Conservatives erupt after Al Green melts down during viral clash: ‘Unhinged lunatic’

June 4, 2026 6:00am EDT / Fox News

The outgoing Texas Democrat accused DHS Secretary Mullin of being a racist over a State of the Union sign incident

By Leo Briceno, Fox News

Dem Impeachment advocate tells DHS Secretary Mullin to ‘shut up’ for fending off racism accusations

Al Green, alleges that Mullin’s attempts to stop his ‘peaceful protests’ during the State of the Union are evidence of racism. (Credit: C-SPAN)

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Rep. Al Green of Texas, a Democratic member of Congress known for his repeated attempts to impeach President Donald Trump, sparked backlash online after accusing Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin of racism.

When Mullin began defending himself, Green cut him off.

“Shut up,” Green barked.

The moment immediately drew condemnation online with the Republican National Committee’s official X account, reposting a clip of the interaction, calling it “UNHINGED.”

DEM REP. AL GREEN, BOOTED FROM TRUMP’S ADDRESS TO CONGRESS, DOUBLES DOWN ON IMPEACHMENT

DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin, left, pictured alongside Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, right(Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images; Heather Diehl/Getty Images)

The moment and reactions to it underscore how many of Green’s theatrical stunts to protest the Trump administration go viral and ignite backlash from conservatives.

Green, 80, recently lost a primary election to newcomer Rep. Christian Menefee, D-Texas, when a new redistricting map put the two Democratic lawmakers on a collision course to represent Texas’ 18th Congressional District.

Green has positioned himself as one of the party’s most consistent adversaries of the Trump administration, having spearheaded at least six different impeachment efforts and calling on other Democrats to more visibly resist the president’s agenda.

Earlier this year, Green was removed a second time from a State of the Union Address for displaying a sign reading “black people aren’t apes.”

In Wednesday’s hearing, Green noted that then-Senator Mullin had been one of many Republicans who tried to snatch away his sign.

“A racist would depict people of color as apes. A racist would take offense at a peaceful protest. This was a peaceful protest, Mr. Secretary,” Green said, holding up a photo of the moment.

VOCAL ANTI-TRUMP DEM REVEALS WHICH INDUSTRY IS TRYING TO OUST HIM FROM HOUSE SEAT: ‘I WAS A TARGET’

Rep. Al Green speaks during a news conference outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on July 23, 2025, to discuss impeaching President Donald Trump.(Alex Wong/Getty Images)

After Mullin tried to interject, Green continued to ask that Mullin be silenced. When Mullin continued, the congressman tried to ask the Republican chair to force Mullin’s compliance.

“Reclaiming my time. Ask him to shut up. It’s my time. Tell him to shut up,” Green said.

Benny Johnson, a political commentator, blasted Green’s attempt to block Mullin’s response in his own post to X.

“This is the modern Democratic Party in one clip. Green’s response? ‘Shut up, up, up, up. Shut up.’ No respect. No argument. No facts. No substance. Just “shut up” and a temper tantrum. This is all they have left,” Johnson said.

The Libs of TikTok, a conservative influencer account, similarly called the moment an embarrassment for Democrats.

“Rep. Al Green (D) has a complete MELTDOWN, calling DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin a “racist” before telling him to “SHUP UP” Thank God this unhinged lunatic was voted out,” the account wrote.

Eric Daugherty, another conservative media personality, also celebrated an impending end to Green’s time in Congress.

“Insufferable Rep. Al Green (D) just went on a BERSERK RANT and DHS Sec. Mullin took NO BS,” Daugherty wrote. “Al Green just lost his House seat. GOOD RIDDANCE!”

DEMS THROW HOUSE INTO CHAOS AFTER 10 MODERATES JOIN GOP TO PUNISH AL GREEN

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin testifies before the House Committee on Homeland Security during a hearing on the Fiscal 2027 budget request for the Department of Homeland Security, in Washington, Wednesday, June 3, 2026.(Cliff Owen)

After a moment, Homeland Security Chairman Andrew Garbarino, R-N.Y., gaveled the room into silence.

“No — the gentleman will suspend,” Garbarino said. “There will be no addressing anyone’s character in a negative way.”

Before the hearing got going again, Mullin got in one last jab at Green.

