,000 fine against Southwest, ​alleging it failed to conduct required follow-up drug or alcohol testing for ‌11 ⁠employees, including pilots, flight attendants, and aircraft mechanics.

The FAA said the employees previously tested positive for alcohol or drugs including marijuana, cocaine and amphetamines. The regulator said that during various ​periods between ​August 2021 and ⁠July 2024, the employees performed safety-sensitive functions when Southwest did not subject them to required ​follow-up testing.

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Southwest said it takes seriously its ​drug and ⁠alcohol testing responsibilities and continues to engage with the FAA.

“We took immediate action more than two years ago to enhance ⁠our procedures ​and to strengthen oversight and accountability,” ​the airline said.

Both airlines have 30 days to respond.

Reporting by David Shepardson, Kanishka Singh ​and Jasper Ward; Editing by David Ljunggren and David Gregorio

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

中国官方：严禁以涉农金融名义违规新增地方政府隐性债务

2026年4月9日 07:39 / 联合早报

通知要求，持续强化重点领域金融供给，聚焦稳定粮油生产、“菜篮子”产业提质增效、农业科技创新等持续加大金融支持力度。图为4月5日，安徽省铜陵市郊区大通镇大院村农民在种植白姜。 （新华社）

中国国家金融监管总局发布通知，要求严禁以涉农金融名义违规新增地方政府隐性债务。

据中新社报道，中国国家金融监管总局星期三（4月8日）发布《关于做好2026年金融支持乡村全面振兴工作的通知》。

官方数据显示，截至2026年2月末，中国普惠型涉农贷款余额14.52万亿元人民币（约2.71万亿新元），同比增长10.34%；2026年前两个月新发放的普惠型涉农贷款平均利率4.05%，同比下降0.46个百分点。

此次通知要求，持续强化重点领域金融供给，聚焦稳定粮油生产、“菜篮子”产业提质增效、农业科技创新等持续加大金融支持力度。积极助力培育壮大县域富民产业，坚持投资于物和投资于人紧密结合，助力发展各具特色的县域经济，助力培育农村消费新业态新模式新场景。

通知明确，2026年中国农业发展银行、大中型商业银行要继续单列涉农信贷计划，努力实现同口径涉农贷款余额较年初持续增长目标。引导大中型银行积极发展农业产业链金融，拓展首贷户，以改革促农村中小银行支农支小能力提升，合理确定普惠型涉农贷款内部倾斜政策，坚决防止并纠正“内卷式”竞争行为。

通知还指出，要着力优化农村金融服务环境，推动农村信用体系建设，加强涉农信息归集共享，充分发挥现代农事综合服务中心作用，加强农村金融与乡村治理深度融合。持续加强涉农信用风险监测，切实防范涉农贷款用于非农领域。

白宫：美伊周六举行首轮会谈 谈判以闭门方式进行

2026年4月9日 06:56 / 联合早报

白宫新闻秘书莱维特周三在记者会上宣布，美伊谈判代表将于4月11日上午在伊斯兰堡举行首轮会谈。 （路透社）

白宫新闻秘书莱维特周三说，美国和伊朗将于星期六（4月11日）上午在伊斯兰堡举行首轮会谈，总统特朗普已派遣由副总统万斯率领的代表团前往巴基斯坦。

莱维特周三在记者会上宣布，美方代表团成员包括总统特使威特科夫和特朗普的女婿库什纳。这些“极其敏感且复杂”的谈判未来两周将以闭门方式进行，但谈判的前提是霍尔木兹海峡保持安全开放，不出现任何限制或延误。

莱维特还说，伊朗最初提出的10点建议不可接受，随后伊朗提出了一个更合理、更简明的方案。特朗普和团队认为，这一经过修改的新方案可作为谈判基础，并能够与美方的15点计划相一致。

