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Developing now, Wednesday, April 25, 2018
- President Trump's attempt to end DACA suffered a court setback, with a judge giving the White House 90 days to justify its rollback of the Obama-era program
- James Comey’s contact at Columbia University, who was used to leak sensitive info to the media, once worked as a 'special government employee' for the FBI, Fox News confirms
- The Fresno State professor who bashed Barbara Bush after the former first lady's death will not be disciplined, the university’s president announced
- Dr. Ronny Jackson, Trump's embattled pick for Veterans Affairs secretary, faces a tough confirmation fight – even though Obama repeatedly praised his work
- Billions in U.S. taxpayer dollars earmarked for Afghanistan rebuilding efforts may have been lost because of mishandling by the World Bank, a watchdog says
THE LEAD STORY - ANOTHER DACA DEFEAT FOR TRUMP: A George W. Bush-appointed federal judge on Tuesday ruled that President Trump's decision to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, known as DACA, "was unlawful and must be set aside" ... “DACA’s rescission was arbitrary and capricious because the Department failed adequately to explain its conclusion that the program was unlawful,” U.S. District Court Judge John Bates wrote. Bates, the third federal judge and the first Republican appointee to rule against Trump administration attempts to kill DACA, wrote in his opinion that the Department of Homeland Security has 90 days to provide him with a more compelling reason for rolling back the Obama-era program, otherwise he could order its restoration. "Neither the meager legal reasoning nor the assessment of litigation risk provided by DHS to support its rescission decision is sufficient to sustain termination of the DACA program," he wrote.
- DACA 101: What you should know
- 'Angel Mom': DACA program is 'wrought with fraud'
COMEY'S LEAK ACCOMPLICE WAS A FORMER EMPLOYEE: The Columbia University law professor James Comey used as a go-between last year to leak the contents of sensitive memos to the media confirmed to Fox News on Tuesday that he previously worked as a “special government employee” (SGE) for Comey’s FBI on an unpaid basis ... The professor, Daniel Richman, confirmed the special status in response to an inquiry from Fox News, while referring other questions, including on the scope of his work, to the FBI. "I did indeed have SGE status with the Bureau (for no pay)," Richman wrote in an email. Richman emerged last year as the former FBI director’s contact for leaking memos documenting his private discussions with President Trump – memos that are now the subject of an inspector general review over the presence of classified material. Sources familiar with Richman’s status at the FBI told Fox News that he was assigned to "special projects" by Comey, and had a security clearance as well as badge access to the building.
- TUNE IN: Bret Baier to interview Comey on 'Special Report' on Thursday, April 26, 6 p.m. ET
- Kimberley Strassel: Here's what someone ought to be asking Comey
GETTING OFF SCOT-FREE: A Fresno State professor who celebrated the death of Barbara Bush in a profanity-laced rant on Twitter, will not be disciplined, the university's president said in a statement late Tuesday ... In a note to the "campus community," Joseph Castro said that English instructor Randa Jarrar's comments about the late first lady were "insensitive, inappropriate and an embarrassment to the university," but "are protected free speech under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution." Castro added that Jarrar would remain on leave through the spring semester, "which she had previously requested before this incident."
- Petition to fire Fresno State professor attracts 10,000 signatures
- Professor who tweeted anti-Barbara Bush comment applauded at arts festival
NOMINATION ON LIFE SUPPORT?: Embattled Veterans Affairs nominee Dr. Ronny Jackson showed no signs of withdrawing his nomination as more details of accusations against him emerged, ranging from repeated drunkenness to a toxic work environment as he served as a top White House physician ... Jackson fought to convince lawmakers of his leadership abilities as President Trump told reporters he would always stand by Jackson. While Trump said it would be Jackson's choice on whether to withdraw his nomination, he added, "I really don’t think personally he should [seek the position].” The president suggested he did not want Jackson, who has served as a White House physician since 2006, to go through such an “ugly” and “disgusting” process and said he told him: “What do you need it for?” The comments come after The New York Times and others reported that Jackson has been accused of overseeing a hostile work environment as White House physician, drinking on the job and allowing the overprescription of drugs. Meanwhile, documents obtained by Fox News show that former President Obama sent years of positive reports about Jackson's work as White House physician.
- Ronny Jackson: What you should know
- Marc Thiessen: The VA desperately needs a combat medic, not a management guru
POTENTIAL SCANDAL SURROUNDS DONOR MONEY FOR AFGHANISTAN: Billions of dollars in donor contributions — including $3 billion from the U.S. — to a trust fund created for the reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan may be lost because of mishandling by the World Bank, a new watchdog report claims ... The most recent audit report from the Special Inspector General of Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), obtained by Fox News, looks at the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund (ARTF), an international fund created in 2002 and maintained by the World Bank, finds that the ARTF has experienced “continued limitations” and that a lack of transparency in the monitoring and accounting has put billions of dollars at risk of vanishing — despite steps taken in 2011 to improve the accountability systems in place.