“Evidently, his constituents heard enough of him because they voted him out,” Mullin said.

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After being instructed to stay away from making attacks of character during the hearing, Green continued with his remarks.

“I will speak into the microphone so that I may be heard. I ask that any person who desires to interrupt me shut up,” Green said one last time.

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

美国削减对北约军事投入 盼盟友迅速增加海空力量

2026年6月4日 17:13 / 联合早报

美国将领称，随着美国决定缩减对北约部队模式的投入，欧洲北约盟友与加拿大应迅速增加向北约提供有人与无人驾驶飞机，以及海军舰艇。 （路透社）

（布鲁塞尔/柏林路透电）美国空军上将格林克维奇说，随着美国决定缩减对北约的军事资源投入，欧洲北约盟友与加拿大应迅速增加向北约提供航空器与舰艇。

格林克维奇（Alexus Grynkewich）是北约最高指挥官，也是驻欧美军司令。他周三（6月3日）发声明说：“北约部队模式（NATO Force Model）一直对美军存在不健康的依赖。特朗普总统、战争部长赫格塞斯等人都已表明，这种情况必须改变，也必将改变。考虑到多战区同时发生冲突的可能性，这种改变势在必行。”

声明提到，有人驾驶与无人驾驶的飞机以及海军舰艇，是加拿大与欧洲盟友现在和近期可以加强的两个领域。

北约部队模式是北约组织、管理、动员和指挥盟国军队的框架，以支持北约的防御、危机管理、安全合作等任务，其中包含可在危机期间动员的军事力量。

美国上月已通知盟友，将减少对这一模式的贡献，但未公布削减细节。据消息人士透露，相关削减涉及加油机、战斗机、无人机、海军舰艇等多种军事能力。

格林克维奇的声明，是美国首次公开提及计划优先削减，以及希望盟友承担更多责任的领域。

特朗普一直要求欧洲盟友为自身防御承担主要责任，使北约面临前所未有的压力。如果美军大幅或突然减少战时可供北约使用的兵力，这将加剧欧洲对美国可能退出北约的担忧。

不过，北约军事总部发言人说，格林克维奇提到的都是“盟友已经或很快将具备充足能力的领域”，不会导致任何防务缺口。

美国削减对北约军事投入 盼盟友迅速增加海空力量

2026年6月4日 17:13 / 联合早报

美国将领称，随着美国决定缩减对北约部队模式的投入，欧洲北约盟友与加拿大应迅速增加向北约提供有人与无人驾驶飞机，以及海军舰艇。 （路透社）

（布鲁塞尔/柏林路透电）美国空军上将格林克维奇说，随着美国决定缩减对北约的军事资源投入，欧洲北约盟友与加拿大应迅速增加向北约提供航空器与舰艇。

格林克维奇（Alexus Grynkewich）是北约最高指挥官，也是驻欧美军司令。他周三（6月3日）发声明说：“北约部队模式（NATO Force Model）一直对美军存在不健康的依赖。特朗普总统、战争部长赫格塞斯等人都已表明，这种情况必须改变，也必将改变。考虑到多战区同时发生冲突的可能性，这种改变势在必行。”

声明提到，有人驾驶与无人驾驶的飞机以及海军舰艇，是加拿大与欧洲盟友现在和近期可以加强的两个领域。

北约部队模式是北约组织、管理、动员和指挥盟国军队的框架，以支持北约的防御、危机管理、安全合作等任务，其中包含可在危机期间动员的军事力量。

美国上月已通知盟友，将减少对这一模式的贡献，但未公布削减细节。据消息人士透露，相关削减涉及加油机、战斗机、无人机、海军舰艇等多种军事能力。

格林克维奇的声明，是美国首次公开提及计划优先削减，以及希望盟友承担更多责任的领域。

特朗普一直要求欧洲盟友为自身防御承担主要责任，使北约面临前所未有的压力。如果美军大幅或突然减少战时可供北约使用的兵力，这将加剧欧洲对美国可能退出北约的担忧。

不过，北约军事总部发言人说，格林克维奇提到的都是“盟友已经或很快将具备充足能力的领域”，不会导致任何防务缺口。

When AI comes for your job

2026-06-04T09:52:13.109Z / The Washington Post

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/06/04/when-ai-comes-your-job/

