CORRECTS TO MARJORY STONEMAN DOUGLAS HIGH SCHOOL, NOT PARKLAND - In this Feb. 21, 2018, photo, school students from Montgomery County, Md., in suburban Washington, rally in solidarity with those affected by the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida, at the Capitol in Washington. Member of Congress return from a 10-day recess under enormous pressure to respond to gun violence after the Parkland high school shooting. Despite a long list of legislative proposals, including many flowing from President Donald Trump, few ideas seem poised for passage. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) (Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)
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Developing now, Monday, Feb. 26, 2018
- Congress returns from a 10-day break under pressure to act on gun violence as President Trump tells the nation's governors the Florida school shooting massacre will be a priority in upcoming meetings
- A sheriff is facing growing calls for his firing over his officers' response to the school shooting in Parkland, Fla.
- The release of Democrats' rebuttal to the GOP FISA memo over the weekend sparks a new war of words between Trump and leading Dems
- The U.S. Supreme Court will hear a closely-watched case that challenges public-sector unions ability to collect fees from unwilling employees
- The mayor of a sanctuary city in California warns residents of an impending raid by ICE, escalating tension with federal authorities
THE LEAD STORY - CONGRESS UNDER THE GUN: After a 10-day break that saw 17 killed during a Feb. 14 school shooting massacre in Parkland, Fla., Congress returns to work Monday under pressure to act on gun violence. But a plan of action may be elusive ... No plan appears ready to take off, despite a long list of proposals, including many from President Trump, who told the nation's governors Sunday that the Parkland massacre will be a top priority in upcoming White House meetings. Republican leaders mostly have kept quiet for days as Trump tossed out ideas, including raising the minimum age to purchase assault-style weapons, strengthening background checks and arming teachers.
The most likely legislative option may be bolstering the federal background check system for gun purchases. However, lawmakers may be skittish about that because opponents tie the measure with the movement to limit gun rights. Another X-factor is that lawmakers may feel a need to pivot back on immigration reform as DACA immigrants may face legal limbo if the Obama-era program is allowed to expire on March 5.
- How background checks work
- Gun background checks give 'false senses of security,' GOP congressman says
'HE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS MASSIVE FAILURE': Florida Gov. Rick Scott is facing a growing number of calls to remove Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel over his department’s response to the Parkland massacre ... Florida House Speaker Richard Corcoran sent a letter to Scott on Sunday asking the governor to suspend Israel. A day earlier, State Rep. Bill Hager urged Scott to relieve Israel from his duties for “neglect of duty and incompetence," the Palm Beach Post reported. In addition, a survivor of the shooting told Fox News on Sunday that the sheriff had to go. “He failed to act on so many different levels and him himself, he is responsible for this massive failure. It could have been easily stopped both by the FBI and the sheriff's department had they acted,” Kyle Kashuv told “America's News HQ.” The call for the sheriff's removal comes after it was revealed that several Broward sheriff’s deputies waited outside rather than rush in as the alleged gunman, Nikolas Cruz, gunned down students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
- Sheriff defends handling of shooting: 'I've given amazing leadership'
- Florida Gov. Scott outlines gun-school safety plan on 'Fox News Sunday'
- Parkland survivor David Hogg calls for spring break boycott of Florida
- Shooting survivors make emotional return to Stoneman Douglas
- Marjory Stoneman Douglas ice hockey team wins state championship
THE DEBATE OVER THE 'DIRTY DOSSIER' RAGES ON: The release of Democrats' rebuttal to the GOP FISA memo alleging government surveillance abuses did little to settle any debates over the Russia investigation ... The memo released Saturday is a rebuttal to the one by Republicans that argues the FBI and Justice Department relied on the loosely-vetted, much-discredited Trump dossier to get the warrant on onetime Trump campaign adviser Carter Page from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance (FISA) Court. Rep. Jim Himes, the second-ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, attempted to minimize the importance of the dossier, telling "Fox News Sunday" it was only part of the evidence used to get a critical, court-approved surveillance warrant. "The application to warrant Carter Page was not based on the Steele dossier,” he said. President Trump dismissed Democrats' rebuttal as a "total political and legal bust," claiming that it only confirms the ”terrible things” that were done by the nation’s intelligence agencies.