莱维特强调，特朗普要求伊朗停止进行铀浓缩活动的“红线”并没有改变，所谓特朗普会接受伊朗“愿望清单”式协议的说法完全是荒谬的。

在被问及停火期间美军相关行动时，莱维特说：“我们不会立即撤军……我们希望、也预计在停火结束时，美国与伊朗能够达成良好的协议。但与此同时，我们的军队随时听从总司令指挥，保持战备状态。”

莱维特也说，目前黎巴嫩并不在停火协议之内，这一点已通知参与停火的各方。

Vance says “ceasefires are always messy” and U.S. “never indicated” Lebanon would be included in deal with Iran

April 8, 2026 / 4:59 PM EDT / CBS News
By Kathryn Watson

Vice President JD Vance on Wednesday said “ceasefires are always messy,” and responded to claims by Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf that the U.S. has violated three clauses of the ceasefire agreement in its war with Iran.

The U.S. never promised Lebanon would be included in the ceasefire agreement, Vance said, despite Iran’s claims it was, chalking that up to a “reasonable misunderstanding” between the parties.

Vance said he’s not confident in how well Ghalibaf understands English, “because there are things that he said, frankly, that didn’t make sense in the context of negotiations that we’ve had.”

On Wednesday, the Iranian Parliament speaker claimed the U.S. is violating three parts of a ceasefire deal, citing continued fire in Lebanon, a drone allegedly entering Iranian airspace and a “denial of Iran’s right to enrich uranium.” Vance said that if Ghalibaf only has three points of disagreement, there must be quite a lot of agreement.

“First of all, he talked about an attack that allegedly happened on Iran and how that was a violation of the ceasefire. Ceasefires are always messy,” the vice president said, adding that an hour after President Trump announced the ceasefire, there were a bunch of missiles, the Israelis responded, and so did some of the Gulf Arab states.

There were new attacks on America’s Persian Gulf allies early Wednesday, followed by reports of explosions on Iranian islands in the Gulf.

“This is the nature of a ceasefire,” Vance continued. “No ceasefire ever goes without a little bit of choppiness. What we have been very clear about is that we want to stop the bombing. We want our allies to stop the bombing, and we want the Iranians to do the same thing. We’re seeing evidence that things are going in the right direction, but it’s going to take a little time.”

Vance said he found it “fascinating” that Ghalibaf said Iran refuses the “right” to give up uranium.

“We don’t really concern ourselves with what they claim they have the right to do. We concern ourselves with what they actually do,” he said.

Finally, on Lebanon not being included in the ceasefire agreement, Vance reiterated that he thinks it’s a “reasonable misunderstanding” between the parties. But the U.S. “never made that promise,” the vice president said. Israel has been launching attacks against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

“First of all, I actually think, and there’s a lot of bad faith negotiation and a lot of bad faith, you know, propaganda going on,” Vance said. “I think this comes from a legitimate misunderstanding. I think the Iranians thought that the ceasefire included Lebanon, and it just didn’t. We never made that promise. We never indicated that was going to be the case. What we said is that the ceasefire would be focused on Iran, and the ceasefire would be focused on America’s allies, both Israel and the Gulf Arab states.”

Vance went on: “Look, if Iran wants to let this negotiation fall apart in a conflict where they were getting hammered over Lebanon, which has nothing to do with them, and which the United States never once said was part of the ceasefire, that’s ultimately their choice. We think that would be dumb, but that’s their choice.”

https://www.cbsnews.com/video/vance-says-us-never-included-lebanon-in-iran-ceasefire/

Former Fort Bragg employee charged with leaking classified information to journalist

2026-04-08 17:45 PM ET / CNN

By Holmes Lybrand

A sign at an entrance gate at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, is photographed on January 4, 2020.

Chris Seward/AP/File

A North Carolina woman has been charged with sharing classified defense information to a journalist following her work as a civilian operational support technician at Fort Bragg, a large US Army base in the state.

Courtney Williams worked in a Special Military Unit from 2010 to 2016 and had top secret clearance with access to a significant amount of classified material, charging documents say.

Federal prosecutors allege that from 2022 to 2025, Williams shared classified information that the journalist used in reporting for an article and book on Fort Bragg.