When AI comes for your job

June 4, 2026 at 5:52 a.m. EDT Today at 5:52 a.m. EDT

Analysis by Matthew Choi and Dan Merica

In today’s edition … Lawmakers grapple with a post-AI economy … A tale of two Sullivans confuses the Alaska Senate race … but first …

The big news

*

尼泊尔登山向导在珠峰失踪断粮七天后获救

2026年6月4日 18:00 / 联合早报

6月4日，在尼泊尔加德满都的HAMS医院，医护人员将失踪数日的珠穆朗玛峰地区居民达瓦·夏尔巴从直升机停机坪送往医院。 （路透社）

一名尼泊尔登山向导在世界最高峰珠穆朗玛峰山坡上，在没有食物和瓶装氧气的情况下生存了大约一周后获救，这在如此恶劣的条件下实属罕见。

52岁的达瓦·夏尔巴（Dawa Sherpa）与一名波兰登山者尝试登上海拔8849米（2万9032英尺）的珠峰，在未能登顶后，两人一同返回，途中在三号营地和四号营地之间失踪。

最后一次有人看到他的踪影是在5月29日。他与客户是本登山季（上个月结束）最后一批攀爬珠峰的登山者。他的客户返回了大本营，目前尚不清楚他们是如何走散的。

路透社引述萨加玛塔污染控制委员会（Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee）的喇嘛卡齐·夏尔巴（Lama Kazi Sherpa）说，他的团队在昆布冰川附近的大本营上方找到了达瓦，并将他安全带下山。他的团队正在清理登山季结束后的场地。

达瓦还穿着登山服，由担架从直升机停机坪紧急送往医院。

延伸阅读

英国登山家20次登顶珠峰再创纪录 本登山季五人丧命
世界之巅沦为垃圾场 无人机助力挽救珠峰生态

达瓦的家人说他情况良好，正在接受冻伤和其他并发症的治疗。向导的女儿门多·拉姆·夏尔巴说：“他认出了我……他很好，还能说话，我们很高兴。”

《喜马拉雅时报》报道，这位向导已经“七天没有食物、没有瓶装氧气、没有救援队”。

本季有千多名登山者及其向导攀登珠穆朗玛峰，创下历史新高，政府共发放了494张许可证。

今年4月，由于一块巨大的冰川冰体阻碍了通往世界最高峰的登山路线，许多登山者受困在大本营。

尼泊尔登山向导在珠峰失踪断粮七天后获救

2026年6月4日 18:00 / 联合早报

6月4日，在尼泊尔加德满都的HAMS医院，医护人员将失踪数日的珠穆朗玛峰地区居民达瓦·夏尔巴从直升机停机坪送往医院。 （路透社）

一名尼泊尔登山向导在世界最高峰珠穆朗玛峰山坡上，在没有食物和瓶装氧气的情况下生存了大约一周后获救，这在如此恶劣的条件下实属罕见。

52岁的达瓦·夏尔巴（Dawa Sherpa）与一名波兰登山者尝试登上海拔8849米（2万9032英尺）的珠峰，在未能登顶后，两人一同返回，途中在三号营地和四号营地之间失踪。

最后一次有人看到他的踪影是在5月29日。他与客户是本登山季（上个月结束）最后一批攀爬珠峰的登山者。他的客户返回了大本营，目前尚不清楚他们是如何走散的。

路透社引述萨加玛塔污染控制委员会（Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee）的喇嘛卡齐·夏尔巴（Lama Kazi Sherpa）说，他的团队在昆布冰川附近的大本营上方找到了达瓦，并将他安全带下山。他的团队正在清理登山季结束后的场地。

达瓦还穿着登山服，由担架从直升机停机坪紧急送往医院。

达瓦的家人说他情况良好，正在接受冻伤和其他并发症的治疗。向导的女儿门多·拉姆·夏尔巴说：“他认出了我……他很好，还能说话，我们很高兴。”