- Five things to know about Dems' rebuttal to the Nunes memo
- White House, Schiff spar over Dems' surveillance memo
- Judge Jeanine Exclusive: Trump talks Dems' memo, guns and border wall
GORSUCH COULD BE PIVOTAL IN SUPREME COURT UNION FEES FIGHT: Mark Janus has worked for years as an Illinois state employee, and pays about $550 annually to the powerful public-sector union known as AFSCME ... While not a member of the union, he is required under state law to hand over a weekly portion of his paycheck – which he says is a violation of his constitutional rights. "I work for Health and Family Services, and I'm forced to pay money to a union that then supports political causes that I don't agree with," Janus told Fox News. Now, Janus' free-speech fight is before the Supreme Court, which holds arguments in the appeal on Monday. The political and financial stakes are huge for the broader American labor union movement, which already has begun sounding the alarm about the consequences should the justices rule for Janus.
The high court is being asked to overturn its four-decade-old ruling over so-called "fair share" fees, allowing states to require government employees to pay money supporting collective bargaining and other union activities – whether they join the union or not. The Supreme Court had deadlocked when the issue was revisited two years ago, just after Justice Antonin Scalia died suddenly. His Trump-picked replacement, Justice Neil Gorsuch, however, is expected to be the deciding vote this time around.
- Fox News Opinion: Supreme Court case on unions presents incredible opportunity
SANCTUARY CITY DEFIANCE: The mayor of a sanctuary city in California tipped off illegal immigrant residents that ICE could be conducting a raid in the area, ratcheting up tension with the feds while giving her constituents an early heads-up ... Libby Schaaf, the Democratic mayor of Oakland, shared the warning — which she said she “learned from multiple credible sources” — in a press release on Saturday, "not to panic our residents but to protect them," Fox 2 reported.
The mayor said she didn’t know further details of the ICE operation, but claimed she felt it was her "duty and moral obligation as Mayor to give those families fair warning when that threat appears imminent."
- ICE director hits back at California Dems: 'I'm enforcing laws that they enacted'
- Trump: Without ICE, California would be 'crime nest'
- ICE sweep leads to dozens of arrests in L.A.
AS SEEN ON FOX NEWS WEEKEND
'GET THE HELL OUT': "The buck stops with you. How dare you trumpet your handling of this situation." – Judge Jeanine Pirro, in her "Opening Statement" on "Justice with Judge Jeanine," ripped Broward County, Fla. Sheriff Scott Israel for what she called his botched response to the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting. WATCH
DEMS DELIVER ON REBUTTAL: "This is everything that the Democrats promised it would be. They knew what they needed to say here." – Jessica Tarlov, on "America's News HQ," reacting to the release of Democrats' rebuttal to the GOP FISA memo. WATCH
THE SWAMP
White House says any U.S.-North Korea dialogue must lead to end of its nuclear program.
California Democratic Party doesn't endorse Feinstein re-election bid.
Michelle Obama memoir to be released in November.
ACROSS THE NATION
Ground Zero ceremony set to commemorate 1993 terror bombing.
Monica Lewinsky announces why she supports #MeToo.
DACA recipient threatened to 'shoot all of ya b----es' at NY high school, police say.
Transgender boy wins girls' state wrestling title for second time.
MINDING YOUR BUSINESS
Stocks poised to begin new week with gains.
Equifax hack: 50 percent still haven’t checked credit safety.
Tax season stress: Here's what Americans would rather do than prepare their taxes.
FOX NEWS OPINION
The left's fever dream of Mueller indicting Trump won’t happen, even if he finds something. Here's why.