While court records do not name the journalist, a book “The Fort Bragg Cartel” and magazine article from independent reporter Seth Harp last year, profiles Williams and her allegations of harassment and abuse while employed at Fort Bragg.

With scant details, charging documents allege that information shared by Williams to the reporter included classified information she was not allowed to provide.

CNN is attempting to contact Williams’ attorney.

Harp’s article details the significant sexual and race-based harassment Williams says she saw and, at times, experienced during her work at the North Carolina army base.

According to the Justice Department, on the day the book and article were released, “Williams exchanged several messages with the Journalist” and said she was “concerned about the amount of classified information being disclosed.”

In a conversation with her mother, according to the indictment, Williams said, “I might actually get arrested, and I don’t even get a free copy of the book.”

伊朗公布霍尔木兹海峡安全通道

2026年4月9日 07:22 / 联合早报

美国总统特朗普在对伊朗最后通牒截止时间快到之前宣布，与伊朗达成“双向”停火14天的协议，美方同意暂停攻击伊朗，换取霍尔木兹海峡复航。 （路透社档案照片）

伊朗港口和海事组织周三说，已划定霍尔木兹海峡安全航道，船舶必须与伊朗伊斯兰革命卫队协调使用这些航道。

据伊朗半官方的伊朗学生通讯社（ISNA）报道，伊朗港口和海事组织星期三（4月8日）发表声明说，安全入口航道从阿曼海向北延伸至拉拉克岛（Larak），安全出口航道则从波斯湾向南延伸至阿曼海。

据新华社报道，伊朗港口和海事组织在声明中指出，2月28日至4月8日，波斯湾和霍尔木兹海峡水域战事不断，霍尔木兹海峡主要航道内可能存在各类反舰水雷。为确保海上航运安全，避免触雷，往来船舶应按照伊朗公布的安全航路图航行，直至另行通知。

美国总统特朗普在对伊朗最后通牒截止时间快到之前宣布，与伊朗达成“双向”停火14天的协议，美方同意暂停攻击伊朗，换取霍尔木兹海峡复航。

然而，对于重开霍尔木兹海峡的方式，双方各执一词。特朗普称伊朗同意“全面、立即、安全地开放”海峡。伊朗则表明，同意提供两个星期的安全通行，前提是须与伊朗军方协调并适当考虑技术限制。

California fraud concerns ramp up as man pleads guilty to massive scheme using taxpayers as his ‘piggy bank’

April 8, 2026 1:02pm EDT / Updated April 8, 2026 4:00pm EDT | Fox News

First Assistant US Attorney Bill Essayli said the defendant used a public health program as his ‘personal piggy bank’

By Andrew Mark Miller Fox News

Exclusive: Gavin Newsom’s “Empire of Fraud” – $180B STOLEN! | Will Cain Country

Chris Rufo joins Will Cain to expose California’s $180B “Empire of Fraud.” Plus, John Ashbrook and Michael Duncan of Ruthless join Will and The Crew to debate the Iran strike deadline and the mysterious disappearance of UFO-linked scientists.

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As concerns about rampant fraud continue to grow nationwide, particularly in California, federal authorities announced the guilty plea of a man charged in a scheme to defraud taxpayers out of hundreds of millions of dollars.

Paul Richard Randall, 66, of Orange, California, has pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud after local authorities say he billed Medi-Cal, California’s version of Medicaid, more than $269 million and was paid out more than $178 million for “19 expensive, non-contracted drugs containing low-cost, generic ingredients that were not medically necessary, not provided, or both.”

Randall and his co-conspirators took advantage of a temporary rule change in Medi-Cal that removed the need for pre-approval on certain drugs. Using a pharmacy they controlled, they billed Medi-Cal huge amounts each month for expensive generic medications that normally would’ve required approval.

Randall and his associates then laundered the illegal proceeds by routing money through a third party, using it to pay kickbacks to Anderson, further the scheme and hide the transactions from law enforcement.