《喜马拉雅时报》报道，这位向导已经“七天没有食物、没有瓶装氧气、没有救援队”。

本季有千多名登山者及其向导攀登珠穆朗玛峰，创下历史新高，政府共发放了494张许可证。

今年4月，由于一块巨大的冰川冰体阻碍了通往世界最高峰的登山路线，许多登山者受困在大本营。

学者：全球AI不会变成中美两个阵营

2026年6月4日 18:00 / 联合早报

美国学者认为竞争激烈的中美两国在全球人工智能（AI）发展中占据主导，但全球AI生态不会划分为两个阵营。图为中国AI初创公司深度求索（DeepSeek）的标志。 （彭博社档案照片）

竞争激烈的中美两国在全球人工智能（AI）发展中占据主导，但全球AI生态不会划分为两个阵营。

美国布鲁金斯学会约翰·桑顿中国中心研究员陈凯欣（Kyle Chan）星期四（6月4日）在野村亚洲投资论坛上，与野村证券首席中国经济师陆挺对话时，提出上述观点。

陈凯欣在发言中指出，全球AI行业由美国和中国高度主导，原因包括中美具备大规模建设计算集群的能力、聚集了大量AI人才，以及AI模型竞争本身迭代极快。

当被问及在当前趋势下，全球AI生态系统最终是否会分成两个阵营？陈凯欣说，他不认为会变成这样。“全球AI市场不会是一个零和市场，也不太可能由单一模型或单一模型公司主导。”

陈凯欣说，不同用户会根据不同需求选择不同模型。“对于需要最高性能的任务，用户可能愿意支付溢价；但对于大规模、消耗大量算力的任务，用户则可能选择成本较低或定制模型。”

因此，他预计，未来全球AI生态更可能呈现多模型、多供应商并存的格局。

美国总统特朗普5月结束访华后，向媒体透露他与中国国家主席习近平“讨论了在AI领域合作制定安全保障措施的可能性”，北京也证实两国将就AI进行对话。

陈凯欣指出，中美AI领域竞争激烈，但也有合作空间，尤其在防止AI被恶意滥用方面，但他会“把一开始的期待放低一些”。

他说，“目前两国之间互信非常有限，双方都有很多怀疑和担忧”，也担心合作反而帮助了对方。

陈凯欣认为，双方可参考冷战时期美国和苏联在核武器问题上的军控协议，建立沟通渠道、尝试降低军备竞赛风险。

今年4月，陈凯欣以专家证人身份参与美国众议院中国问题特别委员会关于中美AI竞争的听证会。星期四的对话上，他被问及从听证会观察，美国议员最担忧的是什么。

陈凯欣说，华盛顿担心，变革性AI会让中国在军事等关键战略领域取得优势，并以不利于美国的方式，改变两国在更广泛竞争中的力量平衡。

中国AI大模型出海会随着企业走出去自然发生

谈及中美AI在新兴市场的竞争，陈凯欣说：“中国的AI模型具备天然的市场契合度，尤其是在新兴市场，因为并非每个参与者都愿为最先进模型支付溢价，也不一定愿意把数据发到自己无法控制的服务器上”。中国的一些开源模型，能让开发者下载之后进行定制。

至于与“一带一路”国家战略的相关性，陈凯欣说，中国AI出海未必是由政策制定者明确推动的战略，而是会随着中国企业“走出去”自然发生。

例如，随着中国电动车制造商出海发展，它们会需要软件服务和AI驱动的云服务，并可能带上中国的AI合作伙伴协助落地。因此，中国AI产业和能力会伴随高科技产品出口，带到“一带一路”市场、欧洲，甚至一定程度上进入北美。

陈凯欣也提到，美国在AI大模型上领先，但中国在以各类机器人为代表的“实体AI”（Physical AI）上占有优势。

他说，中国在推进各种机器人应用，并且拥有完整供应链和制造业基础，可以大规模部署、测试和收集数据，再用这些数据训练下一代机器人模型。“美国机器人开发商也高度依赖中国的机器人供应链。”

SpaceX plans biggest stock market debut ever — and it could make Elon Musk world’s first trillionaire

2026-06-04T05:53:00-0400 / CBS News

Updated on: June 4, 2026 / 7:01 AM EDT / CBS/AP

New York — SpaceX says it plans to raise up to $75 billion when it goes public this month, setting the stage for the largest-ever stock market debut and putting Elon Musk — the world’s richest person — on course to becoming the first trillionaire.