AS SEEN ON FOX NEWS
PRO-GUN PARKLAND SURVIVOR INTERROGATED: "It's still America, last time I checked." – Kyle Kashuv, on "Tucker Carlson Tonight," recalling how he was called in for questioning by school officials for taking a trip to a gun range with his father. WATCH
THE TALE OF THE TEXTS: "We believe [they] will be very enlightening." – Rep. Mark Meadows, on "Hannity," saying he is working with Reps. Trey Gowdy and Bob Goodlatte to get three to six months of messages between allegedly anti-Trump FBI lovebirds Peter Strzok and Lisa Page. WATCH
COUNTDOWN TO THE MIDTERMS
Republican Debbie Lesko wins Arizona House special election.
GOP keeps NY Senate control after Democrat Simcha Felder pledges support.
Fox News Poll: Three top-tier candidates in West Virginia GOP Senate primary.
GOP-linked PAC pours money into West Virginia Senate race, to sink a Republican candidate.
THE SWAMP
Trump, Macron honor 'joint history' between US, France at White House state dinner.
Video shows ex-Clinton aide in profanity-laced confrontation with cops.
NRA breaks 15-year fundraising record, according to filings.
ACROSS THE NATION
'Calexit' gets go-ahead to start collecting signatures.
Waffle House shooting suspect faces new additional warrants, police say.
Suspected gunman in custody after two Dallas police officers shot, critically wounded, department says.
MINDING YOUR BUSINESS
Amazon founder Bezos’ $65 million jet seen at airports near potential second headquarter sites.
Dow plummets 425 points as interest rates surge.
Vineyard Vines says it’s thriving in era of struggling retail
GM earnings under pressure as sales cool off | Ford earnings to offer glimpse at cost cuts
FOX NEWS OPINION
YJ Fischer: Trump opposition to Iran deal may kill chances for a North Korea nuke deal.
Laura Dowling: The hidden symbols of a state dinner.
Paul J. Larkin Jr.: On marijuana, let the Food and Drug Administration make the decisions.
HOLLYWOOD SQUARED
'Schoolhouse Rock' musical director Bob Dorough dies at 94.
'Smallville' star Allison Mack rants about alleged cult in newly resurfaced YouTube video.
Snoop Dogg says Trump ignored black Waffle House victims because shooter was white.
DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THIS?
Melania Trump's hat draws Beyoncé, Olivia Pope comparisons.
Wildlife photographer captures osprey carrying shark, carrying fish in 'one-in-a-trillion photograph.'
Mysterious shipwreck discovered in Great Lakes believed to be nearly 200 years old.
STAY TUNED
On Fox News:
Fox & Friends, 6 a.m. ET: A closer look at how President Trump's deal-making skills are paying dividends ahead of his anticipated summit with Kim Jong Un; Dr. Ian Smith reveals the secret to losing 10 pounds in 20 days; auto expert Mike Caudill reveals America's favorite energy efficient cars.
Tucker Carlson Tonight, 8 p.m. ET: Don't miss the next installment of Tucker's "Is College Worth It?" series!
On Fox Business:
Mornings with Maria, 6 a.m. ET: David Stockman, former budget director under President Reagan; Rep. Andy Barr; Mark Lehmann, JMP Securities president; Sean Spicer, former White House press secretary.
Varney & Co., 9 a.m. ET: Bob Wright, former vice chairman of GE; Jim Rogers, Rogers Holding chairman; Kayleigh McEnany, RNC spokesperson; Kristin Gaspar: San Diego County supervisor and congressional candidate.
Cavuto: Coast to Coast, Noon ET: Sen. Mike Rounds; Rep. Diane Black; Andy Puzder, former CEO of CKE Restaurants.
The Intelligence Report, 2 p.m. ET: Rep. Dana Rohrabacher; Gen. Jack Keane, Fox News senior strategic analyst; Greg Ip, chief economics commentator for the Wall Street Journal; Mark Luschini, chief investment strategist at Janney Montgomery Scott
On Fox News Radio:
The Fox News Rundown podcast: President Trump hosted his first official state dinner for French President Emmanuel Macron. Among the pomp and circumstance, the two leaders exchanged views over the May 12 Iran nuclear deal deadline. Rep. Ron DeSantis and former State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf discuss the pros and cons of withdrawing from the agreement. Wells Fargo met with angry shareholders at their annual meeting in Des Moines, Iowa. Fox News' Jessica Rosenthal digs into the company’s scandals with shareholder Charles Elson, and the whistleblower Matthew Valles. Plus, commentary by Harry Kazianis, director of defense studies at the Center for the National Interest.
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: Monica Crowley guest-hosts; Sen. Rand Paul on his initial concerns about Mike Pompeo as the prospective secretary of state, the legal battle over DACA and more; Ian Bremmer on how Trump's opposition to the Iran deal could impact the president’s looming summit with Kim Jong Un; Jonah Goldberg on the hot topics of the day.
#OnThisDay
2002: Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes of the Grammy-winning trio TLC dies in an SUV crash in Honduras at age 30.
1898: The U.S. Congress declares war on Spain following the February sinking of the USS Maine; the 10-week conflict would result in an American victory.
1507: A world map produced by German cartographer Martin Waldseemueller contains the first recorded use of the term "America," in honor of Italian navigator Amerigo Vespucci.
Fox News First is compiled by Fox News' Bryan Robinson. Thank you for joining us! Enjoy your day! We'll see you in your inbox first thing Thursday morning.
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