VANCE REVEALS $19B FRAUD UNCOVERED IN MINNEAPOLIS, HINTS CALIFORNIA IS NEXT TARGET

Gavin Newsom speaks on stage during “Networth And Chill With Guest Governor Gavin Newsom” at the 2026 SXSW Conference And Festival at Hilton Austin on March 15, 2026, in Austin, Texas.(Gary Miller/FilmMagic)

“This defendant used a public health program as his personal piggy bank,” First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said in a press release.

“This guilty plea should send a message that this administration — consistent with the President’s war on fraud — will not turn a blind eye while criminals fleece taxpayers.”

The press release says that Randall will be sentenced in August and will face a statutory maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison.

DEPUTY AG TODD BLANCHE SHEDS LIGHT ON NEW DOJ FRAUD DIVISION TO ADDRESS ‘INSANE’ PROBLEM

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche spoke during a news conference at the Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice building in Washington, D.C., on April 7, 2026. He discussed the department’s anti-fraud efforts and announced the creation of a National Fraud Enforcement Division.(Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

California has been at the center of fraud concerns in recent weeks and has been called out by the federal anti-fraud task force led by Vice President JD Vance, which recently revealed a staggering increase in California hospice and healthcare providers that were suspended as part of the task force’s efforts.

Last week, a federal sweep in southern California dubbed “Operation Never Say Die” resulted in eight local arrests and unsealed charges against 15 individuals allegedly tied to a $60 million fraudulent Medicare billing scheme, Fox 11 Los Angeles reported.

News of the guilty plea quickly spread on social media, with conservatives making the case that there is much more work to be done to combat fraud in California.

“California is without question the Fraud Capital of the United States,” Rep. Kevin Kiley, an Independent congressman from California, posted on X. “We are finally seeing accountability.”

“You can submit 300 million dollars in claims in under a year and actually obtain that money?” Conservative commentator Mike Cernovich posted on X.

“This is Gavin Newsom’s empire of fraud,” journalist Christopher Rufo posted on X.

MAN CHARGED IN $90M MEDICARE FRAUD SCHEME; DOJ SAYS SUSPECT MAY HAVE ENTERED US ILLEGALLY

Video

“Well done and thank you for protecting taxpayers and those in need,” Haywood Talcove, CEO of LexisNexis Special Services & LexisNexis Risk Solutions Government, posted on X.

“We need to focus on the front end of the payment systems – how did a $250M get stolen in the, first place? The systems are antiquated, lack front end identity verification, rely on self reported information and don’t do third party audits or use Spectrum.”

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Gavin Newsom speaks on stage during “Networth And Chill With Guest Governor Gavin Newsom” at the 2026 SXSW Conference And Festival at Hilton Austin on March 15, 2026, in Austin, Texas.(Gary Miller/FilmMagic)

“Put him in chains and lock him up,” Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., posted on X.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office pointed Fox News Digital to a post on X where they pushed back on the DOJ’s press release saying there is a “small fact missing.”

“This alleged fraud was first discovered by state officials and referred for criminal prosecution,” Newsom’s office wrote. “We’d appreciate the acknowledgment of the long-standing partnership the state has in working with the feds to fight fraud — and end this misinformation effort driven by the current Administration. Folks can see how California has taken action: StopFraud.CA.Gov.”

Essayli responded in a post on X that referred to Newsom as the “fraud king.”

“Not good enough,” Essayli wrote. “You know what would be better than referring fraud cases to my office to clean up your mess? Stopping the fraud from happening in the first place.”

Newsom’s office has responded to critics in general in recent weeks by saying the state is “leading the nation in preventing fraud.”

“Since @CAGovernor Gavin Newsom took office: — $125 billion+ in fraud STOPPED — 1,200+ criminals ARRESTED — 83% reduction in EBT fraud in one year — New hospice licenses BANNED beginning in 2022,” Newsom’s press office posted on X earlier this month.