The company, formally known as Space Exploration Technologies Corp., said Wednesday it will offer exactly 555,555,555 shares at $135 apiece in an initial public offering, French news agency AFP reports. The estimated proceeds would easily top the $26 billion raised by oil giant Saudi Aramco in 2019. The offering would also give SpaceX a market value of $1.77 trillion. Only six companies in the S&P 500 are currently worth more, with Nvidia tops at $5.2 trillion.

Besides the size of the offering and the expected proceeds, SpaceX’s amended prospectus updates details about how much control of the company Musk will have. As SpaceX’s CEO, chief technical officer and chairman, Musk’s voting power will come primarily through his ownership of 5.22 billion Class B shares that give the holder 10 votes for every share held. According to the filing, Musk would have 82.4% of the voting power in the company.

Forbes currently values Musk’s net worth at $826 billion and his stake in SpaceX at $542 billion. The estimated value of his SpaceX holdings was based on an overall value for the company of $1.25 trillion. Based on those numbers, a $1.77 trillion valuation for SpaceX would boost Musk’s net worth by $223 billion, making him a trillionaire. However, much of Musk’s worth is in stock that he has yet to cash in.

Even as it makes a bid for a blockbuster market debut, SpaceX is currently losing billions of dollars a year. The filing shows that the company lost $2.6 billion from operations last year on $18.7 billion in revenue, and the losses kept piling up at the start of this year as well.

Time will tell how SpaceX fares on the market. Musk’s plans for the company are as fantastical as the money he hopes raise in the sale.

Colorful, even frightening in parts, the IPO document strikes a contrast with the typically dry, technical prose in IPO documents, detailing plans to use proceeds from the sale to help put men on the moon again and perhaps even Mars. In one section, it talks of a need to build “a permanent human colony” on the red planet with “at least one million inhabitants” as existential threats loom that could consign man to “the same fate as the dinosaurs.”

Musk has almost equally ambitious plans for his other publicly traded company, Tesla. His goal is to transform the maker of electric vehicles into a producer of robotaxis and humanoid robots.

Dan Ives of Wedbush Securities wrote in a research note that he expects Tesla and SpaceX to merge next year.

AI’s possibly pivotal role

Key to the success of both companies — and any merged entity — is artificial intelligence. In its IPO filing, SpaceX says it sees potential revenue from AI of up to $26.5 trillion. But that depends on another lofty Musk ambition – putting data centers in space, which isn’t technologically possible at the moment.

Transforming his space company into a primarily AI-focused company will be a challenge for Musk, who started xAI in 2023 with 11 other co-founders who have all since left. Some were recruited away by rivals.

Its main AI product, the chatbot Grok, is “less impressive than anything that we see from any other major player in the space, whether that’s OpenAI, or Anthropic, or (Google’s) Gemini,” said IDC analyst Arnal Dayaratna.

Dayaratna said that doesn’t mean SpaceX doesn’t have potential as a major AI player, thanks in part to its computing partnership with Anthropic and Musk’s recent deal that gave SpaceX the rights to buy AI coding tool Cursor for $60 billion later this year. Folding in Cursor’s capabilities would give SpaceX access to the coveted business customers now using Anthropic’s Claude or OpenAI’s ChatGPT.

SpaceX plans to use the net proceeds from the IPO to fund the expansion of infrastructure for its AI and rocket businesses and to beef up the constellation of satellites that power Starlink Mobile, among other investments.

“The AI trade continues to roar, just in time for SpaceX’s IPO next week,” AFP quotes Kathleen Brooks, research director at the brokerage firm XTB in London as saying.

The company plans to list on the Nasdaq under the symbol “SPCX” and could begin trading as soon as the end of next week.

Anthropic also on IPO track and OpenAI may be

And SpaceX isn’t the only colossal market debut investors are now bracing for. Earlier this week, Anthropic submitted a confidential filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to officially start its own IPO clock.

OpenAI hasn’t reported filing the initial SEC paperwork yet, but an IPO from the ChatGPT maker is widely expected.

“This listing represents the first major test for public markets after years of muted IPO activity with SpaceX paving the way for AI giants Anthropic and OpenAI to follow soon after,” Ives wrote.