Rep. Mac Thornberry: We need a strong, vibrant economy to fund our military.
How to turn boys into honorable men.
HOLLYWOOD SQUARED
Omarosa claims on 'Big Brother' she was shunned from White House meetings because she's a black woman.
Weinstein Company to file for bankruptcy following sale-talk collapse.
Olympic skier Gus Kenworthy slammed for criticizing Ivanka Trump.
DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THIS?
Costco is launching its own version of Nutella.
Lioness at Oklahoma City zoo grows mane, baffles veterinarians.
Long-lost Babe Ruth WWII-era radio interview found in obscure archive.
STAY TUNED
On Fox News:
Fox & Friends, 6 a.m. ET: Former Rep. Jason Chaffetz on Democrats' rebuttal to the GOP FISA memo; House Majority Whip Steve Scalise on lawmakers facing pressure to act on gun violence; Eric Trump on his father's latest clashes with Democrats on the FISA memo, the Russia dossier and collusion; former White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus separates fact from fiction on the rumors about his tenure in the Trump administration.
Your World with Neil Cavuto, 4 p.m. ET: Maine Gov. Paul LePage weighs in on the gun control battle and what needs to be done to keep Americans safe.
The Story with Martha MacCallum, 7 p.m. ET: Rep. Peter King on the Democrats' rebuttal to the GOP FISA memo and the implications for the Trump dossier.
Tucker Carlson Tonight, 8 p.m. ET: Is Google censoring sites they don’t agree with? Radio talk show host Dennis Prager shares his shocking firsthand experience.
Hannity, 9 p.m. ET: Former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page responds to the release of Democrats' rebuttal to the GOP FISA memo.
Fox News @ Night, 11 p.m. ET: texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel give Shannon Bream a first look at the lawsuit that's finishing what Congress couldn't.
On Fox Business:
Mornings with Maria, 6 a.m. ET: Guests include: House Intel Committee Chairman Devin Nunes; Sean Spicer; Stuart Hoffman, PNC Financial Services Group senior vice president and senior economic adviser; Mark Penn, former Hillary Clinton campaign chief strategist; House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy.
Cavuto: Coast to Coast, Noon ET: Rep. Dan Kildee.
Countdown to the Closing Bell, 3 p.m. ET: Seth Merrin, Liquidnet CEO.
Risk & Reward, 5 p.m. ET: Rep. Doug Collins; Butler County, Ohio Sheriff Richard Jones; Gina Loudon, Trump 2020 campaign media advisory board member.
On Fox News Radio:
The Fox News Rundown podcast: Fox News' Eric Shawn and Tom Fitton, president of Judicial Watch, take a closer look at the Democratic rebuttal to the Republican committee memo about domestic spying. Plus, commentary from Judge Andrew Napolitano.
Want the Fox News Rundown sent straight to your mobile device? Subscribe through Apple Podcasts, Google Play, and Stitcher.
The Brian Kilmeade Show, 9 a.m. ET: New York Post columnist Michael Goodwin on how the government failed the students in the Parkland, Fla. massacre; David Bach looks ahead at the week on Wall Street and the Trump economy; Jason Chaffetz on the Democrats' rebuttal memo; Harry Kazianis on the Olympics and the implications for U.S.-North Korea relations.
#OnThisDay
1993: A truck bomb built by Islamic extremists explodes in the parking garage of the North Tower of New York's World Trade Center, killing six people and injuring more than 1,000 others. (The bomb fails to topple the North Tower into the South Tower, as the terrorists had hoped; both structures would be destroyed in the 9/11 attack eight years later.)
1987: The Tower Commission, which probed the Iran-Contra affair, issues a report rebuking President Ronald Reagan for failing to control his national security staff.
1970: National Public Radio is incorporated.
Fox News First is compiled by Fox News' Bryan Robinson. Thank you for joining us! Enjoy your Monday! We'll see you in your inbox first thing Tuesday morning.
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