Andrew Mark Miller is a reporter at Fox News. Find him on Twitter @andymarkmiller and email tips to AndrewMark.Miller@Fox.com.

https://www.foxnews.com/video/6392662326112

GOP infighting replaces clash with Dems, derails path to end historic DHS shutdown

April 8, 2026 12:24pm EDT / Fox News

Schumer calls it the ‘Johnson shutdown’ as DHS standoff drags on

When the House returns Tuesday, the shutdown will have reached 59 days

By Alex Miller , Adam Pack, Fox News

DHS Sec Mullin: We’re afraid Democrats will try to ‘hold the country hostage’ again in September

DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin discusses the partial government shutdown and how he will run DHS differently than his predecessor and more on ‘Special Report.’

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Congress is in no rush to end the longest shutdown in history, despite having a deal in place and a backup plan that could both fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and secure cash for immigration operations for years to come.

Lawmakers in both chambers left Washington for a two-week recess around Easter and are not scheduled to return until Monday. Meanwhile, Republicans have pitched rival plans that, if not quickly resolved, could prolong the funding standoff into the summer.

After nearly two months of fighting with congressional Democrats, the shutdown back and forth has now evolved into infighting among the GOP across both chambers. That development, and differing views on how to reopen the Department of Homeland Security, threaten to prolong the shutdown.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said shortly after the Senate again passed its Department of Homeland Security funding bill in early April that there are “limited options” for ending the shutdown, given Senate Democrats’ blockade against funding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) without stringent reforms.

GOP RACES TO PASS ICE, BORDER PATROL FUNDING BILL AS PRIORITIES PILE UP, DIVISIONS EMERGE

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said that there are “limited options” for ending the shutdown.(Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

“My question for anybody who doesn’t like what we did is: give me a better idea. Give me another option,” Thune said. “We’ll see, ultimately, what the House does with it.”

When the House returns Tuesday, the shutdown will have reached 59 days.

The Senate has its spending bill, which would fund the Department of Homeland Security while carving out funding for ICE and parts of CBP, with the end goal of funding immigration enforcement through the party-line budget reconciliation process.

‘WE DIDN’T CAVE’: THUNE HIGHLIGHTS SCHUMER, DEMS’ LOSSES IN DHS FUNDING DEAL

Freedom Caucus Chair Rep. Andy Harris talks to reporters as he walks to the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol on July 2, 2025, in Washington.(Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

House Republicans previously rejected that plan. But after President Donald Trump demanded a reconciliation package with ICE and CBP funding on his desk by June 1, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., ceded to the Senate.

Still, Republicans in the lower chamber are furious that they again have to consider the Senate’s compromise deal and are threatening to further prolong the shutdown.

The House had an opportunity in recent days to pass the bill, but Republicans opted against it. Instead, they held a conference call where lawmakers said they would not vote for the Senate plan until there was meaningful progress on a reconciliation package.

JOHNSON ACCUSES DEMOCRATS OF TAKING GOVERNMENT HOSTAGE OVER ‘CRAZY’ IMMIGRATION AGENDA

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., dubbed the closure the “Johnson shutdown.”(Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The conservative House Freedom Caucus took that a step further Tuesday, throwing a wrench into those plans. The group wants to fund the entire department through a single budget reconciliation bill.

“We cannot leave ICE and CBP hanging with nothing but hopes and prayers that reconciliation 2.0 comes together,” the group wrote on social media. “That’s why we must use reconciliation to fully fund all of the Department of Homeland Security.”

Whether House Republicans coalesce behind that demand when they return remains to be seen, but it has given congressional Democrats ammunition in the ongoing shutdown messaging war.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., dubbed the closure the “Johnson shutdown.”

“It’s a Republican shutdown,” Schumer told CNN. “All he had to do was put that bill on the floor, and it would have passed overwhelmingly. So Republicans are hardly unified. They’re squirming about.”

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Some pressure has eased on Congress to act after Trump in March moved to pay all Department of Homeland Security employees using existing funds. However, it is unclear whether that arrangement can last for several months without new appropriations from Congress.

Meanwhile, leapfrogging the typical government funding process could establish a new precedent.