US bank regulators to tout deregulatory agenda to lawmakers

2026-06-04T10:05:06.308Z / Reuters

U.S. Federal Reserve Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman testifies during a Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee hearing on an update from the Prudential regulators, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 26, 2026. REUTERS/Kylie Cooper/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab

WASHINGTON, June 4 (Reuters) – The nation’s top bank regulators plan to tell Congress on Thursday that their efforts to trim bank rules and ​oversight will bolster economic activity and innovation without injecting undue risk ‌into the financial system.

The regulatory chiefs of the Federal Reserve, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency are set to testify before the ​House Financial Services Committee, where they will update lawmakers on ​a comprehensive effort to reconsider and soften numerous bank rules put ⁠in place following the 2008 financial crisis.

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“By tailoring requirements to actual ​risk, focusing supervision on what truly matters, and integrating innovation into the regulatory ​framework, the Federal Reserve is creating conditions for banks to thrive while maintaining the robust safeguards,” said Fed Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman in prepared remarks posted ​Wednesday.

Bowman and her fellow regulators have been busy re-examining tougher standards put in ​place in recent years, arguing that overly punitive oversight has hindered banks’ ability to ‌support ⁠the economy. For example, Bowman said the Fed has found that examiners have reported numerous bank deficiencies that were procedural or documentation gaps, not actual financial risk.

“For over a year, we have been reforming supervision to focus ​on material financial ​risks rather than ⁠on process-oriented, check-the-box requirements,” said FDIC Chairman Travis Hill in his prepared remarks.

At the same time, regulators plan to ​tell lawmakers they want to encourage innovation in the ​financial sector, ⁠both by banks through utilization of blockchain technologies and artificial intelligence, as well as nonbanks.

“Our job is to facilitate, not stymie, responsible innovation,” said Comptroller ⁠Jonathan ​Gould in prepared testimony.

However, they also warned new ​technologies pose risks to banks. Bowman noted that new AI models have “dramatically accelerated” the identification ​of vulnerabilities in the banking system.

Reporting by Pete Schroeder; Editing by Cynthia Osterman

Platner’s anti-corporate crusade hits awkward snag as receipts tell another story

2026-06-04T06:00:01-04:00 / Fox News

Campaign finance records show the Senate hopeful accepted donations from lobbyists for pharma, defense and tech giants

By Robert Schmad Fox News

Published June 4, 2026 6:00am EDT

Fox News Edge correspondent Caroline Elliott discusses Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner facing mounting backlash over past Reddit posts on ‘Fox News Live.’

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Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner built a national reputation as an anti-corporate crusader while cashing checks written by lobbyists and executives representing those same corporations, campaign finance documents show.

Platner has made criticism of big tech, the pharmaceutical industry, large banks and defense contractors a cornerstone of his campaign to unseat incumbent GOP Sen. Susan Collins. Federal Election Commission and Lobbying Disclosure Act records reviewed by Fox News Digital show that Platner accepted more than $30,000 from lobbyists representing a range of interests and executives at major companies between August 2025 and March of this year.

The donations were made personally by lobbyists and executives, not by the corporations themselves.

“Our new ad speaks to one of the most urgent issues I hear on the campaign trail: our healthcare system is collapsing,” Platner posted to X on March 24, referencing a campaign ad where he promised to take on the drug industry if elected to the Senate. “We should shut down Big Pharma, not our hospitals.”

Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner has campaigned on progressive economic policies focused on taxing billionaires and lowering costs for working-class Americans.(Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

UNEARTHED FEC RECORDS EXPOSE VULNERABLE DEM SENATOR’S HYPOCRISY ON TAKING CASH FROM BILLIONAIRES

The Senate hopeful also signed a pledge on March 25 promising to “to put patients over profits” by refusing “contributions over $200 from the executives, lobbyists, and PACs affiliated with the corporate health care industry, including private insurers, pharma corporations, and private hospitals who are organizing to take over our health care system.”

Platner, however, months earlier, accepted a $1,000 donation from a lobbyist at Cornerstone Government Affairs who was working as a lobbyist for AbbVie, a major pharmaceutical company, lobbying records show. Shortly after making his post on X, Platner accepted another $1,000 from a lobbyist at Brownstein who represents the drugmakers Novartis and Moderna.

A source at Brownstein told Fox News Digital that Platner’s campaign returned their lobbyist’s donation, seemingly consistent with his pledge. Cornerstone Government Affairs did not respond to a request for comment.

Platner also criticized Collins for attending an event that was “literally funded by Big Pharma,” only to then attend a coffee fundraising event put on by healthcare lobbyists.

“Graham Platner’s faux rage against the oligarchy falls apart the second you follow the money,” National Republican Senatorial Committee national press secretary Bernadette Breslin told Fox News Digital. “He’s a shell of a candidate whose phony ‘working-class’ rebrand collapsed before it even got off the ground.”

PLATNER’S ONLINE PAST GETS RAUNCHIER WITH CRUDE TAKES ON ‘LATIN AMERICAN HOOKERS,’ CHEATING ABROAD

Graham Platner, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, speaks at a news conference Thursday, April 30, 2026, in Lewiston, Maine.(Robert F. Bukaty/AP PHoto)

Academic research has found evidence that contributions to a member of Congress increase access to their office, suggesting that lobbyist donations are motivated by a desire to shape policy.

Defense contractors have been another target of Platner’s anti-corporate ire on the campaign trail.

On his campaign page, Platner accuses defense contractors of perpetuating “massive waste in procurement” and engaging in war profiteering.

Graham Platner, the Democrats’ presumptive Senate nominee in Maine, holds an energy event in Ellsworth, Maine on Monday May 11, 2026.(Paul Steinhauser/Fox News)

NEW WEBSITE PUTS PLATNER ON NOTICE BY AMPLIFYING SCANDALS: ‘ONE RED FLAG AFTER ANOTHER’

“We need to take the funds currently paying for mansions in Virginia and Maryland for defense contractors, and reinvest them into closing the massive shipbuilding gap,” his campaign website reads.

Campaign finance and lobbying records, however, show that Platner has accepted thousands of dollars from lobbyists representing major defense contractors such as RTX, Boeing and Anduril.

On banks, Platner has chided Collins for allegedly siding with the interests of big banks over her constituents, while accepting donations from lobbyists representing UBS, Visa and Citigroup and taking cash from a Bank of America executive.

Sen. Susan Collins blasts Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner’s mocking of a U.S. wounded soldier as the two are headed toward a likely November showdown as resurfaced Reddit posts continue to resurface from Platner.(Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images; Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

PLATNER’S DELETED REDDIT SPARKS OUTRAGE AGAIN AS HE APPEARS TO MOCK WOUNDED SOLDIER: ‘DIDN’T DESERVE TO LIVE’

Speaking about tech, Platner has pledged to break up large firms like Amazon and Google and stated that we will “come after” Jeff Bezos to make sure he pays more taxes. Despite these assurances, Platner has accepted contributions from lobbyists representing Blue Origin, a space technology company founded by Bezos, as well as some working for Amazon, Google and Salesforce.

The banking, tech, pharmaceutical and defense lobbyists who donated to Platner all work for third-party lobbying firms that contract with major corporations to represent their interests in Washington. Google, for example, has no control over who third-party lobbyists decide to make political donations to using their personal funds.

Large corporations, similarly, have no control over who their executives decide to send funds to.

In addition to taking cash from rank-and-file lobbyists, Platner has also accepted donations from executives and partners and multiple lobbying firms.

A partner at Forbes Tate, for example, gave Platner $1,000 at the end of March. Forbes Tate represents clients such as AMD, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Blackstone, Eli Lilly and Co., General Atomics and PhRMA — all of which belong to industries Platner has been critical of.

He also took $2,350 from senior leadership at Pioneer Public Affairs, a firm that represents the tech company LG and some energy interests, as well as thousands more from executives at the Sony Group Corporation.

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While Collins receives considerable support from corporate lobbyists, PACs and executives, she hasn’t been a staunch critic of corporations like Platner. Current campaign finance records only cover up until March, making it likely that Platner has accepted even more money from lobbyists and executives than public documents reveal.

The Platner campaign did not respond to a request for comment when reached by Fox News Digital.