Normally, appropriators craft spending bills to fund the dozen agencies that make up the federal government. It’s a bipartisan process in which both sides typically walk away with a win.

But using budget reconciliation shifts that power away from appropriators and sidelines the bipartisan process.

“Republicans have decided to take that route, so they should be very wary about the precedent,” said Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md.

Alex Miller is a writer for Fox News Digital covering the U.S. Senate.

Squad member Summer Lee calls ‘upper class’ the ‘enemy’ at El-Sayed rally

April 8, 2026 1:54pm EDT / Fox News

The rally boosted Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, who is backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders

By Adam Pack Fox News

Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed appeared with controversial anti-Israel streamer Hasan Piker, who claimed “America deserved 9/11” and condoned the October 7 attacks. Fox News contributor Miranda Devine criticized the progressive politician for political opportunism, arguing that such appearances normalize radical views. She raises concerns about the streamer’s unverified online followers and the spread of anti-American discourse.

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Rep. Summer Lee, D-Pa., suggested that higher-earning Americans were the real “enemy” during a campaign rally headlined by a far-left social media influencer on Tuesday.

“I see other people who are fighting like hell to make you feel like your enemy is sitting next to you,” Lee said in a video posted by The Washington Free Beacon. “That your enemy is somebody who worships differently than you are, or looks differently than you are, comes from a different socioeconomic background than you, unless they are the upper class.”

“They only have the politics of fear and division and destruction and disruption. They need us to keep our focus away from the people who have participated in the biggest sex trafficking ring in our country,” Lee continued, appearing to reference the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. “I need you to instead lead and learn and live in your power.”

Lee, a left-wing lawmaker affiliated with “the Squad,” made the remarks during a campaign event she participated in to boost Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., another “Squad” member who is supporting El-Sayed, was in attendance.

Rep. Summer Lee questions witnesses during a roundtable discussion on Supreme Court ethics conducted by Democrats of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee on June 11, 2024, in Washington, D.C.(Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Court Accountability)

ILLINOIS DEMOCRAT CONDEMNS PARTY MEMBERS RALLYING WITH FAR-LEFT STREAMER HASAN PIKER

El-Sayed, who is running with the backing of Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., is viewed as the most progressive candidate in the state’s three-way Democratic primary.

Twitch streamer Hasan Piker, who once said “America deserved 9/11,” headlined the rally. Piker has also drawn backlash from both parties over his comments on the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel, the Israeli government and the Chinese Communist Party, which critics have called antisemitic and anti-American.

Lee, who has repeatedly advocated for pro-Palestinian causes, doubled down on her decision to appear at the campaign event with Piker in a statement obtained by the outlet City & State Pennsylvania.

“At a moment when Donald Trump is threatening catastrophic violence against Iran and saying ‘a whole civilization will die tonight,’ our priorities are deeply out of step if this is what some choose to focus on,” Lee said in a statement, referring to the president’s comments on Truth Social on Tuesday. “We need to invite young people in, take them seriously, and recognize that our politics are strongest when everyday people have a real hand in shaping them.”

“If reporters have questions about Hasan Piker’s statements, they should ask Hasan Piker,” Lee added.

El-Sayed also sought to distance himself from Piker’s statements during an interview on “Fox & Friends” on Tuesday.

Abdul El Sayed, left, pictured alongside Hasan Piker, right.(Evan Cobb for The Washington Post via Getty Images; Dia Dipasupil/FilmMagic)

WHO IS HASAN PIKER? MEET THE FAR-LEFT STREAMER WHO IS STIRRING UP CONTROVERSY ONLINE AND DIVIDING DEMOCRATS

“Of course I oppose rape. Of course I don’t think 9/11 was justified,” El-Sayed said. “Just because you appear with somebody doesn’t mean you agree with them on everything.”

El-Sayed also floated Lee as a potential leftist challenger to Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., if he decides to seek re-election in 2028. Fetterman has faced criticism from some Pennsylvania Democrats for voting with Republicans to support Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin’s confirmation, among other instances where he has crossed party lines.

Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., and state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, D-Mich., El-Sayed’s primary opponents, sharply criticized his decision to campaign with Piker.

Rep. Summer Lee embraces Rep. Rashida Tlaib as President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address at the U.S. Capitol on March 7, 2024.(Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP)

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“It is unacceptable for a candidate wanting to represent all Michiganders to campaign with Hasan Piker, a person who is unapologetic about a career of making hurtful and anti-Semitic comments,” Stevens said in a statement. “With all that’s at stake in this election, we should be focused on the challenges Michiganders are facing and how to fight for them.”

Fox News Digital reached out to Lee’s office for comment.

Kanye West’s upcoming gig at Italy festival sparks debate after U.K. revoked rapper’s entry over antisemitic remarks

April 8, 2026 / 12:43 PM EDT / CBS News

By Elena Giuliano

The rapper formerly known as Kanye West being denied entry into the U.K. amid an uproar over his past antisemitic remarks has raised questions over the star’s upcoming performance in Italy this summer.

The rapper, who changed his name to Ye, was scheduled to headline the Wireless Festival in London in July, but the event was canceled after the U.K. government withdrew his authorization to enter the country on Tuesday.

“Kanye West should never have been invited to headline Wireless,” U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a statement posted to social media.

The decision was preceded by criticism over Ye releasing a song last year called “Heil Hitler” and selling T-shirts on his website featuring a swastika. In January, he apologized in a full-page ad in the Wall Street Journal and said he experienced a four-month-long manic episode that “destroyed my life.”

In northern Italy, Ye is set to headline the region’s main music event, the Hellwatt Festival, on July 18.

People in the Emilia-Romagna region where the festival is being held have raised concerns to a major labor union about Ye’s scheduled performance.

“We are listening to the many workers and citizens who have contacted us in recent days, asking for clarity on the matter,” Rosamaria Papaleo, a representative of the Italian Confederation of Workers’ Unions in Emilia-Romagna, told CBS News.

Kanye West arrives at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party, Feb. 9, 2020, in Beverly Hills, California. Evan Agostini/Invision/AP

Papaleo said the concerns have centered on hosting an artist associated with antisemitic remarks in Reggio Emilia, the regional capital, which has a strong anti-fascist identity.

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“It seems quite contradictory that an artist known for his antisemitic remarks can be hosted by our city, which has always strongly advocated anti-fascist values,” said Papaleo.

Reggio Emilia was awarded the Gold Medal for Military Valor in 1950 for its key role in the Italian resistance against the Nazis during World War II.

“Anti-fascism for us is not a whim, but a value rooted in our history,” Papaleo said. She emphasized that while the union does not intend to disrupt the festival, which represents an important event for workers and fans, it expects artists to promote positive values within the community.

Union representatives have asked Reggio Emilia’s mayor, Marco Massari, to require Ye to meet with members of the local Jewish community as a symbolic act of reconciliation for harm caused by his past remarks. Some critics have called for Ye to be removed from the festival’s lineup.

In a statement, Massari said he “distances himself from Kanye West’s behavior and remarks,” but added that any decision regarding the artist’s entry into the country ultimately lies with the national government. CBS News has reached out to the Italian Ministry of Internal Affairs for comment.

The mayor also stressed that Reggio Emilia is a strongly anti-fascist city, and that those who perform there must be mindful of its social and historical context. He called on festival organizers to create an occasion for dialogue between the artist and local communities that identify with those values.

Hellwatt Festival director Victor Yari Milani recognized that Ye’s past actions have “understandably led to strong reactions.”

“We want to stress that he has formally apologized, stating that he is neither a Nazi nor antisemitic, and that he suffers from bipolar disorder,” he said in a statement to CBS News. He also said, “We have asked him to also apologize to Italy. The festival’s values — respect and inclusion — are not up for debate.”

For now, no protests are planned around Ye’s performance. However, union officials warned that public reaction remains a possibility.

Other major artists expected at the event this year include Travis Scott, Rita Ora and Martin Garrix.